Monday, October 22, 2007

COMMUTING, CAMARADERIE, AND CLOTTED CREAM: London Day 1 or a Part 2 to the Post Below

It's been an awfully long day here in London. Two of my American colleagues and I had to fight through the shockingly uncivilized commuting masses in the tube after work today--a journey that was made more difficult by the fact that the District Line was down. We stood on the platform, our eyes filled with the desperation only lost tourists can muster but, like the intrepid New Yorkers that we are, we figured out an alternate route home. After a long, exhausting, frustrating, circuitous journey that's likely bonded us for life, we found ourselves back at our less-than-stellar hotel. It should be noted that my heart, heavy with homesickness, longed for the familiarity (and relative spaciousness) of Manhattan's subway system (the tubes are NARROW. One male commuter became very familiar with my right boob and another with my colleague's butt. One can't help but press into random body parts in the cramped confines of the trains. Plus, no one by the doors likes to move. We almost suffocated a small child because her mother ordered her not to move away from the door as we tried to exit the blasted train and make our way to fresh air) during this journey.

Dinner tonight was a three course meal of buffola mozzarella and tomatoes, grilled swordfish with rocket mashed potatoes and string beans, and a delicious treacle pie with clotted cream. The treacle pie may very well have been one of the most delicious foods I've had in recent memory.

I am so so so grateful for my four other colleagues who have joined me in London. While we didn't know each other very well prior to this program, we've formed a camaraderie in the weeks leading up to our trip. It's comforting to experience a foreign city, which is just different enough to be a bit disorienting and overwhelming, with friends. And, in spite of the horrendous commute home today, our London colleagues are a delightful bunch and I can rather get used to the corporate mothership. London also remains a charming and whimsical city. I believe I should return here on my own to take in some of the lovely sights that surround us.

Well, that's it for now, my darlings. I'm off to sleep as I've got a busy day at work tomorrow! More TK.

Cheerio!
SABILA

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

what about the date??/

Anonymous said...

oh WELL...glad you asked...

we went for italien food. sheesha. ras malai. and great conversation.

and before anyone starts 'hatin' ...

YES...my mother WAS proud that I finally opened up to the idea of dating someone ...

unfortunately I just realized that I am still emotionally constipated.

=(

*sigh*

I should start adopting cats now. Sabila please come back.

=|

Anonymous said...

Wow - a date with Italian food, sheesha, ras malai AND great conversation? Sounds ideal.

And you find him attractive too?

If so, I suspect your constipation will pass soon enough. All it takes is a little push and release and away you go (sorry about that imagery - I used to be a biologist).

When your "DC Girl - Dating Odyssey" blog comes out, let us know! I think I speak for all of us when I say that we want to hear all about your first kickball date with your new beau!

Anonymous said...

Would you care to elaborate on the "emotionally constipated" comment?

Anonymous said...

While in london, don't forget to take the obligatory picture inside a telephone booth. The trip across the atlantic is just not complete without it! :o)

Anonymous said...

i have no mojo...i am not interested in anyone...i have so much on my plate trying to get my life going in D.C....job/school/etc...that the 'dating' part of me is dead.

=/

Anonymous said...

and he's a nice guy...i just find that i'm ... wanting to be more friends and move at snails' pace and i find myself freaking out.

=(

and i'm still in love with someone else.

WOW that was a LOT to reveal here...but shit, i don't care.

i'm getting over someone else. and going on this date was step one which i was very proud of myself...but i just want to move sssslllllloooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

=/

and he's into me....

and that's ANNOYING me.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for detailing your emotional constipation.

Poor sap is gonna be your rebound guy, he has my sympathy.

You gotta start your own blog!

Anonymous said...

i have one.

;)

Anonymous said...

What's the link to your blog???

I don't think SK will mind if you post it here.

Anonymous said...

Dear DCgirl. How old are you? 12? 14?

Anonymous said...

haha. very funny anonymous.

;)