London - Day 3 -

I do not really hate Mondays. I must say this one has been half as productive as I wanted it to be. I guess things cannot always go the way we wish they did, but well in a few weeks, I guess I will be missing those long and eventless days.

It was not so eventless to be honest. Finally got a phone number and got to visit one of the biggest malls in Europe: Westfield Stratford. It is nothing like the one I have in Lyon. This one is opened and you have got space to walk, it does not feel too small and there is enough space to breathe. It actually looks like a tiny city inside. It was worth going there!

For those of you who are still skeptical about British gastronomy. Then you should know that nowadays British can cook. Yes, it is pretty shocking, I know it but it is. I discovered not so long ago that they appeared to have more and more chiefs and more cooking books than in France. This is a miracle… Well this is probably very French to look down on their gastronomy… Anyway, my point is, that yesterday evening, I have had a sweet surprise while eating, and I thank Tony for the great food, you really put the level high on that one!

Something I found really interesting to mention as well is their TV show. I watched this on the TV yesterday about mum giving birth… Well I will certainly not describe the scenes but I can tell you that it was gross and that French TV really has its way of protecting our poor little eyes and feelings.

On a more serious note.  British accent is really tough to understand; I heard this northern accent and thought to myself that it was really tough and disgusting… Though, it was really interesting to hear the difference from the south. When they pronounce baby it actually sounds like the French pronunciation “baybay”.

Another interessant day in the UK. I’ll write to you again later for the sum up of my fourth day in the land of Queen Elisabeth II. Till then, keep up and mind the gap!

London - Day 2 -

There is nothing more tiring than a second day and more exciting either. It has this sweet taste of freedom tainted with nostalgy and the fear not to deal with the things we are supposed to accomplish while being there. Today was one of those days, when fear and freedom meet and make a not so nice mix.

Fried Oreo, in Camden Market. Next step, try it !

Today was my first time in Camden Market. I had not expected anything really even though everybody came back from this place saying that it probably is one of the coolest place you can go to in London. And indeed, it is! There is only so much you can see, try and taste that one day there is not enough. My friend Julie was amazed to see so many nationalities gathered in just one place. 

Something else caught my attention, I am used to living in London but I had forgotten the fact that in this city, you are always surrounded by French. Wherever you go, it always feels like home but to be quite honest, feel like home when you are abroad, it really does not feel exotic at all! Well I guess we all have to live with this fact!

I am in this country for a long stay for the second time, but this time really feels different than any other trip I have done before. The importance of being abroad with people that you see everyday at uni is probably doing something. Not that I dislike it, it is just an awkward feeling. I am happy to be with those people I know in this very unique experience and I hope we will all make it through. 

I guess that is all I had to say to you today. I am tired because strangely even just an hour difference is enough to make me tired. Tomorrow will be a different and exciting day as it will be Monday!

Till then, keep up and mind the gap!

London - Day 1 -

London, what a beautiful city, there is nothing like London in the whole world. Though yet I am too tired to even realise I am in one of the biggest city in the world, I feel pretty amused of what this stay is going to offer me.

So first impressions of Great-Britain. I will always be amazed of the size of their underground and how efficient and organised it is. Though I almost died inside this tiny tube, there are so many people in those tiny trains, you would think you are about to die when seated, you cannot see anything but people, the air is smelly and hot and the atmosphere is kind of stressfull and noisy. I am not clostrophobic but once I was in, there was only one thing I wanted the most, get out! 

Of course comming to London for a five-months-stay requires to take lots of luggages with you. As you can imagine, this has been a real pain in the arse to travel from London Heathrow to Leytonstone. If there is one thing we could reproach the British is the lack of elevators and lifts at some underground stop. My 25 kg luggage was just impossible to carry and I am very thankful and grateful to those unknown people who helped me carrying up and down the stairs those heavy luggages! 

The weather. I guess you cannot possibly write about London without mentionning the weather. Well to be quite honnest, there is nothing to say, it is just like anywhere else in Europe at the moment: BLOODY COLD!

Final point of this one day journey across London, a nice cup of tea always cheers you up, so people staying in the UK, do not forget, you cannot stay in this country and not drink tea at least twice or once a day, that would be very unbritish so to say.

Now all I am looking for is a good night of sleep so I can be prepared for the very first Sunday in this country. 

I will keep you updated, for now I shall stay on my bed like a dead oyster.

Keep up and mind the gap!