Parting thoughts

28 May 2010

Sitting on the plane, waiting for the plane to take off for Newark. I think I picked up a ton of stuff this semester, my bags were unbelievably heavy and the 8 minute walk to Camden Town Station never seemed longer or more difficult. Sure enough, my one bag was like 10 kilos (like 22 pounds) overweight, which is terrible.

Last couple weeks have been a bit of a blur – after Paris, it was just studying in earnest for really, the first time all semester. Final verdict has yet to come back (in the form of exam results), but can honestly say that I’ll enjoy the return to the more regimented US university system, with its much more regular reinforcement of material through coursework and midterms. I think in the end, still managed to learn a good bit about the subjects – cognitive neuroscience and social psychology, in particular, have some very interesting material that might be worth pursuing. In general, though, felt like I wasn’t able to pace myself nearly as well as I wanted to and thus didn’t learn as thoroughly as I thought I was capable of.

My friend Gabby stopped by this past weekend on her way home from Tanzania. We had a really good time going through Borough market, with its many gourmet/specialty foods and farmers’ stalls, picking up a couple British pies for dinner that night, fish and chips/sushi for lunch, as well as a Banoffie pie (fresh banana on crust, dulce de lece, and banana cream filling), and some rocket, avocado and cherry tomatoes for salad.

I’ve really enjoyed cooking recently, after taking it up in earnest for the first time in recent memory (arguably forever) and am really looking forward to cooking with a full kitchen (and no people stealing food from the communal fridge!) this summer and next year. Mostly I’ve been sticking to preparing huge salads – beds of spinach or kale, red orange and yellow bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red cabbage + rocket + turnips, and either chicken, shrimp, nuts, eggs, or avocado. For dressing, I started with a store-bought basalmic dressing, but recently picked up some really good olive oil at Borough and been using only that and basalmic vinegar. I’ve also really enjoyed frying eggs in butter, and am looking forward to frying in olive oil + garlic/onion and seasoning with herbs. I’ve also really enjoyed cooking potstickers (love going to Chinatown to visit the Asian stores and buy Chinese foods and snacks that I missed having) with tang yuan (in a sweet potato + ginger soup – Sulin’s idea!) for dessert.

I seem to graze constantly in my room when I’m studying (yet another reason to study elsewhere – the primary ones being the constant distraction that my computer+internet poses). I’ve gone through so many punnets of blueberries – Tesco and Sainsbury’s (the two major grocery stores) seem to constantly have them on deal for ½ price, and we all know how much of a sucker I am for relative value. Also been eating lots of trail mix/nuts in general, grapes, strawberries, bananas and MANGO. Dried mango is one of my favorites, but it’s SO expensive (at least #2 for about 100g, which is nothing) relative to fresh mango (two big ones for #2), which I ended up getting.

The internet has been fabulous learning to cook (and makes it exciting to learn!). One of my favorites is the Chow channel on youtube, which has great 60-90 second cooking tips on a wide variety of things, including preparing food, recipe ideas, and even tips about grilling, preparing coffee, and wine and beer.

Related to cooking is my excitement for preparing coffee this summer. Between the CHOW tips and spending copious amounts of time in coffeeshops (especially Toasted!, a great independent coffee shop near Regent’s park in Camden that seems like it’s just run by two guys who pretty much open whenever they wake up/feel like and serves great coffee that they get from Camden Coffee Shop, as well as the toasted sandwiches that are their namesake) I’ve really started to enjoy having coffee again. Hopefully can find a good place in Cincinnati where I can get beans – also want to get a grinder and maybe a French press.

Still enjoy tea as always, and have spent the other half of my time studying away from my room at this great place called Yum Chaa (thanks to my friend Kelsey for finding and sharing both that and Toasted!). It’s got all varieties of green, black, white and even red teas, which are always loose leaf and steeped in this cool pot-cup combo, which I wish was easier to bring home (totally would have gotten one).

I think I really enjoyed living in Camden, despite it being so far from campus and the rest of the university population. Once it got to spring (and even some before) it’s been so lively, with so many great things to do all the time that I’ve been taking full advantage of.

I spent a couple days studying at the canal this past weekend, looking up to just watch the boats float slowly by as they waited for the locks to raise/lower water to the appropriate level. Living on the canal (like most sailing/water endeavors) seems like such a change of pace from America especially, but even London as well – it’s just so much slower and quiet; where else would people stand to wait 10-15 minutes at the equivalent of a stop sign/traffic light?

I already mentioned the coffee and tea places in Camden that I enjoyed, plus it’s right near Regent’s Park, which is absolutely glorious on a warm sunny day (far and few between, however, to be sure). I’ve spent a few days sitting in/wandering through its great gardens, shaded paths, open fields for sports and even some lakes/ponds where water fowl are all around.

Near the canal are also like 20 great ethnic food stands, which have fantastic smells that mix in interesting ways. I wish I had spent more time trying out (in no particular order) the Argentine food, with its steak sandwiches and empanadas, the Polish sausages, and the churros (Brazilian, not Spanish!). Camden’s restaurants were still great, however – managed to find many favorites during my time, including Yum Chaa (a dimsum place – same name as the tea place, though; confusing!), Belgo Noord (Belgian mussels and beer), and Muong Thai. I also enjoyed a crepe stand (Artisans’ Crepier) in one of the markets in Camden, which had great crepes made by friendly people, including this Jamaican who I talked to about their clock without hands (so that people give them the time they need!).

Finally, I had a ton of fun about a week ago at a New Pornographers concert at the Electric Ballroom in Camden. They had a new CD that I hadn’t had a chance to listen to carefully yet, (although NPR had a “first look” feature on it that was awesome – love NPR! Also been listening to a ton of podcasts recently, and really enjoying the BS Report, Radiolab, This American Life and Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!) but luckily they played a lot of their older stuff that I was more familiar with and the new songs they did play I recognized! They ended on probably my favorite song – the Bleeding Heart Show, and had great stage presence (although Neko Case isn’t traveling with them, I don’t think, which is unfortunate) and were a ton of fun. Thanks to Annie and Katie for joining me! Even though it was my only concert in a city where there are a ton of them (and great venues), I feel satisfied – but definitely want to go to Lollapalooza (with SHINING!? And KEVIN?) this summer to hear more great concerts. Also wish I had gone to one of the Indie music showcases every Friday at Koko, which I never got to go to =( and been able to get tickets to Passion Pit, the xx, la roux, known about the free Vampire Weekend show @ Somerset house in Jan, and Noah and the Whale – all of which I found about too late (and couldn’t get tix).

Spent my last couple days completing visits to a couple more of the art museums of London, including the National Gallery and the Cortauld Gallery at the Somerset House. Having now seen some of the major museums in Europe, including Louvre and Musee D’orsay in Paris, Uffizi and Accademia in Florence, Vatican, and Belevedere and Albertina in Vienna – it really is worth noting how London’s museums are in general, free to the public and almost without exception free to students. I’m still not sure how much I “understand” art, but I’m getting a better idea of how particular artists fit into the larger context. The stories of the artists lives (and their inspirations), shown not just through the art – but also narrated by the museums – are perhaps my favorite part; I love seeing how certain events could change the way they approached their life (and their art). I think it’s for this reason that I’m much more interested in the artists since the late 1800s, since it feels like I can relate much more to their life, and how they were influenced by their hometown, their friends and people they met in school, and the different places they traveled to and lived.

I also visited the East End for the first time – walking through Whitechapel St. with its long row of stalls. It had a very different feel from Camden, however – so many brown people (Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshi et al), for one, and many more parents with their little children compared to the many adolescents and tourists of Camden. Well worth visiting – but wish I had learned more about it earlier, because it apparently has a great market with ethnic foods and every imaginable type of clothing on Sundays along Brick Lane. I got food at Tayyab’s, reputed to be some of the best curry and one of the best restaurants in general in London, and the food I got was excellent indeed. Wish I had more knowledge about Indian food, though, to know what to order – apparently I just don’t prefer that kind of food as much; it was strange that I didn’t get it until my very last day in London, even though it’s all over and generally very good.

One of the other things that London (at least relative to Cleveland/Cincinnati) had to offer that I didn’t take as much advantage of was clubbing, whether just because I’m not inclined to go or didn’t have friends that were really enthusiastic. Would definitely like to check out Fabric, Ministry of Sound, and maybe Roxy given the opportunity?

Also recently uninstalled DotA (!!!) to help in my effort for studying, and it’s been kind of liberating. First time I’ve given it up in a while, and it’s definitely freed up time for me to do some other stuff (although some of it is arguably no more productive). Have plowed through nearly two seasons of Big Bang Theory, which is consistently funny and often hysterical (thanks to my buddy Jim for pushing me over the top in terms of encouragement to watch the show – although plenty of other friends and apparently my brother have also done so in the past; I think the show is PERFECT for Case and that everyone there would LOVE IT and thus should watch it). I’ve also obviously taken the time to do some of the stuff I mentioned above. Bottom line – may try to keep it uninstalled during the summer; just so many other exciting things to try at this point and don’t want to be distracted from them.

Having written nearly 2000 words at this point (long awaited update, I’m sure) – I guess I’ll just sum up by saying that London (and Europe) has been fantastic; so many great new experiences and some great friends that I hope will continue to shape my life. In addition, the time I’ve had to read and reflect has certainly helped me recharge and gain excitement for this summer especially, and also for next year.

Paris

15 May 2010

Just got back from Paris – kind of went on a whim; knew I definitely wanted to go but wasn’t sure when would work after spring break. I ended up just ordering the tickets one morning for the week between my first and second exams, and even though couldn’t work out going with anyone it was great just going.

Stayed at a fantastic hostel (Plug-Inn Hostel) in Montmarte, which was great as well and one of my favorite parts. The hostel staff had great recommendations and was very friendly, and the other people there were fun and easy to talk to as well. The convenient internet access and accommodations also made my stay enjoyable.

Took the super-early train from London (525 am, yech), which I actually nearly missed because I timed things poorly and missed a bus. After getting to the hostel, I went to a free tour with a couple of Canadians (Kat and Katie – confusing, right?) who were traveling before their graduation. Saw Notre Dame, walked along the Seine towards the Louvre, and saw the Tulieres Garden and ended up down by Champ Elysees, which we walked down towards the Arc De Triomph. After that I wandered down to the Eiffel Tower, with all the associated hoopla. As impressive as viewing the structure from up close (and especially, underneath it), what I like most about it is how you can see it as a beacon from all over the city. It’s hard to imagine how such iconic structures as the Eiffel Tower and especially the Louvre pyramid have been added so recently – how much have they added to the image of Paris?

Ended up having dinner at a place called le Relais Gascon, where I got the Salad Fraicheur – smoked ham, bacon, fried egg and these great fried garlic potato slices over a bed of greens.Walking to it in Montmarte, I passed 2-3 bars that had terraces that were just packed with people having a drink and smoking. Even though the weather was relatively chilly, it just seemed like such a pleasant thing to do. Being able to join friends at these places was one of the reasons why I could see myself living in/near Montmarte someday (although apparently it’s super expensive these days…)

Being able to speak a language as elegant as French would be another of those reasons. For all the stated benefits of learning Latin (higher SAT, word roots, grammar, etc.) I think that actually being able to use a language is infinitely more practical. After traveling to places where Spanish, German, French and Italian were used and being completely reliant on others’ knowledge of English, it just feels like you’re extremely limited without that knowledge of other languages.

That night, we actually wandered up the hill that is Montmarte to the Sacre Coeur (Church of the Sacred Heart). It’s an instantly recognizable church that combines many different architectural styles and can be seen from all over Paris as well. Its location at the top of the hill means that it’s got an incredible view of Paris, which just sprawls as far as the eye can see. We just sat on the steps, along with a pretty good crowd that was just enjoying the night with friends (and the fact that there are no laws prohibiting alcohol in public places). I also really enjoyed taking pictures of Montmarte at night (and enjoy night scenes in general) – wish my camera had a better image sensor that facilitated that, though…(consumerism fixes everything though =D)

Spent most of the next day at the Louvre which (along with the British museum) is probably the sprawling museum I’ve ever walked through. You could easily lose days in there, and even only trying to see the highlights I managed to spend a solid 4 hours there. The museum had famous and beautiful works from so many different eras that it makes sense that the museum used to be three separate buildings before the pyramid created a unified entrance. The inverted pyramid in the entrance of the Carousel entrance was probably even more impressive to behold because it was just as large but much more unorthodox.

The Mona Lisa was, predictably, a bit of a zoo, with a crowd 10 rows deep just jostling to take pictures – the fact that it’s behind a thick sheet of glass now doesn’t help. It actually wasn’t until I walked towards it a second time from behind the wall on which it was mounted that it captured my imagination a bit. In general, though, I’m coming to the conclusion that I enjoy the secular historic subject matter of more recent art more than the religious art that dominated the Renaissance. Accordingly, I rather preferred the rooms that had huge paintings by David, Delacroix and Gericault to those of the Italian masters.

Went on a tour of Montmarte at night – one of the highlights was definitely the café (the two windmills) where Amelie was filmed. Another of my favorites was the restaurant where a young artist used to trade paintings for food – a wise investment by the owner, since the artist was Picasso! It’s also incredible to think how so many other artists and writers, including Hemingway and Van Gogh, also walked those same narrow streets. We also walked back up to the Sacre Coeur and went inside this time; as much of a mashup as it is outside, it’s very much a traditional (and gorgeous) Catholic church on the inside. Grabbed dinner at a great hole in the wall creperie, where the space was barely wide enough for the guy to turn around. I knew it was a good place when the girl in front of me was one of the hostel staff stopping by at the end of her shift.

Last day in Paris was primarily the Musee D’Orsay, which basically picked up where the Louvre left off around the 1850s. Its smaller size and great collection of Impressionist and Post-impressionist art including Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne and others suited me much better than the Louvre, although somewhat surprisingly I had to wait in a longer line to get tickets than the Louvre. Props to both the Louvre and Musee D’orsay for not charging admission (but only to EU students – yet more money that my UCL id saved me).

Spent the afternoon walking down Champ Elysees again, where I made it a point of grabbing lunch at McDonalds, where I got a Royale with cheese (after Samuel L talked about it in Pulp Fiction, how could I not?). I also window shopped at some of the more upscale places (seems like there’s always the one area in each major European city that just has multiple stores for all the big designers). I’m not sure how intended it is, but the sales staff at these places always seem so intimidating if you walk in when there’s no one else around, and it just doesn’t look like you have any business being there. Another example of the rich keeping the poor down, I guess =D

Finally just spent the last hour wandering through the Montmarte cemetery, which occupied a few city blocks and is the final resting place for more than a few of Paris’s famous people, including Hector Berlioz. The sky seemed on the verge of rain, and it was an interesting dynamic walking through the cemetery and seeing all the different styles/states of upkeep of the tombstones and the flowers and other tributes that people had left while smiling from listening to the funny “Wait Wait, don’t tell me” news podcast. Just a strange combination of things.

Having traveled to most of the other cities this trip with a couple other people, traveling by myself to Paris was an interesting change of pace. I enjoyed the time I got to think and reflect, and enjoyed meeting and talking to different people at the hostel (including FIVE people from Toronto (in 3 different groups) out of the like, 10 that I met)