As Lenny has so eloquently put it, it rained today. So out went our Jack the Ripper and the Queen plans and in came the Science Museum (you can ah there for effect if you so wish). But really, all I did was yawn, and yawn, and finally found a bench to read a book while Lenny browsed some silly super computer that looked more like screen dividers in a cheap dorm room apartment.
Now, even though the Science museum was as interactive and exciting as watching some Sunday afternoon CBC program, there were a few fun things that did come up.
Science Fun # 1: I saw a 1000 year old dead man! Well, not his whole body, just his head. It had been mummified like 1200 years ago in some Roman Civilization or something (I didn't really read the whole placard) and the London Science people claimed it in some auction bid and now has it in a fancy glass case on display. The head had shrunken thanks to the mummy processes, but the guy still had all his facial features. I mean this guy even had teeth, and I am not kidding, he had a slight smile. I know, I had to look twice at that too. The weirdest thing of all was that he had red hair. Now the question I have (hoping someone can answer because the little placard thing didn't answer this question, which is weird because it is like a super important question)..How did the guy still have hair? And even more important, why was it red? I mean like Anne of Green Gables Red, and thick too. So my thoughts are that it is real and the guy really did have red hair, or hair changes color when you are mummified and the chemicals used in the process change the shade of your hair and prevent it from falling out, or three some dude at the museum glued it on for some creepy effect. Either way, it was very very neat.
Science Fun # 2: I saw body parts preserved since the 1950s. A hand with the dried up arteries and veins (for those who are not medically inclined I understand now if you need to skip this part) along with an entire arm in the exact same way. Coolest preserved body part: A brain! Looked like a glued children's science project, until I saw the brain stem...so fun!
Science Fun # 3: Leaving. Why? Well it was not just the lackluster exhibits and the complete void of interactive fun (I mean where is the giant steel ball you place both hands on to have your hand stand on ends demonstrating electrcity, or the trivia questions where you open a box to reveal an answer huh? C'mon people, I am 26 but I am still not looking for academic, I want childhood Treehouse or Mr. Dressup science learning!). Anyway, the main reason for leaving was this. It was raining outside. London houses as already established are ridiculously small. London parents tend to have 2-4 children. Today was a weekend. Let's put all those fun facts together shall we? Tired, work too hard parents trapped in a small barely room to breathe little apartment with 2-4 screaming children pumped for weekend fun. It is raining out so you can't take those little demons to the park, and there are no Sunday afternoon cartoons great enough to keep you from pulling your hair out or locking yourself in your even more suffocating little bathroom. So where do these strung out parents take their demon little monsters? Yes, that is right. To the Science Museum. And it is here where these demon little children scream, yell, cry, wail, flail, pound little fists against displays in anger for having to move on, pound their insanely strong legs into hardwood floor in what I wished were futile protests. It is here they fling cotton candy and stick gum onto the benches where innocent Canadian tourists are hiding trying to read a book and escape the pandemonium of the insane British children and their ridiculous poor at disciplining parents. That is why we left.
Scientific Fun # 4: The Science Museum reminded me of why I am here; of why there are so many social worker positions in this country. The most rewarding fun fact of the day.
So, now we are back in our little wee nest, trying to go for a positive spin on prison cell. Hopefully it will work! Tomorrow is the London Dungeon, complete with some adrenaline pumping rides and hopefully some historical prison cells! Then we are off to Tate Modern Art Gallery, and if it is nice out, St. Paul's Cathedral and The Ripper Walk. Tomorrow is also call back day, and though I completely don't expect to get a call back due to the insane competition of my fellow colleagues who are also applying, for some weird reason I am still hoping.
Cheers all, talk again tomorrow.
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