"Training" in London is pretty awesome. We've gone drinking every single night that we've been here. The coolest part about being here isn't just being in London, but meeting the new analysts from all over Europe that are working for RBS, and getting know people from other countries, backgrounds and cultures. Personally I think it's almost as good as going to the individual countries that people are from. Almost haha. It's also refreshing to see how the rest of world (at least the Europeans) view the Americans ... definitely not as highly as how Americans view themselves!

I went to go see Jiheon in Amsterdam over the weekend. Saturday night was hands-down the craziest night of my life, for a number of both good and bad reasons. Regardless of all of our shenanigans, I'm really glad I finally got to go see a European country whose main language wasn't English. The Dutch are amazingly tall, slender, and the girls are incredibly good-looking. I've never seen so many blonde, blue-eyed people in my life (which I believe is pretty impressive if you know anything about genetics and trait inheritance). It was also awesome to see the architecture there because the buildings looked so much better than the apartments and houses and buildings you see in the US in that they all have a sense of history and classic-ness (that's not a word) that dates back past the 18th century. The canals running throughout the city add to its charm. I know I was there with a bunch of guys and I haven't been to Paris yet, but I thought it was quite romantic.

I haven't had much of chance to explore London yet other than its countless bars and the different ales and lagers they all offer, but hopefully I'll get a chance to do some touristy stuff before I leave. Our trainers are ex-traders, although unlike the fat Ukrainian women’s-gymnastics coach, I suspect they’ve already made it big trading FX and equity options and just dicking around and earning extra income on the side training green, wide-eyed, hopeful analysts. At the beginning of every class they run the most intense, fast-paced, critical, and worst of all, involuntary market updates. They really do enjoy inflicting terror and embarrassment on ill-prepared trainees haha. One is British, he's best friends with Leonidas from 300, and really enjoys making fun of the French trainees.

In any case, I’m alive and well in London, although bleeding monetarily. I'm determined to learn the British accent. And eating out sucks. And no restaurant will give you water for free. And chinese restaurants won't give you free rice, and Korean restaurants won't give you free kimchee. I’ll leave you with the following the British trader put up during a lunch break:

“
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to terrorist threats that have rasied their security leval from " Miffed " to "Peeved". Soon though security levels may be raised yet again to " Irritated" or " A Bit Cross".
Londoners havent been " A Bit Cross " since the blitz in 1940 when the tea supplies all but ran out .
Terrorists have been re - categorized from " Tiresome " to " A Bloody Nuisance". The last time " A Bloody Nuisance " warning leval was used it was during the great fire in 1666.

The French Goverment announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to " Hide". the only two higher levels in France are " Surrender" and " Collaborate" . the rise was precipitaed by the recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory , effectivly paralyzing the countrys military capability .

Italy is on a heightened level of alert. Its has increased its alert level from " Shout Loudly and Excitedly " to Elaborate Military Posturing" . Two higher levels remain " Ineffective Combat Operations" and " Change Sides ".

The Germans also increased their alert state from " Disdainful Arrogance" to " Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs " . Two higher levels remain
" Invade a Neighbour" and " Lose".

Belgians on the other hand are all on holiday as usual and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

Lastly the Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy . These beautifuly designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish Navy can get a good look at the Old Spanish Navy.
“