Since I had no idea where to eat, plus I was exhausted, I got a takeaway sandwich at Subway (takeaway=to go).
When I said my apartment was perfect, I spoke too soon. At 4 PM, on the dot, music began blaring above my head. The bass rattled my bones. I thought, at least it’s music I like, but it was way too loud. Good news is that it stopped at six. Bad news is that before six the downstairs neighbor started and it was much worse. Besides rattling my bones, it made my teeth hurt. But it stopped around seven. At 7:30 I decided to pack it in. Counting my naps on the plane and here, I’d had six hours sleep in two nights—I was beat. I passed out immediately. At 9:30 I was almost thrown out of bed by the horrendous crash of bass coming from down below me again. I guess he went out for a while, but returned.
So loud I couldn’t even read, much less sleep. Un-freakin’-believable. I was too tired to get dressed again to knock on his door. He probably wouldn’t have heard me anyway.
I thought it would stop at 10—apartment rules perhaps? No such luck, at 10:30 he turned it down a bit, but didn’t turn it off until eleven. (Found out later from Carole that the rules say no loud noise after midnight. Yikes.) I slept from 11-1, 1-3, and 3-5. That, plus my two hours earlier gave me 8 hours. Wonder why I don’t feel well-rested?
15 January, Thursday: Finally got out of bed at six, showered and went to throw away the rubbish. The bins were nowhere to be found. I tried to get back in my building and couldn’t get my key to work—luckily a young woman was coming outside, name of Karen. I wanted to ask if she lived above or below me, but didn’t want to make her mad…I needed her help. She let me in and also told me the rubbish bins were in a small building, but I needed the combination. She very kindly gave that to me as well.
I walked to Starbucks but it didn’t open until 8. I went to Tesco and their café didn’t open until 8, but the young woman did offer to sell me a cup of coffee.
All’s right with the world.
Carole picked me up at 8:30 on the dot and took me to the office. I don’t think I’ll ever walk there after all. It's a good two miles from bus stop to bus stop. Even with taking the bus it’s a least a quarter mile from where the bus drops me off to the office. (Okay, maybe I will walk. But not with the blasted computer.) Then there are the stairs. The stairs there are steeper than my apartment. No complaints, I’ll get in shape, but lugging the computer case up and down every day is going to be a pain. So not only will I be in shape—I’ll have muscles.
The office is lovely. The main room has Carole’s desk in one corner, Simon’s on the other end, and two in the middle—Claire’s and mine. In another room (the old shipping room) are desks for Mandy and Kevin but no computer connections yet. The copier, fridge, and tea kettle are in there also. The next suite down the hall houses the new shipping room. It’s spacious, but getting more full by the day.
Claire arrived and it was good to finally meet her. Spirited and fun. She doesn’t work Mondays and Fridays, so I’m glad I started on a day she was there.
For the first several days I’m just going to listen and observe. Every now and then I took a phone call, either because it was an Instructor call or because Carole and Claire were both busy. There weren’t too many phone calls, and both women said that was unusual.
I didn’t bring my lunch because I hadn’t shopped for that kind of food, so I went with Claire to the café on the ground floor. They never eat there, but get their food takeaway so they can get back to the phones. I got a jacket potato with coleslaw on it. Thought I’d take a chance and try something new. When the guy asked if I wanted “brrrrr” with that I had so say “Sorry?” several times, but still didn’t understand. Claire said, “He wants to know if you’d like butter with that.”
“Yes, please,” was all I could say. Claire explained that sometimes people leave out the middle of words and you have to kind of fill-in-the-blanks.
Nevertheless, the jacket potato was tasty. They have so many options to go on potatoes. I’m sure I’ll try lots more.
Carole gave me a ride home at 5. This time bringing with us a phone and TV that had been left at the office. Carole graciously carried the TV up the stairs, since I’d carried it down the stairs at the office. I think I got the best of that deal for sure. The TV is small but it has a tape player built in, so that’s cool. I have a DVD player in my computer, so I’ll be able to watch movies in both formats.
Was going to stay in, but I needed a connector to go from the TV to the antenna connection in the wall. Went to Tesco and also bought more groceries. Walking means buying small amounts at any one time. I probably will end up at a grocery store every day.
I bought pasta and tomato/black olive sauce and finally cooked a meal. But first I had to learn how to operate the stove. All of the outlets have switches on the wall, so besides plugging something in and turning it on, you also have to turn on the outlet. I couldn’t get the stove to work, so I got out the manual. There’s an igniter button you need to hold down as you turn the knob on the gas stove. It still didn’t work. Then I noticed that on the wall there was a switch that said HOB. You guessed it. The top part of the stove is called a hob. Once I flicked the switch, it worked and I had a delicious dinner with plenty left over for tomorrow.
I watched a little TV (luckily I watch BBC America at home so I knew what I was in for). Then to bed at 9:30. No noise at all tonight. Ah, blessed sleep.
16 January, Friday: Up at 6:30, Can’t believe I slept 9 hours. Feeling much more alert this morning. At 8 I walked to Starbucks. Really raining today. Got my coffee takeaway and walked a little in the rain. Luckily I bought a new trench coat before I left home, and Jude gave me a nifty rain hat. Plus I had my every present “brolly.” I definitely wasn’t going to get too wet.
Carole picked me up at 8:30. Claire doesn’t work on Fridays, so Carole and I were alone in the office until Mandy (Instructor) joined us. She’d taught all week at a beautiful, ancient hotel and showed us the brochure. Unbelievable.
It’s fascinating how one person, Carole, does so many jobs. She has a lot of energy. I’m glad I’m there to take phone calls and to talk to CIs for her. Many of the Certified Instructors express surprise to hear an American voice in the UK office. The morning wasn't busy but the afternoon sure was.
I brought my lunch today—sandwich and crisps (chips).
Talked to the US office several times. Simon arrives back here on Sunday and in the office on Tuesday. He said he’d pick me up Tuesday morning and we’d have breakfast and chat before going to work. Carole’s picking me up again Monday, so I won’t have to take the bus to work until Wednesday. Cool.
The week after next on the 28th, I’ll meet Simon in Dublin to interview applicants for an Ireland-based position. I can’t wait to go to Ireland. This will happen—IF I get my status here sorted out. Turns out I did need a work permit after all. Our HR person back home is working on it, and I had to email my resume to her. I’m to stay in the UK until I get the permit.
I hope it gets cleared up soon. I also want to fly to Denmark on the 26th. Beata’s mom is having serious surgery that day. (Beata is my daughter-in-law.) Beata and Rob are still in Japan and may not be able to make it to Denmark to be with her mom. I spoke to them on the phone and said if they couldn’t be there I would. So I’m praying my work permit comes through so I can leave and re-enter the country with no problem.
Home at 5. Ate leftovers, and worked on the computer. I tried to connect to the Internet, but it turned out the phone wasn’t working after all. I could hear a dial tone, but nothing happened. I’ll need to take care of that tomorrow.
Watched a little TV, did dishes, and to bed by 10. Exciting life, huh?
17 January, Saturday: Up at 6:30. When I turned on the bedroom light, it popped. Bedside lamps worked, so I thought I’d need to buy lightbulbs. Then I noticed that no overhead lights worked, including the bathrooms. Got out manual and read directions on circuit breakers (not called that here). Luckily I remembered to pack a flashlight. Went to the hall closet and remedied situation. Lights on except in bedroom. I guess when one light blows, they all do. Kind of like Christmas tree lights.
Then, no hot water. There’s a machine/heater in the kitchen that controls burners on hob, hot water, and heat. Amazing. Instead of a whole hot water heater full of hot water, this heats as you need it. And it’s efficient. I’ve never run out of hot water while showering, and it heats up very quickly. But now—no hot water. When I checked the machine, a read light was flashing. Oh-oh. Back to the manual.
Oh, if only I understood the language. After a lot of thought, I found out where the “fault” was and fixed it.
I’m very proud of myself. NOW. But yesterday, when I couldn’t figure out how to get the window shade back up. I pulled and pulled until it was extended all the way, but couldn’t get it to roll back up. At work, I emailed the landlord. There’s a cord on the side that you pull. DUH!
After an already full morning, I went to Starbucks at 8:30 for coffee and a roll, where I’m writing this. Have my daypack full, looking forward to tramping about all day. To TIC first (Tourist Information Center), then to bus/train/metro station to get timetables.
At TIC will get maps and will also find out where nearest RC church is (as distinguished from C of E churches). Also need directions to BT office and cell phone place. Jude’s old phone from the office died.
At noon. Now sitting in a pub (Weatherspoons) having a jacket potato with 5 bean chili on it. Having a coke instead of a pint (of beer).
Still haven’t scoped out a church. Will try again after lunch.
After Starbucks I went to the train station for info and timetables. I thought about following Carole’s suggestion and taking the metro to Manchester tomorrow, but I think I need to stay home and work. Anyway, I got a lot of info regarding transportation and need to read it before I have any idea what I’m doing.
Then I went to TIC. In a way they were very helpful, but there was a communication problem too. I need to keep reminding myself that I’ve only been here since Wednesday and it takes a while to learn a new language. I left TIC with lots of brochures and booklets and I look forward to reading them. They also directed me to the other places I needed to go. I forgot to ask about the church, though.
I went to Car Phone Warehouse to get a mobile phone. Told Andy, the manager, I was shopping around. He gave me a written guarantee that he’d match a lower price if I found one. So I got their cheapest phone ₤29 and the cheapest “pay as you go” plan. It’s from Virgin Mobile. (When I went back later regarding another matter Andy said, “Yes, you’re the Virgin.” He was quite serious and didn’t seem to understand why I was laughing.) Andy also showed me a much cheaper rate for long distance from home. He said they have a ₤500 challenge. If BT matches their rate, they’ll give me ₤500. It’s only 5p a minute to call anywhere in the states and 9p to call Japan. Very good deal. But they need a chequing account number from here so they can debit. I’ll have to see what I can do.
Went home for a bit to charge the mobile a bit more and to use it to call BT. Seems the reason my home phone doesn’t work is that there’s no work order. Well, I’d called from the US to ensure it would be turned on by the 14th and was assured it would be and that I could order broadband by the 21st. She apologized and the phone is being turned on today. So I’ll be able to order broadband on the 24th. Shoot. But I’ll try to connect to the Internet via the regular phone line tonight. Hope it works.
After that, I walked through Goose Green for the first time. It’s a lovely, quaint shopping area about a block from my flat, and offers a short cut to the Town Centre only another block away. Goose Green sports itty-bitty shops and restaurants. Don’t know if my hips will fit in some of them.
Barclay’s Bank was next where I was told I could open a chequing account with my passport and a UK drivers’ license or a bill from a utility company with my name at that address. That won’t happen. First, no UK license. Second, utility bill is in CPI’s name, but BT bill will be in mine. Don’t know what to do about this. Will talk to Carole on Monday.
After the bank, I came to Weatherspoons, where here I sit, having a coffee after my meal. Excellent food.
I asked Michael, the bartender, if this place was an okay pub for me to come into alone at night for a beer. He said, “Yes, all kind of folks come in here.” Somehow I’m not convinced. I know some pubs are frequented by men, others by trendy youngsters. Hope some are frequented by women in their 50s.
They do have a nice non-smoking area called the “Family Area,” where kids can be until 5 PM. After that, the section is for adult non-smokers.
Speaking of that—I’ve found two happy surprises. One is that there are many completely non-smoking places, Starbucks for one. That pleases me. Two is that there are tons of vegetarian options in restaurants. In grocery stores too, I notice things are marked “suitable for vegetarians.” That is just the opposite of what I expected.
Now I’m off to look for a church. And the sun is actually shining. Another delightful surprise.
Now I’m writing Saturday night while watching Daddy Day Care. Yes, I got a UK Blockbuster Card, my US one wouldn’t work here. I also found St. Vincent’s Church, only about six blocks away. Spoke to Fr. Tony on the phone for about ½ hour. What a nice man and so welcoming. He said the bishop was coming tomorrow and he only makes a pastoral visit every five years. They’re having a big carry-in meal for the parish after the late mass. I told him I still had to come back here and get busy. I’ll probably go to 10 AM Mass. Yes, another exciting evening for me, talking to a priest on the phone and watching a movie.
posted by Jerilyn Dufresne, author @ 13:48
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