Last week my friend Trisha asked me if I would like to be her date to a function at Parliament. Trisha is working for a member of the Labour party in British Parliament who-among other things-sits on a committee that discusses alcohol. I'm not entirely sure what such a committee would do in Europe...but one of the things they do is promote alcohol trade with countries to encourage trade in general. This event was to recognize a new relationship in the trade of Ukrainian alcohol in the UK. I met Trisha (despite some communication qualms) on Monday evening across the street from Parliament. I walked with her upstairs (through metal detectors and all) and into the function with loads of liquor and tasty hors devours.
My friend Trisha and I. This was not actually taken at this event as Parliament doesn't allow photography within the building...and has very few dancer's poles:
We enjoyed many of the gastro-delights and mingled with the 40 or so people present. However, as we are both Americans, interns, and young, we mostly stuck with the people she knew, which mostly consisted of the researchers she works with. I was her guest after all. However I did have a nice conversation with a Ukrainian woman who does something with UK-Ukrainian business relations.
Afterwards, we joined her researchers at one of parliaments bars and discusses many things, with particular attention to (surprisingly) politics. After about an hour (and several glasses of wine/champaign/beer) their Member of Parliament (MP, the equivalent of a US Senator) called one of the researchers and asked if we would all like to join him on the Terrace of Parliament. Now, I've heard about the terrace a few times from all of my housemates who work in Parliament. It's an outdoor patio on the third or fourth floor of Parliament overlooking the Thames, South London, and has an absolute money shot of the London Eye...and only Members of Parliament and their guests are allowed access to the area. I was SO tempted to bring my camera out but fought myself and decided not to. It is one of the most serene view I have seen in London thus far, perhaps aided because of it's exclusivity.
I met her MP in person and he asked how I felt about American politics. He seemed relieved and downright jovial when I pointed out the anti-Bush button on my bag. Once again, apparently, it is expected that most Americans in some way voted for/support Bush...who (unlike the massively popular Clinton family) is not exactly in vogue over here. Everyone I've spoken with including her MP and his staff are quite supportive of Hilary in 2008. Eventually the conversation moved on to other things with more familiar faces, but we did sit out on the Terrace with several Members of Parliament and staff for about an hour, at which point we politely excused ourselves and took one of the last tube rides home. It was a fantastic evening and one I don't think I'll forget for some time.
This is some random photo I found online of Parliament's Terrace...just so you have an idea. I have no idea who this dude is, but the view is lovely.
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