Ginger Edwin

Some thoughts on London as someone visiting from Toronto: 1. I truly do not understand how young people make it here without family wealth. Housing and food are so expensive and salaries are lower to boot. 2. Globalism has made it extremely easy to eat "authentic" cuisines in any decently-sized city around the world. As such, I have no interest in eating "really good Vietnamese". I have that at home. What's the thing I can only eat here? What actually makes you unique in this world? 3. British food gets a worse rap than it deserves. When it's good it's great. Full english breakfasts, meat pies, pasties, Sunday roasts. The problem is that it's easy to make, and frequently experienced, as mediocre. 4. They consistently know how to make good potatoes here. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. 5. I truly believe that you have experience things yourself to really understand it. For example, you might hear someone say "the beans really bring the whole thing together" and nod along, but it's not until you eat a proper full english breakfast that you're like "mm yes the beans really do bring the whole thing together." 6. It's incredibly grounding to be surrounded by layers and layers and layers of history. So much has come before us to bring us to where we are. 7. It is quite a moving place to be around Remembrance Day. To visit the war museum, see sites of historical importance, watch the ceremonies. The poppy takes on an entirely different meaning. Not only is it to commemorate veterans, but its a symbol of unity. Two sides of an ocean, Canadians and Brits wear poppies, remembering that our countries fought side-by-side, from the very beginning, together. 8. The urbanism is fantastic. Pedestrian-friendly, mature tree-lined streets, beautiful facades. Canadians may wave this away and say, "These cities were built before cars." But even new neighbourhoods like Canary Wharf are very pleasantly designed. Planning in Toronto is very broken. The guidelines and rules we've set lead to bad results. And the frustrating this is that it's all a choice. 9. It is wonderful to be able to pick two neighbourhoods on a map and have a decent transit connection between them. 10. You never see anti-social behaviour on transit. They are constantly running these PSAs over the speakers to text a number if you see anything. "See it. Say it. Sorted." I love it so much. Particularly the "sorted" and the accountability that the system takes on. Interestingly, I also heard a PSA that was like, "If someone asks you for money, donate to a charity instead." Extremely based to encourage the public to deter this behaviour. 11. There is no consensus for if pedestrians should walk on the right or the left. Maddening. 12. I do not understand how Brits get the reputation for loving to queue. I had some downright egregious experiences. Canadians are way more polite and respectful. 13. I have yet to see a child glued to a device. On transit, they're looking out the window, reading, or drawing. Curious if anyone knows why?