So firstly, we're going to England, France and Scotland. I've alreayd asked in a blog, but what would you guys recommend doing?

Specifically are there any off the beaten path things that you guys find awesome? Any general hints or tricks for traveling.

Same with France. Home of the Illustrious MoMaN.

^ If you have not seen that you are deprived. Even more deprived than me. (Alright, that was horrible)

Aside. Spotify is good. Hell yeah. Thanks to Wihl on #teamliquid IRC for the key :DD

I got my AP scores a week late. They arrived mangled. I was so fearful and stuff, but they showed up in my mail today. Damn you USPS.

I got all 5s. I was really surprised. Didn't expect it in calc or chem. 4 fives. Hell yeah.

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This envelope survived world war III, USPS Edition.

Third aside: how long do the esports shirts take to ship in the USA? I'd like one before we leave for our trip, but that's only in seven days

Second. I'm just disillusioned with most things. Just generally disillusioned. I think that a lot of it is irrational, and my mental state has carried over from all of the medical stuff, and my mom's constant verbal jabs/attacks/abuse/whatever they should be called.

Here are some things that are bothering me.

1) My dad works for the state of California. For Caltrans (dept of transportation). He is fairly libertarian. Except for on substance (abuse?) things. but he irrationally hates mass transit. Sure, we live in a fairly spread out area. I tried to take the bus to a local store today, but buses only ran every hour, and I'd need to transfer. It was way faster to ride my bike 6 miles both ways :/

But in any case he hates mass transit (I think the high speed rail thing for CA just costs too damn much but w/e) So we're going to britain and outside of london he just wants to rent a car. Was trying to look for alternatives and he got pissed.

I've never really used mass transit, but it seems amazing >.>

2) Not having a drivers license. I've had the permit for a year and a half, and drive all the time, but I sitll can't have a license :/ Frustrating, considering all the hooligans that have a license. I drive more conservatively than the entire lot, but I can't drive :/

3) Never have been to a legitimate party. Sure, its not a huge deal and I'll have a chance hwne in college, but my parents demand to talk to the parents of anyones house I go to. And if they don't seem responsible or wont be there I cant go. And then my mom attacks me for not going ,but she wont let me go because there could be alcohol, or pot or whatever. And even going to parties without that go past 10pm she refuses to let me go.

4) Xenophobia in the home. My mom especially is xenophobic. Always making snide comments about mexicans. And shes won't buy anything made in an asian country or mexico because it's obviously contaminated. (food items) And there shouldn't be a second language in the home and Chinese shouldn't be taught.

5) Stupid america. I live in the suburbs and nothing happens. I'm upper middle class, I do well in school, I stay at home, I live a boring life. I never drink (more on this later) I can't go anywhere because its all roads, you have to be pushy to get your way, dumbshits walk around thinking they are so cool, and nobody appreciates dressing up. (totally unimportant...)

6) Nobody leaves the country and experiences the outside. If thye do they just play sightseer and don't see what the locals see. Which creates warped perceptions/

7) Money: My parents have very strange priorities when it comes to money. I save money like a crazed person. But my mom won't work, then complains about money. The worst thing is she spends money for hte family then makes me feel like shit that we are. Especially when she says I need things I don't. And then brings it up "well, we got this for you, but it's expensive..."

8) Alcohol. Pretty stupid. I've never really had any substantive amount to drink. I have a feeling it doesn't matter at all. If you look at Europe basically it's left alone, and I have no european friends that go out and binge drink or anything. But in stupid america we limit it so much that everybody (not really) drinks, on weekends, at parties and gets wasted. But I don't know what alcohol is like, so I'd like to try it. But wait, it's illegal. And my parents keep on saying it would be the end of the world if I did. We make it such a big deal in america...

They are the type of people that go through a bottle of wine a year. Both my parents have non alcoholic beer. They gave me a huge lecture about hbow I could order alcohol with a meal in Scotland but if I did I'd be in so much trouble blahblahblah. And then regressed with well you don't have any freedom anyways, so that shouldn't be a problem.

9) Culture Boredom: I"m just so damn bored. What should I do. i'm one of a zillion fairly privileged white guys (and asians too lol) in a boring city. Then I go to Europe and hit all the tourist stuff, never seeing what's really there. I'm sick of the US culture ;/

10) Just plain disillusionment. I'll have my third surgery next summer. The american medical system just generally sucks. I don't do anything. Go to library. Sit at computer. Do mun. Talk to friends online or at school. But don't really get engaged. I'm engaged in really very few things :/

Went to local asian market. Bought chocopie. Haven't had any yet. Will have and talk about tomorrow. When riding bike back from store this random korean lady stopped me and asked where I got it.

$2 for 12. Hell yeah.

WHAT SHOULD I COOK?
Any advice on any korean (or any other non-american) dishes that I should make. I'm fairly capable. What would be good for dinner in the coming week? My mom is complaining about her cooking all the time. She likes korean food, and will eat it because it was made in america lol. I want to make dinner for the next week so she'll shut up >.>

Me.

I figured since I've been blogging so much, I ought to actually include who I am.

And yes, I'm 17 tt

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GODDAMNIT I'M 17

wonderwall

New Zealand695 Posts

July 17 2011 06:17 GMT

If you're complaining about not having enough culture around you then that's simply laziness on your part. With the internet you can read basically anything you want. If you have a university close by you can just show up to some lectures in whatever interests you.

Froadac

United States6733 Posts

July 17 2011 06:19 GMT

On July 17 2011 15:17 wonderwall wrote:
If you're complaining about not having enough culture around you then that's simply laziness on your part. With the internet you can read basically anything you want. If you have a university close by you can just show up to some lectures in whatever interests you.

Meh. Reading/experiencing are different things :/ ALthough there is certainly some truth to that.

jello_biafra

United Kingdom6635 Posts

July 18 2011 21:32 GMT

I will quote my post from neSix's blog about going to London, I suggest you take a look at his other blog documenting his travels too.

On May 03 2011 11:36 jello_biafra wrote:

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I'm not certain but I think it's very likely that there is a train from Paris to Versailles, it's only around 20 miles from Paris I believe and the rail pass should be valid for it. It is a pretty amazing palace indeed.

I have been on the London Eye yes, although that was about 10 years ago. I went during the day and you get a great view but I think it would be pretty cool to go up at night too.

Show nested quote +

I recommend you visit the British Museum, the Natural History Museum and possibly the Science Museum, they're all pretty good. Visit the Tate, Tate Modern or the National Gallery if you're into art galleries and Kew Gardens if you like botanical gardens. HMS Belfast is worth a visit IMO, it's an old WW2 era Royal Navy cruiser that's now a museum ship on the Thames in central London (right next to Tower Bridge).

Also the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, St Pauls Cathedral for some cool buildings and interesting history.

I'm actually in London at the moment, visited the science museum and Tate modern today (exhibit they have atm is a bunch of crazy photos from an American photographer from back in the 60's/70's who worked with society's vulnerable people, the mentally ill, midgets etc.some really weird photos in there) and planning on the British museum tomorrow. All museums and galleries in the UK are free btw. I forgot about the Imperial War Museum, lots of tanks, planes and stuff in there, it's pretty cool. You can take bus tours of various sights too and there's also one that uses an old amphibious WW2 vehicle that drives you around town then goes onto the river for a bit, I think it's called 'The Duck' or something. Basically take a walk along the banks of the Thames in central London, both sides, and you'll see a lot of things, the houses of Parliament, an ancient Egyptian obelisk given to us by the Egyptians back in the 19th Century, Tower Bridge, the new Shard building etc.

I've lived in Scotland all my life so can help you here lol, you know what towns you're going to or is it completely unplanned? If so then you definitely want to visit Edinburgh and Glasgow and take a couple days to visit the Highlands too, Glencoe or something. In Edinburgh visit the castle, Holyrood Palace (the Queen's official residence in the Scottish capital), you can be confused by how weird looking our Parliament building is (right next to the palace), take a walk down the Royal Mile and see the old school part of town and Princes Street, George Street etc. (the "new" town, all built in the 18th century lol) for a fine example of Georgian architecture. To be honest I don't know much about Glasgow, I know it's a good place for a night out and there are some museums and stuff but it's worth a visit.

What part of France are you going to? Paris I assume? Go to the Eiffel Tower of course, the Louvre,the arc de triumph, palace of Versailles and hit up a rotisserie for some awesome chicken baguettes,.