Life in London 5

A wonderful time has passed by : with all the fun and work gone high: thinking of globalization, social policy, a bit of finance and economics. Studying at LSE was indeed a great experience enabling me to think out of the box (development & development) ) – perhaps now I have a % more understanding of globalization, finance, economics and politics.

It is great being in Europe- I have all the freedom to travel independently in London – what I mean is walking down the streets with out bumping into polls or being scared of dogs chasing my white cane, taking the tube where ever I wanted – a zigzag around the city under ground!!! A great social life meeting friends. Of course to mention had loads of time to reflect on myself and working on my own personality. –

What i like:

• Freedom of moving from my flat near Goodge Street to the tube.
• Taking the tube where ever I want around – Now I know most of London.
• Sticking to time – my sense of time management has improved drastically.
• Lets C europe – out of London almost every week end – Paris, Brussels, Geneva, Francford, Madrid, Budapest, Luxembourg, Glasgow, Edinborough, and so on.
• Social life with friends – some thing or the other was there to do every evening

What did I pick up new :

• Hot chocolate and fish & chips – a daily dose of hot chock let would keep me going
• More addiction to internet than ever
• Reading financial times
• Eating lots of carrets
• Great friendships

What I can’t forget :

• Going up ALPS
• Meeting my class mate from MCC in Luxembourg
• Traveling alone in Europe where I did not understand the language!!! Might have been lost for ever!!!
• Getting back home with out any help every day especially in the middle of the night.
• Spending time with friends every evening.
• Cooking.- rice, dhall and eggs – perhaps I am a good cook now – cooked for friends and even my uncle .


GuruBhai

LONDON 4

UK and the rest of Europe

Even though the UK is a part of the EU they like to be different

1. Schengan – The UK are not a part of schengan they do not allow free movement of services in Europe!
2. Electric plug: The UK has a square plugging system as against a round plug for the rest of Europe!
3. Time : The UK follows GMT and the most of Europe including Spain and Portugal though south west follow a different time!
4. Sink : All sinks for washing in the kitchen have 2 taps for hot and cold water as against one in rest of Europe!
5. Currency : pounds and Euro
6. Transport : In the UK driving is on the left whilst in rest of Europe it’s on the right!
7. Tubes : traveling on the tube is expensive in the UK when compared to rest of Europe!


They are different umm!!!

GuruBhai

LONDON 3

Then and now – how globalization works in my life:


4 years ago on December 15th I woke up to hear the sound of children playing in the fields and sound of a Hindi song cracking through a loud speaker in a small village in central India. Today I wake up on the 9th floor of a flat in central London. What is common is that in 2004 I woke up to listen to the BBC world service on my short wave radio and today I wake up to listen to the same BBC world service from my laptop how globalization works (1). That day I used the same kind of tooth brush, same brand of soap, same brand of jeans and t-shirt of course from some other country – guess it was Ethiopia and today I am wearing a Geneva t-shirt. Using the same Nokia brand mobile perhaps a much more High-Tec one how globalization works (2). Then I had to walk down to another village to call from a land line to my office folks and friends and mom today I am talking to the same people calling cheep from a mobile phone from London How globalization works (3). There was no internet or laptop which I owned then, today can’t live without one!!! How globalization works (4).

GuruBhai

Life in London 2 :

14 to run :

this is my experience of traveling in London between Holborn and Goodge Street between 3 – 6 PM ::::
An account of how many people had to marathon with me within 3 hours, for me to achieve my target!!!

I set off from LSE to meet some one at Hill martin road at 3 PM : My friend from class dropped me to the tube station (1)
The station staff at the tube station guided me to the tube (2),
I got off at Caledonian Road and again the station staff assisted me to the bus stop near by (3),
The bus driver told me where to get off (4),
I got off and requested for help to cross the street (5),
Walked down and at the next bus stop again asked for assistance to reach house number 404 (6),
Then my friend there dropped me back to the bus stop (7),
Again, the bus driver told me when to get off (8),
A lady helped me to cross the street (9),
I then walked down the street, asked for help to reach the super bazaar (10),
Asked for assistance at the shop (11),
He dropped me outside then I walked to the tube, met a man who guided me to the tube (12),
The tube staff assisted me to the tube (13),
Reached Goodge Street station staff helped me out (14),

Just thought
All these people gave me 2 to 4 minutes of their precious time in the day, without which achieving my target would have been difficult : at the same time I only dream is, if the city was more friendly where I could walk around with freedom life would have been much easier???

This was the first time I encountered 14 people within 3 hours for support. Without which I guess this journey would have been completed in 9 hours or I would have ended in hospital.

Cheers

Guru Bhai

life in London 1

Some comparisons of living in London and Delhi as a visually impaired person:

1. The payments are so clean enabling me to walk with my white cane; I seldom bump into trees, poles or need to navigate ditches which I often need to do in Delhi.- Often walk on the streets or road in Delhi.
2. The curbs on the footpath are so clearly laid out and even have warning tiles at each end for me to know when the road ends or begins.- no payments in delhi so there is no question of warning tiles:
3. The tube system is so friendly that I get assistance at the stations to board and unboard the tube. - Need to seek for help in Delhi.
4. No dogs on the streets to bark at my cane.
5. Tubes and busses have announcements of the stops so makes it easier to know when to get off – need to always ask co-passengers in Delhi.
6. Staff at the super bazaars support me in picking what ever I need from the shop. – do not get often in Delhi.
7. Got reading material from the parliament house in both audio format and in Braille – can’t think of one in Delhi.
8. Systems for cooking are simple. - Use of heating system and micro wave.
9. There are different cultural and artistic groups for visually impaired people where one can participate.
10. Banks don't ask for too many questions : can easily withdraw cash.
11. Generally public are helpful.

Guru Bhai