The Next Step

The last two weeks of life have been some of the most enjoyable of my time here in London. I think for the first time since I moved here in August, I really felt like a Londoner and got a chance to see what it is really like to live in Europe and be "European". Here are some of the highlights of what I have been up to lately...

I decided that I wanted to really explore London...go to the areas that make the city what it is...so Kevin and I went to the Spitalfields market (http://www.spitalfields.org.uk/)...still on my market kick if you remember the last post...So...Spitalfields is NO Borrough market...but it still had enough charm about it to make me happy...check out some of the olives on sale...


Another way to describe Spitalfields is quirky, historic, and trend-settingly modern...check out this picture of the some of the architecture...

Leaving Spitalfields you stumble onto Brick Lane...this is London's answer to the East Village...it was really interesting to be walking through these distinct neighborhoods for the first time. I felt slightly out of place...but...then that kind of changed...by the end of my little trek...I felt like I was kind of getting "it". Brick Lane is classic...some of the coolest shops I have ever seen...and the hippest 100 pound t-shirts ever...Kevin told me that they were works of "art" and that is why they were that expensive...

This leads me to my next endeavor...Living in Europe allows me to see some of the most ridiculous art exhibitions ever put on...In Europe, I feel like going to the museum is a weekly activity...so I joined the party. First up was Renoir's latest at the National Gallery...words simply do not describe it...so when it makes its way to the states, do not miss it. Just an awesome 75 painting exhibition displaying all of his landscapes...the coolest thing I learn when going to these is that many of the impressionist painters were friends with each other...just thinking about Monet and Renior painting together is simply amazing...



My cultural immersion continued with the "Face of Fashion" exhibit...Being a fashion fan...but definitely not an connoisseur...I struggle with the concept of photographs as an art form...but this exhibit swayed me a bit...some of the pictures elicited a reaction...anyway...I am open to everything...

I'll end this entry with a little taste of home...My classmates and I went to "Borscht and Tears"...yep, nothing like a Russian restaurant in the heart of Knightsbridge. Anyway...lots of vodka later...I felt like I was right at home...although my dad's borscht is 100% better...


I hope I did an OK job trying to convey what some of my day-to-day going's on have been like...I wouldn't call myself a European quite yet, but more and more London is starting to feel like home. With the pressures of school and work taking a back seat for a few weeks, London's personality has shown through with the brightest of colors. Whether it is meeting friends for dinner that flew in from all over the world (Thanks for an amazing dinner Adam!), or spending great days and nights with my best friends here (Thanks Kevin and Alexis)...I feel like I am coming into my own. I can now proudly tell you where my favorite Kebab restaurant is...my favorite cookie shop...and of course...my favorite streets...

My times of fun end on Wednesday as I am going to see the History Boys...I have wanted to see this for the longest time...but...then the gloom of FINALS will cast their shadow over me for a little bit...I still can't believe that my 2nd semester at LBS will end in less than 2 weeks...

Talk to everyone soon...