Snubbing the Pub.

Let's face it, I am not exactly a pub kinda' girl.

I did pretty well to avoid pubs since living here, as standing around a crowded, loud, smokey, heated bar with lager in hand is not my idea of a good time. Besides, how can I compete with the number of pints the English consume at once -- on a daily basis! I am convinced that all the shops close at 6PM so that everyone can hurry off to the pub after work. Alcoholics!

Tonight, however, I made an exception for my friend Rachel who's leaving for a brief stint in Hong Kong. Her farewell gathering met at a rather pleasant and upscale pub, though I still had to yell to talk to the person beside me and endure insufferable puffs of smoke blown nonchalantly in my face. Standing at the bar, I thought what I would really enjoy is a cold, tall glass of orange juice. But then I looked around the pub to see what everyone else was drinking (alcohol), thought I better be more savvy, and ordered the Pinot Grigio.

I did better this time. The last time I stopped into a pub, I ordered a café latte and the bartender looked at me like I was mad. Not to mention he served me the worst latte of my life.

Frankly, sometimes I just want milk and Oreos, and pubs tend not to have that.