Let the Games Begin! (No, Not the Hunger Games)

Happy 2012 Summer Olympics everyone! As you’re probably well aware, the Summer Olympics are taking place in London this year. Perhaps you’re lucky enough to be in the area right now, or will be in the next couple of weeks. If you are, you’ll get to experience the infectious energy that the Olympics hold. I’ve always found that the Olympics can bring sports fans and non-sports fans together alike. (Personally I don’t watch sports with any regularity, but the Olympics make me want to watch. Platform diving competition on a regular year? Naw, that’s okay. Platform diving at the Olympics? Yes, please!). The excitement of rooting for your favorite athlete/team or country, the water cooler moments (ex. the men’s 4x100 freestyle swimming relay in Beijing) and personal stories, or just the liveliness of the big event, all of them bring people together.

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If you’re in London right now, you’ll get to experience the culture of the city in what will most likely be a heightened state. Yes, there will be the usual attractions of London to see, such as the London Eye, but there will also be other events to go to and things to see related to the Olympics. Even if you don’t have event tickets, there are still ways for you to enjoy the games whether you’re rooting for the UK or the US (or maybe neither). Get some friends together and go to a pub to watch one of the football games, which will surely be one of the more popular sports to enjoy. Or if you have access to a tv in your living arrangements, throw a potluck viewing party. Better yet, check the official London Games website to see if there’s an outdoor showing on a big screen “live site” near you. This applies to those outside of London too, as there are outdoor events held throughout the country. If you’re in the city for the day, there will be tons of opportunities to just people watch out on the streets near the arenas. Maybe you’ll see someone famous, who knows?

For “live site” listings: http://www.london2012.com/join-in/live-sites/

For other official events: http://www.london2012.com/join-in/interactive-map/

Wish I could be there with you to take it all in in person! I’ll just have to be satisfied with watching it on tv.

-L.

Mind the Gap – Part I

“Mind the gap.”

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If you’re going to be living in or around London, you’ll be hearing this phrase a lot. Even if you aren’t going to be studying in London, there’s a good chance that you’ll visit the city for fun or for travel through the Heathrow or Gatwick airports. Whatever your reason for being in the city, the most economical and easiest way to get around London proper is through the Tube, or the Underground. The Tube is London’s subway system that runs through the heart of the city all the way to the suburbs (picture New York’s subway). It’s convenient for many reasons: it’s a cheap form of transportation; it has many stops around landmarks, tourist destinations, and major parts of the city; and well, it’s more fun (and usually faster) than waiting around for a bus.

“Mind the gap” is a warning to passengers regarding the gap between the subway train and the station platform. Upon arriving at a stop, the doors open, and a pleasant-sounding recorded voice reminds you to watch your step. It’s also painted on the edge of each platform as a visual cue. If you use the Tube enough, the phrase might become engrained in your psyche, and you might find yourself mouthing the words before the voice comes on over the intercom. The expression is so popular that it has entered into British popular culture. There are even souvenir items like shirts with the Underground logo and words “Mind the Gap” printed on them. Probably not the best gift option for the uninitiated though. Imagine going home and giving such a shirt to a friend who has never heard the phrase:

You: “Here, I bought this for you. Isn’t it funny?”

Friend: “Oh cool, thanks!”

          [Looks at shirt]

“…I don’t get it.”

-L.