english tidbits

it seems that it's been forever since i've blobbed about england, so i shall do so now!

last week, i finally got to attend a concert i'd been looking forward to for months. i had a ticket for handel's "messiah," performed at westminster abbey for handel's 250th anniversary--in easter week, no less! the concert was immaculate. i'd never seen "the messiah" live, and it was an experience. nevermind that it lasted three hours! there was a 20 minute break about halfway through, and i pushed all the old people out of the way so i could make it to the loo and back in time. england has taught me no manners.

by the end, though i was thrilled with the beautiful music, i was quite ready for it to be over. but the journey lives on--you can actually listen to the concert online (i think it's still up...). check out bb3 online, they have the radio recording of it. simply gorgeous!

ah yes, and earlier that day, chris & his friend james & i went to camden to check out the markets and shops. it's full of offensive t-shirts, smoking paraphernalia, deliciously unhealthy food booths, and punk kids. i have to go back sometime soon to get cheesy souvenirs for the homefries.

what else happened last week...oh, on friday, my buddies andrew and gabriela came to visit, and we had a nice time going around brick lane and gorging on pastries from flat 10's favourite bakery. unforutnately, i've been laden with essay writing, so i couldn't club it up with them. only a few thousand words to go...

i've suddenly realized that i haven't expounded on the joys and thrills of sticky toffee pudding, which has been the best aspect of my study abroad experience so far. when you hear the ingredients, you may think it sounds gross. but believe you me, this should be classified as a wonder of the world. it's basically piping hot date sponge cake smothered in buttery toffee sauce. i've had it in multiple restaurants, and have burnt my mouth countless times on the scorching sugar, but it's been worth it.

until tragedy struck two weeks ago.

before leaving for rome, i did an online grocery shop (they do those here! so convenient), and decided to try some store-bought STP. when the little bombs arrived, i barbarically threw them into the microwave and drooled as i waited for the treats to heat up. a minute later, as i sank my spoon into the promising goo, i noticed an odd odor emanating from the muck. in denial, i ignored it, and took an expectant bite.

and simultaneously felt vomit creeping up my esophagus. it was the worst thing i've ever tasted. it was like someone had melted a barbie doll onto a pile of high fructose nuclear waste. in disbelief--shell-shocked, even--i had another bite. even worse! i almost wept as i binned the traitorous sludge.

but, luckily great britain redeemed herself. a few days ago, i decided to try again, and braved a cup of sainsbury's stp. eureaka! i just polished off the other pot, and it was everything i could've hoped for. yay, stp!

in other news, virginia woolf is currently ruining my life, and i have to get back to this dratted essay. ah, but for your entertainment, i haven't rattled on lately about british/american differences. here are some pronunciation irregularities:

pedophile/paedophile --they say "PEE-dough-file"
tomato --they say "tuh-MAH-toh"
vitamin --they say "VIH-tuh-minn"
aluminum/aluminium --they say "aloo-MINNIE-um"
pasta --they say "PASS-tuh," rather than "PAH-stuh"
z --they say "zed"
h --the say "haych," rather than "aych". imagine teen brits saying "LET'S GO TO HAYCH & M!"

and some different terminologies...i'll put a few at the end of every british post!
quid = pounds
bum = butt
fanny = vagina
cling wrap = saran wrap
bin = trash can
rubbish = trash
car park = parking lot
full stop = period at the end of a sentence

that's all for now, folks! woolfie is howling for my attention...

x,
lilly