Are you making fun of me?

So not knowing anyone for a whole summer can be quite a drag, so i thought that i should go to the local chabad and attempt to meet some nice local jews. I get to the chabad house and i would say that a 1/3 of those present are french, a bunch more spanish, a few ukrainians and who knows what else. the biggest shock though, is whenever the rabbi spoke, he had that british accent that sounds like an american mocking a british person. It was kind of hard to keep a straight face... i almost thought he could have been a monty python character, with his rotunda belly and his rendition of "kol ha'olam ku-lo" in 6 languages, it was very much an experience. As for meeting locals... I met two cute sisters at chabad.... americans. And they are leaving town in 2 days. Shucks. To make matters even worse, I was squished in the corner seat next to the rabbi, so naturally i was fairly isolated from any opportunities of meeting new people. And so it goes...

Oh the people you will meet....

The last few days have been a flurry of newness - stepping foot for the first time in the NIMR, meeting my new coworkers, adjusting to new lab procedures, attempting to meet new people, meeting acquaintances of acquittances, etc etc... What a crazy last few days. TO make it any better, I have been living out of a hostel for the last week and just paid to stay for another few days... WHY WOULD I DO THAT!!!!??? Well the good news is that I move into semi-reasonable long term housing in UCL dorms on monday.... the bad news... i still dont really know anyone is this ridiculous city. I have so far met up few a few people, but all live fairly far away and all of my coworkers dont seem to friendly in regards to post-work stuff. We'll see how that goes.

Things always have a way of working out, so im not too worried. But i am sad that the father/son dutch duo left... they were my only friends at the hostel! sad face.

Cars driving on the LEFT side of the road...

... Has to be one of the most disorienting things imaginable. Walking around London makes me feel like my world is turning upside down... its like being hungover one morning and think you are imagining things... but you're not. Its really weird!

Other random observations: The brits LOVE to stand in lines (sorry, in queue). People get in queue without even knowing what its for! I wonder whats going through their heads.... "ooo a queue! i love queues! why dont i just jump on it for the fun of it! ooo yippee!" Silly british. another queue story - i was waiting in queue and another guy cuts someone. a guy two person back approaches the miscreant and asks, "excuse me sir, but i just wanted to let you know that the queue starts back there (hand gesture) - I just thought i would let you know..." Come on. In new york he'd get stabbed, not politely and passively aggressively asked to move. o boy

Started my job a few days ago.... as it turns out it takes me almost an hour to get there... what the hell. alas such is life - hopefully living in a more central location will be worth the shitty commute. we shall see.

For those who have seen Batman Begins, I'm working in Arkham Asylum. Yup, the building they used for Arkham is my research institute. Yup, im scared....

As I was walking down the hill from Arkham Asylum to the tube stop, i hear a bell. figuring it was a bicycle on the sidewalk, i move over. I turn to see what the noise is. Blurring past me at supersonic speeds hurls an old bald man in a white tee-shirt on a red electric wheelchair...... old people can have fun too!