TrackbackContradiction
It’s great going to the cinema (or staying at home in front of the TV) and watching any film in its original language, without dubbing; either in English, in Spanish, in German… But it’s a pain in the ass paying £8 (~ €12) ─or even more─ for that and swallowing 20′ of trailers and ads before the film begins.
I can’t get used to pubs just closing at midnight and bars being shut about 3 am. But I do appreciate being allowed to enter most bars and clubs wearing sneakers, a sweatshirt and a rucksack.
I like the fact that I’m not living among Spaniards, Andalusians, people from Madrid, Granada or Seville. Even if it’s annoying finding so many Spaniards, Andalusians, people from Madrid, Granada and Seville living in London.
It is a pain having just eight public holidays a year. But I love being supposed to finish work at 5 or 6 pm and actually leaving the office at 5 or 6 pm.
It’s great hearing every day from perfect strangers expressions like “that’s lovely”, “I’m terribly sorry” or “how can I help”. If only you didn’t keep wondering on some of those occasions how much of hypocrisy and cynicism there was in that sentence…
It pisses me off spending 2h30′ of my day just commuting; waking up at 6:45, sweating inside the packed carriages of the tube, spending £11.50 a day on train fares. Fortunately, it makes me read books or newspapers, observe the people, and take notes (like these).
I love the possibility of grabbing (anywhere, at any time, in a few seconds) a huge, hotter-than-hot, freshly-made coffee to take away. I guess that I’m getting used to that disgusting dim taste as of plain hot water without enough coffee in it.
This vast diversity and infinite offer here can be oppressive; you cannot help feeling as if you were a foreigner; all of them seem to belong here, while you never will; too many things to do, too many ways to be. But it’s still really wonderful contemplating Irish, black and Asian children playing football together in my estate; or women inside hijabs and women in bikinis all sitting together on the grass in the park.
I’m enjoying my life in London. I loathe my life here.
Posiblemente la mejor entrada que has escrito, posiblemente…
Aunque algunas cosas quizs haba que discutirlas, quizs…
As es la vida, llena de contradicciones. Me alegro de que disfrutes de tu vida en Londres, y me da mucha envidia :)
Pues s, estoy con Jaime, me ha encantado el texto. Me ha recordado un montn cmo me sent en mi ao fuera
And you call me eclectic?
Contradiction, that’s exactly de definition of London.
Enjoy,
Gracias; me alegro mucho de que os gustase esta entrada :)
Jaime: esas cosas las discutimos el mes que viene con una canya, vale? ;)
malglam: se siente envidia de lo que no se tiene, por mas que se tengan otras muchas cosas buenas, verdad? Asi somos. A mi, por ejemplo, a veces me da mucha envidia de los amigos que tienen ya un hogar y un hijo en vez de ser unos “balas perdidas” como yo ;)
Loren: claro, me imagino que esos sentimientos contradictorios tan especiales no dependen tanto del lugar como de uno mismo y sus circunstancias, no?
Chewie: well, at least musically, you are :)
teo: well, for me, the definition for London is rather “Northern Line is partially suspended due to planned engineering works” :) But “contradiction” is not a bad one, actually.
Ah, yo crea que era “The use of this lift is fully automated…” :-)
A m tambin me ha gustado mucho el texto, y tambin me ha recordado a cuando estuve fuera… y me ha dado envidia. En fin, aprovecha tu tiempo. Un beso :)
In spite of the age burden -mature as Im suposed to be- or for this very reason maybe , I cant help but feeling envious of you and your movements and insights there, at the hub of today world, one of then.
Here, on the Andalusian coast, you too can enjoy life, with its local and personal contradictions: fine open air versus narrow-mindedness and “racaneo” at work (something I dont think you can get used to even when retirement date arrives), poor cultured atmosphere and freedom as well, readings, movies, meetings… (the quite broad chapter or leisure possibilities you have) and lack of time… The quick going by of time, perhaps one of the worst things you have to put ut with, either in London or in my Axarquia village, independently of your age, I think. But Id better pen off here now. Be well.
Golan: sa tampoco es mala, no… :)
Mariajo: me alegro de que te guste :) Dnde estuviste t? En Alemania?
Anto: fine open air versus narrow-mindedness and `racaneo’ at work. I like it.
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