The Londoner.

Having been back in London for nearly a month now, my life has gone back to the ever busy, ever confusing life-style of the typical 'Londoner'. But for me that is normality, walking fast through the streets of Euston Road, not looking at anyone and listening to my music full blast is only natural to me. Ironically, most would describe me as an extremely friendly and bubbly person, but there is something about travelling in London that forces me conform to the 'stereotype'. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore my city, there is something about being here that feels truly inspirational, being in London compels me to succeed and furthermore drives me to independence. After all London is the home of the most fiery and powerful business women and men in the entire world, and it is every intention of mine to become a part of that category in forthcoming years. However, it is this self absorbed nature of a Londoner which indeed makes them a "Londoner". They are either doing something or in fact rushing to go somewhere to do something. They are eternally on the move, the city hardly rests and neither do the residents. In other parts of the world; relaxation exists - here everyone is 'constantly on the go'. According to 'The Travel Magazine' - London was rated no.1 most unwelcoming cities in the UK. I am certainly not surprised. (http://www.thetravelmagazine.net/i-3851--london-is-uk-s-rudest-city.html) - Self absorption to the extreme.

So what encouraged me philosophise about the mentality of the 'Londoner'? Actually, an odd experience concerning the incompetency of Transport for London. Around 9 a.m; I was 'topping-up' my oyster card at Mornington Crescent Station to go home from staying my friends in Camden - interrupting my morning engagement with my iPod, a man asked me: "What zone is Mile End?" - mindlessly i replied "Zone 2" - thinking absolutely nothing of it. I continued my journey catching the Northern Line to Tottenham Court Rd - I found out that trains were cancelled from White City to Holborn. Ok, No Problem! Just a quick walk to Holborn will put me back on track. Briskly walking, the same man appears again and started walking with /following me. As flattered as i was, it was however 9.20 am - I was exhausted and I did not have the patience to be nice to him. I smiled and continued walking faster down New Oxford St, but this man was extremely persistent and irritating. I made my body language clear that I was busy - of course I am a "Londoner" -  I have somewhere to be. He then started to ask for my mobile number because apparently I had "nice eyes" - the persistence just continued to grow and in annoyance I set him straight and then stormed off.  I suppose from that moment I realised the vicious nature which i hold from being in London, I felt awful. But it was like he broke the unwritten "code" which i find Londoners tend to have, especially on the London Underground. It is simply unheard of for a romance to flourish from the steamy and odorous London Underground, this man was simply delusional!

So, I took it upon myself to document this "unwritten code" which every Londoner seems to be subsequent to. Just to highlight either how ridiculous or how brilliant, we, Londoners are (depending on who is viewing the situation)

The "Unwritten Code" of the London Underground

1. Do not look anyone in eye. (Especially if you are a girl, unless you want attention from foreigners)
2. Every seat is free game - it doesn't matter if you are pregnant, old or disabled.
3. Slow walking people deserved to be kicked. You cannot dawdle in London.
4. Just because it is rush hour, and we are inappropriately close - does not give you the right to talk to me or even look at me.
5. Avoid changing at Bank - you will end up walking for 15 minutes
6. Headphones were made for a reason, I will give you dirty looks if I can hear your music.
7. Any newspaper left on the tube can be read by any other passenger at any other time until the cleaning staff find it necessary to remove it.


I don't and certainly not all Londoners will agree with this "code" but it is adhered to by most. I guess this means that Londoners are the most aggressive and unfriendly citizens in the UK and possibly the world (but i am sure Parisians come quite close). But that is the culture here, it would be impossible to change the mentality of the 7 million residents living in this multi-dimensional city.  So in fairness the man quite clearly overstepped his boundaries!