tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post6709224811264950004..comments2023-10-22T12:12:04.100+01:00Comments on American Buddhist in England: Un-American, not Deep, and Un-Buddhist!?Buddhist_philosopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14246929532585980356noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-83715019828493353132007-10-30T17:28:00.000+00:002007-10-30T17:28:00.000+00:00Sounds like quite the experience there Justin. Fr...Sounds like quite the experience there Justin. From what it sounds like I might be able to fly under the radar over ther as well. not much of a ketchup guy myself. LOL.Saint27https://www.blogger.com/profile/08544164542248320733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-55802221045743531922007-10-28T16:30:00.000+00:002007-10-28T16:30:00.000+00:00Yep Cat - the toilets are a-okay :)Gary - I love t...Yep Cat - the toilets are a-okay :)<BR/><BR/>Gary - I love the story about the park. It definitely sounds like an easy mistake. Once, in Atlanta, a friend of mine and I were 'kindly' directed by one gentleman to a bar 'we'd love' (called 'Kyle's' I think). It took us about two minutes (and luckily zero drink orders) to know we were in a gay bar :) Like you, it was a bit of an uncomfortable feeling.<BR/><BR/>And the other day a British girl told me about the gay district here and kindly noted, 'you'd do real well there, yes, real well.' hmm...<BR/><BR/>Carla - Nuneaton sounds great. In fact, yes, any place outside of London sounds better by the day. If I'm living here next year with my wife we'll <I>have</I> to get out of the city at least once a month. Luckily there are some parks here that at least <I>mimic</I> non-city life a bit... 'till then I must remember that I'm here to study, learn a bunch, write a phd thesis, and get enlightened so as to free the world of suffering :)Buddhist_philosopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246929532585980356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-17874356606969347652007-10-28T15:41:00.000+00:002007-10-28T15:41:00.000+00:00First I have to comment...'A Town Called Slough'. ...First I have to comment...'A Town Called Slough'. I think there's a sitcom in that title. Or at least a sequel to Betjeman's poem. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, Justin, sorry your accommodation is so rubbish. I used to live in Leytonstone, but as a lodger in a rather good area. My flat here in Nuneaton is lovely. I've never seen so much as a bug, if you don't count the daddy longlegs that occasionally fly in the open windows. (Can't get used to the no-screens concept, even after five years).<BR/><BR/>I don't hang around with other Americans, either, but that is mostly because there aren't any here to speak of. I'm something of a novelty. When I was in London, no one cared where I was from and no one noticed my accent. (That is, if they could even speak English!) Here I get all sorts of people who go from, 'Where's that accent from?' into a gushing, 'Oh, I love America, we went to Florida...' <BR/><BR/>If you want to expand your experiences, get out of London! It's a hole if you aren't a millionaire! ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-28693928478989104902007-10-28T14:23:00.000+00:002007-10-28T14:23:00.000+00:00Sounds like good life experience, there, Justin. N...Sounds like good life experience, there, Justin. Nowhere better to practice some good old-fashioned Buddhist mindfulness, too!<BR/><BR/>I once stayed in a bedsit in a town called Slough, which is just outside Greater London. I shared this house with an alcoholic couple, a few drug users, another alcoholic, and a burgler (he never burgled in our house, to my knowledge!). There were fights, wild parties, a visiting hairdresser who declared to me that he'd reached 'God-consciousness' which he said is the highest spiritual attainment (I had my doubts about this, however!).<BR/><BR/>I was even stared at one summer's day by lots of men as I sunbathed in my shorts in the nearby park - it turned out to be a hangout for gays to make a pickup! Although I've nothing against gays, and some of my best friends are gay, I did feel somewhat uncomfortable at being leered at so much. (A good lesson in how women must feel when it's men staring at them.)<BR/><BR/>So, enjoy your home, Justin. Things could get really interesting!<BR/><BR/>Be well,<BR/>G.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-15077434980081412782007-10-27T01:45:00.000+01:002007-10-27T01:45:00.000+01:00cool!as long as the toilets are working...cool!<BR/><BR/>as long as the toilets are working...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com