Dandruff Issues

Tuesday, Oct 8

Castlehaven

Day 35, I learn that instant coffee exists and it looks like baby rabbit turds. 

The parents' coffee ran out at Castlehaven today and I, thinking that if I have trouble making coffee and home, I must not even attempt to make it here, in the land where coffee and tea transfusions occur daily.

I then learn that these coffee turds just dissolve in hot water- no filters involved. I brushed off this lapse of knowledge with a shrug and "Psh...American..." And received laughs. When in doubt, throw in a dumb American joke and it will fly sky high.

I also met Tania at Castlehaven today, a 17 year-old former volunteer. She just returned from a two month holiday in Bangladesh where much of her family lives and where she was recently married. Repeat? 17 year-old recently married. 17 GALS!!!!!

I asked her if it's typical to get married so young in Bangladeshian families and she said yes, that it's encouraged so that girls are able to adapt to their husbands' habits over time. I was raised much differently, clearly, and I was almost too appalled to reply but thank god I reserved my liberal mindset for two minutes and was allowed to just listen. I would never meet someone like her back home, and I feel like meeting her is why I'm here. She is the most respectful and creative person; she showed me her stories that she publishes via this app called Wattpad and she is so cool. 

And cool things happen later in the day. Jenny and I venture to the Foundling museum to meet the rest of our Child Psychology class. And our tour guide's name was Linda King- my beautiful aunt?!??!!? No, not the same Linda King, unfortunately. But LK #2 did know her stuff about London's foundlings, abandoned children who were stripped of their original names upon acceptance to the Foundling Hospital, and were given names such as:

William Shakespeare

Robert Lovely

Julius Caesar

many Dickens' characters

and

A Female Child

That last name is completely serious. Hopefully that female child gained a decent, more humanized and soulful name in short time. 

Billy Elliot tonight!!!! Kendall, Jenny, and I sat in the second row and saw spit, almost died of smoke machine smoke inhalation (during the most beautiful scene where the younger and older Billy perform together), and learned that we have some serious dandruff issues during the 5+ minute Christmas/snowfall scenes. It was amazing.

Thursday, Oct 10

Castlehaven

Youth Club

It's cooking night so Jordan pours milk into Coco Pops as I try to apply a classic Schneider card game upon various members. 

Sup, Bruv

Sept 24, 12:29pm
Camden Town Underground Station

A woman asks me for directions on the tube...my directions were correct. This is REVOLUTIONARY, people.

Sept 25, 6:18pm
Castlehaven Community Center
The Youth Project

A lovely girl at Castlehaven (year eight or eighth grade) says she's loves my accent...what. 

I don't work Wednesday nights because I thought I could never have the energy to communicate to anyone after a nonstop 9-5 day of classes, but I do tonight, and the Youth Project and I go to the theatre, so I kind of got out of talking in a way. We saw Zoonation, a modern dance performance I know both of my sisters would've loved. And the supervisor of all things ages 12-19 at Castlehaven, Phillippa, makes the world go round and life go on. She is so wonderful and I don't think I could've survived tagging along if it weren't for her unconditional energy and passion for humor and life.

As always, I'm glad I participated and as a result, I've learned new phrase thanks to Jordan, to which I and so many other London visitors, are often subjected to due to our lack of cultural and financial intelligence. "Takin' the mickey" out of someone = making a fool of them for their untintelligent and ignorant spending. So I now pray for intelligence and wits, and please don't take the Mickey out of me (I really don't know what I'm saying), and thank you.

Sept 26

Castlehaven Community Center 

Kids Klothes Shop/haven Youth Center

Kids Klothes with Amy today was such a good break from the busiest study abroad schedule I could've imagined. Baby/toddler clothes are donated and then the shop sells them to get some revenue for cool events (I think). And I want to wear all the clothes- the Finding Nemo baby grow (baby onesie suit) just killed me.

The Youth Project

Tonight's Agenda: Cinema Night!

Except we played pool instead. 

Julian, pictured right, is boss for the night, and I channeled my American Las Vegas baller in me and was a VICTOR over this man (I really won by default...white ball drops in after the black, you know the drill, apparently it really does count).

And this evening, I will tell you that I most likely changed some lives: I introduced Castlehaven's subjects to John Mayer. That's correct. INTRODUCING John Mayer. 

In return I am introduced to Katy B, Magnetic Men, and "bruv," the greeting equivalent to "bro," exchanged between mostly young men in the states. 

I thought about this word in my walk to the underground station and that it must've derived from "brother" aka "brovah" aka "bruvah" and finally to "bruv."

And this makes every second of a wonderful but exhausting day 150% worth it.

The End is Near

Documenting some jamming sessions at Castlehaven; Darren's on the left, and Khalil's singing on the right. These dudes kill it. I can't believe how professional the tracks come out.

After my internship I had to make the long/kinda scary journey over to La Catrina. Credit to Mr. Alex Baez for introducing me to the glorious place. It's located right by the Brick Lane market, where we went yesterday, and it's a Mexican burrito restaurant/hole in the wall type place in the Boxpark (a collection of these black storage-looking stores)...and...on Monday nights...THEY SCREEN BREAKING BAD. Second to last episode aired tonight via Netflix (poor UK, getting it a day late- better late than never though). So I had me some burrito in true Los Pollos Breaking Bad spirit, and a pint (didn't get carded, holla). Walt's actually psychotic, Jesse has the worst luck on da planet, and Saul...can't call Saul anymore...the end is near and it is very real. The episode was just insane, not to mention the burrito was probably the best I've ever had......seriously. And I'm sorry about that, Moe's.

Breaking Bad, outside, and in London. And Mexican food, my sincerest gratitude for all the aforementioned.