London. A city filled with life found in pubs, archaic architecture, a happening night scene and crowds of fun-loving Brits. On the day of my arrival, I passed through customs and was immediately confronted with a scene that could have been from a comedy show on the BBC. As I showed my information to the security guard at the immigration desk, I received a series of questions filled with sarcasm and skepticism, stereotypical of English comedy. All very fun for me, by the way.
A Portlander abroad
London. A city filled with life found in pubs, archaic architecture, a happening night scene and crowds of fun-loving Brits.
On the day of my arrival, I passed through customs and was immediately confronted with a scene that could have been from a comedy show on the BBC. As I showed my information to the security guard at the immigration desk, I received a series of questions filled with sarcasm and skepticism, stereotypical of English comedy. All very fun for me, by the way.
It went like this:
Me: “Hello. I have documents to show you.”
Guard: “What are you in England for?”
Me: “Studying.”
Guard: “Have you got the papers to prove this?”
Me: “Yes.”
Guard: “Have you ever been to England before?”
Me: “No.”
Guard: “Where are you studying?”
Me: “Cambridge.”
Guard: “The University of Cambridge?”
Me: “Yes.”
Guard: “Really?”
Me: “Yes.”
Guard: “Will you be doing any work while here?”
Me: “No.”
Guard: “Are you sure?”
Me: “Yes.”
Guard: “Any internships or anything like that while here?”
Me: “No, just studying.”
Guard: “Are you sure?”
Me: “Yes, I’m sure.”
Guard: “No bit of work on the side or getting paid for assistance?”
Me: “No, just studying.”
Guard: “Are you sure?”
Me: “Yes, I’m sure!”
Guard: “All right, there you go.”
I took a cab into London and had the joy of looking through my window as the city passed while the cabbie chatted on his mobile with a mate. He was having gal troubles and was letting the person on the other end know about it in great detail. From the ride, I gathered that the rules of the road are basically to: quickly accelerate; dodge as many vehicles and pedestrians as possible without slowing; and turn as abruptly and often as possible. It was a bit disconcerting, but also exciting.
Just as the majority seem to walk or cycle in Portland, so it is in London—but on a larger scale. The city is filled with enormous amounts of bikes, pedestrians, buses and cars that are all fighting for narrow spots on the road.
The architecture is amazing. Most buildings in London have been standing for centuries. Portland is a place to walk about and notice interesting or strange creations made specifically to be different. Traveling through London, everywhere you look you see beautifully old, charming architecture. It’s a reminder of the history and culture, where the architecture of Portland seems to be more a mark of an inclusive, “weird and proud” identity.
The city is a bustling metropolis of people pouring out of the sidewalk and dodging vehicles to hurry across the streets, often to their favorite pub. In London, it’s not the restaurants where people spend their time and money, it’s the pubs.
The pubs are where every bit of social life happens. They don’t just cater to those with a thirst for drink, they also offer lunch and dinner to accommodate social bustle and connection. People tend to drink to socialize rather than to get drunk. Coming from America, I can say that there is a big difference—though drunkenness is often the end result, it’s not the motive.
The Roxie is a club advertised as a place for disco and pop. Let me tell you, it was like walking into a scene from A Night at the Roxbury. It was interesting to see a crowd of predominately 18-years-olds (the legal drinking age here) fully engaged in the music that stemmed from the ’80s pop era while dancing their drunken little hearts out. The hits “Beat It” and “99 Problems” were pleasers for the diverse crowd that all sang and danced in unison. The crowd’s love of electronica disco-pop was evident, and the club was poppin.’
People here also consider international politics important. Most have an opinion and boldly share it. I was surprised by how closely they follow American politics, and found their stereotypes to be rather funny. Those I spoke to wondered why Americans drive such inefficient gas guzzlers (the average vehicle in England gets 30-40 mpg) and where we keep our guns (England doesn’t allow firearms, pepper spray or stun guns and considers carrying anything lethal a crime worthy of arrest), and believed that Americans can be spotted simply by their sparkling, full-toothed smiles.
The first three days I spent traversing the city, visiting notable places like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, The National Gallery and Paddington Station.
I’ve heard that Cambridge, my place of study, is a bit different from London itself; that it’s quainter, more cut off from the world and completely beautiful. The University of Cambridge and Edinburgh are my next destinations.
Until next time, cheers!
