London is "shocking": My First Day

It took us a few minutes to find Donovan's car in the parking garage but we eventually found it and arrived back at his flat. The front entrance is pictured above. The room above with the globe in the window is our room. It is so nice and he made me a nice breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast! Yummy! I took a nap and then he ran me a bubble bath...seriously you can't find guys like this anymore!



After I was nice and refreshed we went to the city of High Wycombe and I bought shampoo and stuff. The mall/city/town of High Wycombe reminded me very much of the mall in Miami...all open with a waterfall thing in the middle...very cool. There are nice cobblestone streets and lots of vendors too. To the left you will see a clock that is in the town. Here are all the bananas we got for 1 pound!



For dinner, we went to this Indian restaurant down the road called The Mowchak. I got a delicious spicy prawn meal (prawns are like shrimp) and Donovan got a spicy lamb meal. We also had a cool appetizer- some type of chip that you dip in all these different dips. And this "Non-bread" which was basically pizza! It was very posh and they gave us these lemon hot wash cloths to pat our faces at the end.

Anyway, so we had a lot of food leftover and asked the server to put it in a box so we can take it home. He came back with a veryyyy small box and Donovan asked him if he was coming back with the rest of our leftovers. Yes..yes...he told us. We waited a few minutes...then asked again...."yes yes" he told us again. So we just left. We got into the car and started to get angry. We wanted to eat that for lunch tomorrow!! What is in this box? So we looked and it seemed to be just a bit of Donovan's lamb. So we turned around and went back to the restaurant. I went in and asked them where the rest of our food was...the prawns...the rice...the "pizza"...the guy opened the little box and pointed to the prawn inside the box. "It is all there", he said. I responded, "Well now Donovan can't eat it because he's allergic to seafood!" The man then said, "Ahhh Miss...when people take home doggy bag they give to dog so we just mush everything together. You must specify if you want things seperate." At this point, I am just pissed because first of all, who gives spicy Indian curry to their dogs? That's gotta stink! And secondly, isn't that an insult to their restaurant-telling me people just give their food to their dogs?! As a parting gift, the man gave me some rice. As I walked out, I heard them mumble something about "American". Lesson learned: ask for a box when taking home leftovers.

Later that night....

The next day we were going to leave early because Donovan had work and I was going to come along for the drive to see some of the country. So I showered and wanted to blow dry my hair. I asked Donovan for a universal plug because obviously American plugs don't work in European outlets. I couldn't get the plug into the universal outlet so Donovan used a pen and got it in. Then he handed the blow dryer to me...paused...and said, "wait--let me test it first". So he reaches down for the outlet and a HUGE spark flys out and Donovan falls to the ground--UNCONSCIOUS! I am in complete panic screaming and crying and staring at the phone screaming "HOW DO YOU CALL 9-1-1?!?!?!" Donovan is just laying there on the ground with his eyes closed. I thought he was dead and it was all my fault for wanting to blow dry my hair. After a few seconds (which seemed like eternity) he awoke and said "I'm fine" and stood up. His fingers were black and burnt where the shock hit him and there is even a burn mark on the underside of the table. He is fine now...which is why I can "blog" about it but it was really, truely, one of the scariest things that has happened to me. Lesson learned: if a plug doesn't fit in an outlet, then it doesn't fit and you should not try to make it. MORE IMPORTANT LESSON: To call 9-1-1, dial 9-9-9.

Here is a picture of the bottom of the computer table...


A few other lessons I have learned:

1. Fries are chips and chips are crisps. This applies to the whole of the UK. EXCEPTION: McDonald's-fries are fries. There are no chips.
2. To flush a toilet there are 3 ways. One button is for "number 1". One button is for "number 2". And if you do something REALLY nasty, you press both buttons at the same time!
3. Traffic lights are "robots" and they change from red to yellow and then to green.
4. A queue refers to traffic or a line.
5. A "chav" or someone who is "chavvy" is comparable to an American "dirt bag" or "red neck". Apparently, there is a government assistance program where any girl who has a baby under 18 can get government housing so they won't be on the streets once their parents kick them out. So lots of girls get pregnant so they can move out. All of these pregnant teenagers wear really small skirts with hoodies and they walk around with equally ummm "looking" guys. It is fun to point them out and whisper "Chav" but apparently it is never to be said in the presence of any Brits!
6. And finally, where am I? A brief history lesson: England, Scotland and Wales are collectively known as Britain. When Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands are included, this is referred to as "The United Kingdom".

Oh, and me and Donovan went to eat at the Holiday Inn for lunch today. He worked there for 8 months about 5 years ago. Some of his friends were still there! This is us: