Friends with Benefits

This summer was action packed! I decided to make vodka lemonade out of lemons and use my time off from work doing some of my favorite things : service, travel and hanging out with old people. Despite my slowly decreasing bank account I had one of my best summers ever. I learned a valuable lesson this summer. When it counts, your friends will stick with you. As long as you can bring a bottle of wine.

Noelle is such a great friend to patrol around the streets of London. She and I have different tastes of how to spend a peaceful Saturday afternoon. She prefers coffee and croissants and I prefer white wine and calamari. But it doesn't matter because I love going to church together, watching RuPaul's drag race and just talking about what life is all about. She's the greatest companion - even joining me for a Nigie Naval event. It was cold, rainy and kinda ridiculous. So, yeah, Noelle wins the award for most patience friend.

My friend and former boss Felipe spent his birthday party in Hyde Park with thousands of his closest friends. It was the end of a very long day for me the began with a Parkinsons fundraiser, a garden party with the Catholic church an ended with a feast at my favorite mexican restaurant but somehow Craig (pictured here topless) and I were able to make it just in time to celebrate. Two things you can't tell from this picture - Filipe's Brazilian accent is so thick I can't always understand him but his eyes are so blue I don't really need to.

After spending months apart my beautiful twin brother Lorenzo and I were reunited. It was terrifying and good to see him. He's probably the most honest man in my entire life (for better or for worse) and I love him for it. I especially loved the french restaurant he took me to and how he ordered our meals in french while flirting with the waiter. Lo was recently and most deservedly promoted to Assistant Producer at Shine. Congrats my brother!!!

Once again, the gays do it right. Shaun and Chris invited Nigie and I to a fancy picnic in Battersea Park. What's a fancy picnic in the park with two busy world travelers like? Well as you can imagine - AWESOME! Eating fantastic food off beautiful china using 100 year old cutlery while being told somewhat risque stories about their escapades in Japan, Spain and France was ... memorable. Thanks guys, every time you're around I feel a bit less like a lady.

Oh...the Woos. How I love the Woooooos. I almost didn't want to be friends with them because we met them at the end of their London journey. I couldn't bear them falling in love with them to only lose them three months later. But, I couldn't resist their charms - and Korean BBQ. The Woos are individually fantastic people. I am so glad I was able to spend time with Jane and PJ. They were such great influences on both me and Nigie. Here's a photo of us from our double date at Benihanas. It's not just dinner - it's entertainment! Congrats on baby London. I can't wait to see her.

Thanks to a summer filled with very special friends.

Nxx

How to Win Friends and Network with Normal People

Most of the group on a bleary Sunday afternoon

Tom, Rachel and I

I had the honor to be selected as one of 2010's Edinburgh International Television Festival Fast Track delegates. To be honest, I had never heard of the festival or Fast Track prior to my attendance but the lovely Caroline suggested I apply and since I do everything that woman says to do I applied. I was thrilled to get accepted and the festival was one of the best work related events I have ever been apart of. It really energized my desire to work in British TV. I actually learned so much about the British television industry. Finally found out what a 'TV license' was and all sorts of things everyone else already knew. The delegates were thrown in a day and half of master classes with some of Britain's premiere producers, controllers, and executives. It sounds dreadfully boring (and since I was running on about 4 hours of sleep throughout the weekend, some parts where) but it was incredible getting to know all my fast track peeps. Who knew networking with your peers could actually be fun? Shout out to Rachel, Asha and Tom. You really made Edinburgh extra special. I felt sick on the long train ride home because of you - but it was still amazing.

Oh - did I mention that was my first time in Edinburgh? I didn't really get to see much of it, but my mere presence in the city delighted my Grampy to no end. Next time I will actually travel around and explore bonnie Scotland.

Nxx

A little ditty about Jade & Doug

Sooo...there's something in New Zealand culture called "dossing." Never heard of it - neither had I till let a New Zealander into my life. Mistake number 1.

Many young NZeder's spend a couple of years living in London (reasons for doing so range from the need for excitement, the experience you get from living in a metropolitan, the desire to live somewhere that has more people than sheep) and when they arrive on this tiny country they spend the first couple of weeks...umm...months with their friends who have fled the country before them. They all do it - Nigie spent 5 (1,2,3,4,5) months on the living room on his friends couch and this summer was his turn to pay it forward. And I being the dutiful girlfriend that I am, had to quietly go along with it. And I did, not one disgruntled word ever crossed my lips.

Doug and Jade arrived the first of July. Despite my fear they would break Nigie's record for couch surfing, two months later they left and moved into their own flat on the east side. As a side note - the east side is turning out to be a little New Zealand haven. It was a fun, sometimes tense but interesting couple of months, it was what I thought a frat house filled of Kiwis would be like. Lots of stories of New Zealand and great food. While they were here I indulged in delicious dinners by Jade (pikelets yummm), conversations about music and Mad Men and shared some good laughs. As a house full of the unemployed we tried to make the most of Summer in London. We took a trip to Somerset House, drank in the park and had impromptu get togethers. The day they left I felt the same way my grandma did when I went off to university. Sad to see them go but happy to have my house back. The flat hasn't been the same since - I still can't figure out how to make those pikelets. They truly are a fun couple and after a long day you can always count on Jade to share a glass of wine with you. Thanks to Doug and Jade for keeping Nigie company while I was in Scotland and Portugal. He loved it! I look forward to sleeping on their couch one day.

Nxx

Meet A Dickie

Nigie's Dad Alan and his girlfriend Sue came to visit as part of their tour around Europe. I was all kinds of nervous meeting Alan for the first time, because I've only spoken to him on skype a total of 4 or 5 times since Nig and I got together. Usually parents love me because they know I speak old people but since this was Nig's dad I felt a little uncertain of how the elder Dickie and I would get along. Rest assured people, Alan LOVED me (was there ever any doubt) and he and Sue were great fun. I only spent one day with them before I left for Edinburgh but we had a good time. It was kinda incredible to see Nig around his 'daddy.' He was so happy to have him here and show him around London. I loved seeing him so excited.

Hope to see you soon Alan.

Nxx

Humanities & Habitats

This past July I had the opportunity to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity on a house build in Amarante, Portugal. The build was planned months in advance but heading to Portugal was a last minute change. Our original destination was Hungary but ultimately we were forced to spend two full weeks in horribly beautiful Portugal. It was an incredible sacrifice on my part but somehow while eating plateful of Portuguese delicacies and spending our few days off traveling around northern Portugal I made the best of it.

The project was a life changing experience that I owe to the American Church of London and generous donors. We helped in the building of a home for an older woman named Lourdes and her family. We did a variety of things from painting, wall tiling, roof installation and cementing. My partner and I were responsible for tiling the floors and walls. I woke up with my hands in a fist for a week straight. It was exhausting but very fulfilling work. I was able to brush off my college Spanish and even picked up some portuguese. Bad portuguese but some.

Zena, my fellow American Church of London member, raised 2300 Euros for Habitat for Humanity. The money raised went Habitat for Humanity Portugal and will help in the building and restoration of homes in Northern Portugal. In addition to all sorts of do-gooderism I made wonderful friends who I hope to know for a long time to come.

Here's a link to more photos of the trip. I have tried to include a mix between working shots and the amazing cultural immersion we were blessed to experience.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=66321&id=1014803412&l=c47aac7078

Thank you all for your part in changing the lives of Lourdes and her family.

Nxx

Meet the D'Angelos

Through my volunteer work with the Parkinson’s UK society, I have had the pleasure of befriending a lovely ‘senior’ couple, Mr. & Mrs. Francesco (Franco) & Jane D’Angelo. Having been raised by older people, I have always had a strong affinity for the senior set and the D’Angelos are two of the best, funniest people I have ever met. Jane and Franco were married nearly 46 years ago in London and have lived here ever since.

The D'Angelos met at a private member’s club in Leicester Square. They found themselves immediately attracted to each other; according to Franco, Jane was a good dancer, and Jane thought Franco was very good looking. The only problem was they couldn’t communicate. Franco from Palermo, Italy spoke not one word of English (46 years later he still doesn’t. He’s created his own language, which is a mixture of broken English, Italian, Sicilian and Franco). Their first dates were a series of misunderstandings and confusion but eventually Jane learned Italian and Franco learned… enough English to get by. The D’Angelos were married a week after Jane’s 21^st birthday in a private ceremony in Westminster Abby. The black and white photos of that day are beautiful and Jane’s wedding dress (which she can still fit) hangs in her wardrobe.

Every moment I spend with Jane and Franco is incredible. They are smart, traveled and funny people. Despite their respective health problems (Jane has Parkinson’s and Franco has survived a brain hemorrhage, some type of cancer in his leg and can only see out of one eye) they are so filled with love. They laugh together, they pick on each other, and they sleep in separate rooms. A decision based on the desire to get a good night’s sleep instead of a divorce.

Franco takes his job of cook and caretaker very seriously. He loves Jane so much it’s almost painful to watch. While listening to music from the old country, he makes the loveliest traditional Italian meals and although I can only pick up 10% of what he’s saying I find him adorable. The first time I popped round he offered me three things to drink - ‘wine, tea, water, or wine.’ It was 11:30am. He says you never need a reason or a specific time to enjoy wine or a good meal. During my last visit, while I was helping straighten up in their other room Franco asked me if I wanted to see the rabbit he had in the freezer. Foolishly, I said yes, and seconds later in walks a 5’3 Italian man holding a dead frozen rabbit in a plastic bag. Unlike when he lived in Italy, Franco did not shoot this rabbit himself but got it from the ‘butch’ who special ordered it just for him. He proudly explained how a rabbit could serve up to 7 people (7 ½ if you include eating the brain, which he does on occasion). On noticing the disgust in my face Franco giggled, made bunny ears with his fingers then left the room to watch the Italy football match.

The D’Angelos’ have simple rules on life and marriage. On life – if you have, you can give. On marriage – be committed. Simple but powerful rules to live by. I am so proud to know them and can’t wait for more lessons on life, more dead frozen animals wrapped in plastic, and more laughter. If you’re ever in London stop by and visit this wonderful couple. As Franco says, “all you have to do is call. If we’re here, we will feed you. Just like Mama would.” Like most Italians, Franco is a huge momma’s boy.

Natasha xx

English as a Second Language

Grandparents before their Going Away Celebration at the Pastor's House
Dylan swinging for the fences
The Family at the Chinese Restaurant saying our goodbyes

Seems like only seconds ago I was in LA watching 90210 with Alana, hitting balls at the batting cages with Dylan and helping my grandparents pack up my room as they prepare to move back to Belize. My recent trip to LA was by far my favorite since I’ve moved to London, even though it was definitely the most emotional. Who knew packing up your entire life into 7 boxes would be so exhausting? It was draining but thrilling. It was the end of one chapter and the start of another; a teary goodbye to life in good old Highland, California and a hello to a life unknown. As I said goodbye to my grandparents for the last time until November my Grandpa and I started to cry. Then my Grandma being my Grandma barks, “you’ve said goodbye thousands of times now, so get on with it.” So, onwards and upwards folks. Back to life in London.

The last couple of weeks in London have been filled with occasionally brilliant sunny days, redecorating the flat (there’s not much to do when it comes fully furnished and slightly broken down), fundraising for my upcoming Habitat for Humanity trip and looking for a new job. Yet, as I settle back into my adopted country I realize that sometimes I am still struggling to understand the most basic of things about life in London. Sometimes I feel like I am constantly learning how to communicate with the natives.

When I first arrived on ‘the Island’ some 14 months ago I was full of the cocky assuredness that I everything I would need to learn about the UK and ‘Europe’ I would learn and everything else I figured wasn’t worth learning. After all, how different could it really be? They speak English we speak English. Sure the country is thousands of years old and their government, culture, customs and landscape is completely different to ours but that’s neither here or there. What ties us, what will forever connect us is our mutual disdain for the French AND the English language. Right?

The problem with ‘the English language makes us one’ theory is that the English we speak in America is a foreign language to the proper English that is spoken here. Not only am I constantly ridiculed about my pronunciation of ‘water’. Here, it is pronounced Wa – TER, with a T not a D. Every time I ask for the ‘restroom’ I get glares. Do they really expect me to say ‘loo’? That sounds ridiculous on everyone that uses it. Is ‘toilet’ that much better? I don’t think it adequately describes what I am going to do in there. Not only am I going to use the toilet but also I am going to pat down my hair in the mirror, check to see if the establishment is using enviro friendly hand dryers. Who knew ‘pants’ where underwear? What the heck are knickers then? I can barely bring myself to call ‘sweaters’ ‘jumpers’. If someone can explain to me why I sweater is called a jumper it would be appreciated. I learned from my Grandpa that the use of S H A G was a vile form of fornicating that young ladies should never EVER use. I thought it was just a fun way to describe coitus? Austin Powers used it. He and James Bond movies is how I learned about the ways of English people.

The English feel we’ve bastardized what is the most beautiful language in the world. Or the language of the Empire that once ruled the world anyway. They resent the fact Americans have forced the world to adopt phraseologies such as ‘bling’ and ‘what up.’ To that I say, we hate those words too – blame advertizing agencies and globalization. I’ve learned to ignore the look of disgust that unveils itself when I and my other American friends speak to English citizens. I know they don’t mean to disparage us with their looks for the mere fact we speak a bit funny. Truth be told YOU guys speak funny. I haven’t heard anyone speak like Eliza Doolittle the entire time I’ve been here. Let down much? And yes, technically, we took English from you – but just like everything else in America – we SUPERSIZED it.

Natasha x