Well, I’ll be the first to admit that Ape Rifle in London hasn’t exactly been the most prolific of blogs lately.
My first term has gone by in a flash, and I have yet to write anything substantial about London and my life here. Hell, I have yet to figure out what I even think about London and my life here. The trouble is, when I’m printing journal articles, going to class and trying to produce multiple essays, I often forget I’m even in London at all.
In China, the whole thrill was just being there. Sure I was “teaching”, but I spent endless hours absolutely fascinated by the scenes of daily life unfolding around me. I could look out my window, see the sea of cheap highrises, hear the din of the patented Chinese traffic, or try and listen to what the guard and the old lady were arguing about that particular time. I could just look outside and be amazed that I was in China.
Here in London, things aren’t quite the same. It is a fascinating city and all, but my focus is, by necessity, on academic activities. Rare is the day I find myself wandering neighbourhoods to find out what makes this city tick; not so rare is the day spent running between residence, class, the library and the sandwich shops. Furthermore, the UK is a little less culturally distant from Canada than China was: although to some people it is undoubtedly very “foreign”, it is hardly a source of culture shock for me.
Yet do not despair, for excitement is coming to the world of Ape Rifle. Tomorrow morning, I’m off to Serbia for four days to visit a good friend in Belgrade. It is, quite simply, impossible for that not to be a great time. And then, on the 23rd, I’m heading back to Montreal to celebrate a genuine Christmas with the family for the first time in three years (Christmas in China was, well…rather untraditional) .
So don’t give up on this blog yet, it still has a few good stories left to tell.