Money (That's What I Want)
January 19, 2003 - 8:49 pm
Last night NYU rented out a bar for all of the London students. It was called HaHa Bar. Sara and I went together. I wasn't really in the mood to go out, but I went anyways. When we got there, we ran into Lisa and Jason (Lisa's boyfriend). We talked to them for a few minutes, and then decided to get drinks. So, the drinks were horrendously overpriced. I heard another girl order a sex on the beach, so I thought I'd get that. It was 3.50 pounds for starters, which is WAY TOO much. I ordered the drink, and all the bartender put in it was a double shot of vodka and orange juice. If I wanted a screwdriver, I would have said 'screwdriver'. I guess these English people just don't get it. The bartender should have said that she didn't know what a 'sex on the beach' was. I suppose that vodka and orange juice might be the way you make a SOTB here, but whatever. 3.50 pounds was just too much to spend on one drink.
So, we mingled a bit, and I was ready to go about 20 minutes after we got our drinks. Sara ordered a pint, it was 3 pounds, which is still too much for a draw (err...pint). It was Heineken too...double yuck. I've found that Heineken is a very popular beer here. One thing that I might actually get out of this trip is an aquired taste for it, because all the other local beers are absolutely horrible. I honestly didn't think you could get any more bitter than Heineken, well, I was wrong. English beer makes Heineken sound tasty.
Right as we were getting ready to leave, everyone from our building showed up. So, we decided to stay. I honestly didn't want to, but Sara did, so I gave in. I did have fun, sort of. I got to meet Sara's friend Stewart (who I thought was gay, but later found out he was straight).
I'm starting to warm up to my suitemate, Tanya. She seems very cold, and I sort of just assumed it was her culture. I don't know if I was right or not, but she seems to be making an effort to prove me wrong. The other night she and Sara went outside to have a chat. Sara had the same impression of her that I did. Sara, though, is very upfront. If she has something to say, she'll say it. She makes her opinions and problems very well known. I really like that about her. The whole Tanya-Sara conversation started because Tanya wanted to know how and when Sara knew she was gay. I guess Tanya is really interested in Human Sexuality studies and the like. She grew up in Russia and wasn't exposed at all to homosexuality. During the conversation, Sara told her about how she thought Tanya was being excessively cold. So at least Tanya is aware now that she needs to make more of an effort. She is doing a good job I think.
I'm starting to really get depressed about my money situation. It seems like everyone here has so much money. Another annoyance is that everyone keeps saying how 'poor' they are, and how they need to conserve and budget their money. But they keep spending money like no other. I honestly don't know how they do it. Last night at the bar a friend of mine spent over 40 pounds, which is more than 75 US dollars after you do the conversation. That's ridiculous. I only bought the one drink. We've only been here about 5 days, and people are going crazy. I don't think anyone in my flat besides Sara and myself has even made anything in our kitchen. Sara only made eggs, so I don't know if that really counts. I feel so incredibly poor here, moreso than in New York, and I didn't think that was possible. It is really starting to get to me too. It seems like I can't do anything, because I know I'm here for 4 more months, and I HAVE to have money to do the little bit of travelling that's planned. I just don't know how I'm going to do this. Everything is just so expensive, and no one seems to notice. No one takes me seriously either when I say I don't have the money to do something, because everyone here says it, like it was some common phrase or something. It makes me so mad. Why can't I be comfortable enough with financial funds to do stuff like everyone else? Oh right, I forgot. (mentally slaps self across the forehead)....life and me aren't friends...that's right....how could I forget. Duh. How silly of me.
