SNOW!

It's snowing in London!

And it's exactly like Vancouver. The tiniest amount of snow gives rise to crazy drivers, public transport issues and after a few inches (okay, centimeters)... A city-wide shut down. Ah, I feel at home...

Harrow

Last week, I quite literally lost my way and found myself on the grounds of Harrow School. This famous boarding school was founded in 1572 and includes alumni such as Winston Churchill, 6 British Prime Ministers and the 1st Prime Minister of India.

As hoards of little boys armored with straw hats and foul mouths spilled onto and over the footpath, I reveled in an incredibly stereotypical moment - I was amidst a heard of lads! My undressed head peered above all others as I realized that I was very far away from home. 

London is definitely not limited to the images it inspires, but it's rich history and traditional past mean some of it's most famous characteristics remain exactly as you would imagine. 

Mentioning Unmentionables

A woman sits down next to her boss on her first day.

She is new to the city and is in need of a dry cleaner, so seeks advice/makes small talk by explaining:

These are my nice black pants so I've got to find a dry cleaner right away. I only dry clean my pants. 

The woman notices an awkward reception when the boss is unable to offer assistance. While recounting the strange exchange with a friend later that evening, the woman learns that the term "trousers" is used to describe pants in the UK. And simply stating "pants" only references underwear.

Don't make love to it, FUCK IT!

My roomies had a huge family dinner tonight and I was the honorary family member. Always eager to make a splash, I decided to contribute by preparing a classic apple pie (everyone keeps calling me American Girl anyways!).

I am not a strong baker. I have not yet mastered my new stove. And I did not know anyone at this party. Pie potential was at an all-time low.

With a thin coating of flower dusted all over me, guests made their way into the kitchen to introduce themselves, so I was both flattered and annoyed by the distraction. In between introductions, I managed to line the pie plate, slice the apples and get all remaining ingredients into a saucepan. Of course, just as I lit the fire beneath the saucepan, my roommates boisterous aunt walks in. Here's how it went down:

Aunt: Sheila, you making dessert? What will you serve with that pie?
Shelly: Nothing.
Aunt: Humph. Exit Aunt.
Shelly: Return Aunt. Do you think I should have something on the side?
Aunt: I don't think so. Long pause. I KNOW SO!
Shelly: ...
Aunt: Here's some custard child. Use it well, Sheila.
Shelly: Thanks. And it's actually Shelly. Shelly giggles (nervously).
Aunt: What? You know I am talking to you. I'm looking at you, so I'm talking to you. Sheila, Shelly, whatever. Whatever, whatever. Aunt does not giggle. Exit Aunt.

What the hell was that@*!? Forget it. Back to baking...

Gasp! My pie ingredients were starting to stick to the saucepan! Nobody wants a smokey-flavoured apple pie! So how does one save a sauce that is threatening to stick and burn? Stir! Stir, scrape and stir! Stir like you've never stirred before! C'mon, don't make love to it, FUCK IT!

Soon the sauce was saved, pie baked and fear of aunt fading? Exhale.

Ever heard of Guy Fawkes?

All weekend I saw fireworks glitter the sky, Indian sweet shops bustling and seriously bedazzled women. Diwali was huge in London. And a perfect way to celebrate my foray into Indian cooking and full-on cultural immersion. I wondered if a nose ring would be a suitable next step for a burgeoning desi like myself?

Diwali is huge in London? Yes, but it normally doesn't take over the streets all weekend like it did this year. A friend clued me in on the following: On November 5th, 1605 an English mercenary named Guy Fawkes attempted to assassinate the king, blow up parliament and restore the Catholic monarch in his now infamous Gunpowder Plot. Today, November 5th commemorates Fawkes' execution with fireworks and is popularly known as Bonfire Night.

Bonfire Night and Diwali (as it's based on the lunar calendar) fell on the same day this year. So while Diwali is a big deal out here, this year's festivities were magnified by overlapping events.

Good thing I didn't get a nose ring. 

Happy Diwali!

The constant, yet rhythm-less crackling of fireworks were definitely the soundtrack to my day today. As Hindus around the world celebrate the triumph of good over evil and prepare to ring in the New Year, I was inspired to pray. Not only that, I also dined on vegetarian fare and even made my first prasad - punjiri!

Book Crossing

In order to feel at home and part of my surrounding community, I decided to open a library account. Turns out reading in London can be quite expensive...

London Library: £16,800 annual membership (I'll think about it...)

British Library: £675 annual membership (Getting closer...)

Stratford Library: Free (But I now knew how the "other half" read...)

As I left the library, I spotted a Book Crossing book! A friend filled me in on this great project where people attach Book Crossing labels onto books and leave them around cities for others to pick-up, read and repeat. It's a global library and the label can be used to track how far the book has travelled. The book I found was liberated today by the author.