Celebrating the Fourth in London

Happy Independence Day Y'all!

If you happen to be in London on the Fourth of July there is one place that you can go to celebrate. The Texas Embassy Cantina is a Tex-Mex restaurant that is at the corner of Pall Mall and Cockspur (walking distance from Trafalgar Square) This is the place where you can celebrate American holidays, including Thanksgiving!

This place has quite a history. First of all, the cantina represents the actual Texas embassy during the 19th century when Texas won their independence from Mexico and became the country The Republic of Texas (actual embassy was located on St. James Street and is now a wine shop). The embassy closed when Texas joined the United States. The second and perhaps most interesting fact is that, the actually building once was the White Star shipping line home office. When the Titanic sank, friends and relatives of the passengers flocked to this building to see if their love ones had survived.

Now, back to the present. I have eaten there once several years ago, but from what I remember the food is pretty good. Plus, for the Americans who miss their regular size drinks and free refills (and their Dr. Peppers!) – this is the place to come! The overall restaurant is very nice and quite large. The décor is very nice and is reminiscent of Texas - to a point. Also, the restaurant is kid friendly, a plus for families!

So, if you want to celebrate Independence Day while abroad or simply have good Tex-Mex food, visit the Texas Embassy Cantina.

Being Safe Abroad

Because of the recent attacks in the UK and Ireland I thought I would discuss the matter of safety for people who are traveling in London.

The first thing you should know before you leave or just arrive in London, or any other country for that matter, is where your country’s embassy can be found. The American Embassy in London in located in Grosvenor Square, which is just south of Oxford Street. The address is 55/56 Upper Brook Street, London W1A 2LQ. There are four Tube stations in this area; the closest being Marble Arch, but there is also Oxford Street, Hyde Park Corner, and Piccadilly Circus. For American Citizen Services you will have to join the line that forms on the Upper Grosvenor Street. Here is a map that will better illustrate the location.

Note: When you are searching for the location of an embassy, I suggest you use an updated map of the city or the actual embassy website. Just to feed my curiosity, I used Google Map to find a satellite photo of the location, and I was given a different location. The #1 way to find the embassy is to find the address and map on its official website!

Let me now concentrate on traveler safety by looking at the AIFS students. If you have any concerns about your safety, whether it is along the lines of what is currently happening in the UK and/or if it a personal security, you can talk to any of the Student Life staff. That is what they are there for. Also, if you are living in the Atlantic House, there is the 24-hour security watch, and if you are living in the Ambassador House, you will have to enter in a door code (which is suppose to change every so often) to enter the house. If there is a national emergency, the school officials should and will instruct you and fellow students you to take whatever necessary precautions.

I highly recommend that you keep at least one form of ID on your person. I personally wouldn’t carry around my passport cause of the off chance of it being lost or stolen (the AIFS rooms have personal safes that you can keep your important documents in), unless you’re going to the embassy or if you’re going to leave the country. If you are an AIFS student you will receive an ID card with your photo on it and necessary school phone numbers on the back. Keep this with you at all times. Another ID card that may prove to be handy, especially if you plan to travel around is the International Student Identity Card (ISIC). I personally did not get one, but that was because I did not plan on traveling outside of London on my own. I befriended several girls while in London that traveled about, and I believe only one of them had an ISIC card. However, whether you are planning to travel on your own or not, this card has some benefits. It is an ID for you and it does have benefits, such as discounts. Who doesn’t love discounts?

OK. My next suggestion for safety is to have a good map. In a previous post Mapping Your Way Around I talked about the different types of maps that I’ve used. I suggest that you have an up-to-date map of any sort that at least shows Tube stops and the Underground map. However, if you do have a map/guidebook that it older, that is alright. Just make sure that the important information, such as emergency phone numbers, is the same.

Here, are two more notes on safety, which AIFS students will no doubt hear when they first arrive. If you need help, you can always ask a policeman or policewoman for assistance. In the Kensington area, which is where the study-abroad school is located, the bobbies have patrols around the streets. Also, I try to be inconspicuous. Now, I know from personal experience that from the moment you open your mouth to talk you are labeled as a tourist and an American. Anyhow, I did not wear anything overly bright (no hot fuchsia or any neon color) and I didn’t wear any shirts that were blazoned with my hometown or university’s name (I did have some shirts that did mention these names; however they were small or faded enough for my to wear them.) If you wore clothing that screamed, “I’m an American,” pickpockets will spot you faster. However, I’m not saying that you should betray your personal style. I’m just suggesting of possibly toning it down in some areas.

My final advice is to simply be aware of your surroundings as you travel.

Well, hopefully this information is helpful to anyone that was concerned about safety while being in London. I know when I first started thinking about studying abroad I was really worried about that, especially cause it was only a few months earlier that the London bombings happened. With the AIFS and the school’s staff help and your common sense, traveling and studying abroad should be safe and fun.