Ok side story-
In the UK everyone has health insurance (hurray) but you dont go to any doctor you want- you register with your local. So me being productive (and knowing I would get sick) I went to register. So I walked over to get the forms and set up my appointment (they log all your medical information etc). With the forms the woman hands me a test tube type vile. She then explains that I will need to pee in it. I am very confused because my appointment is not for a few days so why is she giving it to me now? Yes yes your wildest horror of a guess is right. I had to pee at home and bring it with me on the day. So the perhaps weirdest experience of my life was peeing into my cup at home and then carrying it several blocks in public (dont worry but it in a grocery bag not in my purse or bare hand). Anyway it might be the strangest thing the doctor has ever asked me to do!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
And then life got boring
Hello,
So I realize I have not updated in a while but that is mostly because I went back to the states for some warm weather!
To begin with I am in a new flat (will post a picture eventually). No one really moved in the first week so it was tres dull. Actually everyone should be proud of how much I left my comfort zone, I went to all the dorm mixers (even though I had no flatmates to go with) and went up and chatted with the various people. For the first week I did not meet anyone that I clicked with 100% although one guy is kind of growing on me- seems very friendly and genuine. There are a lot of undergrads (or just people who act like them) in this dorm as well as many many americans (boo- I moved from that country for a reason). The first social night out was a bit tragic--> we headed to this place in elephant and castle yet it was shut, somehow I then was on a bus with thirty-ish very drunk people who had no idea where in the world we were and it was my job to get them to point B (the "group leader" had to wait for others). Getting to point B was a HUGE letdown as it was the same bar my friend and I stumbled upon as under-21s abroad ( you know the kind you think it is cool until you realize it is not, not to mention tons of old men). Anyway I managed to also shepherd everyone home and the whole night made me sick (like cough sick not disgusted) so I have not been out since then (well minus for my bday).
Around the weekend I finally began meeting flat mates (hurray!). In my flat we have Mao from China (tends to hide a lot), Ken from Vientnam, Heloise and Annie from France, and then Chris from the good old US of A. I actually like Chris and his gf a lot (too bad she goes to Oxford!) I am slowly getting everything together, going to meetings, buying supplies, registering for a doctor (oo side story there). Next week classes start so I am sure I will have more to share then. Until then I just hope I stop coughing and get my voice back!
x
me
So I realize I have not updated in a while but that is mostly because I went back to the states for some warm weather!
To begin with I am in a new flat (will post a picture eventually). No one really moved in the first week so it was tres dull. Actually everyone should be proud of how much I left my comfort zone, I went to all the dorm mixers (even though I had no flatmates to go with) and went up and chatted with the various people. For the first week I did not meet anyone that I clicked with 100% although one guy is kind of growing on me- seems very friendly and genuine. There are a lot of undergrads (or just people who act like them) in this dorm as well as many many americans (boo- I moved from that country for a reason). The first social night out was a bit tragic--> we headed to this place in elephant and castle yet it was shut, somehow I then was on a bus with thirty-ish very drunk people who had no idea where in the world we were and it was my job to get them to point B (the "group leader" had to wait for others). Getting to point B was a HUGE letdown as it was the same bar my friend and I stumbled upon as under-21s abroad ( you know the kind you think it is cool until you realize it is not, not to mention tons of old men). Anyway I managed to also shepherd everyone home and the whole night made me sick (like cough sick not disgusted) so I have not been out since then (well minus for my bday).
Around the weekend I finally began meeting flat mates (hurray!). In my flat we have Mao from China (tends to hide a lot), Ken from Vientnam, Heloise and Annie from France, and then Chris from the good old US of A. I actually like Chris and his gf a lot (too bad she goes to Oxford!) I am slowly getting everything together, going to meetings, buying supplies, registering for a doctor (oo side story there). Next week classes start so I am sure I will have more to share then. Until then I just hope I stop coughing and get my voice back!
x
me
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Mini break in Jersey
Hello,
Chris and I just got back from a short holiday (yes I said holiday look how British I am!) from the channel island of Jersey. It was a very cute little island and an interesting trip. On the con side, our hotel was not as glamorous as I had hoped -I heard my room neighbor poop through the thin wall- the restaurant dinner menu never changed- and I nearly lit my hair on fire. On the plus side our hotel was in a good location- we actually had more sunshine than we had hoped!- I learned things- and it was relaxing.
Our first day there we went to the beach- I thought the beach was absolutely huge, then I quickly discovered something called changing tides. Living at the beach I know what tides are however I watched this beach go from the length of a football field to slowly disappearing. It was pretty nifty. I also got bitten by an evil sand bug but I was able to survive. The second day it was rainy so we went to the zoo (which was full of endangered animals) and then I forced Chris to go to a manor house with pretty gardens. The next day we were surprised with sun (and promptly got burned) We had lunch in a really cute little town by the sea where all the boats were floating on mud (low tide). We then walked to a castle out in the middle of the water (low tide again). It was all pretty cool. The next day it poured all morning so I was a good sport and went to the Jersey War tunnel with Chris. 0:) We took it easy the rest of the day. All and all it was an interesting trip!
x
me
Chris and I just got back from a short holiday (yes I said holiday look how British I am!) from the channel island of Jersey. It was a very cute little island and an interesting trip. On the con side, our hotel was not as glamorous as I had hoped -I heard my room neighbor poop through the thin wall- the restaurant dinner menu never changed- and I nearly lit my hair on fire. On the plus side our hotel was in a good location- we actually had more sunshine than we had hoped!- I learned things- and it was relaxing.
Our first day there we went to the beach- I thought the beach was absolutely huge, then I quickly discovered something called changing tides. Living at the beach I know what tides are however I watched this beach go from the length of a football field to slowly disappearing. It was pretty nifty. I also got bitten by an evil sand bug but I was able to survive. The second day it was rainy so we went to the zoo (which was full of endangered animals) and then I forced Chris to go to a manor house with pretty gardens. The next day we were surprised with sun (and promptly got burned) We had lunch in a really cute little town by the sea where all the boats were floating on mud (low tide). We then walked to a castle out in the middle of the water (low tide again). It was all pretty cool. The next day it poured all morning so I was a good sport and went to the Jersey War tunnel with Chris. 0:) We took it easy the rest of the day. All and all it was an interesting trip!
x
me
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Hm yes lets go to a huge parade right before our flight....
So as I discussed earlier (I think)- I went to the massive Nottinghill carnival on the bank holiday. Anyway as I was preparing to leave (ie waiting in a massive q to cross the street) this girl from somewhere that required an accent pushed through claiming she had a flight to catch. My first thought was weird why would you go to a really crowded carnival when you had a flight in a few hours (bear in mind this girl had no case with her and was no where near the airport). Anyway she wanted out but the police told her to wait her turn. Her solution was then to climb over the gate when the police officer turned his back (stupid). They grabbed her- nearly arrested her- then put her back. About two minutes later our group was allowed to leave (patience is a virtue). Anyway she runs down the road only to suddenly slow at a pastry shop then stop walk back to the window and begin to examine the cakes! ( I cant make this up). This is the last I saw of her as I continued to walk faster than her!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
And then I got a stalker
Hello,
So living in London there happen to be India restaurants every five feet. So even though my gym is only a block away I have to pass one. This Indian restaurant looks really nice on the outside and the food was decent when Chris and I ate there but it was not the greatest. That is not the problem though. The problem lies in the fact that a guy stands outside the door dressed up every night. It is ALWAYS the same guy 7 days a week. He recognizes me on my walk to the gym about everyday. The first few days of this walk he just tried to give me his little flier. The next few days he upgraded to saying hello or something else I could not understand, but now he has upgraded to being a bit fresh ...."you look very very pretty today" was the most recent. Even when I walk up on the other side of the road he still shouts! I have tried not looking at him etc but he is very determined to say hello EVERY time. Any suggestions on how to deal with my stalker?
In other news I love living in London if for no other reason the randomness. My friend visited me today and as we were heading to Soho for some vintage shopping we walked by a very large crowd in Trafalger square. While I thought the passing of the summer Olympics' flag festivities were going to be at the Mall (think DC mall not downtown mall) they were showing it there as well. So we stopped just in time to see good ol' Borris take the flag and magically the shot cut to all the crowd in London so you could say we were on tv for the olympics :)
Then as we carried on walking down the street we suddenly saw a ton of bubbles. Turns out it was this man in a tiny old fashion truck that not only blew bubbles but sang! (Well the man sang) And he just road down the street singing into a mic that played outside the car and blew bubbles!
Gotta love London!
So living in London there happen to be India restaurants every five feet. So even though my gym is only a block away I have to pass one. This Indian restaurant looks really nice on the outside and the food was decent when Chris and I ate there but it was not the greatest. That is not the problem though. The problem lies in the fact that a guy stands outside the door dressed up every night. It is ALWAYS the same guy 7 days a week. He recognizes me on my walk to the gym about everyday. The first few days of this walk he just tried to give me his little flier. The next few days he upgraded to saying hello or something else I could not understand, but now he has upgraded to being a bit fresh ...."you look very very pretty today" was the most recent. Even when I walk up on the other side of the road he still shouts! I have tried not looking at him etc but he is very determined to say hello EVERY time. Any suggestions on how to deal with my stalker?
In other news I love living in London if for no other reason the randomness. My friend visited me today and as we were heading to Soho for some vintage shopping we walked by a very large crowd in Trafalger square. While I thought the passing of the summer Olympics' flag festivities were going to be at the Mall (think DC mall not downtown mall) they were showing it there as well. So we stopped just in time to see good ol' Borris take the flag and magically the shot cut to all the crowd in London so you could say we were on tv for the olympics :)
Then as we carried on walking down the street we suddenly saw a ton of bubbles. Turns out it was this man in a tiny old fashion truck that not only blew bubbles but sang! (Well the man sang) And he just road down the street singing into a mic that played outside the car and blew bubbles!
Gotta love London!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
For Internal Use Only....
Hello,
Things have been mostly mundane lately so I haven't felt the need to put anything on paper, work, workout, eat, sleep, visit Chris in Reading that is about it. Then filing papers today I came across several with the stamp "for internal use only" well the only other time I have seen that exact phrasing is on a monastat box so I found it hilarious. Maybe I am alone in this discovery?
In other news there is a woman in our office who might die if she stops talking. I literally here her voice ALL day. She carries on a conversation with each person on her team then once she runs out of things to say to them she begins her calls, some of them work calls some of them personal. The really annoying bit about it is, when she is talking to other team members you only hear one side of the conversation (hers). Yes she is loud- most likely the only reason I hear her voice all day!
In other news I got to "do a deal on my own" yesterday. I say on my own but the underwriters had already agreed to sign the change to the wording. But I still had to go find the building on my own and then find the person in the office. The woman I spoke to was me to a scary degree. Not only were all of her office supplies PINK. But she had a pink fuzzy frame of her and her hubby as well as pink fluffy pens and various other pink memorabilia (it was a little scary even for me). And this was at an important London insurance company!
The rest of this week should be simple minus going to Parliament for drinks with Alice (yes she is cool and can get me in so we can have cheap drinks). Hopefully this Saturday I will go to the Reading Festival (check it out on google the line up is not half bad although I am guessing Margaret will be the most jealous).
Hope everyone is doing well.
x
me
PS Lisa Parker rocks my socks!
Things have been mostly mundane lately so I haven't felt the need to put anything on paper, work, workout, eat, sleep, visit Chris in Reading that is about it. Then filing papers today I came across several with the stamp "for internal use only" well the only other time I have seen that exact phrasing is on a monastat box so I found it hilarious. Maybe I am alone in this discovery?
In other news there is a woman in our office who might die if she stops talking. I literally here her voice ALL day. She carries on a conversation with each person on her team then once she runs out of things to say to them she begins her calls, some of them work calls some of them personal. The really annoying bit about it is, when she is talking to other team members you only hear one side of the conversation (hers). Yes she is loud- most likely the only reason I hear her voice all day!
In other news I got to "do a deal on my own" yesterday. I say on my own but the underwriters had already agreed to sign the change to the wording. But I still had to go find the building on my own and then find the person in the office. The woman I spoke to was me to a scary degree. Not only were all of her office supplies PINK. But she had a pink fuzzy frame of her and her hubby as well as pink fluffy pens and various other pink memorabilia (it was a little scary even for me). And this was at an important London insurance company!
The rest of this week should be simple minus going to Parliament for drinks with Alice (yes she is cool and can get me in so we can have cheap drinks). Hopefully this Saturday I will go to the Reading Festival (check it out on google the line up is not half bad although I am guessing Margaret will be the most jealous).
Hope everyone is doing well.
x
me
PS Lisa Parker rocks my socks!
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