More Britishness

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention more British things. You must have a BBC TV licence in order to watch your TV or else bad things happen. Like they track you down with a radar van and arrest you. Actually it is more like they check their records and come knock on your door.

Also the prices of goods are...expensive. Something that costs $10 in the States costs--you guessed it--£10 here. So everything is twice as expensive. While getting my crockery and other cooking supplies together, I have been trying to spend less than £6 a meal, which has almost been working. Also a pint of ale costs £2.60--ouch! I have been trying to be frugal and costs are spiraling out of control. Anyone want to help contribute emergency relief funds?

Also they charge you 20p to use "public" restrooms. Public my ass. It's stuff like this that makes me think the states are so great. Also one of my Georgetown friends who is spending the year at the City University here got a really bad ear infection, so bad she was almost falling down and very nauseated. She went to the NHS and her application for a number had not been processed so they refused to give her care. I don't know what she ended up doing. Hooray for socialized healthcare!!!

I am drawing up a list of stuff to see in London. Besides some of the obvious ones, I want to hit the Tate Modern, Imperial War Museum, and the British Museum soon. And of course St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Parliament/Big Ben, and the Tower of London. Also Patrick Stewart is starring in a limited run of Macbeth. Unfortunately, I think it is sold our or really expensive. Funnily enough I have heard he has said his years in Star Trek did nothing to help his acting improve!!