Strange Encounters

Today, I got an e-mail from my friend Emily from risd. Emily lived in London when she was a wee one for a few years and demanded that I eat fish and chips at some point at some place right near her old flat. I was in a fish and chips kind of mood, so I headed over. Turns out, it ain't open on Saturday! Damn Brittish! Oh well, Fish and Chips extravaganza for another day.

Instead I went to what is fast becoming my favorite store, the Japan Centre. I've been really good about not blowing my money on meals. I've been cooking and packing a lunch most days, but today, I hurried out the door without doing so. Amongst selling tons of random things imported from a 99 cent store in Japan, this store also has pretty cheap, but still good sushi.

The store is right off of Piccadilly Circus, so I got some grub, and then headed out to find somewhere to eat it. I ended up sitting next to an English family with two kids under 12. They were both fascinated by my sushi. The younger boy began whispering in his sister's ear about my food, and how funny it looked. Then he ran over to his Grandma, and began to tell her about it. Basically, the kids had never seen sushi before. Or what there Grandma stated most eloquently, they have never seen anyone like you eat it (aka, only asians eat sushi?). It was just such a strange experience, but then I realized it's the weekend. The hicks of England come out to London on the weekend. Thinking about it later, they definitely had a more country accent, so it's not as strange as it was in the moment.

Late tonight, I watched tv for the first time in a while. Not anything I cared about, but I sat downstairs and entertained a few Brits with my American ways. I was laughing uncontrollably a few times at them too, so I think it was a fair trade.

Also, several people have asked me if I am part CUBAN? I'm confused.