Picturesque from the Flat

when I am blogging.

R. — Mon, 03 May 2010 09:43:37 +0000

I’ve condensed my blogs into one.

Check over here, from the flat, for subsequent and regular updates of my time in London.

Filed under: Uncategorized

christmas and new years

R. — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:53:43 +0000

How was your Christmas and New Years? I went back to the America for about ten days and spent Christmas with my family in Maryland.

Then one of my teammates and I flew back and spent New Years with a friend and her family in the north of England.

Also, two separate members of our team got engaged!

And one of my work colleagues and her husband announced they are expecting their first child!

Posted in how it's going

newsletter no. 2

R. — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:42:55 +0000

So I’ve just sent off my second official newsletter earlier this week. If you wanted to receive the email and didn’t please give me your email address.

I have just a few short weeks here before I’m back to America for Christmas. I’ll return to England December 30, spend New Years a bit further north with a teammate, and return to my work here in London on January 3.

Posted in Uncategorized

guy fawkes day

R. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:29:59 +0000

November 5 comes just once a year. I was so excited to celebrate Guy Fawkes day legitimately this year, being in the UK and all. Apparently, it’s just “bonfire night” in the vernacular, although it can be called Guy Fawkes day. And contrary to my research, none of my friends knew anyone who burned a Guy Fawkes in effigy. But that’s kind of okay with me.

It appears it is celebrated with firework displays and eating out of doors.

Sadly, I had to work at night, so I marked the day by making my first trip to the Tower of London, where Guy Fawkes was imprisoned before his execution. I could hear firework going off at night. We had a little celebration planned for Saturday night, so that consoled me.

So two nights later, when we were out in the country, we had our Bonfire Night celebration. Grilled chicken, sausages, “chips”, and toffee for dinner and then the boys set off fireworks. Now that I know what the common Brit does, I shall continue to mark this day myself.

Posted in holidays

R. — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:31:22 +0000

My dear friend and former roomie (roommate for three full years! top that.) is celebrating her birthday today all the way across the ocean from me. I really miss you, Brenna Joy.

In other news, I’m not generally an observer of Halloween, but exactly one year ago today, I was navigating four little Saudi kids through a neighborhood to ring doorbells and earn candy for their costumes. Half of the time, we were trying to curtail the youngest’s attempts to run out into the street, and it was a really hot evening to chase kids. But it was such a good time.

And still yet, I have had a really good week here. It’s probably the best week I’ve had in London thus far. Several days, I’ve just found myself musing about how this is so unreal and how grateful I am that I am here. Oh, and I ran five miles today. First time ever in my life. Stranger things have happened.

Posted in Uncategorized

where I visit.

R. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:45:39 +0000

Epping Forest.

Posted in flora, london sights

where i work

R. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:46:57 +0000

It’s called depature. And yes, it’s cool like that and the “d” is not capitalized.

departure is a cafe, second-hand bookstore, community and arts center (or centre if you’re British).

It’s in the east end of London, Limehouse specifically. There is a facebook group if you’d like to see pictures -you can find it through my page probably- or their website is http://www.depart.in/.

Posted in places

american in britain

R. — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:20:02 +0000

It’s funny frequently thinking about your nationality. You (or at least I don’t) don’t think about the country you are from until you are outside of it. Over here, I’m like, “Yes! I’m an American!” But, I may add, the Scotsman in our group is just as passionate about his country.

So here, we are, just over a month living in the illustrious city of London.

I’m sharing a flat with two girls, living with 10 people over all. I have a 40 hour work week, a small collection of clothes to keep me warm in this increasing cold. It doesn’t feel like home yet.

I love the river Thames and the Queen’s Walk, which goes along it on the south bank. I have picked up knitting as a caveat to my job, a way to befriend some of the locals. I am reading recreationally again, after four years of university. Right now, I am reading Vanity Fair (all my lit friends would be so proud).

My appreciation and knowledge of coffee has broadened as I have been educated on our espresso machine at work. My career as a barista is burgeoning. So yeah, what I miss of American cuisine is being compensated for over good coffee.

I am working on my goals for the year. I like it here most days.

Posted in how it's going

R. — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:29:20 +0000

// It’s so weird to think that I’ll be here a year. It doesn’t feel like home at all yet, except for my really comfortable bed and duvet.

// Nothing’s as diverse as a city of 8 million people.

// Every day when I go to work, I have to take a tube into the financial district where all the young professional suits going to work. It’s really rough.

// It’s hard for me to keep my focus here, because I still feel like I need to worry about myself.

// I’ve already found a good friend in my flatmate, and hope to begin to develop new friendships soon.

Posted in how it's going

now residing in london

R. — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:47:44 +0000

I arrived in London on Friday.

One of my flights got delayed, but I arrived quite safely. Another American on the scheme, Maria, actually had the final flight with me.

This week, we have having orientation, which including learning about London City Mission in general, our living set-up, and our work placements for the year.

{One of my first sights in London}

Posted in Uncategorized