A Search for a Book...

School has taken over my life and given me no time to fully adjust to finding what I need in this huge city. The assignments are a lot of work and require a lot of research; however, I am still just learning where to find the answers to the questions I still don’t know to ask. After spending the last three days running around like a chicken with my head cut off looking for the answers to what I had originally thought would be a simple question and a simple assignment I finally made a break through! I discovered a textbook that outlines the acts and policies related to regeneration in the UK. However, I then needed a way to put my hands on it. I had already tried a couple of local libraries and the school library, but these books are high in demand! After a little bit of research I realized that my local library shares with many other libraries in London and the book can actually be reserved and delivered to my local library for my convenience. Only problem, I didn’t have time to wait a week for the book – I needed it today! So, after some pleading with the library to give me a library membership (yes, this is another area where many security measures are put into place!) and then pleading some more for her to tell me in which library I could find the book (she kept saying it was far away and I could just wait until it arrives. She didn’t know who she was talking to!) I headed off to the one library in the whole city that still had one book left! The library is located in Walthamstow and is about an hour and half trip from Earlsfield. I hopped onto a Southwest train to Vauxhall where I changed for the Victoria line underground. The ride actually took so long that on the way back I got most of the first section of my assignment done. Maybe I should study on the Tube more often! However, the experience in Walthamstow was one I think I might never forget. It wasn’t memorable in the sense that something so strange and bizarre happened that I might never be the same again, it was just a realization that I live such a different life than most would find ordinary. Many of the areas around Walthamstow are areas that I’ve been studying in school in regard to the need for regeneration and have a reputation of not being the safest neighborhoods, so I was a little leery when stepping off of the Tube. The borough isn’t the most advanced or the most popular tourist destination, but there is something different about the people there. Everyone seemed happy and relaxed; each person I asked for help was so eager to give me directions. When I reached the High Street, I was distracted by the local market that ran down the middle of the street for what seemed like miles. Local farmers were selling their fresh produce for unreasonably low prices and were yelling out their inventory and prices to the people passing by. There was a mix of different languages and I realized most of the people around me were of middle Eastern descent. I noticed very few “white” people in the area and the few I saw I thought looked out of place. While the streets were dirty and the buildings run down, there was a strong sense of community in the area and my once leery feeling was starting to turn to warmth. When I reached the library I was very impressed with the selection and the lady at the information desk was much more friendly and helpful than the lady at my local library. She directed me straight to the book where I found another very helpful Urban and Regional Planning text and decided to check out both. I was a member of the library in Greenville, but I never really took part in any of the programs that were offered. Honestly, I never noticed when I walked in any advertisements for library activities. However, in every library I have entered in the city there is some type of activity related to the people of the area. The Walthamstow library was dedicating the week to Islamic studies, my local library has a children’s hour everyday where mothers bring their kids from newborn to age three to sing songs and read books; it’s quite commercial really and many more things are going on at the libraries. I’ve decided to spend more time studying there. I get a lot done and the distractions are pleasant ones. When I first moved to Columbia I used to drive around, explore and get lost. I always thought the best way to get to know a place is to get lost in it. Each day I push myself a little bit more out of my comfort zone and get a little more “lost” and learn a little more than I knew before. Maybe next week I can go to a different part of London…for a different book!