a week in review

one week down, nine to go (in reference to FareShare. thirteen until i'm state-side.)

all i feel is relief. thirteen days ago, i arrived in london without a permanent place to stay or a solidified volunteer placement. sure, i had a lot of communications with organizations that had expressed interest [i.e: teaching ESOL classes to people who are homeless]. but, as i learned, interest doesn't always equate to placement.

in the end, it all worked out. my original proposal was for FareShare. i'm interning at FareShare. all of the stress of the unknown and late night freak out sessions can be chalked up to "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

it was worth it. i am completely enamored with FareShare as an organization, particularly their commitment to the environment. everything is recycled. everything. down to the point where i spent 20 minutes on thursday cutting open bags of swede (brit for rutabaga) that had spoiled before its expiration date just so the plastic could be recycled. crazy, yes, but admirable as well.

working at a food salvaging facility forces you to make comparisons about the type of food sold in supermarkets in the UK with that sold at home, mainly because you stare at it all day. it seems brits demand a higher standard of food. there's an emphasis on natural ingredients. for example, all of the chicken that passed through our warehouse last week was organic. my nestle's smarties box [think american m&m's] brags about containing "no artificial colours." i read the back of a label and can identify each of the ingredients; a simple "vegetable fat" instead of a seven syllable word reading something like "trimethyl didioxide." when i expressed my surprise about "no artificial colours" to jeredine [aka FareShare boss lady], she simply laughed and said "yeah, you americans will eat anything." what a horrible reputation to have.

closing note:

this is my third london adventure. i first arrived in this great city as a student through fsu's amazing international programs. the second time, as a tourist booking an impulsive last minute spring break. it is only during this third adventure, as a volunteer, that i have begun to understand london. working and studying have provided two contrasting experiences. working, however, has forced me to become fully immersed in british culture. i'm learning the lingo, the politics, the customs first hand from "the natives", each of whom are eager to show me the "true london."

at the suggestion of a fellow volunteer, i spent my sunday afternoon following the city's extensive canal system through paddington, little venice, reagent's park, camden town, and into islington, a suggestion that wasn't found in any of my tour books. i had the best time discovering new gardens, local art work, and the unique identity of each community.

i often equate learning with museums, history, iconic must-see buildings.... general tourist attractions. and yet, it's ironic that today, i learned the most when i stopped being a tourist. i look forward to more of these moments.