February 12th

The research paper from Brussels was due on Monday, so everyone on my program stayed in to write their papers. Since I got mine done, I decided to get lost and explore London by myself. I hopped on a bus and took it until I came across this really cool area with a ton of restaurants and shops. As I was walking, I passed this small movie theater (they call them cinemas here) and decided to see what was playing. It turns out they were only playing one movie for 12 pounds. I had never heard of the movie they were showing, but I decided to give it a try.

Instantly, I could tell that this movie was so different than the ones at home. To start, the concessions stand was inside the theater, not out in the lobby! I ordered a diet coke, and the guy behind the desk handed me a glass bottle with a glass full of ice and limes. It was such a long way from having a jumbo sized plastic cup with free refills at home, but so European. The actual theater was tiny, but the seats were like sofas and really comfortable. Unlike home, when you buy a ticket here in London, you have to pick an assigned seat off a chart before you enter the theater. When the curtain opened and the screen was illuminated, I almost started laughing it was so small. But overall, it was a really charming theater. Not to mention, when the movie began, a few waiters with trays served food and concessions to those who ordered them before the movie started.  After the movie, I continued to walk around the area for a little, walking in a few pubs and shops before finally heading back home.


A little later, I made plans to grab drinks with a few of my friends from New Trier, Natalie Pelletier and Sarah Skalla. We met at the Oxford Circus tube station in London's famous SoHo district. We went to a pub and caught up. I hadn't seen Sarah since high school! Great seeing them, and did I mention how much I love the beer, Beck's? Good thing I'm working for Anheuser-Busch this summer and will get it for free!