It's been a mixed bag here the last couple of days. On Sunday I was invited to a fabulous lunch by an old Middle School Friend (who is a professional cheese buyer) and her ex-chef-now-food-writer husband. It was wonderful to see her again, the food was amazing, and I was sent home with two giant blocks of our of this world cheese. For those cheese lovers out there - yes, raw milk and animal rennet make the difference. And a scary thing about raw milk in the US: cows aren't tested regularly for TB, and the standard for TB testing is to test the milk product, not the animal (at which point it's too late). Apparently cows in the UK and I think EU in general are basically all tagged, tracked and tested regularly to ensure no TB contamination. In the US it sounds like the test the milk every so often (like yearly) just to be sure, assuming that pasteurization will cure the evils (which it does). So there are only a small handful of US dairies that can pass EU standards and be imported. Yes, I've asked for names. It was really fun to hang out with real worshipers of the parton god Gastronomia. I learned a lot and realized that I know a heck of a lot about food and wine.
It was also really nice to be able to talk to people in complete sentences! I don't socialize much (at all) b/c everyone at the BL is so concerned with looking very studious, and working very hard, that no one freakin' talks to anyone else. The LIbrary offers free wifi and these amazingly comfy chairs with tables and outlets, so there are always a ton of people just hanging out, doing school work, etc. Think like a coffee shop but you don't have to buy the coffee. There are more grad students about than I see at most campus events - but they're also so focused and trying to be quiet that they don't interact. It's very strange. And after a week w/o talking, this extrovert was ready to burst. Seriously, most of my talking is "please' "thanks you" "excuse me". I might as well be in France.
And then the bad. Yesterday was a day of fail. I should have stayed in bed. Between the Spanish partiers next door at 3am, no sleep, unfruitful research (on no sleep), straining my calf and not being able to walk, and then getting home late at night only to realize I left my keys in my locker at te BL - I should have just stayed in bed. i managed to get back to the BL before they closed, but what is it with me and keys? I know what it was, it was the lack of sleep and searing pain - it does something to you. My leg still hurts which means I'll be on the subway for a day or so (grumble, grumble, damn overuse injury), b/c I know it'll get worse if I keep pushing it. But today should be better. I slept soundly and I have my first IHR seminar at the Univ. College London, this evening. more people and talking!
Hang in there! You'll just appreciate the ultra-friendliness/social nature of many people in SC (and/or many parts of California) that much more when you return! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat you're experiencing is very normal, esp for many countries in Europe (and esp for those not on the mediterranean). It takes a lot of time, effort, and patience for people to warm up to you, esp if the setting doesn't include alcohol or a festival--although even at those it can be difficult. I found friends in the sterile environment of Switzerland accidentally. A group of international students stood at the train station giving out "Free hugs" (calins gratuits) to strangers. They totally freaked people out (they probably do it in London too). They pointed me to this site: http://www.glocals.com/
Maybe something similar exists in London????
P.S. after I ran into this group they invited me out to dinner that night, then to a bar on the weekend and swiss national day activities in the following week. I'm still fb friends with a few of them!
ReplyDeleteP.P.S www.couchsurfing.org is also a good place -- it's not just for staying with people. Many locals are willing to meet up somewhere to show you around town (in whatever capacity you want, e.g. museums, bars, or local culture). That's how I met another third culture kid and my first friend in Taipei, who's a good friend of mine now.
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