How to Lose Weight in London

I'm pretty sure I've gone down a pants size. Okay, that's an exaggerration, but here's why I know I've lost a couple of pounds being here. Those who know me also know that this would have to be a complete accident, as food and relaxation are my two favorites.

1. Be broke. Easily the best diet plan. When I go to the grocery store here (about twice a week) I pick up eight items, and eight items only: skim milk, eggs, boneless skinless chicken breasts, hummus, baby spinach leaves, whole wheat bread and, most crucially, Nutella. All of my meals are a combination of one, two, or eight of these bland yet tasty foods. Nutella is dessert :)

2. See everything. How could I possibly have time to eat when there are literally hundreds of famous and interesting places to see in this one city? I know I haven't posted on the blog as often as I'd promised, but this is why. We never have a moment to sit and relax because we'd feel as though we were wasting daylight. And heck, when the nightlight rolls around, we don't like to waste that either.

3. Jaywalk. Drivers here are insane, and outrunning them (and cyclists, believe it or not) when they come hurtling down backroads has become an athletic event in itself.

4. Refuse to learn the Tube system. London's underground transportation system might be a snappy way to get around, but it sure is complicated. And when the initiative-takers of the group get ahold of the Tube map, I have no choice but to bumble along and ask no questions. While that's just dandy with me, it doesn't bode well when I have to get somewhere by myself and end up walking for an hour. "But Google Maps said it was only 3.9 miles..."

5. Have group dinners. Sometime over the last week, my group of about ten friends within my program decided that group dinners would be a good idea. My flat usually hosts, but the boys usually cook. Surprisingly, the boys can't resist getting their Martha Stewarts on, so they always come up with complicated idea like homemade pizzas or fajitas. The girls sit back and relax with a glass of cheap white wine (sorry Daddy, it's Europe) while the boys slave away, eventually emerging with tiny crusts covered in marinara sauce, barely melted goat cheese, "diced" onions and whole cherry tomatoes. Even if it isn't too filling, it might just be the cutest sight ever :)

6. Get lost. Not that I've ever done that...but if I HAD, then I would know that British people don't respond nicely to young frantic American girls who ask where Russell Square is when they've actually be circling it for the previous 20 minutes.

7. Don't have A.C. I came into this thinking that London wasn't supposed to be hot, and apparently that's what Crawford Passage flats thought, too. Unfortunately, the temperature has been in the high 80s all week. I've probably lost about three pounds of water weight alone. (Kidding, Momma, I swear I'm staying hydrated!)

8. Have the time of your life. Find fun, interesting friends with a similar curiousity for life and surroundings. Enjoy everything all day with them. Walk until your feet hate you and let you know it. Laugh until your abdomen muscles can't take it any more. Sing and dance and eat and play and be happy constantly.

Well hey, at least it's worked for me :)

Kafreen in the UK

Here I am, taking a few minutes out of my suddenly busy and suddenly fun summer to post another blog update! I might have anyway, but this was specifically prompted by a semi-frantic email from my mother begging for contact. So here it is, Momma, I am not currently lying abandoned in a cobblestone alley OR eloping with a British soccer player--though who would really be upset about the latter?

London continues to be everything I hoped it would be. Well, that is true, but it's not what I mean to say. Really, this entire experience is everything I hoped it would be, and a heck of a lot more. Mostly this is due to my program-mates (there's an open invitation for a better term for that one) being awesome. I am truly shocked that everyone I have met is friendly, funny, intelligent and, most importantly, eager to do anything and everything that there is to do here.

...And there is a LOT to do here, my goodness. Every day after class (which we have from 9:30 until 12 Monday-Thursday) we find some way to explore the city, whether it be searching for King Tut and the original Beowulf manuscript in the British museum (failure on both counts) or finding the best pub for fish and chips and a pint. We've only been here two full days, so we haven't seen any of the classic sights quite yet, but that is sure to come...and mutiple photos are sure to follow.

Have to get ready for class now! Today, class will be followed by a group purchase of England "football" jerseys and trip to our favorite pub for the game, and THAT will be followed by Henry IV at the Globe Theatre. What a very British day!

"Sorry, I'm American."

Twenty-four hours of travel is enough to drive a person crazy. Then consider a traveler who is young, inexperienced, alone, exhausted, hungry, dragging a 50-lb (exactly!) suitcase, and, most importantly, American. What do you get? Disaster on the tube/taxi/streets of Bloomsbury.

Okay, that's an exaggeration, but my day of traveling cross-country all by my lonesome was extremely taxing, and I am happy it's behind me. London itself is everything I dreamed of--and I've only seen about three streets.

I feel the need to justify every stupid question I ask here, hence my new favorite phrase: "Sorry, I'm American. I have no idea what I'm doing." So far I've gotten about 30 dirty looks and one, "That's all right, love. Those cobblestones would trip anyone!"

Here's to hoping my record gets better in the weeks to come.