英國趣事 / uk stories - 002

You know,

sometimes

I wish I were a Sim.

So I could choose to have the 

'ambitious' trait.

Then I wouldn't be so

god damn lazy.

.

.

.

趣事; tsui si

英國趣事 / uk 'tsui si' / uk stories

I'd like to start a series of blogs about the fun and interesting stories

that have or may happen during my time here in the, 

soon not to be, 

United Kingdom.

🇬🇧
*
「 The Theif 」

This 'tsui si' happened about 5 months ago.
Yes,
well done Asha for being so goddamn late again.


Location:
Rosa's
Carnaby Street, London

I was with Caro and Katherine.
Chilling and having overpriced,
non-authentic Thai food.

#shade

We were in the indoor area,
safe from shoppers, their noisy chatter
and their nosey looks at our plates.

So we were chatting away.

okay,
fine.
Maybe not chatting.
Probably poking at our phones.
Too comfortable in each others company.

Aren't we all?

So at one particular moment,
we all happened to look outside the window.
Observing the other humans having lunch.

And
there were these 2 girls,
most likely tourists,
sitting right by
the short restaurant barriers.

Those barriers that help keep a 'distance'...
more like,
'encourage' some distance
between patrons and passerby's.

Practically useless barriers.

And at that very moment -
an asshole on a bike sped past.
In one swift movement
snatched up one of their purses.

Everyone witnessed this tragedy take place
in slow motion.

A millisecond after it happened,
some stood up and gasped.
Unsure of whether to help the poor girl,
to reassure the poor girl
or
to pretend nothing happened/mind their own business
and carry on with their meals.

Others, like us, stared at each other.
Feeling just as useless as those barriers.

I suspect before coming to London town,
she clearly misinterpreted London
as the safest, friendliest city on the planet.

She doesn't anymore.

This event, however,
strengthened my own personal argument
on Hong Kong being the best home city ever.

Back to the story,
Before another millisecond went by,
a man in the crowd sprinted towards the thief.
He didn't come with her,
didn't know her.
He just reacted.
He helped her.

Let me first help you all paint a picture -

Luck be a crowd.

Carnaby Street,
in summer.
Tourists everywhere.
This asshole/thief,
was on a bike.

Somehow,
this criminal mastermind thought
he could quickly manoeuvre through a dense crowd.

.

.

.

Needless to say,

he didn't get too far.

And the nameless hero who went after him,

got the lady's purse back.

As all my UK stories,

I learned something from this.

1. Never leave your personal belongings out in public

2. London is crawling with pickpockets

3. London is filled with civilian heroes

4. Rosa's thai food is overpriced

-
And that was that.

job interview

The first Monday of July 2016

was an exciting day.

Finally, 

after a month since landing in London Town - 

I had my first job interview. 

Now if you’re thinking - 

“Wow asha, 

you’re such a slacker. lazy much? 

just this one interview in the whole of 30 days? 

shame Asha, 

shame.’

Ahem,

I will have you know that

 I have sent out more than 20+ job applications, 

customised/personalised cover letters 

to companies I had no interest in applying to. 

But hey, 

girl’s gotta pay rent.

😅

I have also received many rejection e’mails, 

I would more than love to forget about.

Ugh...

Reminding me, 

I’m not qualified, 

I lack experience,

not thoroughly educated enough. 

Thanks.

Yet on the first Monday of July 2016, 

I finally got my first ever job interview. 

I’ve done embarrassing castings, 

I’ve been to teaching position job interviews, 

all in hong kong, 

all non-terrifying. 

But 

 this time

.

.
.

This time

it was London.

This was a studio assistant job position. 

This was 'gwai lo' territory.

I don’t know if any of you watched my ‘leave your comfort zone’ video… 

actually I’m not sure if I mentioned this.. 

I think I did… 

well I think those who went to the meet n greet back in HK know this. 

That

I wanted to get an assistant job in London. 

I wanted one SO BAD.

It was like… a dream job. 

To me. 

Crazy,
I know.

Makes no sense.

No logical,
rational,
sane
24 year old
would voluntarily WANT to be an assistant.

Maybe I've watched 'The Devil Wears Prada'

too many times.

Too many.

I just always thought I'd make a pretty good assistant.

Especially if it was in an industry I was 

hopefully familiar with.

I didn't put much thought into it before heading out the house.

Studio life, 

subtle fashion, 

clean should do.

Right?

Simple.

No skirt, 

heavy makeup,

heels.

Nothing fancy.

Just my kind of thing.

Black sweatshirt, 

black jeans, 

Vans.

♥

Out the door. 

Flatmate gives me a quick look

and says

'That's what you're wearing?

To an interview?'

I start doubting my fashion choice.

She had a point. 

It was an interview.

But then, 

it was a pretty cool studio.

But..

it was an interview.

Fuck.

I went for it.

This wasn't Hong Kong.

This wasn't an 'office' job.

This wasn't corporate.

Flatmate couldn't be right.

Bless her.

So I left the house.

And

I got the job.

-

[A]

英國趣事 / uk tsui si - 001

hello all,
i am back.
👋🏼

趣事; tsui si

英國趣事 / uk 'tsui si' / uk stories

I'd like to start a series of blogs about the fun and interesting stories

that have or may happen during my time here in the, 

soon not to be, 

United Kingdom.

🇬🇧
*

「 The Refreshment Incident 」

So my first 'tsui si'
was on the day all our crap from HK had arrived.

It took about 2-3 months via sea freight,

in total 50 boxes including small dining table, chairs etc.

The team at Baggagexs (not sponsored, duh) was absolutely great. 

If anyone needs to relocate, I fully recommend them.

Anyway, 

back to my tsui si - 

Doorbell rang, 

cp went and gathered the cats into a room for safekeeping,

and I went to open the door. 

Two middle aged gwai lo's 

(Canto slang for westerners) 

were patiently waiting.

They cautiously went up and down the stairs with our boxes,

until our what used to be empty living room, 

was filled up from floor to ceiling

with boxes.

I then realised that I was a terrible host.

I had completely forgotten to offer any form of refreshments.

I am actually an introvert,

and avoid human contact if at all possible. 

If not, 

my acting skills are quite up to par 

when needed to come across as a

seemingly functioning adult.

So I did what my HK cultural upbringing would usual do -

I offered them

water.

💧

'Would you guys like a glass of water?'

I offer.

The bigger guy looks at me as if I had said something

rude 

(?)

He could tell by my bright eyed, deer in headlights gaze 

that I had no idea.

He then so replied:

'A cup of tea would be nice.'

 ☕️

The culture shock finally hit after just 2 weeks in London.

Tea.

Of course tea!

Rookie mistake. 

I was in England afterall. 

Tea is always to be expected.

So it finally occurred to me 

that I may have actually insulted him

by offering him my common tap water.

Well now I know.

So we put the kettle on, prepared the mugs, 

and asked if they wanted milk and sugar in their teas.

Wouldn't want to make another rookie mistake

by smugly assuming how much milk and sugar they used

...

I believe we've all learned a valuable lesson here today.

Remember darlings, 

tea.

Always tea.

-

And that was that.