Learning English all over again...

So, I've been re-learning the English language. Or, said more correctly, I am learning about the Queen's English.

For example, the other day one of my staff asked for "a rubber" after several moments of gathering myself and trying to figure out what this could be I asked "WHAT!?!?!?". After some explanation of what we both thought, I handed over an eraser with a small flush to my cheeks.

Another good one: I was at the venue for a friend's wedding that will occur at the end of May. While we were there, she wanted to take dimensions of the marquee. Now, I was trying to understand why the English would want a terribly tacky sign scrolling their names at this beautiful venue. I finally mustered up the courage to ask what a marquee was and learned it just meant "big tent". Again, after a bit of amused exchanging of information we had a nice laugh. She could finally understand my horror when I explained myself.

The basic view I've received of most English on the Americans are (in no particular order):
1. We all support George Bush and think he can do no wrong
2. We love our advertisements (i.e., american football is a 60 minute game with 3 hours of commercials)
3. We are fairly full of ourselves. What other culture would have actors who gush for 3 minutes when they win an award
4. We all carry handguns
5. We all have had plastic surgery
6. We all talk EXTREMELY LOUD and fast
There are several more that are escaping me at the moment but you get the gist. It's funny what a little American tv can do for the stereotypes of a nation. (I guess we should all evaluate the English stereotypes before we assume they are correct.)

On a personal note, all my stuff arrived from the US this week. It is wonderful to be surrounded by some of my creature comforts. I am definitely settling in while still having serious ups and downs. I know it will work and am trying to take each day with a sense of hope and opportunity.

That's it for me on this rainy (suprise) Sunday. My internet gets installed on Thursday so I will write more when that happens!

Chat soon.
B-

Wishing and hoping

I just got word.... my stuff from the US has cleared customs! Yahoo. Now I can live like a, relatively, normal human being with more than the stuff I carried across with me. It will be good to have options in my wardrobe as well as weather appropriate jackets (my poor wool jacket has been through lots of rain). Keep your fingers crossed that everything isn't slightly damp after spending several weeks at sea.

I spent the weekend in Reading with Nick and Penny. It is always nice to get out of the city and into the rolling and very green countryside. We did loads of running around in preparation of their wedding at the end of May. I got to see the men's wedding outfits which were very cool; rather than a tuxedo they are wearing "frock coats" and "cravats". I love it. Now, if only I could find myself a handsome Brit to keep me company at the wedding. We also saw the venue; it is this amazing estate with 14 bedrooms, 3 sitting areas, a breakfast room to fit 25 and a ballroom. I can't even guess how old the structure it is. It seems to be directly from a dream.

Otherwise, there isn't too much exciting news to share. My broadband gets installed at home on March 1st and then I will have loads of time and ability to blog.

Cheers.

Raining... again

Seriously, does it ever stop raining in this country? I lived in Colorado for 4 years and used my umbrella (or brolly) maybe 1x. I've lived here for 1 month and seriously use it every day. All this gray weather is seriously depressing.

I am in the office for the next several weeks which is truly wonderful. At first, I thought I was bored. Now, I'm trying to appreciate the time I have available to me. I know soon enough I will be running around like a crazy person.

My stuff from the US is sitting in Customs now. I am in day 4 of the Customs process so should hear something shortly. I would give anything to have my pillows and comforter. Or, just have a wider variety of clothes to wear. I didn't realize how tired of the same clothes you can get after 4 weeks.

I am off to "the country" this weekend to visit with Penny and Nick. They are friends that I met through some Denver friends (Dani and Elizabeth) that have been wonderful! I couldn't be more fortunate to know such good people. I think we are going to celebrate the Chinese New Year (year of the Pig) with some Chinese take-away and beer. Sounds perfect in my mind!

Sending thoughts of smothered burritos and Rosatti's (or Pizza Alley) Pizza. Make sure to enjoy both for me!

One Month

10-Feb, I have officially been in London for one month. Can you believe it? Can I believe it? I don't really know where the time has gone. I have had some high highs (moving into my own flat) and low lows (yard sale outside the office) and have met plenty of fantastic people. I don't think this is exactly the experience I had expected, but don't really know what I was expecting.

This week we had a huge deadline at work and I spend most of my time running around trying to exceed expectations of both the client and my boss. I did leave early on Wednesday night to attend my first "friendly" football match. This is an exhibition game between the countries to practice for major tournaments. I saw Denmark beat Australia by 3-1. Being at this stadium made me realize how many Aussies there are here in London. The stadium was 3/4 of the stadium was filled with Green and Yellow Aussies who would chat "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oy, Oy, Oy". I was highly entertained! I did purchase a football scarf that is half Australia, half Denmark in the loudest colors you could imagine. What a great souvenier.

Otherwise, I am STILL waiting for my stuff to arrive from the US. It should be sitting in customs now and delievered within the week, I hope. I am just glad it wasn't in one of the sinkinng cargo ships off the coast of England. That would totally be my luck!

We had two inches of snow one morning here. You should have seen the reaction. People were in a panic and the radio/newspaper coverage talked about the "adverse weather" and "blizzard like conditions" that devastated the UK. All I could do was laugh. I told a friend here that I had two feet of snow in my front yard when I left Denver, they wouldn't believe me until I revealed the pictures. Now they assume I lived in the depths of ice, snow and cold. Little do they know how gorgeous Denver really is!

Ah, Denver. I miss being at my house with all my own belongings. I miss talking with my friends and family on a moments notice. Thank God for email! I only have a couple more weeks until my broadband at home gets setup and I don't have to make the Starbucks run each weekend!

That's all I have for now. Keep on posting your comments; they make me smile!

B-

Priceless...

Crockery (dishes) for six £35
Silverware for six £12
Pots and Pans £40
Bakeware £15
Glasses for six £9
Microwave £45
Groceries £35
Making my first "home cooked" meal PRICELESS

OK, who am I really kidding. I don't cook. A trained monkey can boil water and put a pizza in the oven to cook. But, having all the right stuff to make a meal at home really does mean the world when you have eaten out or "take away" for the last month. I had a great weekend where I made meals for both days. Now, I just need to figure out how to cook something more than pasta or toast. :)

I appreciate any easy recipes you may have to share.

Pics of my flat! Sorry it has taken me so long to put these up. Not having broadband at home is KILLING me. How did I live for the first 20+ years of my life? I'm not sure how this will all work, so bear with me.

This is my kitchen. It is probably bigger than back in Denver with a REAL fridge. (no junior / college fridge like I had suspected). Fridge is in the corner out of the pic and that white thing hanging above the dishwasher is my "boiler". This is the source of hot water and heat to my house. No wonder I couldn't figure it out right away!

These are pics of my living room (don't you LOVE the curtains!). Neither of the sofas are big enough to really stretch out on, so I will have an air mattress available for all guests!

I am hoping to take some pics of my neighborhood this week; honestly I've been running around without enjoying the sites!

Ummm....yeah

So, last Friday after an exhausting week at the client, I left early to make my way home on the tube. I am standing at Earl's Court waiting for the District Line train to West Brompton (where I change to an overland train to Clapham Junction) when an emptry train pulls up. I am thrilled to have a few moments of quiet and no crowds on my trip home so I stand to the side of the doors to get on the train before the couple next to meet with their HUGE suitcases take the seats I want. Lo and behold, the doors open and there is a pigeon riding the London Underground system. I freeze in fear of sharing a train car with a pigeon and the couple with their suitcases hop aboard (thanking me the whole time that I let them go first). I couldn't move, I was honestly filled with such fear that I just stood there. The couple is asking if I want to come aboard, I can't even respond. I can't move, I just stood there like an idiot. At the last possible moment, I hop on the next car and breathe a sigh of relief. The couple (with suitcases) are looking at me in amazement. I smiled to myself, opened up my book and enjoyed a few moments of silence. What a way to "kick off" the weekend.

Speaking of "kick off", I stayed awake for the 11:20pm start of the SuperBowl. I made it through the end of the third quarter (roughly 2:30am) before calling a taxi and heading for home. The Bears didn't look all that great and I was too tired to care at this point. I was at a SuperBowl party with a group of secondees who gather for such events. One guy brought his laptop over (with some fancy technology) and we were able to watch the commercials. My personal favorites included the "Comb Over Beard" and anything by Dorritos. Bud Light also stepped it up again this year; I loved it. And, I was thrilled with Prince's half time show. I love that he did some of his classics and my personal favorite "Let's go crazy."

I need to get some work done this morning. I have pics to upload to the site and will do so after I post this. Miss you all!

Love,
B-