Contradiction

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.