Chrisonomicon

Tuesday, April 30, 2002

Made it to London on Monday amid heavy traffic?pedestrian, automobile, and airline?and amid windy, wet weather. It's great to be exploring another country, however.

Posts will be few and far between for the next week as computer access is limited and expensive in the area I'm staying and although I'm feeling a little non-journalistic, posts will occur when and where I have an opportunity; recording more by principle than by whim or feeling.

Driving on the left-hand side of the street took a little getting used to, but I'm slowly coming into a comfort zone. I rented a Silver Golf GTI with standard transmission; it's strange to be shifting on the left side of the steering wheel. The expanse of space to your left that includes the passenger side of the car is endless and it's difficult to judge where you are in relation to the left side of the road.

Everything here is smaller. I had pictured England as an older America, but it's more like Europe than the U.S. It appears that the only commonalities between the two countries are pop culture and the language. The majority of people here are cool and impersonal unlike the saccharine friendliness you encounter at most places in the States.

There's so much I want to cover, but don't have the time. I know it will be difficult to recall everything. Hopefully one or two points here will rekindle some memories.