My most recent pics - Southern France

Friday, February 23, 2007

The Office+

I survived my first week in the office. It is very different than my Chicago office where I feel so at home I might accidentally show up in my pajamas and slippers some day. The most notable difference is that the marketing team is pretty isolated on the executive floor, so there isn't a lot of interaction with the other departments. The other adjustment is the open floor plan - sometimes it is pretty hard to concentrate. This week was also a bit awkward as I make the transition to a new role. However, everyone on the marketing team is lovely and I really look forward to working with them. We are also gearing up for a major project and right now is the calm before the hurricane.

March will be crazy month with long, long hours. But did that deter from booking a trip to Edinburgh the first weekend in March and a trip to Amsterdam the second? Of course not. I look at 60 hour work weeks and laugh.

But life isn't all work - I did meet up with a couple of friends of friends this week who were willing to meet up with a complete stranger and suffer through at least one pint with me. Luckily, it was at least two per person. Tuesday night I met up with Brad Chuck - a friend of my friend Jacqui's. Yes, he's British but has two American first names. It was also my first British pub. It was a beautiful experience only enhanced by the older gentleman falling asleep at the table next to us.

In protecting the innocent, I won't normally use last name's, especially for Neil's friend that I met up with on Wednesday. Let's just say his name is Richard so he goes by the obvious nickname of Budgie. Budgie and I started with a few pints in a pub near the Holburn tube stop. I think it is appropriate at this point to mention that although England has oppressed the Irish for many years, I am quite glad they at least have the decency to have Guinness in every pub. After a few pints in nameless pub (which I 'm sure from here on out many of them will be) we wandered the streets to find a restaurant. We stumbled on a spectacular Italian restaurant and I ate so much I made myself ill. I swear it wasn't the company Budgie! I hope to stumble across the place again, although I don't recomend sitting near the display of olive oil in case the host (who looked exactly like Jeremy Anderson from Bacon's) accidently spills a whole bottle over you (did you get that dry cleaned yet Budgie?).

I did manage to get a few other things accomplished this week outside of work and drinking. I opened a UK bank account (not easy), grocery shopped (not easy for a very American consumer who just buys everything by the brand I grew up with) and joined a gym (easy). Being the picky eater I am, I find that I am living on bread, pasta and cheese. That, coupled with the fact that even though Guinness is the low calorie beer, I expect to consume a little here and there which means I better spend some time on the treadmill (also to make up for the damage I'm planning to do to my liver).

So it is Friday night and here I am writing my blog. I plan on doing some more sightseeing tomorrow - probably the west of London including Chelsea and Kensington and then take the train to Cambridge on Sunday. The reason there are no pictures yet is that I although I over packed, I seemed to have forgotten my camera connection cord. Looks like I will also be scouting out electronics stores tomorrow.

I think that is plenty of me going on and on. Feel free to post comments and/or drop me a line anytime!

-Michelle

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Tourist

Double-decker bus? Check
Buckingham Palace? Check
Changing of the Guard? Check
Big Ben? Check
Salvador Dali
Exhibit? Check (http://www.countyhallgallery.com/exhibitions/dali.htm )
The London Eye? Too expensive (about $30 for the ride)
Nice Argentian guy? Check
Lost on the streets of London? Check

View my pics from my first week in London
http://1021015552.slide.com/p/5/London+-+Week+One?referrer=emcd&view=true

I've learned a new trick to meeting cute boys. Just pull out a tube map, look around a little lost, and say "I can't seem to find Windsor Castle and I really promised the Queen I would be home by 4. She hates it when I insist on acting like a commoner."

Not really, but pulling out the map really does the job. I spent the day playing tourist (see above). I met a nice guy from Buones Aires on the bus and we did a bit of sightseeing together. I still don't know if his name was Arian or Arial, but he was quite entertaining. He pulled out a press pass that got him into the Dali exhibit for free, but I forgot to ask what that was about. Seems like a pretty smart idea to me, anyone know how I go about getting press credentials? I was editor of my junior high newspaper, but I think I've lost my press pass.

The other sights were okay, more obligatory than awe-inspiring. Windsor Castle was huge, Big Ben was a clock, and the guard was a little disappointing. He kept looking around. I thought they were supposed to be cement like and unflappable. The horses were pretty amazing though...they just stood there and let hundreds of people come up and touch them.

At this point, I think it is mandatory to insert the rant of how expensive everything is here. I just bought a 30 day transit pass and it was 89£ (about $173). In relation, a Chicago 30 day pass is $75. I went to the grocery store yesterday and spent $4.50 on a box of granola bars. Basically, everything is about 50-75% more here. Luckily, I won't be buying any clothes - see yesterday's post. BTW, I did figure out the washing machine! Take that DePaul, I am obviously putting my $30,000 worth of education to good use. I am taking on the TV next and very much hope to come out victorius.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Cheers

I made it. I am sitting in my flat on Bethnal Road. For those of you following the saga, "hopping across the pond" for a few months of work was more like swimming across the Atlantic (and that might have gotten me here faster).

My UK boss, Bruce, graciously picked me up at the airport this morning and drove straight to my flat. I was a bit uneasy at first arrival, mostly overwhelmed with getting my bearings and missing my dogs and my own bed. But the flat is in a good neighborhood that I think I will enjoy. I'm looking forward to exploring more and checking out all 57 nearby pubs. The apartment is a perfect size for me...if I had brought a normal person's amount of clothing. I'm already embarrassed at the amount of clothing I thought I would need, although this may be a blessing in disguise as I am currently having a bit of trouble figuring out how the washer works. I might just come back in May with all dirty clothes.

First impressions of London: cosmopolitian yet neighborhoody (is that a word?), a little stand-offish, and very green and lush. The jury is still out on the food, although I have a huge market about 3 blocks away which will be wonderful.

I'm writing this blog for a few reasons, mostly selfish. Also, as a recollection of the last six weeks' comedy of errors and misfortunes. And lastly, so my mom doesn't worry that I'm okay.

In the next few days, I'll get up the retroactive posts - the full story of deportation and jetsetting homelessness. I also hope to get some pics up soon!

Cheers-
Michelle