Cross-Country Runner

More Updates on Life Across the Pond:

1. Thursday, February 5^th was World Nutella Day. I had planned to try to come up with a recipe using Nutella. I even bought a new jar specifically for this purpose but well, this is what happened a couple of nights before the big day:

Yup, thats a chocolate chip cookie with Nutella on top...

The saddest sight ever... an EMPTY jar of Nutella.

If you’re looking for recipes though and don’t want to eat Nutella on chocolate chip cookies or with a spoon, like I enjoy, then check out: www.nutelladay.com

I’m planning on trying out some of the recipes.  They look amazing!  Happy World Nutella Day!

2. I made a new friend here in London. She actually goes to the same school as I do back at home and has a similar name as I do, so I think I’m going to call her OJ (no not Simpson)… OJ as in other J. Anyway, yesterday we decided to take a trip to Tate Britain to see the exhibit ‘Altermodern.’

Let me just say, if you’re in London and haven’t seen this exhibit yet, go! It’s worth paying the fee to view the exhibit (Tate Britain is free but to see this exhibit there’s a fee… with a student ID card it cost me £4.90.) Altermodern addresses a new movement in art that’s arising as the world becomes more globalized and interconnected. It’s basically post-postmodernism. The art work is at sometimes a bit weird but extremely interesting and frankly, really really cool!

Here’s a link with more info on the exhibit http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/altermodern/default.shtm

If you go see the exhibit, let me know what you think! Oh and when you get to Gustav Metzger’s piece entitled ‘Liquid Crystal Environment’ grab one of the big pillows and lie down on the floor for at least ten minutes to enjoy it. I was completely entranced by his piece and would probably pay the fee again just to go there if I’m having a bad day. It’s so relaxing!

3. In other news, I’ve finally figured out what’s causing my allergic reaction. I’m vegetarian and so I often buy “fake meat” products to help my body get the protein it needs. I bought a variety of products here in the UK when I first arrived and assumed they were all made out of soy like they are in the United States. Apparently they’re not! They’re made out of fungi called mycoprotein. On the website of the company that manufactures these products, the company advises that anyone who is allergic to mold or penicillin be careful when ingesting their products (this information isn’t on the package of any of the products though… because London was trying to kill me.) About 1 in 100,000 people have severe allergic reactions to mycoprotein. Yup, I’m allergic to penicillin and am the lucky 1 in 100,000 people! Since I’ve stopped eating this stuff I’ve thankfully been fine. I just wish I found out about this ingredient a lot earlier.  I wasted so many days being sick.

Seriously what the hell is wrong with soy? Why use a fungus to make fake meat? Whatever… London, you’re not getting rid of me that easily! Stupid fungi…

-J

I apologize for not writing all week especially since I had not one but TWO snow days and therefore ample time to write! I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that the UK was hit with the biggest snow storm in over two decades and that basically the entire country shut down because of it.

The storm started last Sunday (February 1^st) and it lasted through Monday. My classes were cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. This worked out great since Sunday was the Superbowl and I was up late here watching it with friends.  The Superbowl was then followed by a snowball fight!

Where I am in London we couldn’t have gotten more than 5 inches of snow but the city completely shut down. It was actually pretty comical. There was no system to remove the snow from the walkways; instead it melted a bit, turned to ice etc. Buses were not running, and the subways were ridiculously delayed. Moreover, students on campus were overly excited about the snow and if you dared to venture outside you were promptly hit with an array of snowballs coming from every direction (from complete strangers.) If this was New York, the snow would have been removed immediately, the buses would definitely not have stopped running (but of course been delayed,) classes wouldn’t have been cancelled and if you hit a complete stranger with a snowball they’d curse you out or punch you in the face. Regardless though, it was sooooo nice having two days to sleep in and relax. I hung out with my friend C most of the time and enjoyed being silly and lazy.

Here’s the view from my window of some Brits engaged in a snowball fight!

Mile End Park is in the background looking especially beautiful covered in snow.

As you’ll recall, I was supposed to go to the opera with BC on Monday. We found out late afternoon that it was cancelled and that we could transfer our tickets to another day. Unfortunately, BC did not consult me first and he changed the tickets to Wednesday (which was the new opening night.) I had a presentation in class the next morning though on a book that was nearly 600 pages and in which my professor was an expert on. I still went to the opera with BC but was panicked about the presentation most of the time.

BC and I left around 5pm to head out to the opera. We got our tickets and had a quick meal and a glass of wine at a nice place around the corner. BC then insisted we grab a glass of champagne at the Skybar before the performance which we did. Two glasses of champagne cost over seventeen pounds. Thanks BC! I come from a humble background. I certainly did not need all of that but it was a very nice gesture.

Our seats where a bit closer than our original seats would have been. I had a great view of the stage. I was a bit disappointed a first that the Le Boheme was translated into English but it was actually quite interesting to see it performed this way. The actress who played Mimi was especially wonderful. Her voice was really breathtaking.

I had to sneak to take this picture and was quickly scolded for taking it.  I wish I could have taken a better picture.  The venue was gorgeous.

And to top it all off, I rocked my presentation the next morning!

-J