Journey to the UK & US Part Two

I will be impolitic again and mention that my first impression of the US on arrival from the UK was that the public spaces were less pristine, the people less fashion conscious and much bigger. Truth be told, and I’m shamelessly generalizing here, Americans apparently don’t bother to dress up. They look like they just rolled out of bed and don’t give a damn about it. Baggy clothes are the de facto uniform in this part of the world and I must admit, I was influenced by this trend during the latter part of my stay.

Having been frustrated by Apple Itunes in Nigeria, I was finally able to open an Itunes account in the US and using my login name, I can use it wherever I am, even here in Naija. Apple needs to have its head examined…I can’t add songs to my Iphone from another computer, so now my flash drive is my “library” and I have to carry it everywhere I go!!! Furthermore, I can only authorize 5 computers with my Itunes account and any music I buy on Itunes can’t be changed into MP3s. What’s the point of having a sophisticated Iphone? With the old Ipod, at least you can transfer music at will. Naija babe in bitching frenzy. Word!

New Jersey can be a bit depressing. I had a wonderful time visiting my friend but for about a week, I was on edge. I realized it was because I had this nagging sensation that I was in "Surulere", even though I had paid hundreds of thousands of Naira to “go abroad”. There were Naijas everywhere (and to be fair also a good number of Latinos & Portuguese), African shops, hairdressing salons everywhere you turn…common! Now I better understand how Nigerians can travel and the country they visit doesn’t really pass through them! They remain so cloistered in the Nigerian community: eat, go to school, go to church, befriend & live with one another….

A major difference between Asia and UK/America is that in Asia, one rarely sees black faces and you get the sense you’re in an exotic locale…truly abroad. I bet you may also feel like that in some primarily Caucasian European countries.

I value new experiences. I respect the ability to reach out to embrace and understand the best of other cultures while junking the worst of yours…and a lot of what I saw exhibiting as African culture in NJ was (…insert something very unkind here).

I don’t know who infected who, ‘cause even the names of the churches in NJ are suspect – “Aroma of Christ Ministries (Deliverance Chapel)”, “Deliverance Jesus Is Coming Church” and “United Prayer Of All People Church”!

The transportation system in America is not as extensive as Europe’s, though the train system in NY is pretty good and there’s a stop sign at almost every bus stop in NJ, giving you time to figure out where you are. As in Europe, get a pay-as-you-go transport card or deal with bringing out the exact change for every trip! The UK is definitely more structured than the US. On public escalators, you get a sense of order. If you want to simply stand, you stay on the far right making room for people who want to walk up. Enroute the tube, there are distinct pathways for people going to and fro.

It was weird watching TV in America…seeing and hearing about places you had just visited and realizing the Obama-McCain debacle was going on right there…figuratively just next door.

Travelling really helped me appreciate the progress we’ve made in Naija. We’ve really come a long way. What is lacking are 3 major things – Systems (Law & Order, Security, Checks & Balances Against Corruption/Power Abuse), Infrastructure (Particularly Power & Transportation) and Global Consumer Brands (Sometimes, just seeing a MacDonald’s or Starbucks evokes a feeling of development). Without intelligent, resolute and compassionate leadership, we cannot have any of these things.

After spending some time in New Jersey, I was off to Michigan, a land of wide open spaces and beautiful fall colours. There are trees in Michigan! On the way to my host’s home, I noticed a curious sign advertising an Adult SUPERSTORE. I reasoned it must be a store with a very very wide selection of porn! :-) In NJ, there are advertisements asking you to donate your car (I learnt you can get a tax break if you donate a used car to a school). In Michigan, you’re asked to donate your boat!

The best way to see America is to drive. There are pretty good directional signs on the highways and armed with a GPS, you can go anywhere. But, be prepared for holdups during rush hour, especially at tolls. America is a land of regions with distinct customs, accents, habits and cultures – the Mid-West, Down South, The City…A key difference from Nigeria is that because there is one common language and destiny, while customs and cultures thrive, there is no “tribalism”. Americans tend to cluster around things like sports, food and events like Thanksgiving. There are a lot of self-service functions in America – Gas Stations, Ticketing Stands; even the Gym may be unmanned! The cinemas show full 15 minute previews, so you can afford to stroll in a bit late.

On a curious note, peeing in the open is a sexual offence in Michigan (a variant of Indecent Exposure). If you’re caught, you will be registered as a sex offender. In Europe/America, weather reports are important! A few degrees matter. When it’s cold, it’s freeeeeeeeeezing.

As you travel, you tend to collect/need an odd assortment of information at your fingertips– tourist locations you’d like to revisit, credit/debit card numbers, log in details for various websites, bank account numbers, internet banking log in details, hotel honours numbers, frequent flier numbers, passport number, phone numbers, addresses…the list goes on…I wish there was some way to manage this stuff without worrying about them falling into the wrong hands…

Journey to the UK & US Part One - Updated Sept '12

I will begin this blog by stating the obvious: The UK and US aren’t like what many people think. As tourist destinations and lands of opportunity, many countries outclass them, by far. However, knowing this didn’t dissuade me from visiting these countries and sure as hell won’t dissuade anyone else either. So, I shall attempt to provide the would-be traveler with a few subjective insights.

I have found that the formula for surviving/enjoying a trip to any developed city is pretty much the same.

First ACCOMODATION…(this does not apply to you if you’re staying with family or friends though). Before you go, do a search online or ask around for the major shopping district or city centre. Usually, there’is a street or region that captures the city’s sights and sounds. For example, Oxford Steet in London or 5th Avenue in New York. It will be expensive to stay in the actual area, but the trick is to look for a hotel just “off” the street – say 5 to 10 minutes walk from the centre. That way, you’re not only safely inured from the hustle and bustle, but you save hundreds of dollars on hotel expenses. You’re also minutes away from shopping, the cinema, the spa, eateries, tourist attractions, train station…everything! Finding the ideal hotel location is absolutely key when you go on vacation. I always look for a hotel close to a cinema and Borders or Barnes & Nobles. Yes, am a book worm and love coffee.

Now, COMMUNICATION. For business travelers, you may find it useful to roam your country phone while having another handy for a local sim card. Buy a sim card and top up on credits at the airport when you arrive. Be sure to read the fine print and ask for special offers, which operators can SMS seamlessly with your country’s networks etc. If you plan to visit the country frequently, it may be cheaper to simply get a contract line or bundled minutes using your host’s contact details on the registration form (with his consent, of course).

As per MOBILITY, there are some cities that have great public transportation networks e.g Singapore and London. Go to a train station and buy a pay-as-you-go card or travel card. It works on both trains and buses and saves you from having to count out the exact change for every trip. If you’re going to be all over the place within a few days then a “fixed period travel card” is a better option, but if you’re not sure how often you’ll be on the road or you plan to revisit the city, the pay-as-you-go card is a safer bet. You can top it up when needed and use it for years.

On your first day in a new city, it may be nice to do a guided city tour just to get a feel of the city before striking off on your own. There are many guided tours available online or through your hotel. During the tourist season, book a few days in advance for the most popular tours.

London reminds me of Singapore with a multitude of bicycles! It makes sense when you remember that Singapore was a British Colony. The architecture and feel’s the same. You can also stroll to most places as every where’s connected! To my amazement, the people really love to eat…and eat…standing up, walking, in the park, leaning against the wall…This is truly the city of sandwiches. And yet everyone seems so trim. Maybe because they walk about so much. I love pie so I proceeded to sample a different type each morning at the nearest café. Also, try to sample gourmet pizza at a Pizza Express. I attended a Brand Conference while in London (where I was the only black participant). One of the speakers from Pizza Express so extolled the virtues of their gastronomic delights that I just had to taste one. I wasn’t disappointed! There’s one at Dean Street, just off Oxford Street ( by Oxford Circus Station). When I travel, I never have issues with food. I love rice based dishes and anything crusty so can do Italian (pizza and pasta), as well as chinese and thai (rice, chicken). I always find stuff to eat. Tap water is safe to drink in the UK, but I noticed that when I ask for tap water with my meal at a restaurant…I get a side glance that says…”you cheapskate, you can’t order spring water”? For where? Asko!

For bar hoppers, The Slug & Lettuce isn’t a bad place to visit. Kinda reminds me of News Café. There’s one not too far from Bank Station. For clubbers, try Abacus or Revolution in the same area. At the train station, everyone rushes to the train platform…why I don’t know, as there’s a train about every 5 minutes…so what’s the rush? The cold? The truth is, it’s hard to truly destresss in a modern city. ‘Tis better to retire to a lake in Italy or a farm in Texas.

Like in all good cities, there are directional signs everywhere and many things are automated, though you may ask for help. Many service positions are manned by the young, friendly and earnest and they’re usually up-to-date and competent.

The Monuments are a bit disappointing…apparently pictures do better justice than the real thing. At the Tower of London, I took one look at the “family jewels” and thought…”is this it?” By the way, I will never do the London Eye again. Perhaps, it’s an activity for photographers, as it’s incredibly slow and boring and I don’t give a flying fig about a “panoramic view of the city”. Madam Tussaud’s was worth it though. You really can’t tell who’s real and who’s not in the dim lightingJ.

I came across some intriguing business names in London – Jupiter (a financial services firm with the payoff: We are on this planet to perform!), The Couch Bar, Eat..the real food company, St. Mary’s Axe.

Another point to note – excellence and good taste have no geographical demarcation. Good taste traverses cultural barriers…a point I’ll speak more on when I get to my US observations.

The UK and US are cities of offers. Everywhere you go, you’re asked to buy 2 for the price of 1.5 or a bigger size to save money. At a time, I felt like shouting: “It’s my money! I don’t want two…just one and I don’t mind paying for it”!

Suffice to say, I did the whole tourist thing in London which I won’t bore you with. Unfortunately, I didn’t do much shopping (I did that in the US) so I can’t comment much on that. From London, I took a train to Bradford to visit my sister who’s studying there. Bradford is an old sleepy erstwhile industrial town. It’s quite peaceful and basically a university town now. I also visited Saltaire in West Yorskshire (Aire: River, so…Salt River). It’s a UN Heritage site built by a miller who used the river as a source of hydro-electric power. He sorta reminded me of Hershey and Heinz: 2 great socially responsible entrepreneurs. Now, I’m going to be impolitic by mentioning that Bradford is also cheekily known as the Islamic Community of Bradford or Bradistan because of the large Middle Eastern Population. If that is so, then perhaps Peckham should be known as Naijaland!

I like the British. They exude a sense of responsibility, politeness, order and quiet efficiency. They mind their business, but are very helpful and do so with a smile. They do unglamorous jobs with thoughtfulness and efficiency. And the city reflects this thoughtfulness…sidewalks with wheelchair access, public toilets everywhere, directional signs, public transportation. Parking space is still an issue and there are congestion charges in the West End.

In summary, London is an okay place to visit ENROUTE some place else…it’s not a place to stay. Perhaps if I had visited more cultural sites like Stonehenge, I may have had a richer experience.

Travel Musings

Kindness will make me fall in love, but a sense of purposefulness and a heart after God will keep me there.

My big sister is a really kind, responsible person. She kinda reminds me of my Dad.

My Nokia phone with the numeric keyboard is my handiest tool – it’s my reminder, alarm clock, communicator, diary, notepad, sms machine…

Why must bed sheets have strange flower patterns? They remind me of paramecia, protozoa or amoeba or something…

Books never go out of fashion. Unlike clothes, in 50 years, you can still find a book.

Men try to do what they think women like. Sometimes, we’re quite clueless and it helps to periodically check to see whether we’ve changed our minds about that thing we like.

Anytime I get depressed, I think of all the books I haven’t read, the new music I haven’t heard and the interesting people I haven’t met and I cheer up again.