Author: ericmistry

I am a food enthusiast and always am looking for new flavors to enjoy.
Little Lessons from Life in London (thus far)

Little Lessons from Life in London (thus far)

by ericmistry ♥ 4 Comments

1. Walking around without too much direction during the day can lead to some amazing discoveries; little food markets, hidden art galleries, and amazing pieces of architecture are literally around the corner everywhere.

2. Get some foods from the market and talk to the vendors. The food is fresh, delicious, and has a great local quality. Great deals abound, especially with produce. Also, the stand-keepers are incredibly friendly and knowledgable about their products. A meat vendor who sold me some sausages told me how best to cook them, and an extremely enthusiastic Italian cheesemaker gave me samples of his various cheeses before I chose the cheese pictured below. It's a cheese infused with wine, giving it an initial nutty, sweet flavor that fades into a mild creamy taste. It's among the tastiest (yet simplest) things I've ever eaten in my entire life, yet I only found it because I decided to walk the market route on a whim.

The Best Cheese I've Ever Eaten

 

3. People love to have a little chat, and it makes the tube ride go more quickly. Londoners are quite generally friendly, and everyone we've talked with on our tube rides or in the pubs has been delighted to carry on a short conversation between the stations. Any topic will do, but the Olympics seems to be a great one, especially if you compliment the success of it. They are so very proud of their city, and rightfully so. Everything seems well organized and there is a festive spirit in the city. A well-dressed businessman whom we asked directions from was positively bouncing as he spoke about what fun it was to have the Olympics here. A side-note on conversations that we noticed quite early: your name and other personal information are rarely, if ever brought up in a conversation. The conversation begins, and names are exchanged later if the conversation is going incredibly well, but the casual tube talks don't ever last that long.

4. Speaking of Americans… Americans are loud. Really, really loud. Now that we have started to acclimate to this environment, we tend to blend in much more, talking quietly and not raising much noise. The Americans who are tourists, passing through for a matter of days, tend to stick out quite dramatically due to their volume. It's not a judgment either way, but just something that I wouldn't have noticed had I not been living here.

5. Adventure is out there! We have already engaged in so many spur-of-the-moment decisions, and they have led to great food, great experiences, and great stories. In London, if you don't act, you may not get the opportunity again.

6. Efficient public transportation is absolutely incredible. I bought an weekly travel card (unlimited use of the tube and buses) this week to last me until I can apply for a student one, and the sheer freedom it gives is incredible. I can get all around the city so quickly and easily. After a little over a week, I feel totally comfortable and confident reading the tube and bus route maps, transferring stations, and switching lines. I was surprised at how quickly it became almost unconsciously easy.

 

 

More lessons to come as I learn and adventure!

 

Chariots of Fire

Chariots of Fire

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Last night I saw my first London theatre production, Chariots of Fire. This stage adaptation of the famed movie was an amazing experience. We went to the Gielgud Theatre, a beautiful old building with ornate detailing throughout. Everything felt so luxurious and incredible, and this was before the show even started! We had great seats and could easily see the action unfold on stage. The stage had a very creative set-up that made the blocking (movement and placement of actors) for the show very interesting and well done. The main stage was circular and comprised of one main circle, with another circle surrounding it. The outer circle moved and was used in a treadmill-like fashion to great effect throughout the show. There were also two balconies that the actors used for certain scene, and a track running through the entire theater. It was a spectacular show, and I thought it translated quite well from screen to stage. I'm still astounded (and thankful to Grinnell) that I got to see this amazing performance for free! We have seven more free plays this semester, one per week, and it's going to create memories for a lifetime. The show was inspiring and totally incredible. From the moment its iconic music began roaring from the speakers, I knew I was in for a phenomenal show. I can't wait to see what's next!

 

 

The Paralympic Torch

The Paralympic Torch

by ericmistry ♥ 4 Comments

We were walking to the tube station on by Bank Junction and heard the crowd waiting for the torch get increasingly louder. We rushed down to the sidewalk and I managed to snap this shot of the torchbearer. It was an amazing, unexpected sight that I will remember forever. The energy of the crowd and the shining, symbolic light of the torch literally sent goosebumps down my back.

 

Lunch Munch at Home

Lunch Munch at Home

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

I got home from class today and decided to treat myself to a nice, healthy little lunch after a good class, some long walks, and another morning of working out intensely. The special treat of the day was market-fresh strawberries I got at a nearby market. They were ripe, red, and totally delicious.

Strawberries, Utterly Delicious Strawberries

The lunch was rounded out with some low-fat yogurt, some pita strips I warmed up, celery, Brie cheese (surprisingly inexpensive here), a few tea biscuits, some pepper hummus, and of course, a nice cup of Assam tea, with two toffees for dessert. It was delicious and quite enjoyable. The simple food was a nice change of habit from the rather more extravagant flavors of late.

My Mini-Feast

Tea, Glorious Tea.

 

Street Art Surprise!

Street Art Surprise!

by ericmistry ♥ 2 Comments

As I ventured home from the teaching site, I decided to walk a parallel route one street to the south and see what new stuff I could find. A large set of graffitied walls caught my attention. It turned out to be a free art exhibition by LA-based Mr. Brainwash. I walked inside the warehouse that was showing the pieces and was astounded by the amazing works of art that Mr. Brainwash had created. They were just astounding pieces that provoked wonder and laughter and smiles. It was an amazing exhibit that I plan to visit again tomorrow, and I found it just by taking an alternate route home. It's amazing what lays hidden within this city, and I can't wait to see what else I'll find. Enjoy the pictures below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The British Museum: The First Foray

The British Museum: The First Foray

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Post-sushi lunch, we (Claire, Hannah, and I) had some time before our next class. We decided to adventure to the British Museum and try to see the Egyptian Wing a little. It was an incredible experience, and I could (and hopefully will) spend hours looking at every amazing detail of the vast halls of treasures. There are literally thousands upon thousands of amazing pieces, any of which could hold a place of honor in a museum back home. Though this trip was brief, it awakened my hunger to see all of the amazing things the British Museum has to offer. Enjoy the small set of pictures below, and I promise to take more with each visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi Lunch From Wasabi

Sushi Lunch From Wasabi

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

We started our first day of classes today. My first class was with Professor Prevost, a history class entitled Cultures of Empire. It seems like it will be a really engaging and interesting class. It is designed so we have to venture all over London and immerse ourselves in the historical sites we are reading about. Tomorrow we have to visit the Bank Junction (an area where seven major roads converge, and also the site of the Mayor of London's home) on our own, and then write a 1-2 page response to some discussion-provoking questions about it. I am getting really excited, and can't wait to dive into this class head first.

In any case, post-class, we were really hungry and wanting a good lunch. I had seen a variety of interesting and inexpensive places for lunch on Holborn Street on my way home the other day, so Claire, Hannah, and I headed that direction in search of nourishment.

We found it in the delightful sushi from a small, clean place called Wasabi. I had seen this chain and was impressed by how orderly and beautiful and inexpensive their food options were. Trays of sushi lined a wall cooler, and individual pieces could be bought for two pieces for £1. I went for a combo plate, the better value, and was excited to dig in!

Wasabi, a great little sushi place

I had to wait a few minutes to dig into my sushi, as we decided to save money by taking the food to go (or takeaway, as it's called here) because many places charge more to eat in, as that uses space. We ventured over to the nearby Bloomsbury Square, a nice patch of green grass, gardens, and benches, a perfect spot for lunch. There was a cool breeze and warm sunlight, giving our little park bench some great lunchtime atmosphere.

Our Lunch View

The sushi, once we finally dug in, was phenomenal! It was outrageously fresh and absurdly delicious. I had been expecting decent, but distinctly packaged sushi, but this was amazingly good. It was all tightly packed by an obviously practiced hand, and had perfect proportions. It was beautifully organized and accompanied by a delicious edamame salad. The thing that stood out the most though, was the tantalizing texture of the sushi, the rice, seaweed, and fish all stood distinctly apart. No sushi I have had in Iowa can even compare. The cool breeze, the superb sushi, and the feeling of accomplishment that came from completing my first class in London made this a supremely satisfying meal.

Awesome, clean food packaging

DELICIOUS Sushi

Sushi Detail

 

Going to the YMCA!

Going to the YMCA!

by ericmistry ♥ 3 Comments

I started out my morning at 6:00 AM, when the theme to Indiana Jones roused me from my slumber. I had packed my bag the night before and was so excited to get back in my daily exercise routine. It felt oddly comforting to put together an exercise bag, filled with the same set of equipment I've been using for years. Suit, drag suit, goggles, running shorts, shoes, socks, shirt, shampoo, protein bar, and my towel. After splashing some cold water on my face to wake up, I left on the twenty minute walk to the YMCA.

 

It was an nice, relaxing walk. The city's hum was rising as the cafes opened and people began their morning commute. I made it to the YMCA and walked on in.

My YMCA

I walked down to the front desk and chatted with the attendant. I can use my US membership five times for free, but will have to get a student membership after that. (Which, at £107 for the remainder of my time here, seems pretty reasonable.) After checking myself in, I toured the facility. It's a great place, and well-designed for the city. Space use seems to be really maximized, yet it seems quite spacious and clean as well. There are weights, cardio machines, a basketball court, spa facilities, a juice bar (reminded me of home and FUEL!!!), a lounge, a lending library (which supplied me with a copy of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime), and, best of all, a lap pool!

The Pool

Swimming turned out to be quite an adventure in itself. The lanes were sorted slow to fast, but some of the lanes were set to swim counter-clockwise, which is totally different from how I swim in the US. I also was not allowed to use my snorkel for safety reasons, which kind of bummed me out, but the pool is really nice and has courteous guards and fellow swimmers. I'm also planning on joining the swimming club which meets twice a week, so that will be a fun way to meet my fellow aquaticly-acclimated Londoners.

 

It was a perfect way to start my day, and I plan on making it a daily routine. Tomorrow I will also have time to check out the weights and cardio machines, which should add even more to my workouts. Exercise is a great way for me to zone out and completely remove myself from city noise and chaos, which is a nice break sometimes. I can't wait to get into my full routine, and live a healthy English semester.

The Front Doors

 

The Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Today, Tracey, Adriyel, Caitlin, and I visited the Notting Hill Carnival. We did not know quite what to expect, as the main thing we were told is, “It's pretty crazy. Also, don't take anything of value, including your cell phones.” Though perplexed and slightly worried by the advice, we decided to see what this famous event was all about. It was incredibly loud, crazy, and amazing.

I took along my small, cheap Flip camera to capture some of the event, but left my nicer camera and phone at home, so a few short videos were all that I was able to capture. However, I was glad to not have anything of significant value with me, as the crowds were immense, rowdy, and packed tightly into the streets.

We exited the station to a wall of solid noise. Horns and whistles pierced the air, while the bass from the numerous speakers scattered around the streets shook the ground beneath us. Carnival-goers were running back and forth, screaming and dancing, with brightly colored clothes that seemed to swirl all around us.

As we set out along the road, we saw huge crowds around the various DJs that were set up every few corners, blasting reggae, hip hop, and rap. The bass and speakers were incredibly loud, literally shaking our rib cages as we walked by. The sights and smells of the African and Carribean food permeated the air, with jerk-roasted chicken, grilled corn, rice and beans, and so much more wafting around us. (Along with, of course, the smells of old alcohol, smoke, and day-old trash that one would expect at such as massive event.)

We wandered around the Carnival, looking at all the sights and being bombarded by the sounds. We saw coconuts being chopped and served, amazing dancers, and some of the best people-watching one could ever imagine. We danced along to the beat, channeled our way through the crushing crowds, and even had some great food. I had some jerk chicken and rice from fresh off of a grill and then a little cup of cheap vegetarian Thai fried rice. (check out the jerk chicken in the video below! The fried rice was quite good, but the jerk chicken stole the show. It was incredibly juicy and completely infused with a smokey flavor. In the jubilant partying atmosphere, it even became something more; with the first bite of that chicken, I felt like I was truly there at the festival.

We finally made it home from the festival after over an hour of negotiating crowded streets to the tube stations and various tube closures and delays. It felt so quiet in the stations after the raucous carnival, but we all felt like Carnival was an unmissable experience. The crushing mass of people (literally thousands of people on the narrow streets) and the craziness of such a large party are something I will never forget. It was amazing, slightly terrifying, and I cannot wait to see it again someday.

Videos

The Man Who Chops Coconuts

Good Food Makes Me Happy

The Crowd

Music!

 

Albert Memorial and the BBC Proms Concert

Albert Memorial and the BBC Proms Concert

by ericmistry ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

We awoke today to another sunny (yes, sunny) London morning and embarked on our newest mission: find, catch, and ride the correct bus to the teaching site. Thanks to some careful pre-study of the bus system by my flatmates, a convenient red light, and a mad dash to close the last twenty feet, we caught the correct bus that got us relatively close to the site. After our arrival, we went on a coach ride around the streets of London, with narration from a quirky, yet adorable Englishwoman who strongly reminded many of us of Mrs. Weasley in both her voice and mannerisms. The highlight, pictureswise, was the Albert Memorial and the Royal Albert Hall. Built in a similar style to Westminster, these two structures are both majestic and imposing.

 

After the tour, we bought some groceries and then went home to the flat to cook lunch and get a little more organized. Later in the evening, we returned back to Royal Albert Hall for a performance in the BBC Proms concert series. The Grinnell-in-London program bought us all great balcony tickets, so we got to sit to watch the performance. This concert was themed around pieces by Wagner and was quite moving aand impressive. One solo violinist was so particularly great and exuberantly energetic with the music that he was called back for an incredible encore by the crowd's rowdy feet-stamping and yells. It was an almost magical experience seeing the concert, the performers were all so well-practiced and enthusiastic. It was also something I would have been unlikely to find on my own, so Grinnell providing me (and the rest of the group) with tickets brought us to this amazing gem of British Culture.