Recently Viewed

A friend called me at work today & suggested going for a movie in the evening. Immediately, The Dark Knight came to mind and I started getting excited.

My friend found the perfect time at a theatre on Tottenham Court Road and we met to catch the 18:15 showing. However, when we arrived, there was a printed sign apologising for the incorrect online posting of the movie times. Wahh.

My compadre was still gung-ho about seeing a film, so I reluctantly agreed to see Hancock, although I had vowed not to ever spend my time on it.

In the first fifteen minutes, the film proved itself to be truly American. The characters were harping on "my son's soccer team" and the setting was clearly downtown LA and its suburbs. There were shots of Capitol Records' spire, Fig and the tall US Bank.

I went in thinking I already knew the predictable plot--and I did--but it surprised me by being not as terrible as I expected; and it had a bit of a twist. I almost cried at one touching point (although I'm admittedly a faucet these days) and it was really romantic in a special way (although I'm admittedly a hopeless romantic these days).

Still wishing Will would produce more impressive projects because I know he's capable of more.

More Vocab Words

Football (n.): Soccer
*See previous post

Sqwunk (adj.): Crooked
Introduced by my Zimbabwean co-worker: "My teeth are sqwunk."

Lounge room (n.): Living room
I know, obvi.

My roommate's right foot

Congratulations to my roommate!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight, she made the cut for the Queens Park Rangers - a professional, local football team in London!

After joining in on one practice this evening, they asked her to play in their next match in Brussels...

She rocks (as all Trojans do).

Asian Delights

I was wandering around Notting Hill today when I discovered an Asian community--in the American sense.

In Britain, Asian refers to someone or something of Indian, Pakistani, etc. descent. So, strictly speaking, I am not Asian in the British sense. I haven't learned the British name for someone like myself--maybe East Asian?

So today, I found an area with Chinese dim sum, Thai, Japanese sushi, etc. I stopped by a market called something like "Oriental Shop" (yikes) and was excited by the familar goods sold there. Even after spending last autumn semester in this city, I didn't know items like shrimp chips, Hichew, and Japanese gummi candy could be obtained in London.

Here's a visual summary of my purchases:

From left to right: Peach tea, aloe vera juice, boba!, Thai green curry and roti canal pancakes.

Clearly, I hail from the West coast; Chinese shops/food/people and Spanish speakers feel really familiar and 'homey.'

French Roast

I think I accidentally settled in France rather than England.


By night, I live above 2 Frenchmen who are a bit difficult to live with or around. In fact, a police report may become necessary. But that is an irrelevant and needless story.

By day, at the office, my desk is next to the aforementioned garrulous French gentleman. The other day, I saw that Monsieur had left every 1-2 hours and brought back a venti sized coffee cup each time.

"That's a lot of coffee you're drinking." I commented.
"Yes. But eet ees only part coffee and part milk." replied M.
"Why don't you just get one cup of straight coffee & be done with it?"
"I could but black coffee ees...how do you say..." his eyes roamed around the room, looking for the appropriate word. "Black coffee...eet ees...DEES GAHS TEENG!"

His intense aversion and passion against undoctored coffee sent me into 10 full minutes of laughter. Monsieur just watched me patiently with a puzzled, and slightly bemused, expression. The poor man asked me if he had said it wrong, I told him it was quite the contrary--it was absolutely fantastic.

Local cuisine

After a rather long night, my Aussie flatmate introduced me to a new recipe...for a chip sandwich.
[For the non-Brits who are still left behind, "chips" are the equivalent of American fries; "crisps" are the name for potato chips; while "tomato sauce" equals ketchup.]

Chip Sandwich

Ingredients:
-An order of chips
-2 slices of bread
-Tomato sauce (optional)


Instructions:

1. Purchase an order of chips from the local chip shop.
2. Place chips between bread slices.
3. Add tomato sauce to taste (optional).
4. Eat.

*Note: This recipe works best the morning after a late night/early morning.

Recently Viewed

My flatmate suggested that we watch a movie on her laptop yesterday afternoon & she chose Dogma. I had never seen it before, but I remember once at university I was talking to a fellow cheerleader & student and this film was what he based his ideas about God on.

I was slightly surprised when my flatmate asked me mid-film if the things said and done in this movie were fairly accurate. She hadn't any background in the Bible, etc. she explained.

I told her what I knew, but after our brief interaction on this topic, I felt so dissatisfied. Felt like there was so much more to be said on the subject.

I still find it rather...interesting?...that this is the second individual that I've come across who has thought perhaps Dogma provided some factual information on reality. There is indeed a disclaimer at the beginning of the film, but the whole thing must still be a bit misleading?

My landlord is Jimi Hendrix

The saga of our very flighty landlord is a whole 'nother story.

The issue at hand is that our landlord is Jimi Hendrix.

So, my Brazilian flatmate bought 3 posters to spruce our rather bare living room (or the "lounge room" as my Aussie flatmate would say): one Charlie Chaplin, a Pulp Fiction and a Jimi Hendrix.

My American roomie came home one day, saw the poster and exclaimed that it looked just like our landlord. We almost died from the side-splitting laughter because...well...he does look just like Jimi. He just needs wilder hair and a bare chest.

Just this evening as we were getting ready for bed, my mobile rang. It was our landlord, ready to come pick up my roommate's overdue rent. He entered our flat and the first thing he said was "Jimi Hendrix! My dad was friends with him."

Roomie and I exchanged glances and I exploded into laughter. I couldn't help it.

We're both convinced that we're paying rent to Jimi Hendrix's long-lost spawn.

The Office (UK version)

Today was my 3rd day at my new job! I have a feeling that it's going to work out nicely, although certain signs don't seem to bode well...

When I arrived, I was told by the organisation that provided my work visa that in the UK, people aren't always so friendly right off the bat as compared to other cultures (namely the US).

And they're right. My desk is next to a Frenchman who, for the first two days I was in the office, didn't say a word to me. I could barely get a mumble in response to my chipper "Good Morning!" Today, however, he surprised me by abruptly asking what brought me to London. He proceded to talk non-stop (I'm not exaggerating) for 3o minutes about pensions and the financial situation in France, the UK and America. I could barely follow what he was saying--I'm not sure whether it was his French accent or my ignorance of economics...

In fact, I (who had been dying to make conversation for the past couple days) was hoping he would stop and allow me to gather my thoughts and continue my work!

Moral of the story: be careful what you wish for : )

...Also, the very unique individuals who make up this office are starting to show their very colourful colours...more on this as things develop...

Currently Reading

It's quite appropriate that I've brought over my half-finished copy of God in the Dock. As with all of Lewis' works, I'm benefitting from it immensely; plenty of food for thought.

The first favourite quote I came across was in the article about miracles and likewise titled "Miracles." He writes,

"But when Christ at Cana makes water into wine, the mask is off. The miracle has only half its effect is it only convinces us that Christ is God: it will have its full effect if whenever we see a vineyard or drink a glass of wine we remember that here works He who sat at the wedding party in Cana."

It most likely makes more sense in context, but I liked it.

Recently Viewed

Upon arriving back in London, I saw the Tube station plastered with posters for The Edge of Love, the latest Keira Knightley chick flick. I was motivated to go see it since I hadn't heard anything about it back in the States.

It's loosely based on the life of the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, and the women in his life. The best part was the Welsh accents put on by Keira and Matthew Rhys. They could've been really bad, but I don't know the difference : )

Although it's really not the most fantastic movie I've ever seen and it cost me 10 pounds, I'm glad that I went to see it just to satisfy my own interest. Seems that Keira is the British actress, she's starring in more upcoming films here (ie: The Duchess)!

Employed

I've just kicked off the shoes and cast aside the high-waisted pencil skirt in favor of my favorite pink gym shorts (which double as my pajamas these days).

This morning I had my first interview (and evidently my last) in London!
I'm starting tomorrow at a recruitment company.

Thanks for praying for me!