Royale Wif Cheese

Included in this post:

– Random observations about London

– Random observations about Paris

 

Random observations about London:

– KFC in london is NOT at ALL like KFC in the USA. I swear… have you ever seen the pictures of the fake apple stores in china? It has to be something like that where some clever people put up a KFC sign for silly brits who don’t know the difference between regular fried chicken and good old american KFC.

– McDonalds in london compared to McDonalds in the US is like a US Subway compared to a US taco bell. They’re both fast food, but they aren’t even in the same category in terms of healthfulness. The McDonalds in london have a much more expansive menu with actually healthy items (mind you, you must be selective).

– NO ONE IN LONDON CHEWS GUM!!!! Why is this? I have no idea. Maybe that’s why Brits are rumored to have bad teeth. Also, that may be why London is so much cleaner than NYC.

– Barley anyone wears their headphones while walking or on the subway. In NYC or DC, I feel like this is a lot more common. Again… WHY!?

– There are a billion different water brands in London. In the US there are like… 5.

– The portions/size of everything in london is mad small, including the water glasses. I have to ask for a water refill a million times when at a restaurant.

– Carry out is called “take away.” Pay as you go is called “topping up.”

– Movies advertised in london look like they suck.

– THE SUBWAY IS ALWAYS HOT. Air condition that shit.

– The number of gyms in america compared to the number of gyms in London is ironically like the number of fat people in the US compared to the number of fat people in London/England. Also, those gyms that DO exist are incredibly expensive. At home I can join a gym for 20 a month. Here the minimum is 40 pounds or about $62.

– There are very few cheap all purpose stores like Walmart. In fact, I couldn’t find any. Also, very few large book stores like barnes and noble.

Random observations about Paris:

– The chunnel costs a shit ton of money. Wish I knew that before hand. The price (about 100 pounds) says round trip, but its a lie. They charge you that each way.

– Although the subway system is very comprehensive, if you are trying to get from one side of the city to the other, its going to take a long ass time because of all the little stops and by the end, you’ll want to go all jack the ripper on people.

– Although food in Paris is quite good, the price is NOT justified. I don’t mind paying a high price for high quality food that will fill me up (meaning good portion), but I found that many of the restaurants were charging outrageous prices just because the restaurant looked “classy.” The food might have been decent or at least good, but the price was still to high. I’m not saying that there were restaurants the deserved to charge high prices, but in all, I found a lot of them to just be traps and the food to be even more expensive than in london.

– From my take the french like to linger at restaurants, which my friend said is why they have to charge high prices because of low turnover. However, in order to linger, it’s very difficult to get by without buying an actual meal. It’s hard to find a place that will let you just sit there with a coffee.

– There is no english. I mean… I don’t speak french at all. I figured there would be SOME english, but none at all. It’s very disorienting, especially with the subway.

– THERE IS NO COFFEE!!!! Everything is late this or cappuccino that. I see expresso, I see Americano, I see late, I see frappuccino, but no coffee!! The coffee that I did find was either outrageously expensive (talking 5-6 dollars for a cup) or I had to go to find a starbucks. I figured the french would be known for coffee because of french roast and all that, but nope.

– There are very few mcdonalds in france. In england, they are all over.

– Do not get money exchanged after exiting a transportation system. It always seems to cost more. The place I went to took a 30 percent commission cut. Bad choices.

Scared Shitless

(London Entry #1 – Leaving for London)

One of the things I’ve noticed from keeping a journal is that, aside from the small details, I rarely forget what I’ve done or seen on my vacations or trips outside of the country. However, I readily forget how I FELT during these experiences. Looking back over my past journals, it’s often the feelings that came with the events that I cherished reading about most. Therefore, I’m going to use my blog as a record of my thoughts and feelings with less of an emphasis on the actual weekly events. There will be no set writing schedule or style. Letz begin.

When I was little, I always knew that there’d be this period in my life where I’d get up the nerve to just drop everything and travel the world without a care as to where I ended up or how I got there. I pictured myself trying new things, seeing places that I’ve only read about in books, and for once, getting outside of comfort zone. I imagined that after experiencing so many different lifestyles, cultures, and beliefs, I would come back as someone much wiser and much more worldly, with a deeper understanding of life, people, and myself. Now, I admit, that’s a pretty romantic and idealistic view of a study abroad experience, but I think it’s always important to keep our childhood dreams in mind.

TK’s Life: Typical conversation while in a group of people.

TK: (Is being quiet as usual)

Rando #1: Are you excited to go abroad???

TK: Yea. Definitely.

Rando #2: You don’t sound very excited.

TK: (With a forced smile) No, I am. I’ll be more excited when the date’s closer.

TK: (Asks a question to divert attention)

Rando #3:  Why’d you choose London?

TK: (Gives a generic answer about how he’ll be able to travel everywhere and how he loves tea and how he doesn’t like speaking other languages). (It seems to satisfy da people so TK considers it to be another successful deception).

You see… the truth is that I was not at all excited about going abroad, nor did I have any really good reason for going to London. The fact is that the last thing I wanted was to leave DC behind. I had finally found my niche at my university and begun to form lasting friendships when I was given the choice to drop all that and do what I’ve always thought I wanted: travel anywhere in the world I want. Anywhere.

Some people find it easier to make friends than others and for me, forming meaningful relationships is about one of the hardest things in the book. The idea of being thrust into an environment with a bunch of strangers was about as appealing as having to watch dat show Degrassi. Obviously I was going to miss the friends I made in college, but what scared me even more was the knowledge that I would be alone once again and have to do my best to be open so that other people can get to know me (which is very hard for me). You might not believe it but, I was scared shitless.

You must understand that I didn’t always feel this way. I’ve always considered myself an overly independent person even to the degree of it hurting me socially.  Someone once asked me if I would rather travel alone or with friends. At the time, I didn’t understand why you would want to travel WITH friends.  I felt like it was hard to experience true growth and development while you were around people you knew. So much of where we are comes from who we are with and it’s hard to really see things in a new light when you’re with the same people. The person I was talking with had the exact opposite opinion and believed that it was only worthwhile to share amazing experiences with people you care about. I didn’t think much of his opinion at the time.

As the plane began to take off from JFK, I felt my stomach lurch into my throat. The wheels slowly lifted off the runway. I looked out the window at the beautiful city below and I realized that, as much as I don’t like to admit it, I had been wrong. Because right then, at that moment, I was wishing so hard that I had my friends with me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review of Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson

I have never really been interested in Benjamin Franklin, the revolutionary war, or American history for that matter. Of course, like all children in America, I was taught about the most notable events related to the revolutionary war like the signing of the declaration of independence, the Boston tea party, the Boston massacre, and the constitutional convention. However, I had little to no emotional connection to these events in my nation’s history. As a small child, they served as abstract pieces of knowledge whose only use was as content for the next week’s exam. Perhaps I had this mentality because, for all of my life, I had lived in America and enjoyed her privileges and freedoms. I had known no other way of life and considered democracy the undisputed standard. It was therefore on a whim that I began reading Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson.

I enjoyed Walter Isaacson’s biography of Einstein and I thought that this book would be a wonderful diversion to keep me from going insane while my friends are having fun in college and I’m stuck waiting to leave for London. I am pleased to tell the reader that this biography has been more than a simple “diversion.” It has been a fascinating look into the life and time period in which one of the most well known founding fathers was born. This book has certainly kindled my interest in American history and the development of America’s political system. I was awed by how relevant Benjamin Franklin’s life story continues to be even after more than 200 years. For the, the aspiring businessman, public servant, scientist, diplomat, or humanitarian, this biography is a fast and meaningful read that is well worth your time. What follows are my thoughts and reflections on the book and what it has meant to me.

I’d like to start with a quote from Ben Franklin’s writings that, until a few months ago, ran directly counter to my own life philosophy. “The good men may do separately is small compared with what they may do collectively.”

If you were talking to a younger me, I would be inclined to say, of course in the most respectful manner, “BULLSHIT!!” Ever since I was little, I have been averse to group endeavors. I hated group projects. It was the bickering, the laziness of the less-motivated members, the difficulty of having your voice heard, the notion that I would likely not secure the outcome I envisioned because of difference of opinion, and the fact that if the project did turn out well, the less productive and undeserving members of the group would share in the reward. For this reason, I always supported individual assignments. In my life outside school, it is of no big surprise that I winded up devoting my time to individual activities like tennis, fencing, chess, and writing. In these activities, you had one opponent and if you failed to succeed, the blame was fully your own. If you did succeed, you didn’t have to share the spoils.

As you can see, Mr. Benjamin Franklin had a very different philosophy. Where I am contemptuous of humanity, hating of “the crowd,” and filled with weariness from small talk and the general social scene, Benjamin Franklin had a great love for humanity and believed in the wisdom of the general masses. He addressed his fellow man with consideration, an alert mind, and congeniality. Where I am sometimes somber, surly, and untrusting, he was jovial, light hearted, and met new acquaintances with an open heart (even though he failed to form many deep and meaningful relationships…more so with men than woman). Although Benjamin Franklin is world renown for his individual efforts, it was his ability to foster cooperation and manage others that secured his mark on history.

When I was younger, I would scoff at this behavior. My father always told me to smile at strangers, even if I may never meet them again. I dismissed this as Christian virtue that would not be rewarded in the kingdom of heaven because I don’t believe in heaven. I saw no reason to be jovial when ordering a sandwich from a 10 dollar an hour teenager or expel some positive energy to make someone else’s day a little bit brighter. Why would I do that? It’s illogical and against my nature. I’m not outgoing and amiable like my father and I’m happy the way I am.  Well, this book provided an answer to that question.

The simple answer is this: people are more willing to help you when they like you. If there is one thing I can attribute to the remarkable success that Benjamin Franklin achieved as a businessman, politician, philosopher, and diplomat, it was the fact that everyone he met wanted to help him and be around him because he gave them so much joy both intellectually and emotionally. In short, he was good company and provided good conversation. If you read his biography, you will see this most clearly when he begins his business as a printer. I am now beginning to understand why business is people. It’s not just forming relationships with your customers, but also with other businessmen. The world is not logical. It is emotional. People who like you will be more likely to help you and buy from you.

Now, obviously because of his discoveries regarding electricity, Benjamin Franklin was already well known throughout the world. However, it was in fact his personality that made the public love him. His “public image” was more celebrity than his scientific discoveries. One might argue that it is because of his celebrity that the world seemed to give him the resources to succeed, but I argue that it was in fact his personality. His scientific discoveries came later in life. During the early years people still wanted to help him and be his friend and this is because of his temperament and the way he in which he conducted himself.

What has this taught me? Reputation is incredibly important, not only among friends, but also especially when you become a public figure. Benjamin Franklin wasn’t just good at winning friends, he had the ability to create a public image (that wasn’t completely representative of his personality, but definitely had elements), and because of this positive reputation/public image, people who hadn’t even met him felt like they knew him and were willing to go out of their way to help him or support his causes. This lesson makes me think of Warren Buffet and his reputation/public image of being down to earth, a pragmatic and intelligent investor, honest, and humble. This reputation is incredibly important to his success in dealing with new businessmen and the government (think Solomon brothers). I have never thought of a person’s reputation as being similar to a product’s brand, but now I clearly see the importance and likeness.

I mentioned that Benjamin Franklin had the incredible ability to win friends and foster cooperation. One notable way he did this is through his use of argumentation. Instead of favoring direct confrontation, he often used the Socratic method of questioning and indirection. He believed that “proving” someone wrong would only serve to make them feel stupid and therefore resentful and angry. By helping someone come to the conclusion on their own, it preserved their dignity and it made them more likely that they would not abhor you at the end of the process.

I think that a large reason why Benjamin Franklin was so good at making other people like him is that he genuinely cared about humanity and wanted to improve society. This is clearly seen through his number of public projects (volunteer fire fighters, street cleaning, etc). Although he motivated out of his belief that the best way to serve god was to doing good to your fellow man, I also just think it was in his nature. Not only did people like how he made them feel through his friendly, witty, and flirty demeanor, but they liked the ideals he stood for.

As a side note, after realizing that Benjamin Franklin was such a celebrity in his and our time because of his ability to make people like him, it makes me wonder how incredible of a public image Jesus crafted. I doubt that his true personality was completely incorporated by the values we now think of when we hear his name. Just like Benjamin Franklin, I’m willing to bet that people liked Jesus for the way he made them feel and for his set of values. It makes me wonder what he was like he was a man, beneath the public image. Looking back at how influential he has been, it might be fair to say that Jesus was the greatest public relations man of human history.

The one thing I did not like about Benjamin Franklin was the way he treated his wife. He was very cold, almost to the point of being cruel towards her last days. She was clearly a wife of companionship who he didn’t love and he didn’t spend much time with her at all (spent a lot of time traveling in Europe. He didn’t have sex with other women, but flirted a hell of a lot). Also, it’s really interesting that the majority of his deeper emotional relationships were with women.  His relationships with men were more of an intellectual nature. That’s similar to myself.

Side note: I find it very interesting that he didn’t believe in God. I didn’t realize that atheism existed then. Granted, he probably wouldn’t label himself as an atheist, but he certainly didn’t believe in the Christian form of god because it was irrational.

Benjamin Franklin stood for the middle class values of frugality, industry, and an aversion to elitist birth right ruling. He believed in an America where anyone who worked hard could rise through the social ranks as he did. His values are a strong part of our American image to this day. It was really cool to learn about Franklin’s contemporaries like Hume, Adam Smith, and Rousseau. In addition, I really liked learning about the different personalities of the founding fathers. I plan to incorporate his winning friends principles into my life. Lastly, I think that the best way to study history is through biographies because it’s so much more interesting! I think that Benjamin Franklin was truly a great self-made man. I hope one day to be considered a great self-made man even if it is in no way on the scale of him.

Quotes

“His secret for how to win friends and influence people read like an early Dale Carnegie course: ‘Would you win the hearts of others, you must not seem to vie with them, but to admire them. Give them every opportunity of displaying their own qualifications, and when you have indulged their vanity, they will praise you in turn and prefer you above others…Such  is the vanity of mankind that minding what others say is a much surer way of pleasing them than talking well ourselves.’”

“Out of this arose a vision of America as a nation where people, whatever their birth or social class, could rise (as he did) to wealth and status based on their willingness to be industrious and cultivate their virtues.”

“Franklin, however, was no Malthusian pessimist. He believed that, at least in America, increased productivity would keep ahead of population growth, thus making everyone better off as the country grew.”

“When a man’s actions are just and honorable, the more they are known, the more his reputation is increased and established.”

Review of Daddy by Danielle Steel

This story is about a family that seems to have it all: a nice house, a father with a high paying job, a caring mother, and warm and intelligent children. As you might have guessed, something terrible happens that plunges this family into chaos and disrupts the parents’ once secure vision of a rewarding and prosperous life for their children. With this novel, Danielle Steel explores what it means to be a family, but more importantly, what it means to keep a family together and endure change.

What follows is not a review, but my thoughts on the story and the characters. Please note that I may be talking in detail about the events of the novel, which may spoil the ending.

For those of you who know me, you must already have witnessed that I am a daydreamer. I spend my time thinking about how amazing it will be one day when I am rich and don’t have to prostitute my time and labor so that I can put food on my table and a roof over my head. I spend my time imagining how good it will feel when I have a six-pack and when I’m as muscular as I’d like to be. Sometimes I dream about writing a meaningful novel or philosophical essays. Other times, I know that I was destined to be an FBI agent hunting down criminals and brining them to justice. You might find it odd then, knowing my propensity for dreaming, that I rarely have ever dreamed about my future family or my future wife.

This novel really made me think about what it means to build a life with someone else. The concept of having someone else’s happiness as your priority is extremely foreign to me. Even now, I find it difficult to conceptualize having the relationships in your life being more important than the achievements. Also, I’ve never before considered the possibility that over the course of a marriage, people might fundamentally change and fall out of love. I’ve never experienced divorce and perhaps as a result, I always naturally assumed that people who divorce must have not been a good pair to begin with. This book did partially clarify that belief, but it also opened me up to the possibility that people’s priorities change, even if they were aligned in the beginning of the marriage.

I have always believed in soul mates (maybe from watching too many movies), and even now, deep down, I still believe in them, but from a pure cognitive standpoint, I can’t argue for them anymore. More likely, relationships are built on levels of compatibility. It’s strange to think that despite professing your vows of marriage and declaring your love, the woman lying next to you in bed may not be the best match for you. Perhaps if you knew all the women in the world, you would find a more suitable companion. I know that life is not written and that fate only exists in stories, but
what is even more bizarre to me is that you can be happily married to someone for decades and then, after his or her death, be happily married to another person and call it love. The idea is extremely unromantic.

My friend said something to me a few weeks ago that the term “opposites attract” might be true at first and that initially the relationship may be exotic, but in the long run you need to have values in common with the person you love or else it will be impossible to build a life with them. This book has made me think a lot more about the family I want to build when I am older and where the “feel” of being in a family comes from. It’s impossible to think about building a family without thinking about the person you will build it with, so my thoughts have also wandered into that arena.

I have always known that I want to have a big family. I’ve always known that in the future, I will derive a lot of joy from showing my children how to achieve their dreams. Obviously, I leave it up to school to formally educate them, but I think it’s extremely important to have a method for analyzing the world and therefore I look forward to developing within them a strong philosophical and rational base in which to evaluate life and arguments. My greatest goal as a parent will be to instill in my children a burning desire to be self-made and self-learned. So many people rely on school to educate themselves. My greatest passions (computer programming, writing, psychology, philosophy, economics, business) have grown from my own readings. I want my children to pick up a book on a subject they are interested in or find an answer to a question they have without having to ask me. It’s my hope that I will also foster a love for meaningful conversation. As I look back, the best experiences I’ve had at the dinner table aren’t when I’ve talked about my day, but when I’ve held a well-reasoned debate with my father.

My focus on my future family has always been in terms of what I can teach my children, how I can help them conquer their dreams, and how I can present a philosophy on life that will help them see simplicity and beauty, while instilling ambition and achievement. Until I read this book, I never thought of the emotional component of a family. The “feel” of being in a family comes from genuine emotion and selfless love. This is a concept that I am still wrestling with but at least am now aware of. In my next few years, I imagine I will revisit this aspect of family life and set goals as to how I will achieve this with my wife and children.