Over the ocean and through security
Despite the six hour flight to London from New York, there isn't much that is different other than the time. New Yorkers are never too far from home when in London. While there are plenty of differences, many of the similarities stand out. Perhaps no matter what city you go to people will always be in a rush, with the exception of the homeless and drug users, which in many cases go hand in hand. London and New York are no different. Standing on a corner in anywhere in London, you can do a 360 and see people rushing and commuting in a fast pace in every direction. Taking shortcuts like stepping out from behind those awful slow walkers, stepping into the street to pass people or even cutting the black or yellow taxis, double decker red buses or MTA buses and cars off, if that person so dares. And they do dare, because the people of belonging to both cities seem fearless. The “hit me” mentality is present in both cities as pedestrians have too much faith in the driver of vehicles. I don't recommend driving in either city unless it is absolutely necessary. One reason being you miss out on details you get by walking and second, because of traffic. London and New York City both have excellent transit systems. Fortunately for London’s economy, it is harder to skip the turnstile which means more paying customers as well as less homeless people inside of stations. This is where the two cities differ. But the similarity that brings them back together is the escalator etiquette. If you are going to stand on the escalator there is an unspoken code that you stay to the right and if you are going to walk you stay to the left. However, both of these cities have so many tourists that you see this system run smoothly mostly during rush hour where the locals come out of the woodwork. This is the time where London’s working and middle class utilize the underground. It is like a well oiled machine. Those with a smaller budget can be seen riding the bus, which isn't always a bad option. Both cities can be thought of as melting pots.
There are people from all over which naturally brings all varieties of food. At Pastation there was a woman named Sandra from Italy. Her job transferred her to London roughly six months ago. She said how she has no social life here and has trouble meeting people which seemed surprising because of our interaction. Sandra and I got to talking one night when I went to Pastation alone. She sat with me while I ate my dinner and then I stood outside with her while she smoked her cigarette. By the time of our departure we exchanged contact information and planned to meet up. It occurred to me that this last similarity is not only found in people from London and New York but people from all over. It doesn’t matter where we are from or where we go, we all want to feel loved and important.
The Time Change
Many people feel fire in their hearts getting off of the plane into New York or California. People see these places as focus points in the land of opportunity. Sometimes change is what ignites something in us but that desire has to be inside of us somewhere for it to be ignited in the first place. Why wait for a change in location to make a change? Sometimes it takes a change of location and other times not. It doesn’t cost money to make minor changes to our daily lives. However, what you do end up paying is close attention to what you do. You must think about each movement instead of going through the motions. Stop saying no and start saying yes. The way we improve is through a combination of recognition and dissatisfaction. It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. If you plan on being alive for the next 21 days start today. You’ll be glad you did.
I ripped the band aid off and started to work out. I never went to the gym, instead I found spots around the city to use to help me get in shape. While I was using the underground train handle bars for pull ups and the staircase banisters for a bicycle abdominal work out I realized something. I realized that I should encourage people to work out anywhere by creating videos. My plan is introduce an account to a social media platform where followers will start to envision life through a healthier lens. They would start to recognize uses for everyday things as a means of getting in a small work out. Some people are turned off by gyms because of membership fees, social pressure, bacteria and having to set time aside. This is why it is important to incorporate some level of exercise in your daily routine. Fortunately, my classmates were willing to record certain instances. Without their help I would be back at square one, or day one. Something I wish I noticed earlier on is that I was so focused on making the videos I forgot to encourage the majority of those around me. However, recognizing is the first step to making a change right?
Kicked out of the dress store: For a good reason
Upon entering the Portobello market I was almost positive I saw the gates to heaven. The street was filled with food and shopping, two of my favorite things. There were tons of fashion items such as clothes, furs, gloves, and bags. On the shelves sat cameras, telephones, postcards, and jewelry. The market was filled with tons of food, hot and cold, meats, fruits, vegetables, breads and desserts. A dangerous place for a woman like me. I never know which to conserve first, my weight and health or my wallet. I usually justify all three by telling myself when in Rome. God forbid you do the impossible and don’t find anything appealing in the market, there are plenty of stores lining the streets. A friend and I decided to poke our heads into a dress shop so she could try on a sequin dress that was in the window. As we entered the store we were greeted by this man whose teeth were so yellow they looked wooden. He towered over us despite my friend being six feet tall herself. He most likely assumed we were not going to buy anything from his boutique but allowed her to try on one of his dresses anyways. While she was getting dressed we spoke about how we are visiting London from America and traveling within Europe. He told me I could buy one of his dresses or I could travel almost anywhere in Europe, housing, food and activities included. After that, as my friend exited the dressing room he told us to shoo and go book a plane ticket.
The grass is green in London
Patience can be very rewarding. I realized this as I was waiting to browse a rack where everything was 10 pounds. At first I was considering inserting myself between these two women that were looking through the rack. Then I thought about how I like my space when shopping. Shopping can be therapeutic and I wouldn't want someone crowding me as I search. After waiting for a short time I naturally turned around and behind me was a rack filled with 5 pound garments. There wasn’t anything I liked on either rack but still I thought to myself that discovering a cheaper rack was like a reward for demonstrating patience.
One evening in the underground I was trying to catch a train to Goodge Street. I was traveling during the tail end of rush hour so naturally the stations and cars were packed. The thing about winter is your coat becomes you imaginary friend that goes everywhere with you. Sometimes it is an inconvenience to carry around your coat but to wear it on the underground can cause you to over heat. As the train pulled up, the inside of each car reminded me of a package of sardines. Considering a train comes nearly every three minutes I decided to wait for the next train. I spent the short time thinking and people watching. The next one that pulled up wasn't as crowded as I stepped onto the train I saw a few open seats. This meant that I didn’t have to rush to a seat, I had a seat and that I had enough arm space to take my coat off. It was worth waiting.
Behind the scenes
Celebrities aren't leaders, their publicists are. Leaders are often times the ones behind the scenes. Real leaders go unnoticed because they are trying to make a change not necessarily make a name. Leaders go the distance, encourage others, compliment others and make waves doing so. Leaders may want credit but don’t force credit because they know their worth and value. While participating in a city wide scavenger hunt it is interesting to see certain dynamics come into play. Being in the front of the group gets the back of your shoes stepped on. Being in the back of the group doesn't make a person lazy or uninterested. Being behind others makes a person well prepared for what is to come. Being in the background, a person can observe one stepping in puddles, stepping on gum, knocking into others and making wrong turns. Being in the back can put one in front in no time. Leaders seem to know the value of patience and observation. We can learn from others mistakes and with that we can start at square four instead of square one. Leaders aren’t selfish they are selfless.
Despite the six hour flight to London from New York, there isn't much that is different other than the time. New Yorkers are never too far from home when in London. While there are plenty of differences, many of the similarities stand out. Perhaps no matter what city you go to people will always be in a rush, with the exception of the homeless and drug users, which in many cases go hand in hand. London and New York are no different. Standing on a corner in anywhere in London, you can do a 360 and see people rushing and commuting in a fast pace in every direction. Taking shortcuts like stepping out from behind those awful slow walkers, stepping into the street to pass people or even cutting the black or yellow taxis, double decker red buses or MTA buses and cars off, if that person so dares. And they do dare, because the people of belonging to both cities seem fearless. The “hit me” mentality is present in both cities as pedestrians have too much faith in the driver of vehicles. I don't recommend driving in either city unless it is absolutely necessary. One reason being you miss out on details you get by walking and second, because of traffic. London and New York City both have excellent transit systems. Fortunately for London’s economy, it is harder to skip the turnstile which means more paying customers as well as less homeless people inside of stations. This is where the two cities differ. But the similarity that brings them back together is the escalator etiquette. If you are going to stand on the escalator there is an unspoken code that you stay to the right and if you are going to walk you stay to the left. However, both of these cities have so many tourists that you see this system run smoothly mostly during rush hour where the locals come out of the woodwork. This is the time where London’s working and middle class utilize the underground. It is like a well oiled machine. Those with a smaller budget can be seen riding the bus, which isn't always a bad option. Both cities can be thought of as melting pots.
There are people from all over which naturally brings all varieties of food. At Pastation there was a woman named Sandra from Italy. Her job transferred her to London roughly six months ago. She said how she has no social life here and has trouble meeting people which seemed surprising because of our interaction. Sandra and I got to talking one night when I went to Pastation alone. She sat with me while I ate my dinner and then I stood outside with her while she smoked her cigarette. By the time of our departure we exchanged contact information and planned to meet up. It occurred to me that this last similarity is not only found in people from London and New York but people from all over. It doesn’t matter where we are from or where we go, we all want to feel loved and important.
The Time Change
Many people feel fire in their hearts getting off of the plane into New York or California. People see these places as focus points in the land of opportunity. Sometimes change is what ignites something in us but that desire has to be inside of us somewhere for it to be ignited in the first place. Why wait for a change in location to make a change? Sometimes it takes a change of location and other times not. It doesn’t cost money to make minor changes to our daily lives. However, what you do end up paying is close attention to what you do. You must think about each movement instead of going through the motions. Stop saying no and start saying yes. The way we improve is through a combination of recognition and dissatisfaction. It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. If you plan on being alive for the next 21 days start today. You’ll be glad you did.
I ripped the band aid off and started to work out. I never went to the gym, instead I found spots around the city to use to help me get in shape. While I was using the underground train handle bars for pull ups and the staircase banisters for a bicycle abdominal work out I realized something. I realized that I should encourage people to work out anywhere by creating videos. My plan is introduce an account to a social media platform where followers will start to envision life through a healthier lens. They would start to recognize uses for everyday things as a means of getting in a small work out. Some people are turned off by gyms because of membership fees, social pressure, bacteria and having to set time aside. This is why it is important to incorporate some level of exercise in your daily routine. Fortunately, my classmates were willing to record certain instances. Without their help I would be back at square one, or day one. Something I wish I noticed earlier on is that I was so focused on making the videos I forgot to encourage the majority of those around me. However, recognizing is the first step to making a change right?
Kicked out of the dress store: For a good reason
Upon entering the Portobello market I was almost positive I saw the gates to heaven. The street was filled with food and shopping, two of my favorite things. There were tons of fashion items such as clothes, furs, gloves, and bags. On the shelves sat cameras, telephones, postcards, and jewelry. The market was filled with tons of food, hot and cold, meats, fruits, vegetables, breads and desserts. A dangerous place for a woman like me. I never know which to conserve first, my weight and health or my wallet. I usually justify all three by telling myself when in Rome. God forbid you do the impossible and don’t find anything appealing in the market, there are plenty of stores lining the streets. A friend and I decided to poke our heads into a dress shop so she could try on a sequin dress that was in the window. As we entered the store we were greeted by this man whose teeth were so yellow they looked wooden. He towered over us despite my friend being six feet tall herself. He most likely assumed we were not going to buy anything from his boutique but allowed her to try on one of his dresses anyways. While she was getting dressed we spoke about how we are visiting London from America and traveling within Europe. He told me I could buy one of his dresses or I could travel almost anywhere in Europe, housing, food and activities included. After that, as my friend exited the dressing room he told us to shoo and go book a plane ticket.
The grass is green in London
Patience can be very rewarding. I realized this as I was waiting to browse a rack where everything was 10 pounds. At first I was considering inserting myself between these two women that were looking through the rack. Then I thought about how I like my space when shopping. Shopping can be therapeutic and I wouldn't want someone crowding me as I search. After waiting for a short time I naturally turned around and behind me was a rack filled with 5 pound garments. There wasn’t anything I liked on either rack but still I thought to myself that discovering a cheaper rack was like a reward for demonstrating patience.
One evening in the underground I was trying to catch a train to Goodge Street. I was traveling during the tail end of rush hour so naturally the stations and cars were packed. The thing about winter is your coat becomes you imaginary friend that goes everywhere with you. Sometimes it is an inconvenience to carry around your coat but to wear it on the underground can cause you to over heat. As the train pulled up, the inside of each car reminded me of a package of sardines. Considering a train comes nearly every three minutes I decided to wait for the next train. I spent the short time thinking and people watching. The next one that pulled up wasn't as crowded as I stepped onto the train I saw a few open seats. This meant that I didn’t have to rush to a seat, I had a seat and that I had enough arm space to take my coat off. It was worth waiting.
Behind the scenes
Celebrities aren't leaders, their publicists are. Leaders are often times the ones behind the scenes. Real leaders go unnoticed because they are trying to make a change not necessarily make a name. Leaders go the distance, encourage others, compliment others and make waves doing so. Leaders may want credit but don’t force credit because they know their worth and value. While participating in a city wide scavenger hunt it is interesting to see certain dynamics come into play. Being in the front of the group gets the back of your shoes stepped on. Being in the back of the group doesn't make a person lazy or uninterested. Being behind others makes a person well prepared for what is to come. Being in the background, a person can observe one stepping in puddles, stepping on gum, knocking into others and making wrong turns. Being in the back can put one in front in no time. Leaders seem to know the value of patience and observation. We can learn from others mistakes and with that we can start at square four instead of square one. Leaders aren’t selfish they are selfless.