When I moved to London 20 months ago I hated it. I always
said I’d never move here, which of course meant just nothing at all. I could see that some bits of London were good, but generally it was dirty, crowded and
people were rude, unhealthy and unhappy.
But now. But now. Something clicked about six weeks ago. I no
longer walk around feeling self-conscious and trying to keep up with London. I
amble down the street and I know how to get around. Where I used to hate that
people bumped into each other on the tube and didn’t apologise, now I
understand that we’re all just trying to get where we’re going with minimum
fuss and we’re all part of the same tribe. It is, in fact, a mark of being on
the same side, that we don’t feel we have
to apologise to one another. And that’s when you know you’ve been had. You’ve
been Londonised. And it’s kind of a warm fuzzy feeling. Tourists are
perpetually in my way, but I stop and give them directions. Last week, I
witnessed three spontaneous acts of joy or kindness within two minutes on my commute
home (Piccadilly Circus to Ealing Common, most days, if any Londoners are
wondering). You see what you look for. I work my 45 hour week, I party with my
friends, I go on dates, I pay my taxes and I own this city! At least that’s how
it feels lately. I am triumphant! I am…happy. I know, it’s weird.
So here’s why.
