Birmingham life

[space virgin]

Birmingham is an interesting city. It's actually a lot more cosmopolitan than people tend to give it credit for; and it really is England's melting pot-- it has the largest population of people from India and Pakistan outside of India and Pakistan. There are also a lot of people from other middle eastern and asian countries. I like the city because it's so close to lots of beautiful sights in the midlands and costwold area, and it's only about 2 hours by bus to London.

I noticed in London and also here that it *seems* like-- if you're a girl and living in the UK, don't get mad at me for this-- the overwhelming majority of caucasian women dye their hair blonde. Many different shades of blonde with varying levels of success. It's very interesting. Many of the asian (by that I mean middle eastern/persian/indian/pakistani) women cover their hair. Also, there are a HUGE number of women who wear full-on burqas here in Birmingham. I've seen several where they have a tiny patch of black mesh to look out of; I have even seen-- and I am not making this up-- women who are completely covered from head to foot with nothing to look out of. (I peeked, discreetly.) They are led by the hand usually by their husband but sometimes by a son. In Seattle we have a fair number of muslim people of many nationalities, and hair covering is pretty common, but I have never seen anything like this.

[voyd]

Actually, the worst bottle-blonde jobs are in Prague - I guess the post-Commy hair colorings aren't quite up to snuff...

Can't wait to see pics of all these "ninja" Islamic women!

[Ali]

Hey i live in England myself in Blackpool in the North Wesr and i know what you mean about the muslims... but it is so common over here for them to be covered from head to foot..

I must say though i am not a big fan of the Birmingham accent!! What do you reckon??

And guess what... i to am a bottle blonde!!! Although not completely... just highlights and brown underneath... bit of a mixture really and it isn't a bad job... Just thought i would contribute to proving you point!!

[phlipfudge23]

The thing I noticed most (have to say that I did miss the blondes) was that the VAST majority of females ages 10+ were either wearing really pointy stilletto boots or dressy flats. It kinda struck me as odd, cause it really was EVERYONE. I don't think I've ever seen so many people in one place following a trend.





I have to admit, although I thought the flats were cute, the boots are really scary. I would definately hurt myself if I tried to wear those.

[space virgin]

oh god, the brummie accent! It's so funny! I finally figured out, though, if anyone wants to hear what the Birmingham accent sounds like, watch Bend It Like Beckham. Kiera Knightley's dad has got to be from Brum. The really funny thing is to see the muslim women, covered head to foot, pawing through the frilliest lingerie at Marks & Spencer speaking in a broad brummie accent! LOL

yeah, phlip, the shoes are scary... I mean, we have the pointy high heels in the US but over here the girls wear them 24/7. I like fancy shoes and I have quite a collection, but good god, I can't believe how fast the women walk down the sidewalk in those torture devices!

and voyd, I haven't yet been brave enough to snap pictures of them, but I'll do my best... have to say I'm a little afraid of the consequences if someone catches me though! lol

[TheRemarkableRocket]

I've been really curious about Birmingham lately actually, I've never been there (to be perfectly honest I'd never been much north of London til last October... but going to uni in York year after next) and I'd never really wanted to til I met this Brummie guy in Slovakia last year, and it sounds like an awesome city. The university's getting a really good reputation too. Unfortunately I fell prey to those old misconceptions and didn't apply there.

What's more, is it just me or are northerners a lot nicer than us southerners? They always seem really really sweet everywhere up north. Maybe I'm just too enthralled by the accents to notice what they're saying.
I think Brummie accents are super cute. The word 'ejaculate' in that accent is just brilliant.

Another peroxide blonde Brit here mine's intentionally trashy though... I was going for a Courtney Love kinda look... even better now it's grown out about 6 inches.

[phlipfudge23]

I've heard people in York are supposed to be the friendliest...although the same person said that that didn't mean that they were the nicest .

[space virgin]

I think that people in B'ham are more friendly than people in London, but I guess that's like saying people in Seattle are more friendly than people in New York.

The other thing I'm seeing a lot of, especially in London, is the return of the mullet! On women, anyway. I've lost count of the number of bleached blonde spiked Joan Jett mullets I've seen. It's bizarre.

[phlipfudge23]

[Posie]

Haha, you gotta love the brummie accent man, it's so sweet!

Trends in fashion over here catch on like nasty colds that you can't shake off...!

Did you go to the Bullring (think thats what it's called?) shopping mall in Birmingham, space virgin? I've heard it's supposed to be rather cool... Glad to hear you're having an interesting time.

xx

[***Beady***]

You should see the mullets on the men aswell!!! Some just look awful, but I guess I'm getting used to seeing them everywhere.
I live next to London, and I agree, the further north you go, the friendlier the people. But, at the same time, there are tons more fights up north than down south. (is that smilie ment to be a wink? because I see it as, 'fuck, I dunno' kinda face....does that make sense?)
I love northern accents. Very cute! A guy up north would only have to talk to me and I'd be leading him towards a bed.
My sister highlights her hair, but it's very natural and she spends tons at the hairdressers for it. I look crap as a blonde, so dark brunette it is.

I wanted to apply to uni/college in Manchester, but it's soooo far from home, and I don't know how I'd look after my pets properly if I left them at home. Manchester is a great place. great for music...apparently.

[TheRemarkableRocket]

Yeah, I hear Manchester is awesome, my best friend's got it as her insurance uni, and my super cool English teacher did his degree there.
Hehe, I tried to get as far away from home as possible. I live on the Isle of Wight, the closest place I applied to was Oxford.
Uni in the north is gonna be crazy, friendly people with sexy accents AND fried bread! For what more could you ask?

[urOZm8]

hey there SV! birmingham seems an interesting place. keep on having a mad time and posting updates Ill be around the south west (devon, cornwall) next few weeks but keep in contact and maybe catch you in london or something later!
seeya!

[worldwidemike]

Cornwall...awesome, Urozm8! My favorite part of England. Are you hiking any of the Cornish Coastal Path?

worldwidemike

[joanofarc]

eat a pasty for me when you're in cornwall, ozm8!

[worldwidemike]

Wear a pasty for me when you're in Vegas, Joanie?


worldwidemike

[joanofarc]

come on now... i don't want to give you a heart attack, mike.

[Fedfe]

man Birmingham sounds like a pretty neat place...maybe I'll check that place out. I am looking for some cities to live in when I head off to the UK to work...in LESS THAN THREE WEEKS!!! WHOAAA!!! okay sorry....

ANYWAYS, should I head to Birmingham? Do you think that that would be a good/interesting (relatively inexpensive????) place to live/work??

[space virgin]

fedfe, I think you´d have fun in B´ham, but I don´t know how much you´ll pay to stay somewhere. I know that to buy land it´s fairly expensive, but I don´t know about rent. They do NOT have a hostel, however! That may influence your choice.

posie-- yep, the bullring is great. It´s HUGE. The selfridges building is totally bizarr-o however.

[worldwidemike]

Originally posted by joanofarc@Apr 8 2004, 04:54 PM
come on now... i don't want to give you a heart attack, mike.*

Nah, Joanie, my heart's healthy...feel free to wear as much or little as you please (it IS Vegas, after all!).

worldwidemike