Homecoming (A Belated Post)

Where am I? It’s dark, a little muggy, and very late. Certainly not in the last location I blogged from. Must be my bedroom back home in California (at least the fan is on full-blast, and my bed is very comfy – I’ve got a new memory foam mattress cover).


Allow me to give you a little summary of the time spent since my last entry…

Back home, the old routines have returned, for better and for worse. It’s nice to be with family and old friends again; we’ve had quite a few mini-adventures since, for which I’m grateful. I missed being able to hug my dogs and play with them every day. Even just being able to enjoy all the goodies from Trader Joe’s is a well-appreciated indulgence. I’ve kept myself occupied in a productive way – I took up an internship as a production manager for a documentary (now in hiatus) – but at present, there are too few things to keep me on regular hours, which is a bit of a downer. I’ve picked up a couple good habits, though – I’ve joined the YMCA (I’m going every other day) and I’ve just about completed my first knitted scarf (I’m making another for my grandma next).

Occupation-wise, I’m not happy. I’ve been applying to every worthwhile position on the ‘net I can think of, in bursts of can-do-spirit and bouts of laziness. I’ve done a few small things, however. A sweet older couple (friends of the family) paid me to tutor them on their computer; I’ve got a well-paid house/pet-sitting gig this weekend; plus, I’ve finally got a good number of photos submitted to a stock photography website (no sales yet, however). It’s not terrible, but I’ve still got a way to go.

My dad has been pushing the idea of me continuing CSUN into grad school, studying Anthropology. Because of a few less-than-wonderful grades on my transcript, I must take the GRE test, so I’ve got some studying to do now (mainly math). Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what I’d like to do for my thesis; I simply enjoy the field, and I’ve been pretty good at it thus far. I’ll likely do something within cultural anthropology (though I’ll be tempted to take a few more classes in archaeology). And then after grad studies… Well, time will tell.  Times are difficult enough that I’m becoming more flexible by the minute.

In other news… My grandma was hospitalized, underwent chemotherapy, and now lives in a nursing home in Santa Monica. She’s going through physical therapy in order to get herself walking independently once more (she walked into the hospital and came out atrophied – I can’t tell you how furious my mom was at her doctors). It’s a very long story.


Well now I think I’ve said enough. If I keep at this much longer, the sun will be rising and once I get to sleep, I’ll be doomed to wake at some depressingly afternoon-y hour. I’m set up for a late wake-up as it is.

I’m not sure about the future of this blog… Its purpose has already been met, as the description should have made clear. I wish I were back in London now, only with a full-time job this time.

Sorry I haven’t filled in more details about the Paris and Barcelona trips… perhaps I’ll do a little of that from time to time.

Pick pocketed!

11 AM exactly… Jesus. I’d hoped to wake at 9 and get an earlier start. I don’t exactly have a reliable alarm anymore, now that my cell phone is gone. Yesterday, I think I was pick pocketed. I was trying to refrain from taking ever more pictures on my regular camera, so I snapped a couple pics of an interesting statue and some fountains in the Port Olimpic area using my phone. But then I decided to switch to my camera anyway, so I pocketed the phone and thought nothing of it till about 10-15 minutes later, when I wanted to make a short video on the beach. At that point, it was no longer in my pocket. Determined not to panic (as I’ve learned from the many times I’ve lost my lens cap), I sat down and emptied my purse and my jeans and coat pockets. Nada. I retraced my steps. Still nada. I asked around, approaching front desks and uniformed types. And you know what? It was still missing. I even tried calling myself from a payphone once, but it just kept ringing.

Did you know that it’s awfully hard to find a police officer in Barcelona? It’s a wonder crime isn’t even worse. After some searching the area, I only located a security guard, and he couldn’t help me at all. Finally, a receptionist at a local hospital gave me directions to a police station somewhere in the area of La Rambla. When I *finally* got there (the first two busses in that direction failed to stop… then I ended up going down a creepy road where I was leered and begged at… finally, some people pointed the way and after a few vague interpretations, I made it), I called home to make sure my phone was disconnected, and then set to answering lots of questions about my basic identity details, filling out loads of paperwork. I had to sit in a waiting room, awaiting a copy of the form so I could use it for insurance purposes if I need to. They told me I’m highly unlikely to ever get my phone back. I noticed a little black market activity going on behind the fruit and meat market on La Rambla the other day (I even snapped a picture, to their great annoyance)… I wonder if I’d find it there.

Well, that’s just the most distressing part of yesterday. I did have a marvelous time at the Sagrada Famila. It’s the strangest/most amazing building in Barcelona… it’s like a giant pointy sand castle. I took loads of pictures, many of which I think came out rather nicely.

So. It’s just about 11:30 AM. Gotta dress and go. I’d like to see Park Güell today.

I Can't Believe I'm in Paris!

Currently: In bed, light switched on, curtains drawn. In St. Christopher’s Inn hostel, Paris. Oui, the City of Light!

Unlike the previous night, I got back before 3 AM this time! (Sort of a long story.)

My day in brief: Today I accidentally slept in a little long, so I didn't get to do as much as I'd hoped, but I still had a nice time. I mostly explored the "Latin" area. Notre Dame was beautiful – I took plenty of pictures. It was evening when I saw it, so unfortunately I couldn't go inside then. But I'll certainly be back. I had dinner right across the street from it – onion soup and hot chocolate.

Reasons I do not like the Metro (and I miss the Tube!):

1. It's too complicated to navigate!
2. I bought a week-long pass, but it only starts working next Monday. And I can't buy day-long passes; only tickets for each trip (and they cost the same whether you take a bus or the Metro).
3. Once, I got on a train going the wrong direction and got off at the next stop to change sides, only to find that at that station I had to exit and pay again to get on!
4. There are lots and lots of RATS!
5. The stations are very dirty and not very interesting to look at.
6. I haven't seen a single musician performing... but I DID see a couple homeless men that did a funny version of hip-hop dancing.

Plans: Louvre tomorrow? Also, I’ll try to call Chloe again (I got her voice mail last time). Maybe we can meet for dinner.

On the Verge of Traveling and Fighting This @#$?% Flu

I’ve come down with the flu, and though I felt completely disgusting yesterday, I went to Greenwich with Kate. It probably didn’t do me any good health-wise, but it was worth seeing, especially as I’d put off going for so long. When I got home, it became much worse (and I’ll spare you the icky details).

The weather has been particularly wild these past few days. I’d gotten the impression that spring was on its way judging on the sunshine that persisted for a while previously, but I think winter just had one last statement to make before it becomes spring properly. About an hour ago, the sky was bright blue; and now, judging by the storm howling and beating against my window, you’d never guess it to have been true.

I stayed up nearly until dawn again, watching some insane post-midnight television programs with Agneta while I took care of some my travel bookings. Usually, we’d be watching some movies or old TV shows through the connection to my laptop, but as I needed my laptop, we just let the TV run its course. I’ve discovered some new films that way in the past; more often than not, they’ve been quite different from the films I’m used to seeing on TV back home. Anyway, this time it seemed to get stranger as time went on. Examples: I’m A Cyborg, But That’s Okay (a Korean film about a mental hospital patient who believes she’s a cyborg and fantasizes about killing everyone, but is cared for by another patient who believes he can shrink); Hello Friend (about a killer computer part); and some stop-motion children’s show with magic poo that transforms into a triangle that teleports people and animals into another dimension. Sometimes we just watched sports (OMG, sports!) to escape from the madness for just a little while. I think Adult Swim will seem quite tame after this.

Anyway, during all this weird TV-watching, I finished booking my flight back to LA (round trip was HALF the price of a single ticket!) and my flight and accommodations in Paris. I still have to book for Barcelona. I don’t think I could have possibly done any more comparing. I’m trying to stick to a very strict budget, as well as I can.

For now, I’ve got plenty to do, but my first priority is to get rid of this flu. I have a bath waiting for me now, and it’s been getting cold. I’ve already had some meds, but I need some tea, too. And possibly soup.

Loath to Make Plans

I keep clicking on the calendar in the bottom-right corner of the screen… considering my tentative travel plans. One week in Paris, and another in Barcelona. Or maybe splitting the second week into Barcelona and some other place. Exciting, isn’t it? It is, but the one thing holding me back from making all my reservations is a lack of communication… Wouldn’t it be so much better if I could share the experience with friends? I have three friends in Paris who I would like to see. I’ve sent them notes through email and Facebook – days ago – but I haven’t received a reply. Janice and I have been talking for ages about going to Barcelona together. I’ve been trying to meet up with her to discuss it, and that’s been a problem; finally, I asked her if she’s even still interested – via email – and she told me that she’s got some plans coming up that conflict with the dates I need to travel on. I’d put it off to accommodate her plans… really, I would… but I’m spending a lot of money and wasting a lot of time as it is. My parents gave me a very nice sum of money at the start of this adventure, and most of it’s gone. London’s an expensive city, and the economy is pretty unforgiving, especially to someone who intends to stay only temporarily. But let’s not go into that. It’s too depressing a thought, and I’ve already been there, many times.

I’m still holding on to the notion of sharing my travels… So clicking the “Send/Receive” button on Outlook and refreshing Facebook is becoming a semi-obsessive habit. I’m anxious, and I’m beginning to get a little paranoid. Am I being ignored? Is there something wrong with me? Is something wrong with the website/my email/their computers/etc.? I’ve thought about a few people that I’ve lost contact with over time, and have begun to ask the same questions all over again. It’s unsettling. And if in fact there is something technical at fault, or my messages have simply gone unnoticed, what if it all comes together after it’s too late? I *hate* making decisions like these…

I’ve also got to book my return flight to LA. And even in that case I’m having doubts. Just one little click decides how much time I’ve got before I close another chapter in my life. As much as I love my family and friends back home, I am truly reluctant to return. I felt so stuck there. Especially after graduation. Sitting in my bedroom, I was in the one place where my world felt unchangeable, in a very negative way. It’s a place for clinging to childhood and feeling guilty for not suddenly transforming into a productive adult. And god, in that place, I really hate that phrase.

And so, my browser remains on a dozen or so travel websites, reservations just a click away… and it’s been that way for two or three days, exactly the same. I’m considering clicking a fairly distant date – a week or two after my supposed return from the continent. Agneta assures me that she’ll have a flat by then, and I can stay with her. I just don’t know how many days will be an excess, especially on my finances. And by the way, just why have round-trip flights come up on these websites at incredibly low prices than the single trip ones? I mean, really… it’s ridiculous! I may have to buy a round-trip ticket and then feel a bit guilty for burning the second trip.

Oh, and also: I haven’t done ANY packing, nor any shipping yet! I’m sure I’ll be rushing it all at the very last minute.

TOMORROW’S PLAN: Greenwich Observatory, with Kate (11:30 AM). One of a few places I’ve long intended to visit.

Ups & Downs

I’ve done it again… another ridiculous all-nighter, going to bed as the sun rises. The previous 12 hours or so have been another roller-coaster ride. I woke up some time after noon, took a bath to soothe away some of my anxiety, enjoyed having the ability to eat in the bedroom once again, and returned to my previous anxious state, with extra nerves to spare (almost to the point of being nauseous) before it all went away, replaced by a silly kind of bliss for a while until I was merely excited, in a calm sort of way.

Perhaps this needs some explanation.

Cristina is at large once again. Fearing she will fail to return our deposits as she did with Oscar, Janice, Giulia and I have peaceably requested that she accept our deposits as rent in lieu of this, our final month’s, payment. She angrily declined. Janice moved out yesterday morning into a single room on Queensway with a “big bed” and a “verrrry big wardrobe”. More texts and phone calls with Cristina… more stress, more ridiculous claims and insulting statements on her end… She announced a day before that she would be arriving at 8:30 PM. I talked with my dad on the phone. I told him about the situation, and he warned me not to hand over any more money to Cristina. Abby, Agneta, Giulia and myself chatted in the kitchen, anxiously watching the minutes pass. Cristina called Giulia some 15 or so minutes after the appointed time (another messy conversation ensued); her accountant would be in the lobby soon to collect payment. No go, there. Giulia and I wrote a letter for the accountant to pass on to her, but the rotund fellow would not take it; she would be coming the following evening anyway.

At 10 o’clock, Janice suggested to Agneta (via Skype) that we all meet her at the Black Lion pub. Ryan, Giulia, Agneta and myself went, and Janice brought her German boyfriend (I still can’t remember his name… we all still refer to him as “German guy”, though). We all had a great time – perhaps all the more because of our stressful encounter previously. It was just what the doctor ordered. The atmosphere couldn’t have been more perfect, right down to the ancient oil paintings and leather lounge chairs. It’s a shame the kitchen was closed already, though. The place is less than a minute away; we really should have visited it a lot more often during these past several months.

Next stop for Agneta and I: Subway. She, with her classic veggie sub, and I with my regular Italian B.M.T. No chocolate chip cookies, this time. By coincidence, we saw Janice and the German guy there, too, but we separated after that. At home, Agneta and I indulged in all manner of goodies (edamame beans, pretzels + Nutella, Allsorts, and our sandwiches) and watched Dirty Pretty Things.

We talked for hours after that… About her new job, Cristina, the past, the future, Disney World, etc. Both of us have some pretty grand goals, but things aren’t looking too peachy at present.

Cristina has promised to come meet today, at 8:30 again. This time, however, I’m pretty sure I will ask for my deposit back so I can leave London a few weeks earlier than previously planned. I’ve spent a lot of my money here for lack of a job (and it’s not as though I haven’t tried my damnedest to get one). I won’t find a job in the time I have remaining, so I may as well move forward and use what money I have left towards a little traveling before I head back to California. I will challenge myself to spend as little as possible while making the absolute most of it. Can I do it within $500? Paris and Barcelona are musts. I’ve begun a list already, which I intend to make quite thorough. I’ve also got a few places left seeing in London that have been put off.

That said, I should see if I can get by with just a few hours of sleep – I would really like to check out the Royal College of Surgeons of England today.

Oops, I can already hear the horses on Bayswater Road…

A Few Good Days

I’ve had a few really good days, even though the situation in general hasn’t been great.

On Friday, I went to the British Museum (I was in awe for most of the time, and I only covered a tip of the iceberg; I need to go back and see more) went to The Strand in search of an elusive tea at Twinings (still didn’t find it; I was looking for a summer blend that I became addicted to in Disney World and never saw again), ate a meat pie (a Cornish pasty, to be specific) in front of the supposed location of Sweeney Todd’s barber shop, explored the crypt at St. Bride’s Church, had a roast hog sandwich (with Venezuelan hot cocoa!) underneath the London Eye, and walked all the way home via the scenic route through St. James and by Buckingham Palace whilst listening to the Sweeney Todd soundtrack on my iPod two times in a row. I got loads of fabulous pictures.


On Saturday (Valentine’s Day), I went to Trafalgar Square to witness a Guinness world record attempt for the most couples kissing (there were quite a few people, but they didn’t exactly fill the Square), though my best photos came of the street performers and artists. I ended up chatting with an older American gentleman standing next to me for a very long time; he’s traveled the world on business, and he had some interesting stories to tell. I thought I’d have enough time to go home to switch shoes and drop off my camera, but, well, I didn’t. I went straightaway to the Highgate Cemetery after that, where I volunteered in the landscaping working party for the second time; it was a little less tiring this time, but it was still very satisfying. I’m planning on going to the next one on March 1st.

Monday was less eventful, but pleasant. I slept in (unintentionally), but in the evening, Agneta, Giulia and myself had a cozy time watching Pleasantville. I’d ordered the DVD on Amazon after the film became a topic of conversation some time before, and the craving to see it became ever stronger; besides, it’s a great film. I think they both really enjoyed it. To make the occasion all the cozier – sort of slumber-party style (we were in our jammies, after all) – I splurged and bought sweets and soda for everyone: Jaffa cakes, white chocolate, Turkish delight, pretzels with Nutella, coke (mainly for Agneta; it still tastes like cough syrup to me), and sparkling apple juice (not quite Martinelli’s, but very good). And with the lights dimmed, candles lit and fleece blankets spread, the evening was just made. We chatted late into the night after that. When Giulia went to bed, Agneta and I doodled by candlelight, and talked at length about the main questions we ask ourselves, and how our minds work.

Today… Tuesday, I went to Camden High Street for an appointment to get my National Insurance Number, at 9:30 AM. A little early for my taste, but it was over and done much quicker than I thought it would be, in just over 15 minutes. I told Giulia I’d join her with Sabrina in a trip to Ikea around noon, but I still had plenty of time. I’d never been in that area before, so I just wandered. At first, I was unimpressed. It was as dodgy as I’d heard it was, and there wasn’t much life going on. Eventually I came upon a channel with a path running by it; remembering that the same channel wound past Regent’s Park, I headed upstream. In probably less than ten minutes, my entire perspective of Camden had changed – mainly due to the Horse Tunnel Market. My first view was from the channel, and it was pretty interesting at that point. As I ventured ever further in, it went on to become by far the most impressively eccentric market I've ever seen! I actually wore out my cell phone battery taking snapshots. Long story short, I bought two plaid, woolen skirts on sale for £15, plus a really cool Austrian felt hat from a vintage store that played 80s and soul music; a very nice French girl with short, brown hair helped me with sizes. I also got a California license plate (used!) and some vintage-style postcards inside a tunnel that used to be for horses way-back-when (the horses' stalls remained). I’m planning on going back with Kate later this week.

It’s getting late and I want to watch some “Pete & Pete” and perhaps play a little “Caesar II” before going to sleep (I’ve been in such a nostalgic mood lately), so I’ll wrap this up: I got a ton of candles and another coffee press (the glass from the previous one went missing) at Ikea with Giulia and Sabrina (Claudio’s sister), and saw a Japanese-style version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Kate at the Southwark Playhouse by the London Bridge (it was also her first time in the area, so we strolled across the bridge, to the Tower, and back before the play started). I very much enjoyed the play – it was a clever blend of Shakespeare with traditional Japanese styles, customs and language; the actors were very charismatic, too. I might even see it again. After that, Kate and I went to a pub next to the theatre (it had some kind of nautical name, and there were loads of fancy knots in frames all over the place); she didn’t have anything (her taste for alcohol is limited to very few options), but I had a Scotch whisky (Bell’s) – which I seem to have developed a better taste for since Scotland, by the way – and we chatted about anime and conventions for most of the time until heading home.



Things that suck…

1) I still haven’t found a job. Not even a crappy one.

2) The internet in the flat is still non-existent (for three weeks now), so I still have to go to McDonald’s for a connection.

3) Cristina (the landlord’s stand-in… I’ve never met the real landlord) has been lying about there being a bi-monthly cleaning lady this whole time. And we still pay for it.

Celebrating Winter!

Janice didn’t make it all the way to the Brompton Cemetery with Agneta and I; she made it only as far as Cromwell Road before the cold got to her. I was the only one with good rain boots, so wet feet became an ongoing issue for the both of them, though Agneta was kind enough to accompany me for the rest of the day (despite later complaints).



After the Cemetery, we went to the big Tesco’s near Earl’s Court to buy a few sweets and have a leisurely chat with hot chocolate, tea and the aforementioned goodies in the Costa Coffee café upstairs.

Back at the flat, I actually felt a little stiff from the long trudge, and I was quite anxious to shed all the layers heaped upon me. They did their job formidably out in the snow, but back inside, it was all a bit much.

The rest of the evening, I got a few minutes in at the nearest internet café, passed the rest of the time paid for to Agneta, and went back to spend the rest of my evening editing the photos of the day.



Looking out the window now, last night’s glorious wonderland has largely deteriorated into brown slush and foot/vehicle tracks. Much of it has melted and fresh snow must have stopped falling some time in the early evening. I must have seen a few dozen snowmen today, in all sorts of varieties – huge, teeny, carrot-nosed, rabbit-eared, on top of doorsteps, stone railings, gravestones, etc. And snowballs were flying everywhere we went, from Hyde Park to Kensington and the Cemetery. Occasionally, we had to be vigilant for sneak attacks. Snow fever seems to have taken over London… most of the businesses were closed, schools were closed today (they’ll be closed tomorrow, too), and large chunks of public transport were closed off. Gatwick Airport announced its closure last night as well. If fresh snow fails to cover today’s remaining slush, I doubt the thrill will be quite the same, but I may go for a walk in what's left tomorrow anyway. It was nice to have gone out in the snow with friends today, but I’d like to try the same solitaire-style tomorrow.

Snow, Glorious Snow

It’s nothing to Agneta, but for myself (and Janice, too), it’s absolutely amazing outside. At the beginning of the day, I never would have believed it. The weather wasn’t exactly summery, but it was bright and nearly clear-skied. The only snow I’d seen in London thus far was a dusting that lasted no more than an hour or two. By morning, all the evidence had melted away. Now, it looks like a blizzard out there.

It snowed a little a few times while Janice and I were in Chinatown for the Chinese New Year festivities, but it came down more with the effect of light confetti. We were pleased to no end then, of course. Later on, we went to a movie (Revolution Street). The snow had persisted until then, creating a fine layer over everything. We took some pictures on the way to the cinema, enjoying the apparent winter wonderland. When Janice and I exited later, we entered something twenty times more impressive. And we weren’t the only ones… Lots of others were standing in the middle of the white streets, taking pictures, throwing snowballs, and generally having a grand ol’ time. A dozen or so Italian students were having a snowball fight and singing loudly outside the hostels, on the street below our bedroom window. It went on till almost 3 AM.

…

I’ve taken over 900 photos today, and saved over 40 new Photoshop edits. I’ve made a couple videos on my cell phone, too. But no matter how I try to fix the image, the reality just won’t permeate. It looks so much like a dream outside. I’d hoped to go to bed at an early hour so that I could go out for pictures in the morning, but I’ve just been too excited by it all. I’m almost afraid to go to sleep lest I wake to find it all gone. I’ve set my alarm for mid-morning; hopefully I’ll feel inclined to roll out of bed after all.

The Gaza Protests Were Outside My Window!

I was in the middle of doing a photo shoot in my flat (the first in months!), and we got a great view of a HUGE protest outside. At first we only saw police cars (loads of 'em!) followed by a couple dozen protesters. So upon first impression, I thought the police had seriously overestimated their numbers. But then a phalanx of marchers came into view, waving their flags/signs and chanting replies to a muffled chant-leader (it sounded something like "mmmffmm!!!" "PEACE!" "mmfffmrrrmm?!?!" "NOW!!!") and an endless tide of protesters and police followed for a good long time.

I took a lot of pictures, leaning out the window -- and jeeze, was it cold! It even started to snow at some point! (Note the snowfall in the third-from-the-last image.)

My Journalism background kicked in a little... My first reaction was to call up the London papers and see if I could sell some of my photos. So, while my model, make-up artist and her friend waited, I rang up some editors and got some email addresses. Chances are they won't be run (I think that's a certainty, as they would have responded back by now), especially since I didn't get any fire or violence in my photos. I found out about that stuff later. If it had all ended peacefully, my uniquely-vantaged photos might have had a better chance in print.

Snow!!!

‘Twas four in the morning, and all through the flat
Not a creature was stirring, ‘cept myself, as I sat.
Agneta was dozing, so deep in her sleep,
And I rose to the window, just for a peep.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But fresh-fallen snow, the first of the year!

Random Days at Dusk

Back home, in California, dusk doesn’t really end the day. And at half-past four, as it is now, it’s certainly not this dark. I’ve missed an entire Saturday to sleep; we stayed up playing computer games, and I talked to Kim on MSN all the while till somewhere around 7:30 in the morning, when the sky looked pretty much as it does now. Parks, museums, and some stores are getting ready to close; some busses are finishing their run, and anyway, it’s not very interesting to explore in the dark. Back home, I might now consider still going to the beach, or going to a concert (maybe a free one at the Jimmy Kimmel show, or to the Troubadour), or just driving to some place at random; Kim, Lacy, and one or two of Kim’s friends would be there, and we’d be stuffing our faces with Hawaiian bread and listening to loud music. Or, if I were with Megan, we’d probably be going out for onion soup at the French Market while planning the next day in Disneyland.

Maybe it’s because I don’t know enough about London quite yet that I could be so bored at this moment. Maybe it’s because the only novel thing that I’d like to do at this moment is to finally visit Regent Park (and it must be closed by now). But at this moment, the reddening sky is a most depressing sight.