some of the things I've noticed in the few months since moving to London:
- the flower print dresses + leggings look is more out of control than mogwais at a water park. And if you include all sorts of dresses or skirts, the phenomenon is surreal
- if someone bumps or brushes against you, they'll say "I'm sorry" afterward, but I very seldom hear someone say "excuse me" before making their move, however narrow a passage there might be
- people love talking about the weather in all social circumstances, be it with friends or strangers. But since said weather tends to change more often than a politician's opinions, it kind of makes sense. When I was in Toulouse, talking about the weather was generally a sign conversation had reached bottom-point ("sure is nice today, ain't it?" "it sure is"), but here it's often a pretty good conversation starter
- I see runners carrying around a backpack all the time, it's got me very intrigued. Especially in the morning: do these people run to work, and show up all sweaty and panting? Not to mention that, unless they live in zone 17, the workout benefits of such a habit aren't that extraordinary. Yet I see people like this every single day, so there must be a reason why so many of them take up the habit. This is probably the biggest mystery I've encountered so far, along with the proper use of "ta".
- people seldom talk about politics in public. This is possibly the biggest difference I've noticed with France, where the subject is broached about as frequently as the weather is here. Thankfully with the hordes of Frenchies roaming about one such conversation is never too far, like that one time in a loft party in Brick Lane where I found myself in a 3am vodka-fueled debate about Bayrou's merits with a downstairs neighbor. Good times.
- TM Lewin's special prices (4 shirts for 100, 2 ties for 60...) aren't that special, considering I've never seen them actually sell their stuff at non-sale prices. Does this make them the Wal Mart of luxury shirtmakers?
- when going to the corner pub after work on Thursday or Friday, you NEVER 'just get a beer before going home'. In fact merely pronouncing the statement while exiting your company's building condemns you to an evening of oddly-timed tequila shots, armies of pints, and the always-fun sudden noticing of female colleagues in a new light
- the flower print dresses + leggings look is more out of control than mogwais at a water park. And if you include all sorts of dresses or skirts, the phenomenon is surreal
- if someone bumps or brushes against you, they'll say "I'm sorry" afterward, but I very seldom hear someone say "excuse me" before making their move, however narrow a passage there might be
- people love talking about the weather in all social circumstances, be it with friends or strangers. But since said weather tends to change more often than a politician's opinions, it kind of makes sense. When I was in Toulouse, talking about the weather was generally a sign conversation had reached bottom-point ("sure is nice today, ain't it?" "it sure is"), but here it's often a pretty good conversation starter
- I see runners carrying around a backpack all the time, it's got me very intrigued. Especially in the morning: do these people run to work, and show up all sweaty and panting? Not to mention that, unless they live in zone 17, the workout benefits of such a habit aren't that extraordinary. Yet I see people like this every single day, so there must be a reason why so many of them take up the habit. This is probably the biggest mystery I've encountered so far, along with the proper use of "ta".
- people seldom talk about politics in public. This is possibly the biggest difference I've noticed with France, where the subject is broached about as frequently as the weather is here. Thankfully with the hordes of Frenchies roaming about one such conversation is never too far, like that one time in a loft party in Brick Lane where I found myself in a 3am vodka-fueled debate about Bayrou's merits with a downstairs neighbor. Good times.
- TM Lewin's special prices (4 shirts for 100, 2 ties for 60...) aren't that special, considering I've never seen them actually sell their stuff at non-sale prices. Does this make them the Wal Mart of luxury shirtmakers?
- when going to the corner pub after work on Thursday or Friday, you NEVER 'just get a beer before going home'. In fact merely pronouncing the statement while exiting your company's building condemns you to an evening of oddly-timed tequila shots, armies of pints, and the always-fun sudden noticing of female colleagues in a new light
1 comment:
Le dernier point m'a bien fait rire parce que c'est exactemebt cela ! Je n'ai pas vécu à Londres mais au vu des récits d'amis, je confirme que le "juste un verre" ets impossible à tenir :)
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