I spent 7 days in London, England last week. It was incredible and exhausting and overwhelming and magnificent. I’ve never traveled to Europe before, so when Context Optional offered me the opportunity to work in London for a week and help build out our relationships abroad, I jumped. How high? High enough.
London blew my mind.
Let’s start with the obvious: the English drive on the left side of the road and the steering wheel is located on the right side of the car. Needless to say, every time I got into a taxi, I was certain I was going to die. This also makes crossing the street a threatening experience. I learned to just look both ways about four times and then run to the opposite curb.
It’s difficult to decipher a hotel from an apartment from a restaurant. The buildings look like (and most likely are) one giant building the length of an entire block, with identical (and symmetrical) door and stair placement in front of each “separate” building. The similarities of each block were straight out of Pleasantville.
Speaking of buildings, the architecture is amazing. The attention to detail is incredible — there are gargoyles and angels and designs carved on each building. Some buildings are decorated with different colored bricks creating striped patterns above entryways. The Cathedrals and shops and alleyways are breathtaking. Each building was designed and built with intention.
London has, hands down, the best public transportation. We used the Tube to get us to and from meetings and explorations every day. We never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a train. The trains are on time and fast. Inside the Tube Stations, it’s pure efficiency: rat maze style. Every option you have for a train transfer or to exit the train is explicitly shown via arrow. There is only one way to navigate through a Tube Station. Follow the arrows. Each Tube Station is equipped with an endless amount of stairs and pathways so windy, you surface and are so disoriented you don’t know which way is up.
Not to mention, the escalators. Never have I ever seen so many escalators. So many long, long escalators. Depending on the Tube Station you could spend a whole 10 minutes on an escalator.
I’ve only been back 3 days, but I’ve already been asked about my favorite places I visited while in London. So, I list: Covent Garden — the shopping, cobblestone roads, quaint area yet enflamed with the city-life hustle and bustle; Camden — rich with culture and London grunge, yes steps away from the gorgeous Regent’s Park (Avenue Garden and Queen’s Garden); Angel/Islington — what beats walking alongside a European canal on a path littered with wild flowers and cafes offering steaming lattes and pastries. But, my real favorite place in London can be found in any city — the Beer Garden. Now, we did find the most amazing Beer Garden I’ve ever been to — Edinboro Castle — which is located near Regent’s Park, but Beer Gardens are everywhere in London. And they are fantastic. I’m not generally a beer drinker, but I’ve recently decided that’s because American beers…suck. In London, I fell in love with ciders, and the idea of drinking them outside, in the sunshine, surrounded by blooming flowers, amidst other locals (and some tourists), was incredible.
Being immersed in the British culture for an entire week was such a learning experience. I’ve traveled outside the U.S. before on vacation, but nothing has been quite like the culture and language spoken in the UK. There were so many colloquialisms the British use that took some getting used to (and are really awesome). Here are a few:
- “Toilet” instead of “Bathroom” or “Restroom.” This took some getting used to. Awkward.
- “Sorry” instead of “Excuse me.” England is the most apologetic country. Ever.
- “Lifts” instead of “Elevators.”
- “Aubergine” instead of “Eggplant.” Thank God for fashion or I’d have no clue what that would mean.
- “Bespoke” instead of “Custom.” We, of course, had to implement this when talking to customers about Facebook applications. Wonder where it derives from…
- “Mate” instead of “Friend.” And not always in the “G’day Mate” sense of the word.
- “Cheers” as well as “Thank you.”
- “Daft” instead of “silly” or “weird.”
- “Holiday” instead of “vacation.” I like this one. Every time I go on vacation I want it to be a holiday.
- “Jacket potato” is really a “Baked potato.”
Also, Jamie said it best when describing the fashion in London, “It’s unfair that these Londoners not only have THE ACCENT OF ALL ACCENTS, but also have style that makes me look at my Old Navy sweaters with such disgust that I might as well be walking around in Wal-Mart clothes head to toe.”
I even went and bought some lipstick and enhanced my eyeliner while I was there just to fit in.
I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have the job I have with a company like Context Optional. The neatest part of my trip to London? Feeling like I’m a part of something huge. Something that’s growing and expanding internationally. Something that I’ve worked so hard to even define is succeeding and I’m doing my little part to help it. My job continues to be incredibly rewarding and I’m certainly blessed to have been given the opportunity to travel overseas. I’m sure I’ll be back in London very soon, and I can’t wait.
If you’d like to read about each day of my trip, check out my Lifecast.
P.S. If anyone knows where I can find Fruli Strawberry Beer in San Francisco, they’ll be my best friend forever.
P.P.S. Another thing I learned in London? Don’t talk to Aussies about eating a Kangaroo Burger.
Guess who got the best souvenir ever….That’s right! ME!! http://instagr.am/p/DlA64/
Woohoo!!!
Hello Lauren. It is not worth mentioning the pride and happiness I have for a friend to escape from the US for a trip abroad. It changes your life in many ways. Congratulations.
I love using Euro-speak when I’m overseas. It’s great to talk about a flat-mate or toilet. I love saying toilet instead of restroom. I’ve been chastised for using “wanker” out of context a few times from friends.
Also, I ALWAYS get caught back in the states wishing I had more of whatever it was I had there be it bread, cheese, beer or spices. There’s always something I buy in bulk to bring back only wish I had more of it less than a month later. I absolutely feel your pain.
Just when you feel like the world has been at your fingertips, when life, to us is at its fullest, we board a plane and step off in a different world where fashion and culture are somehow better and where the issues that plagued us on one continent are literally and figuratively thousands of miles away. I know many friends who are travel junkies and haven’t worked for years doing jobs as waiters to get by as they hope country to country around the world. I’m too controlled for that but I dream of doing it one day (well not the waiting tables part).
The problem or maybe it’s the fantastic wonderful of Europe is that they care. Their designers are fantastic, their love of language and arts and history is unparalleled. These countries have seen war & famine and thousands of years of evolution (which basically means they have better beer) and, for some reason, they know far more about America than we do. India blew me away and I hear China & Japan are even more amazing but in a different way.
Anyone living (and loving) life in San Francisco would fit right in in most any western european country. SF is pretty damn close to European until you spend a few months in Europe and realize just how “American” SF is. don’t get too spoiled because, you may go MIA and never want to come back.
I’m happy for you and look forward to my 2 week trip to netherlands, belgium and france that’s happening in 2 weeks. YIPEEEE!
I couldn’t agree. I’ve been to other countries before, but Europe almost felt like a parallel universe. Such a great experience. Thank you for helping and supporting me along the way. You’ll have a BLAST on your trip and I can’t wait to see you soon 🙂
I’m so jealous you got to spend an entire week there; I was only there for two days and it wasn’t nearly enough time.
I agree with how efficient the Tube is. Compared to the metro in Paris, the Tube makes life so much easier. I found London to just be an efficient city in general!
One of my favorite British expressions was “Mind Your Head” instead of “Watch your head.”
Oh, and as far as the sexy accents and the fashionable style: Um, YES. I was drooling at the sight of all of the hot British guys, and I drooled even more once they started speaking.
Glad to hear you had an amazing time!
Two days is definitely not long enough to see London! I loved the “Mind your head” or “Mind the gap.” Their colloquialisms are awesome.
Thanks for the comment, Gina!!!
You’re in luck. Kennedy’s in North Beach has Fruli Strawberry beer. I tried it tonight and thought of you. I also DMed you since I don’t have your #. 😛
Yes yes YES! You’re the best. I can’t wait!
Looks amazing! And the pictures make me want to go for a visit so badly. I really hope to squeeze a few days in London into my schedule soon…and I love the idea of calling a vacation a holiday. It makes it sound so much more fun!
Ahhhh so fun! I’m jealous. I’d love to go to London someday! It’s so funny how the two cultures can be so different and so similar at the same time…
The tube is so much fun. I’m not sure we ever actually needed a taxi. It can get pretty warm in those underground stations. I love the random musicians down there.
It really is! It’s a total blast. Loved it 🙂
I feel like we Canadians say “sorry” instead of “excuse me” too.
And it has been pointed out by a super lovely American that I also say “pardon?” a lot.
The colloquialisms are so strange! And awesome! They make me want to alter the way I speak. Americans sure have butchered the English language…
Hi Lauren, fist time blog reader today (came over from Caffienate Me) and English girl so loved this post so much. It’s so nice when people leave with a great impression of England and it sounds like you had a ball.
As i said to Ria (from Rialeilani) when she came back from Ireland, when you drink beer in the US you’re drinking Lager in England so when you come here and ask for beer you’re generally getting a different drink than you might think.
Putting you in Reader now, will definitely be back
LizSara x
Hey, just came across your blog via the Context Optional site. I’m a Brit that’s been living in London for 4 years and it’s so funny, but lovely to read your post about how much you like the UK. Mind you I’m currently in the process of trying to move to SF so sure I’ll soon be having a similar experience in reverse!
I’m so glad you found me! I do love the UK, but San Francisco is home for now. That’s so exciting you’re moving to San Francisco! Good luck and let me know if you need any tips! 🙂