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Bruins in Bardland

Kristine Miller

Kristine Miller.Kristine Miller, 20, is a UCLA junior and English major from Santa Barbara Calif. She's traveled to Guatemala, Mexico, and Canada, but this will be her first trip to Europe. She writes, "I'm looking forward to anything adventurous, absurdly witty, or that will make me shake my head and laugh in 50 years."

Shakespeare fave: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Tidbits from England

Aug 12, 2009
 
1) The beds have one big duvet cover. No sheet. This means an all-or-nothing mentality — choose before you go to bed whether you want to roast or freeze for the night.
 
2) English candy is much more exciting than American candy. Care for some Tiddly Pots? Toodle Pips? They've got 'em.
 
3) Don't ask for food at the pubs past 5 o'clock. The night has already started as far as they're concerned.
 
4) Don't hurt yourself looking for the other half of the shower door. It's not there. That's just the way it is.
 
5) Always bring an umbrella. Because, yes, it will rain.
 
6) At the Globe? Debating whether to wear that trash-bag-looking poncho or to save your dignity? Ditch the dignity. Wear the poncho. You'll thank me later.
 
7) It's ok to have ice cream for lunch.
 
8) In fact, try the To Be or Choc To Be Sundae or go to the As You Like It Café.
 
9) Try to make as many references to Shakespearean verse as possible in one day.
 
10) Fall in love with England.
 

Fish, chips and the royal treatment

Aug 31, 2009

At The Globe pub, left to right: Kelsey Comes, Erin Pendleton, owner H.R., Kristine Miller, and Sarah Evans.
At The Globe pub, left to right: bloggers Kelsey Comes and Erin Pendleton, owner H.R., and bloggers Kristine Miller and Sarah Evans.
Editor's note: Kristine wrote this post on Aug. 4, while in London, before departing to Shakespeare's hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. Because of earlier internet accessibility issues, it is being unveiled for the first time.

We all see it out of the corner of our eyes — the name begs us to give it a try, and our stomachs heartily agree. "The Globe," a quaint little pub tucked on a side street of Covent Gardens that shares its name with the famous Shakespearean theater, couldn't have been more perfect. We sit down inside, promptly ordering the classic fish and chips. As we wait, a stout, gap-toothed, friendly middle-aged man comes over. He introduces himself simply as "H.R.," the owner. We start to talk to him, how he left Bangladesh for London to take advantage of the better wages, with him adding in how much he loves Americans ("Americans. I love Americans — they the nicest people in the world!"). He asks where in America we're from, and we tell him Los Angeles. He points with a finger to a wall of pictures, one of with a signed picture of Hillary Clinton. "Hillary Clinton come here — I get her autograph. Senator from L.A. come here. That's picture of us." He flashes his gap-toothed smile. We all laugh. We continue talking with him — about LA, Washington D.C., Bangladesh ...

"We take picture, yes? I put you on the wall," he says suddenly, picking up one of Sarah's fries directly from her plate, munching nonchalantly on it. "I eat her old fish, no?" He chuckles, reaching over her shoulder again, picking apart a piece of her fish with his fingers and popping it in his mouth.