Flem is gross

There are some things in London I'm not sure I will ever get used to.  Watching "A History of Violence" at 10 pm on a week day on basic cable and hearing the f bomb dropped every other word and seeing full frontal nudity...that always is a bit surprising.  This country's obsession with putting fruit into every pastry (mincemeat pie -doesn't actually have meat in it-, Christmas pudding, etc...I've tried a few and they all are disgusting).  One thing I hope I don't ever get used to is the overwhelming number of languages you hear walking down the street: english, spanish, italian, american (yes it is different from english.  stay tuned for my english to english dictionary that I'll be writing over the next year), polish, russian, varieties of middle eastern languages, etc.  London really is the most global city I've ever been to.  

That being said...I have to say, listening to eastern european (and even dutch) languages being spoken at early hours of the day (or any time really) really induces my gag reflex.  Add it to the list of things that make my liver quiver (other things on this list include hairy babies, birds, that pregnant dude, cheerios in milk, several stories that Jess tells me while we are both using our work phones for non-related international work calls).  I think its the insane amount of flem used to say anything.  Its really quite disgusting.  It doesn't help that my boss speaks this (its one of 5 that she speaks- whatever, I speak english, that's the only one that really matters in business, and yes, I realize that makes me an elitist).  Anyway, I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but the point is flem is gross.  Eww...I just dry heaved thinking about it.  

So Christmas is in full swing here in London.  Everyone goes out every night between now and after new years because no one is really doing work, or has done work for the past week or so.  I'm pretty sure this is where the idea of the 12 days of Christmas came from.  People are literally acting like are all on vacation now.  Its great!  I really appreciate this approach to a work-life balance a lot.  It has made my transition to a new country much easier.  I finished the majority of my Christmas shopping online (things you can do when you aren't really working) and have had the phone company come and set up, and ordered cable!  

Next week is going to be great.  Tuesday is our work Christmas lunch.  This consists of secret santa exchange in the morning, leave at noon for a lunch that goes until 4, and then parade over the bar to continue the party.  Thursday is a goodbye lunch into drinks for Sanjima (leaving to travel the world with her hubby for like 6 months).  Friday is the last day before I leave for AMERICA!! whoo!!!  I'm very excited to see everyone in dc and jersey and hopefully I'll pop into the city as well.  

If you want anything fun from London, put in your orders now.  I'll see you all soon!