At first glance, this sign offended me. It's part of an advertising campaign for Five US, a new digital channel for Five TV. Their website says they want to challenge preconceptions and with a tease element to their advertising, they want to stimulate debate. They also claim to have a unique relationship with the USA. Hmmmm.

Familiar, yet so different

Hello! I hope everyone is doing all right back home. Here, the weather is getting colder, but definitely no chance of snow coming soon. I am enjoying my Reading Week break so far. I am very excited to go see Chicago live on stage tomorrow, but a little worried to be in Central London at night on Halloween. But, that worry comes from my American upbringing, because people here do not celebrate Halloween like we do back in the States. They basically don’t celebrate it and actually find it weird that we celebrate it as much as we do. However, the Christmas decorations keep going up more and more around town.

My living space at home is very small, but cozy. We are all supposed to buy food separately and prepare our own meals. Nick is a vegan so he has quite a different eating style compared to the rest of us. Veronica and I find it easier to prepare meals a couple of times a week together. We have made it tradition to set aside one night a week for enchiladas and a movie at the Odeon Theatre in Kingston. Also we tend to eat out often, just so we can get out of the house and try new things. I like our flat, but it gets a bit crowded and I just need to get away. We are not allowed to use the living area, as they would say here, which is the room with couches and the TV. And, we cannot pick up any free wireless internet either; therefore we get a bit bored after awhile. We have not met anyone in our little neighborhood of flats, which is odd compared to home where I know all my neighbors.

As for shopping, we always buy our groceries at ASDA (part of Wal-Mart). They seem to be cheaper than some other grocery stores and it is on our way home, therefore convenient. The other day I was walking to ASDA during the day and was very shocked that when I smiled at an elderly man for being kind on the sidewalk, he actually smiled back. I don’t find people nearly as friendly here. I am used to knowing everyone around town and if I don’t know someone, I still smile or say hello. That is unheard of here, or so it seems. I definitely do not speak to strangers, and people can act very rude. For example, if someone bumps or knocks into you as you’re walking by, they will just give you a dirty look and not say excuse me or sorry. It is a bit frustrating and I try not to judge them when they do these types of things, because I know that is how people generally behave around here. But, I still find them rude.

Well, that’s it for this week. Next week I will have a lot to talk about after my vacation time and exciting events in London :) I hope you have a great week.

Until then,