Happy Hour, London Style

Sign at The Court (a pub) Cost is a huge factor in everything that we[us NYU in London people]do here in London. The ever changing exchange rate, though currently at 1.5 dollars to a pound (at the time of this entry), does not make anyone happy since it's never in our favor. Everything that we do is price dependent. We want to enjoy the many different cuisines that London has to offer but only if the price agrees. We certainly want to enjoy the pub and bar life, but only if we don't have to pay 8 pounds for a drink. Worse still, is that I am thinking of the prices in dollars not pounds which creates a problem. It seems reasonable, until you realize that you're not paying 3.50 for a pint, but about $5. Apart from the sticker shock, another rather unnerving thing about London is that everything closes at around midnight, during the week, and 1:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Coming from New York City, the city that really never sleeps, this is a strange concept. The idea that the Tube actually shuts down seems ridiculous. How can things NOT be open 24 hours? Londoners seem to make up for the early closing times by starting everything earlier. On my way to my classes (which are all in the afternoon), I see people sitting in pubs and restaurants, drinking beers and wine. On my way back from classes, 3 hours later, people are still drinking. They just start at lunch time and pretty much keep going. Every day of the week. New Yorkers don't even take out enough time for lunch most of the time, unless it's a business lunch. Also, because everything is open later, they don't have to start so early. Nor do they get very drunk on the weekdays. Here, however, even if it's a Monday night, I will still hear drunken people outside my window. And if there's a football (soccer) match on, the crowd is even bigger and people are drunker. The drinking habits of this country are really easy to adopt. It's easy, too easy, in fact, to decide, “hey let's go get a drink.” Just like adults always seem to do back in the States. In fact, every Thursday evening, after class is over, my friends and I go out to what we like to call “happy hour.” Granted, there are no special drink deals and most Londoners don't need a happy hour, but, 5 pm is the perfect time to start drinking. We just go to a nearby pub, order chips (fries), a drink or two and sit around for a few hours, talking. And we're never alone. There are loads of other people, students, office workers, finally done for the day and taking the moment to sit down and catch up with friends. Something about a pub is meant for friends and friend making. I made most of my friends through meetings at pubs or on the way to a pub. Pubs and many bars here are such an integral part of life for Londoners that they are taken as simple, everyday things. And slowly, I'm falling into that part. But somehow, the combination of food, drinks and conversation will always make me a happy camper.