My Senses

I was on my way to campus today, and realizing all the uniqueness that is found within these cluttered streets of Liverpool. I don't think I can quite capture the whole idea of everything I encounter here, but I will do my best at giving you an overall picture.

Taste
Hmmm.....the taste of curry, or balti. It can get a bit spicy, but you never quite know until you try it. The texture, similar to chili, but mixed with rice, noodles, bread, or even chips. Definately worth a try and something I have grown to enjoy and crave. My fav: chicken tikka masala.
Chips. Yes chips....the good ole' "Chippy." Chips are more of like steak fries, and greasy at its finest. You can find a "Chippy" on pretty much every corner and usually can taste a little bit of everything deep fried.....including a MARS bar. I haven't tried that one yet, and actually haven't even made the journey for the traditional fish and chips. It's just a matter of time.

Touch
This morning I put on some khaki pants that haven't been washed in quite awhile. It was unusually comfortable. I was realizing how accustomed I have came to accept the crispiness of jeans, shirts, socks, and my entire wardrobe after drying over the radiator. Oh yes, and fluffy towels fresh out of the dryer - I have forgotten what that feels like.
You walk outside and even see a blue sky. You begin making your way to campus, and suddenly realize that it feels like someone, with a lot of saliva, is spitting on you. The rain, spit, mist, who knows what it really is. You just realize you're wet and you give up the idea of staying dry.
Once you arrive on campus, or maybe once you get home, you sit Indian style, or legs crossed only to confront an enormous wet puddle. It's then you acknowledge your "Toth pants" and the water soaking your trousers up to your knees.
And if the rain hitting your face and moist clothing isn't enough, you pause to cross the street or find yourself waiting for the bus. Carefully making sure there are no cars coming (from EITHER direction - since you don't quite understand what they come from the right) you are growing anxious for the hole in traffic. About that time, you realize someone just took a water hose and drenched you! Oh yes, when the movies show buses, trucks, cars, and every other kind of transport spraying water 20 feet in every direction, they're not lying! It's happened....more than once.

Sight
Rubbish! Yes rubbish. You find a lot of litter lying around on the streets, buses, pretty much everywhere you go. People literally throw their trash wherever its convenient for them. I don't quite understand it, but it's true and it can't go without noticing. Who would have thought I would have been missing Mt. Rumpke!
The fashion here......well let's just say it's interesting. You never quite know what you're going to get. I guess that's ok when anything goes. Yes anything. Let's see.......I'll try to fill you in with some of the latest. FUR - boots, vests, sweaters, and anything else you can get it on. Mullets - I'm not even spending more time talking about this one. My personal favorite, the 80's! Pretty much everywhere you go you get a little reminder of childhood. I actually have liked it so much, I have been caught (on multiple occasions) with off the shoulder shirts and a side pony tail. Embrace it!

Smell
I can't really think of a good smell from here. Not to say there anren't any, but I just can't think of any right now. There are two smells I have grown to identify, but I don't think I will miss them when I leave.
1) dog poop. You don't really notice the smell until you walk in your house, get in someone elses car, or maybe even stop in to someone's house. It's then you realize the wretch infesting everything behind you! Yes, the dogs leave their junk all over the sidewalks and if you take your eyes off the path for 1 second, you're more than likely doomed.
2) the bus. Well, I guess it's not really the bus, but more what's on the bus. You can catch wiffs of it every now and then elsewhere, but being confide in a smaller unventilated place, you get a pretty big dose. Yes, the aroma of marijuana. Be careful, the scallies try everything to make sure they get the strongest savor, but it might be at your expense.

Hear
Let's just say SCOUSE! It's a common language the LPool natives use, and you just can't quite understand them. The funny thing is, its ENGLISH! Can't really do it justice by describing it, but try to think of an Irish, yet Welsh (elf language), pirate conversation. EXACTLY!