minor contribution

As many of you have enthusiastically shared your ongoing voyages, as a fellow member who perhaps left the country the earliest, I also feel an obligation to contribute or satisfy however little I may to everyone's entertainment and curiosity. For my first 2 weeks in the UK, I had extensive hours for various journalistic entries, poorly written and sent home solely for the cheap thrills of a few friends. As such moments are now nearly extinct due to an onset of laboratory duties, I shall simply cut and insert selected snipets of my past scribbles, hoping that despite much contextual censorship (thus preventing self-humilliation), they may still prove to be marginally delightful.

May 14, London
... Anyways, England here has been raining nonstop since my arrival (Tucson's weather gradually seems better over time). The hostel which I live in is clean and tiny, but quite ghetto overall and has no hot water available. So far, my traveling has been limited to the more general tourists' program: bridges, museums, architectures and etc. Perhaps due to my misfortune of having been in majors cities as NY and Shanghai, the grandeur of London has not impressed me
as previously expected. It is odd how everywhere I go I'm reminded of former visit to similar locations (just today I have walked through the renowned Natural History Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum which both seem like replicas of the American Museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Art Museum at NYC. Additionally, the transportation system resembles Shanghai's in an uncanny manner). Well, without the exoticism anymore present, my transition to this culture will then be much quicker, which from a productivity standpoint is of course a very good thing.
....

May 16, London
... For yesterday and today, I have boarded on the two prigrimmages which I intended for since childhood: 221 Baker Street (Sherlock Holmes' Museum) and Down House (one where Charles Darwin wrote his Origin of Species). Not much can be said (or sufficiently portrayed) of these holy sites except one has my strongest recommendation to visit in person. However, what is to be noted is that, apparrently, over a bit of chit-chat with Dr. Watson, who is somewhat a worldly man, he favors the oriental ladies and is a bit grumpy about not having enough time (after diagonosis or role-playing I'm not sure) to read the newspaper at "such a wicked time in the world."
....

May 19, Cardiff
... I am currently in Cardiff, just arrived from a tiresome trip in London. Next stop: some remote bay area by the mountains and shores of the northern tip of Wales, Snowdonia, I believe it's called.
....

May 21, Caernarfon
... Three days later, I will then take an 8-hrs train back to London and go to Oxford. As for my living condition, I have already spent an unbelievable amount of money due to England's ridiculously high prices (plus I now also need a new pair of shoes as my current one has been so worn due to excessive walking). With hotel fees, train fares, museum tickets, and food (even Burger King costs over $10 each meal), I have already used up £600 so far within 8 days of time (despite my effort of trying to eat cheap)
....

May 24, Oxford
[to foreign mentor]
... As of noon time today I arrived at Prombroke College. The room is absolutely wonderful and I appreciate tremendously for your kind effort in booking it for me. So far, I have taken a quick tour of the campus and done enough amount of being "utterly lost" that, wherever our next meeting place shall be, I may have no problem finding it.
....

May 25, Oxford
...So I was entering the Oxford Park yesterday and this man in expensive black suite completely cut in front of me (well, he wasn't technically cutting me off, but it sure sounds more dramatic this way) and guess who it is, god damn (in a quite literal way) Richard Dawkins. [referring to Dawkins' book "The God Delusion" which, to my amusement, evokes much anger from religious circles]
....

May 25, Oxford (later that day)
A concise narrative of a series of events encountered at Oxford University
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon entering the main campus, I walked towards a palace-looking structure at the side of the road.
"Sorry Sir, this is for college affiliates only"
I told the doorman my residency at Pembroke.
"Sorry, you must be a member of this particular college to enter."
Well, what can you do. Instead, I decided to browse my favorite place of all, the libraries.
"Do you have a readers card?" I was stopped again at the entrance.
"Uh..well..." I awkwardly explained my status as a summer visiting student/researcher.
"You need a reader card to get in. I'm afraid this is not for public access."
Shit.
As I attempted entrance into other libraries, the same problem occurred.
Well, guess my only choice now is to go in my lab early. At least this encourages productivity.
Expecting the metal rotating bars to turn smoothly as I push against it, I almost had internal bleeding when it jammed against my stomach.
"Sir, this is for official personnels only."
Once again, I elucidated my situation and the expectancy of my arrival. It was only until many minutes later after some phone calls and my presentation of numerous documentations that the doorman very reluctantly allow me to enter.
At least I got in somewhere. Now, having done a whole day of traversing I really need a drink. Luckily, ten feet away are three department vending machines. As I was fumbling coins inside my pocket, I saw a piece of metal barred against the slot. Next to it reads a sign "please swipe your Darwin Card (I shit you not) to insert coin"
Fucking fuck.
I guess here in England the people are accustomed to the concept of privileges, although I never thought it goes so far...
In comparison, despite my fear of admitting it, the American philosophy of (whether applied in practice or not) "opportunities for all" for higher education appeals much more to my liking. Speaking of that, the new Chemistry building has the most comfortable couches. I'm thinking about taking daily nap there when the semester start. Who's with me?

June 6, Oxford
...So today I got my ass kicked by a crow, yeah, a fucking crow when I'm feeding it for my work. bird on a stick anyone? [referring to a typical snack sold on the streets in China]
....

End note:
So despite many's perception (from the above segments) that my experience here is less than ideal, the reality is quite the contrary. Complain as I may (thereby becoming more local by the seconds), my participation in numerous clubs and encounters with many peers have been trully enjoyable. In one week, I will be representing Oxford on a 3-day korfball tourament (similiar to basketball) at Cambridge. As for now, my effort of exceeding expectation and working up the latter continues.
Good luck to you all.

YT