But my breath fogged up the glass
So I drew a new face and I laughed..."
--Jason Mraz 'I'm Yours'
Heard this song on my iPod this morning and thought it pretty much summed up the past couple of days and really the London experience thus far (and most likely the rest of it) I guess I'm going to be a nerd for a hot second here and analyze this part of Mr. A to Z's song before I carry on with the actual meat of my post, so bear with me or just skip ahead if you don't really care. So clearly there is the whole bit about someone who is expending way too much time and energy to be what he thinks he should be or trying to fit a mold and finally when he can't anymore he decides to let it go and just create his own version of himself. Complete liberation from his past self - he just laughs about who he used to be. But then this got me to thinking about "new faces." Can the introduction of new faces - new people - into your life help you reinvent yourself? I think so. I firmly believe that we are shaped by the people we interact with. Every person you have a meaningful interaction with changes you in some way, for better or worse (that part is entirely up to how you let them influence you), so you are constantly evolving.
Ok. so now the actual posting part of all of this. So I'm pretty sure that part of the reason I came to study abroad in London was to (duh) gain a new experience. To meet new people, and to gain a greater perspective. I didn't want to draw an entirely new face (there are parts of me that I like, thanks very much), but I definitely wanted to shape things up. A little nip here, a little tuck there. Become more of the person I want to be. Some of the events/people I have gotten to know in the past couple of days have really caught my attention as new faces that will probably change me. And for the better. So I have met a ton of great people here in London - those on my program, my professors (John Lang), my bosses (who are two of the most amazing women and who are great teachers), Taleb and his friends, Arti (yes, I even changed for the better after that debacle) and now a few new friends :)
Shahar and I have been going to this pub called Stanhope Arms pretty regularly for the past few weeks. And it has gotten to the point where the bartenders recognize us, know what we drink, call me Miss Trouble as soon as I get to the bar (I've ordered way too much tequila at this place for me to even try to defend myself). I want to start by saying I don't know if I will ever find any bar/pub in the US that I love as much as this place. And I LOVE being a regular there. There is something to be said about being able to get off the tube, walk across the street, walk in, go to the bar, and have Paul, Dennis, or Tony see that you have had a rough day and immediately set a beer/shot/insert alcoholic beverage here in front of you without even asking. It was also the place we went to go watch Spain win the world cup, so it will always have a special place in my heart. But it seriously is like my "Cheers," where everybody knows my name...except they can't really pronounce it, but the feeling is still there. Dennis went on vacation :( but will be back a couple weeks before we leave. I have seen Tony and Paul every day this week (Yes, we really do go there THAT often) and its just fun hanging out with them. Tony is kinda older but not old I guess and he is one of those types who immediately notices if something is wrong with someone. And it's cute because I guess he knows us well enough by now that if he thinks something is wrong he will take a minute, come sit with us, talk a little, and just see how the day went. He also loves having us drink over there after hours, and is known to bring out the bubbly every once in a while :) Tony is the funny guy. He knows that it pisses me off when you give me lemons with my tequila shots. So he does it every time. And then promptly gives us limes on a plate. Although yesterday he gave me an orange slice, which was new :) He usually mans the bar instead of serving food (Tony does both) so he doesn't really get a chance to come sit with us, but every time we go up to the bar some sort of funny or interesting conversation will ensue. He was the one who dubbed me Miss Trouble...funny how well you get to know a person when you are serving their drinks. One night I went in and only drank cider and he looked at me funny the first two times and then finally the third time he goes "Is everything ok? No tequila tonight Miss Trouble?" Funny that. I should probably cut back on ole Jose.
Another place I have become a regular at is Al Arez...the restaurant that I have not stopped talking about ever since that first time Shahar and I went there, I know. So I went there with Shahar Wednesday night. Again, super late. Again, they were about to close up. I had told her earlier that night (after having gone there with Pratik on Tuesday night) that I really wanted to hang out with the guys who work there one night and just get to know them. They seem so nice. So we get there and imagine my delight when Ali, Ali, Hassan, Hussein, Marwan, and Ussaf (yes I learned all of their names :D) came and sat with us. We ended up hanging out with them until they went home just talking - half in arabic and half in english (Ali...I'm pretty sure you and Marwan were laughing at me, so none of your bullshit). But yah. We talked about why Shahar and I were there, how long we had left, which made us really sad, their restaurant, how I LOVE them. Hahaha. Their dynamic is so weird. Hussein is clearly the oldest one and, I think, the manager, but its kind of a quiet, unquestionable respect the others have for him. And he isn't even old. And then there is Hassan, who they refer to as a "kid." And he is. He is like 15. But they all get along so well with their little arabic inside jokes (again, pretty sure they were laughing at me but it wasn't spiteful...all in good fun). And they are perfectly willing to let two weird American girls join their little family for a few weeks while we visit London. I'm really going to miss them when I leave and its funny because I didn't even know them two weeks ago. Funny how quickly some people can enter your life. We went back last night for a little with my sister and its funny. Even though they were busier, the way they treat us didn't change. And every time they got a chance in the middle of serving or cooking, they would come out, sit, and chat with us a little. We taught marwan the standard American fist pound. Ali had tea with us. Its a nice break from going out clubbing.
I have also gotten to know some of the Mediaeval Baebes pretty well in the past few days. We had a photo shoot for them at work yesterday and I helped get them ready, get make up on them, and then just went about my business as the "Baebes Effect" took over the office. They are great women who have this infectious spirit that makes everyone around them want to smile. Goal: be that type of person. I had little odd ended chats with all of them, but I had some very decent conversations with Bev and Melpomeni (pom is the one who is doing a solo thing as well and has her debut album coming out July 26th!) They each seemed really interested in why I was here doing what I'm doing and what I wanted to do. Pom and I were left alone for a little when other stuff was going on. This is a woman who has really experienced life. She is probably late 30s early 40s? She just recently finished an album she literally created on her own that has been in the works for around 10 years. She Is working on a show and and album with the baebes. During all of this she has had to deal with the recent loss of two close friends. And she was interested in what I was up to? My head would have been spinning. Her advice to me was "go where passion takes you." She told me if I started doing something and didn't like it, it was never too late to quit that and start something else. Which is something I think lots of people forget. Yes, you may have to adjust your lifestyle a little, but in the end you will be a happier person. Nothing is set in stone unless you make it so.
Speaking of reinvention, sidenote about the photo shoot, it struck me as pretty cool how the girls practically transformed into these gorgeous purple fairies before my very eyes with the help of some dresses, sparkle, glitter, and an amazing makeup artist. It was like playing dress up with some professional help. Sometimes you just have to play around a little - nothing wrong with a little make believe. Who knows. Maybe it will come true :)
Ok. My last bit on this whole reinvention bit, and then I promise I"ll stop badgering you with it. This is more just an odd, absent minded happening that I still can't believe so I thought I'd tell you about it. The other day I sat down to write a blog entry. I was at work, doing about 7389 different things between my projects, the merch, the press database updates, and chasing via e-mail for Nick's album launch. I was not really paying attention to what I was writing and I think my subconscious took over or I decided that I wanted to write a story or lie or I have no idea, but when I looked down to read what I had written I realized that practically none of it was true. No truth. Just lots of what I wish was the truth. So I went back, fleshed it out, and I guess I might be writing a story now. I'm not sure though. But hopefully somewhere down the line I can make some of that stuff reality. All a matter of time I guess :)
On another note, Taleb asked me out on a date yesterday. A proper one. And my response to him was "I dunno." I know. Not the ideal response and probably not the one he was looking for. So this morning, on my tube ride to work, I tried to figure out what I wanted to say - we wouldn't go till Sunday or Monday because my family is here this weekend. And as I thought about it I realized my standard (maybe excuse) of "I just really am not interested in a relationship" really won't work here because its I'm here for about 3 more weeks. Not really enough time to start a relationship, is it? So then what do I have to lose? A nice night with good company - someone I already know I have good conversation with? That's not really such a huge loss is it. And I feel like I have been pretty honest with him (as I try to be with guys) in that I thought of us as just friends and I didn't really think anything more was such a great idea. But if its just fun, then why not? I could do with three weeks of some fun. I like going on dates. It's the dating part that turns me off. So today it's looking like a yes.
But I'm not gonna tell him that yet. Just in case I decide no tomorrow. Cause then I would be evil.
In other news, I JUST heard on the radio that Democracy Village, a camp of protesters that stay in Parliament Square, have just lost a legal battle and will now be evicted from the area they have occupied. I am happy I got to go before it got shut down, but I'm pretty sad that it is getting shut down. I was so excited to see it the day I went sight seeing with Pratik, the rachels, and maggie.Radhi
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