skylark913 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
skylark913) wrote2008-07-13 04:32 pm
skylark913) wrote2008-07-13 04:32 pm
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Greenwich: July 9
July 9
This morning in seminar we talked about diversity "London: The World in One City." I can't believe there are 198 languages spoken in London. Even after taking Linguistics 597.01 and English 570; it's still amazing there are that many languages. And all in one place. There's a building in the East End near Brick Lane that went from being a Protestant Church to a Jewish Synagogue to a Muslim Mosque now. They don't just tear down a building and rebuild it to fit he use. They re-use buildings for a mulitude of different things. Also, with all the different cultures, it's not like New York where every group is all sectioned off. All the ethnicities have little pockets, hodge-podge, about the city.
We started off at Charing Cross Rd. today. I think that's where the Leaky Cauldron is supposed to be. Ron mentions in in Deathly Hallows when they escape to Tottenham Court Rd. Anyways, today was supposed to be a look at what used to be the Irish slums at the Seven Dials. It's all nice a cleaned up now. There's all sorts of shopping there now. Retro clothes and little boutiques everywhere. We stopped at a place called Pop Boutique. I found a really cute rainbow striped dress, but it was way too small I think.
We also went to St. Paul's Church. It was built by Inago Jones. He was asked to build a church for no more money than it cost to build a barn. He replied 'I'm goign to build you the handsomest barn ever built." I took a fair number of pictures there. It was simple, but still really pretty. It opens out into a beautiful courtyard. It rained all day today, so I didn't explore as much as I would have liked there, but still gorgeous.
The rain here is so annoying. It's not like it downpours, or even rains hard at all. It's just a constant mist that nevertheless still manages to slowly soak you.
I had my left over pizza tonight. It was just as good the second time. We also discovered that Jake is an amazing cook. Tonight I am electing not to go Pub hopping with everyone else. I'm looking forward to getting some sleep. I also have to finish off Sherlock Holmes Sign of Four for tomorrow.
I don't feel like I'm really fitting in with everyone else. It's like they're all meshing and becoming friends and I'm more of a loner, tlerated and even appreciated along in the groups, but not welcomed into the fold as a friend and fellow. Sometimes I feel like my natural ability to lead and take charge is a bit off-putting. I guess maybe I just don't know how to relate to my peers who's main interests seem to be drinking and shopping. I feel like such a dork for being more interested in the history of London and the theater. I mean, I barely drink at all (I can't even finish off a half-pint) and I don't really have the desire or money to shop. I'll get some souvineer type things for my friends, and maybe 1 or 2 thigns for myself, but I have no desire to shop everyday like Erin and Sara. I keep trying to remind myself it's only the 4th day here and we'll mesh more as the weeks wear on, but I'm still nervous about it. I just talked to Ryan, and he says he feels a lot the same way. We're planning on goign to see King Lear, Taming of the Shrew, Timon, in addition to Merry Wives of Windsor with the class.
This morning in seminar we talked about diversity "London: The World in One City." I can't believe there are 198 languages spoken in London. Even after taking Linguistics 597.01 and English 570; it's still amazing there are that many languages. And all in one place. There's a building in the East End near Brick Lane that went from being a Protestant Church to a Jewish Synagogue to a Muslim Mosque now. They don't just tear down a building and rebuild it to fit he use. They re-use buildings for a mulitude of different things. Also, with all the different cultures, it's not like New York where every group is all sectioned off. All the ethnicities have little pockets, hodge-podge, about the city.
We started off at Charing Cross Rd. today. I think that's where the Leaky Cauldron is supposed to be. Ron mentions in in Deathly Hallows when they escape to Tottenham Court Rd. Anyways, today was supposed to be a look at what used to be the Irish slums at the Seven Dials. It's all nice a cleaned up now. There's all sorts of shopping there now. Retro clothes and little boutiques everywhere. We stopped at a place called Pop Boutique. I found a really cute rainbow striped dress, but it was way too small I think.
We also went to St. Paul's Church. It was built by Inago Jones. He was asked to build a church for no more money than it cost to build a barn. He replied 'I'm goign to build you the handsomest barn ever built." I took a fair number of pictures there. It was simple, but still really pretty. It opens out into a beautiful courtyard. It rained all day today, so I didn't explore as much as I would have liked there, but still gorgeous.
The rain here is so annoying. It's not like it downpours, or even rains hard at all. It's just a constant mist that nevertheless still manages to slowly soak you.
I had my left over pizza tonight. It was just as good the second time. We also discovered that Jake is an amazing cook. Tonight I am electing not to go Pub hopping with everyone else. I'm looking forward to getting some sleep. I also have to finish off Sherlock Holmes Sign of Four for tomorrow.
I don't feel like I'm really fitting in with everyone else. It's like they're all meshing and becoming friends and I'm more of a loner, tlerated and even appreciated along in the groups, but not welcomed into the fold as a friend and fellow. Sometimes I feel like my natural ability to lead and take charge is a bit off-putting. I guess maybe I just don't know how to relate to my peers who's main interests seem to be drinking and shopping. I feel like such a dork for being more interested in the history of London and the theater. I mean, I barely drink at all (I can't even finish off a half-pint) and I don't really have the desire or money to shop. I'll get some souvineer type things for my friends, and maybe 1 or 2 thigns for myself, but I have no desire to shop everyday like Erin and Sara. I keep trying to remind myself it's only the 4th day here and we'll mesh more as the weeks wear on, but I'm still nervous about it. I just talked to Ryan, and he says he feels a lot the same way. We're planning on goign to see King Lear, Taming of the Shrew, Timon, in addition to Merry Wives of Windsor with the class.