Friday, September 11, 2009
directions
Yesterday morning someone asked me for directions. For a minute, I thought maybe I look like I fit in here. Then he walked away (unhelped) and I remembered that I too, was lost.
the dream flat
This is an article published in The Daily Orange, Syracuse University's student-run newspaper, on Friday September 11th. Though it's for a student audience, it gives a good description of my housing situation in London.
If you're a sophomore in Syracuse looking to escape that cramped four-person "suite" you call home, then September marks the beginning of your off-campus housing search. Having now done the process and lived for some time in both SU and London, I can tell you this: your future "home sweet home" sucks.
I thought I lucked out with my junior year living arrangement. A front porch, fully furnished and utilities included tricked me into believing I had a great place. I moved in this June to find mice droppings, mold, leaking ceilings, cracked walls and dirty mismatched furniture. A Band-Aid was stuck to the yellowed sides of my shower, water wasn't included in my rent, and I needed quarters for the cobweb-covered washing machine in the basement. This was my reward for weeks of apartment hunting.
In London, you're given a list of recommended landlords and sent on your own if you opt not to do the pre-arranged housing. There are no restrictions to where you can live or whom you live with, though most students don't stray too far from central London. Duncan McGlashan from McGlashans Property Service comes highly recommended by former SU London students, so Jess Solomon, Peter Themistocles, Colleen Brawley, Matt Sisk and I decided to go through him. At noon he showed us three flats, and by 2 p.m. we were already having a celebratory lunch.
No offense to Ben Tupper, who boasts his record as The Daily Orange's highest rated landlord, but he's got nothing on Duncan. Monday, McGlashan invited all his tenants to a local pub for a free dinner and drinks. He passed out shots and even bought a couple bottles of champagne before sending us home.
The Dream Flat, as we affectionately refer to it, is a five-person, two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a washer and dryer, dishwasher, and garbage compacter. Here, the term fully-furnished means beautiful leather couches, all pots and dishes stocked, bedding provided, and a new TV and DVD player. They even provide an iron, outlet converters, and toilet paper. Utilities-included not only means gas and electric, but also wireless Internet, cable, and a maid service. That's right, once a week someone comes in to clean the whole flat, scrub the toilets, make our beds, and give us fresh towels. With stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors throughout, this place is nicer than my house, as are most student apartments here (the flat we turned down had a balcony, fireplace and indoor hot tub). Since SU London gives all the students a housing stipend, I only pay nine pounds a week out-of-pocket, a lot better than my $540/month rent at Syracuse.
I thought I lucked out with my junior year living arrangement. A front porch, fully furnished and utilities included tricked me into believing I had a great place. I moved in this June to find mice droppings, mold, leaking ceilings, cracked walls and dirty mismatched furniture. A Band-Aid was stuck to the yellowed sides of my shower, water wasn't included in my rent, and I needed quarters for the cobweb-covered washing machine in the basement. This was my reward for weeks of apartment hunting.
In London, you're given a list of recommended landlords and sent on your own if you opt not to do the pre-arranged housing. There are no restrictions to where you can live or whom you live with, though most students don't stray too far from central London. Duncan McGlashan from McGlashans Property Service comes highly recommended by former SU London students, so Jess Solomon, Peter Themistocles, Colleen Brawley, Matt Sisk and I decided to go through him. At noon he showed us three flats, and by 2 p.m. we were already having a celebratory lunch.
No offense to Ben Tupper, who boasts his record as The Daily Orange's highest rated landlord, but he's got nothing on Duncan. Monday, McGlashan invited all his tenants to a local pub for a free dinner and drinks. He passed out shots and even bought a couple bottles of champagne before sending us home.
The Dream Flat, as we affectionately refer to it, is a five-person, two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a washer and dryer, dishwasher, and garbage compacter. Here, the term fully-furnished means beautiful leather couches, all pots and dishes stocked, bedding provided, and a new TV and DVD player. They even provide an iron, outlet converters, and toilet paper. Utilities-included not only means gas and electric, but also wireless Internet, cable, and a maid service. That's right, once a week someone comes in to clean the whole flat, scrub the toilets, make our beds, and give us fresh towels. With stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors throughout, this place is nicer than my house, as are most student apartments here (the flat we turned down had a balcony, fireplace and indoor hot tub). Since SU London gives all the students a housing stipend, I only pay nine pounds a week out-of-pocket, a lot better than my $540/month rent at Syracuse.
The moral of all this bragging is don't stress about your housing search at SU because no matter what you do, it's not going to be perfect. But go ahead and camp out in front of Campus Hill Apartments anyways, just remember to go through McGlashan if you ever decide to go to London.
For the article online on The Daily Orange's web site, click here
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
a stepping stone
London is a great starter city. Before I left for London, when people asked where I wanted to move after college I would say that I definitely didn't want to be in a city. I didn't think I could handle it. Growing up on a farm means having a lot of space and knowing almost every person you see. My town at home doesn't have streetlights or sidewalks.
Cities are crowded and nosy and dirty and you need to use a map or public transport and it is confusing. Syracuse is a city, yes, but being a student at Syracuse University does not mean living in a city. At school, everything is made simple for you. A school bus brings you to class if you live too far away from campus. Everyone is going to the same places and SU cops can always give you a lift. There's no need to navigate or find your way around.
Being a student at SU London means living in a city. It means looking at a map and finding your way around. These are things I didn't think I could handle, but coming to London has been easier than going to NYC. In New York, I am a foreigner to the city, but no one knows that. I'm uncomfortable with the subway and the street signs and the traffic, but my discomfort is unexpected by others. In London, no one expects me to already know the tube or the streets, so I have the chance to learn these things- free of judgement- and challenge myself to find my own way around.
I've been here for a week and a day. In NYC, Boston, or even Syracuse, I would never have the confidence to go from one part of the city to the other alone once it's dark; but last night I took the tube home after a meeting around 8:30, and I was completely fine. I knew when I decided to come here that this semester would mean trying new things, but I never expected to learn so much from the little stuff. Being here now, I realize that for me- a small town, country girl- just making my own way around a city is a new, important, valuable lesson.
Cities are crowded and nosy and dirty and you need to use a map or public transport and it is confusing. Syracuse is a city, yes, but being a student at Syracuse University does not mean living in a city. At school, everything is made simple for you. A school bus brings you to class if you live too far away from campus. Everyone is going to the same places and SU cops can always give you a lift. There's no need to navigate or find your way around.
Being a student at SU London means living in a city. It means looking at a map and finding your way around. These are things I didn't think I could handle, but coming to London has been easier than going to NYC. In New York, I am a foreigner to the city, but no one knows that. I'm uncomfortable with the subway and the street signs and the traffic, but my discomfort is unexpected by others. In London, no one expects me to already know the tube or the streets, so I have the chance to learn these things- free of judgement- and challenge myself to find my own way around.
I've been here for a week and a day. In NYC, Boston, or even Syracuse, I would never have the confidence to go from one part of the city to the other alone once it's dark; but last night I took the tube home after a meeting around 8:30, and I was completely fine. I knew when I decided to come here that this semester would mean trying new things, but I never expected to learn so much from the little stuff. Being here now, I realize that for me- a small town, country girl- just making my own way around a city is a new, important, valuable lesson.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
a new favorite thing
Sunday was move-in day, which means I finally have a new stomping ground. My flat (more on it later) is in Marylebone, which is in between Regents and Hyde Parks. After unpacking, I finally got to go for my first London run. I think I studied my map for a half-hour before I worked up the courage to try and find the park on my own. Turns out it's really only a 10 minute walk away.
Regents Park has a lot to offer: tennis courts, football (soccer) fields, a track, little cafe's, the Queen's rose garden, the London Zoo, an outdoor theatre with occasional live music/shows, little ponds, and paddle boats for rent. Running through it was cleansing. London is a beautiful, classy city, and it's not as crowded as NYC, but it sometimes makes me feel too suffocated. After living in the country my whole life, one thing I've learned about myself is that I need space- and Regents Park has plenty to offer.
I didn't bring my iPod because I wanted to get the full experience. I saw a lot of new couples with babies, elderly people going for a late-afternoon stroll, and dogs roaming around without a leash. I followed the sound of music playing to the outdoor arena, and caught a few glimpses of a live show. The kind of people who walk in a park on a Sunday afternoon are exactly the kind of people I wanted to see- families and friendly passerby's, all with a smile or a cheerful nod.
Midway through my run, I passed a pretty young, 20-something woman on her mobile trying to pinpoint the location of a friend. As I kept jogging I saw her and the friend (also on the phone trying to describe her location) run into each other, drop down their phones without hanging up, and laugh. They had been right next to each other the whole time. Immediately there were shrieks of, "How are you?" and "You look great!" I smiled to myself knowing that me and my friends would have done the same exact thing. My bought of homesickness ended with the realization that no matter where you go, people are the same.
Regents Park has a lot to offer: tennis courts, football (soccer) fields, a track, little cafe's, the Queen's rose garden, the London Zoo, an outdoor theatre with occasional live music/shows, little ponds, and paddle boats for rent. Running through it was cleansing. London is a beautiful, classy city, and it's not as crowded as NYC, but it sometimes makes me feel too suffocated. After living in the country my whole life, one thing I've learned about myself is that I need space- and Regents Park has plenty to offer.
I didn't bring my iPod because I wanted to get the full experience. I saw a lot of new couples with babies, elderly people going for a late-afternoon stroll, and dogs roaming around without a leash. I followed the sound of music playing to the outdoor arena, and caught a few glimpses of a live show. The kind of people who walk in a park on a Sunday afternoon are exactly the kind of people I wanted to see- families and friendly passerby's, all with a smile or a cheerful nod.
Midway through my run, I passed a pretty young, 20-something woman on her mobile trying to pinpoint the location of a friend. As I kept jogging I saw her and the friend (also on the phone trying to describe her location) run into each other, drop down their phones without hanging up, and laugh. They had been right next to each other the whole time. Immediately there were shrieks of, "How are you?" and "You look great!" I smiled to myself knowing that me and my friends would have done the same exact thing. My bought of homesickness ended with the realization that no matter where you go, people are the same.
a little bit of culture
One of the greatest assets of London is all the culture and historical sights the city has to offer. In just one city, in a country smaller than many U.S. states, you can see a dozen tourist attractions in a single (although very busy) day. For most of the week, it seems I haven't been doing much more than running errands, finding a flat, getting lost, and exploring pubs- so when Saturday had no itinerary, the flatmates and I decided to venture out. Within 30 minutes of walking and taking the tube, we were by the River Thames and all the beautiful landmarks the Westminster area has to offer.
Our first stop was to visit the Queen, who as luck would have it, was home (the British flag flies over Buckingham Palace while she's in.) The Palace puts our White House to shame. There are elaborate statues and impeccable gardens throughout the area, which oddly enough has a cobblestone street running right through the front of the castle. From the Palace you can see Big Ben and the London Eye. We walked to these sites through St. James's Park, which was unbelievably picturesque, with swans swimming and Londoners sunning themselves on the grass. The nice thing for me about being in this area was being able to be a tourist without shame. Everyone there has come to see sights, so ogling a map or asking for directions is common.
Big Ben and Westminster Abbey were my favorite of the things we saw. The buildings look so classic and appear magical even on a busy afternoon. The House of Parliament , Guards' Museum, London Eye, and Thames River were all interesting sites and I was happy to see in person the things I've only ever seen pictures of, but I didn't really tour anything or stop at any one place too long (SU puts on cheap tours to these sites, so I'm saving my pounds to go see them thoroughly then.)
The afternoon ended with us getting lost trying to take the bus- a red, double decker- back to the hotel. Despite that minor set-back, I came away feeling accomplished for seeing so much, and grateful because you just don't see all that beauty and history so close together in the States.
Our first stop was to visit the Queen, who as luck would have it, was home (the British flag flies over Buckingham Palace while she's in.) The Palace puts our White House to shame. There are elaborate statues and impeccable gardens throughout the area, which oddly enough has a cobblestone street running right through the front of the castle. From the Palace you can see Big Ben and the London Eye. We walked to these sites through St. James's Park, which was unbelievably picturesque, with swans swimming and Londoners sunning themselves on the grass. The nice thing for me about being in this area was being able to be a tourist without shame. Everyone there has come to see sights, so ogling a map or asking for directions is common.
Big Ben and Westminster Abbey were my favorite of the things we saw. The buildings look so classic and appear magical even on a busy afternoon. The House of Parliament , Guards' Museum, London Eye, and Thames River were all interesting sites and I was happy to see in person the things I've only ever seen pictures of, but I didn't really tour anything or stop at any one place too long (SU puts on cheap tours to these sites, so I'm saving my pounds to go see them thoroughly then.)
The afternoon ended with us getting lost trying to take the bus- a red, double decker- back to the hotel. Despite that minor set-back, I came away feeling accomplished for seeing so much, and grateful because you just don't see all that beauty and history so close together in the States.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
little things
Homesickness comes in waves. Every once in awhile I suddenly realize that I can't go home for months. At school, going home is always an option. I'm so used to calling home when I'm walking somewhere around campus or on my way to grab coffee, but I can't just check-in quick here. When conversations with loved ones are so few and far between, the smaller details often get left out and the trivial parts of one another's lives become tiny mysteries, not detrimental to a relationship but adding up to make a kind of space that didn't used to be there. E-mails and Skype calls stick to the basics: what did you do? are you okay? is everyone healthy? So now I know my sister starts a new year at work, but I can't help her decide what to wear. My friends say everything in Syracuse is the same, but I don't know if they ordered cookies at 2am or who they're looking up on Facebook.
I've had to get around 20 new room keys at my hotel because I keep putting it by my phone and deactivating it, I have four blisters, and last night I ordered sausage pizza at 3am and it was one of the best pizzas I ever had- although we got a super large and it was only 8 tiny slices. I won't remember to tell you those kind of things when we talk again, but it makes me feel less separated to have you know now.
Friday, September 4, 2009
drinking with British boys
Most of the Syracuse program went out to local pubs near the hotel (Shakespere's Head and O'Neils) together Tuesday and Wednesday night, so come last night a fair share decided to stay in. I can order a pizza and watch a movie in America but I can't wander the streets of London or drink a pint of Guiness there, so obviously I did not join them.
After taking a cab to a "bar/club" that wound up only having a dozen or so people drinking casually, my future roommates and I wandered past shops and closed restaurants for blocks. Things were looking pretty grim when we came upon what must have been the theatre district, lit-up by a Dirty Dancing poster and the Lion King musical's venue. When it seemed like our night out was doomed, we turned the corner and found a small but busy pub filled with music, young 20-somethings, AND cheaper pints!
We were about to settle in to a little table, when we got up the nerve to go talk to some locals. Thank goodness for liquid courage! Our new friends were completely cool with the fact that we know nothing about their country. I expected the Brits to be a bit snotty, cold, and unwilling to give directions or recommend restaurants, but these guys invited our whole group to sit down, bought us a round, and took out a map. They circled all the spots we should see while we're here, then got out our Tube map and showed us how to get there.
Before we left, they asked how long we were visiting for. "We'll be here until December," we told them. "You're not tourists," one said. "You're residents now."
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