Where's the Subtitle Button?

Just returned from: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
This was my first conversation at the tourist information booth in Glasgow's other airport:
Me: What's the quickest way to the city center?
TI lady: (sounds of rocks in her mouth)
Me: EH? I'm sorry. Could you repeat that again?
TI lady: (rocks) twane (more rocks) dar [I only got 'there' because she pointed.]
Me: How much is the train ticket?
TI lady: (unrecognizable sounds that might have been words)
Me: Hmmm... Ok. Thank you very much.

Another exchange with a Glaswegian at Sainsbury trying to pay for my groceries:
Cashier: (sounds of something)
Me: N [1 second pause] o
Cashier: [She hands me my sandwich and diet Coke sans plastic bag.] (more noise) [I'm pretty sure she's telling me the total.]
Me: [I look at the register but the amount is facing the lady. I give her the biggest bill in my wallet.]
Cashier: [While giving me back my change] Chiears.

If only there was a button to magically have subtitles appear.

Micasa Sucasa

I've been officially published as of today. In theory, I should be happy. According to the magazine, over 3.1 million people per month fly this airline. The probability of at least one person reading it while bored sitting on a plane is pretty high. So, why am I a bit miffed?

In actuality, I wrote 2 pieces. One was the "3 of the best: Conversions". (Well, I wrote most of it. An editor's job is to edit. Blah...)
The other was a destination guide to Casablanca, Morocco. I spent an entire day scouring for any information I can find for a place that doesn't have much information to be found. So, when I opened up to the back of the magazine and looked at Casablanca, imagine my surprise when I saw this:
In my editor's defense, I do understand why he did that. I mean, these destination guides are suppose to be written by locals. Wouldn't you believe a Chinese girl living in Morocco? We're like weeds. We're everywhere!

(Yeah, I wouldn't believe it either.)

A Retrospective... Of the Last 2 Weeks

As I lay in my bed wanting so desperately to go to sleep but can't because the bar that's two doors down from my flat is still open at 2:16am, I'm left to reflect on life in London. So, here goes...

• London isn't as bad anymore. It could be that I'm just getting use to all of it now... Cramming into the carriage of the Tube to get to work, the pushing, the public drunkenness that I witness as I walk home... It's all starting to be normal. It's not to say that I like it or anything.
• However, I do like the job. Sometimes, the motivation to go to work isn't there... partly because I'm not getting paid enough to survive and partly because I want to go to all these places that I'm researching on.
• A perk of the job? The swag!!! (For those who don't know what swag is, it's basically promotional items or gifts that are given away by companies or organizations. Or Stuff We Ain't Got.) On Friday, one of the beauty editors asked if I was interested in free makeup. Now, even though I'm not exactly the glamor queen, I couldn't really pass up free crap. I ended up getting pretty prime stuff that one would pay a small fortune for. (Bobbi Brown and MAC stuff!!!) Now, I need to be friends with the technology editors.
• It's a bit odd to find the laundry machine in the kitchen. I wouldn't mind the machine in the kitchen if it works properly. However, this laundry machine, which is a washer and dryer in one, has been my Everest to overcome. It turns on whenever it feels like it. It locks itself and thus imprisoning my clothes in its "cleaning" receptacle. And it takes about 3 hours to dry 4 pairs of socks. I think it's trying to screw with me, but I will win. Just wait and see.
• One of the best ways to survive in London? Head to Sainsbury (or any big grocery chain) and look for the "reduce to clear" sticker. One night, I managed to score meals for the entire day for only 60p ($1.20). Gotta love it!
• Living in hostel-like conditions suck... especially since I'll be living here for the next 3 months. Let's just say the bathroom situation leaves a lot to be desired.
• For the guys... Consider going to Spain. I walked into the kitchen today to find one of my housemates, a Spanish girl, cooking in the buff. Shocked, I quickly turned around and walked back to my room. She said it was ok because it's an all-girl houses. Now, I'm not sure if this is going to be a regular occurrence. However, the few guys I told this story to wants an invite to see if this hypothesis bares any truth.
• It's almost 3am. The bar is closing. HALLUAH!!!
  

My Whole New World

Current location: London, England, UK


Visiting London and actually living in London are 2 very different things. I can't decide if I like it or not. I've come up with 3 theories as to why I can't decide: 1. It's because I've gotten use to living in Asia; 2. It's a big, crowded, busy city; or 3. It's because it's London.

I started my new job today in the exciting world of publishing. I showed up with my business clothes while everyone in the office were in jeans and a t-shirt. Right now, I'm trying to write a little blimp about places that use to be other places for the Easyjet (a budget airline that flies around Europe) in-flight magazine. (For those flying Easyjet any time in May, check out the "3 of the best" section.) It's hard to concentrate in an office full of chatter. (Times like this requires a cafe to sit in and people-watch, a carmel macchiato, and the ipod.) The people in the office are a bit closed off, but I think that's more of a British thing. But all-in-all, it was a pretty good day.

Lots to learn and so little time to do so!!!!!!!