Bartender me what?

When I first got to San Diego I looked for bar work to do during my stay. It’s not that I really needed the money but I wanted to have something to do everyday. Anyway, during my brief spell looking for a job I was really surprised by how seriously bartenders work was viewed. First off, you have to get a Bartender’s license which is a four hour online course, finishing with an exam. It costs $19.95, which is fairly reasonable and each State differs on how important the license is to obtain. Regardless of this, if you have the license you are going to be in a better position than if not. Secondly, the amount of money a bartender can make in tips can be phenomenal. Somewhere up to $200 a night in some places which can add up to a very healthy income.I went along to an open interview at a bar in Pacific Beach not long ago and candidates had arrived in suits looking sharp. Not quite how I imagined it to be. Along with this there was a lot of competition. I know the economy is still struggling but surely not that many people need an extra part time job. That being my mistake, of course, because over here that isn’t what bar work is. Looks like if I ever plan on getting bar work again it won’t be quite as simple as I had hoped. I will have to crank up the British accent a bit more – that always seems to get me extra browning points. Got to use your positive assets right?

Motivation Station

My San Diegan exercise routine consists mainly of going for a run or riding my orange bike around the bay and back along the beach. There is a really good trail and it's a good 8-10 mile round trip depending on which route you take. I absolutely love it, especially on days when you catch a dazzling sunset, you find your self following the rowers around the bay or you see a beautiful wedding on one of the old-fashioned paddlewheelers twinkling with lights. The thing you notice the most though is how ridiculous motivated San Diegans are to do exercise. There are so many people around the trail doing a vast amount of different activities: Boxing, yoga and volleyball on the beach; rowers, wakeboarders and sail boats out on the bay; surfers, kite surfers and wind surfers in the ocean; and runners, cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers on the trail. It is so motivating being surrounded by such a bustling and active community and I definitely think the weather is to be held responsible for this dynamic lifestyle. The weather back home holds people back so much because it just hinders outdoor activities and if you have ever relied solely on a gym for your fitness you will know how mundane the same routine can become. Even though I have been doing the same bike ride for well over a week, I am far from bored. I would say I am more motivated and excited to get on my bike than I ever have been before. I love my time around the bay and so does everyone else. I know this because everyone smiles at you as you pass and that simple smile culture encourages you to keep going. The first few times people smiled at me my British awkwardness came into play and I just looked down yet now I can maintain eye-contact for at least a few seconds before looking away. Despite my slight personal disability here, I have definitely learnt to believe in the theory ‘Smile and the world smiles with you’. It’s so true and you can’t help but feel happy. Let me tell you, anything that can make me feel happy somewhere in the midst of a four mile run has to be a miracle. Smile on San Diego, I love it.

One shot, two shot, three shot, floor.

Whilst contemplating my outfit choices for this weekend's evenings out, I couldn't help but think about the difference between the drinking habits of girls over here. I specify based on gender because guys worldwide are generally same and it comes in the form of beer. Always. Yet I have noticed that us females differ in our choice of beverage on a drunken night out. Now I know European's notoriously drink more wine than anywhere else in the world, but where my friends and I will drink a glass (or two, or three) of wine back home in Manchester before a night out, my friends over here do shots. Honestly, I wasn't all too delighted about this as I am terrible at doing shots. I don't mind so much vodka and JD but tequila and sambuca just make me sick and I need at least a 30 second recovery period after taking said shot, which isn't very 'cool' in a social environment. Anyway, I am improving my technique, because it's always nice to embrace the community you are in but it has got me thinking about why our drinking ways are so diverse. I immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was to do with calorie intake, being in beautiful California where the girls bodies are amazing. After a litle surfing on the internet, I was surprised to find out that a shot of vodka, whiskey, rum or gin contains the same amount of calories as a glass of wine. For some reason I thought a glass of wine had 250 calories but I was very wrong as it only has 84-100 cals. So that has nothing to do with it. Prices are pretty similar too so that cancels that out. I had to settle with the ideal that it is the best get drunk quick tactic out there. Wine is considered a longer drink, one you take your time over, however shots are quick - and the quicker the better for me. As much as I appreciate the 'get drunk quick' method, I  shall still turn up to house parties with my signature bottle of vino with maybe 1 or two shots in mind. What can I say, it's a habit of a lifetime.

Supersized? Not surprised!

It doesn't shock me anymore that a huge percentage of Americans are obese. The fact of the matter is fast food is so much cheaper than the supermarket.
This week I have had more fast food than I normally do and I have spent less than when I cook everynight. Now granted, when I cook i do use expensive ingredients - salmon, chicken etc - but still, having the benefit of a transatlantic comparison, British supermarkets are way cheaper. There seems to be a direct correlation between cheapness of supermarkets and obesity rates but I am not going to speculate....honest.
Seriously though, when i say fast food is cheap, I mean cheap, especially if you catch it during happy hour. One of my dear friends over here got a slice of pizza the other day big enough to feed a family of four (okkkk maybe a slight exaggeration) for just $3. That is £2 in the current exchange rate and such a cheap meal. Consider buying all the ingredients and making yourself a healthier version - triple the price. Easily.
I'll give the fast food market over here some benefit of the doubt with the delicious Chipotle phenomenon where they use only organic ingredients and helpfully inform you of the calorie boundaries for each meal. For those with self-control, you can opt for the 400-700 calorie 'bowl', a healthy meal all for around 6 buckos. I, however, have not found that self control just yet and opt for the burrito at 900 cals. So yum. Particularly if you leave a little left over and put it in the fridge for breakfast the next day. Heaven.
Anyway, it is clear that America needs more than a TV show with Jamie Oliver to shift their huge weight issues especially now that the current generation of children have a lower life expectancy due to their food habits. Obama needs to address the food tax too if there is any hope of people converting to the healthy home cooked food option especially in the current economic climate. I mean, who can blame people going for the cheaper option. I can't.

Pearly Whites

I have become a lot more self conscious of my teeth since I arrived in The States. I mean, at home I have a pretty good line-up - straight, white and all round good munchers. However, over here EVERYONE has a gleaming array of pearly whites. I mean stellar smiles, right out of the toothpaste adverts and I don't think they only have brushing twice a day to thank for it. It appears from a young age, American youths are subjected to gratuitous cosmetic surgery which has somewhat wiped out any form of dental individuality. I have heard stories of children bullied in school if they had 'wonky' teeth and commercials promote healthy looking teeth to help you get that 'dream job’. The high expectations Americans have surrounding teeth is obviously subject to a lack of diversity argument in that us British have an endearing unique quality to our chompers but, if I was being truly honest, I am being sucked in to wanting a brand new set. I know, I know, I should stick to my heritage and all that, but they look so good and what with my wisdom teeth pushing mine around a bit at the moment, it’s an investment I am certainly willing to consider. This new obsession of mine was escalated by someone referring to my teeth as….British…or ‘dientes ingles’ as the Mexicans put it. They might as well have just said crooked which is what they really meant but I suppose I can award them credit for ‘trying’ a pleasantry. I guess ‘British’ teeth is what you get for having free NHS healthcare so no wonder everyone over here is anti-Obama’s Health Bill. They love their dazzling grills too much.

…I pause here because I can feel myself being pulled further into the image obsessed Western culture but considering I am probably already there in many other ways (hair, make-up) I think I’ll let them reel me in… at least I am not tattooing on my eyeliner!

Research into teeth led me to ‘Invisalign’ a company one of my dearest friends has to thank for her now beautiful gleamers. Now, it is expensive with people being quoted between $3,500 to $5,000 for the whole treatment but it lasts for a lifetime, so the investment seems worth it. I always refer to my Mum when I try to reason with things like this and she once said, about a haircut, ‘Well you’d pay £100+ for an outfit and you wear your hair everyday’. What a fantastic point to make. I am pretty sure I will spend, or probably have already spent more than $5000 on dying my hair, so why not spend it on my teeth too. Ah, I love it when I find a reasonable excuse to justify my expensive fads. Oh well, looks like I’ll be holding off on getting a mortgage for a few more years again. Always thought that was too much responsibility anyway. Ha.