THE REALY BIG UPDATE

Chances are I'm going to write this "really big update" in installments because I have some things do today, but I wanted to put something on here since I haven't updated for a bit. This is going to cover the basics: the job and the flat. And then I have some time, I'll add some fun pictures of going out and whatnot.

Well, let's start with the job. I had it. I don't have it anymore. By choice. That's the short story.

the first day at Jigsaw

The long story? I arrived at this job purely through chance. I would have never actively seeked out a job in retail. As I have mentioned, I made a connection while getting my phone fixed, and that led to me going to Jigsaw. Somehow I got the job despite my knowledge or experience. And that was exciting. It was all new; I was ready to do anything. You see, I have this good/bad habit of jumping into something without necessarily considering the logistics. I ignore the reality, thinking I can achiever whatever I set out to achieve. Well, oops.

The first day was new and pretty cool. I learned so much; how to take stock, how to replenish stock, how to search for new sizes upstairs, blah, blah, retail blah. I tried to look at it as a game. Therefore, it was fun. My imagination helped me get through it. Plus, it was a whole new world, and I was on Bond Street. Might as well think positively.

This mindset carried over to the second day. I came excited, believing I would be able to learn how to do everything. And it went fine. Until a few hours to closing. Then, all of the illusion crumbled (not to sound dramatic). I think I finally cracked and realized, "Wait a second. This job actually sucks. Nobody really wants to work retail (even though they're all really nice), and everyone is just here until they find another job." Other thoughts: "I have absolutely no passion for the selling of women's clothing; I don't even want to learn. I would kill myself if I did this for six months. Also, I completely lack the skill set required to do this job."

lost after the third day, literally

You get the picture. All of these thoughts congealed into one awakening/realization: I jumped into this like a blind man, and I do not belong. Truly, I am not the missing puzzle piece of
this Jigsaw. Cue groans from the audience. After closing the second day, I asked to speak Theresa (wonderful manager) in the back. I told her what I was feeling, and I even cried a little. I know, so unlike me. But this is all so crazy really, isn't it? She was comforting, but I still left not knowing what to think. The masochistic part of me wanted to suffer on, but another part of me knew I should get out while I can.

So, the third day came, and it went ok. Not too much craziness, and no post-closing-cryfest. This meant I could think objectively about the situation. Not persuaded by emotions or passionate frustration, I could really sort out my priorities. I still wanted to leave. Therefore, I followed my heart. The next day, Matt and I traveled to Bond Street, and I broke the news of my final decision to Theresa. I felt really bad, but Theresa understood and supported me. It was really nice, and I left with no ill feelings.

A review: I got a job. I left said job. In three days. End of that chapter. On with a new job search. This one is going to be more informed. However, I need to jump on it and find a new job quickly because as everyone said, London is not cheap.

On to the flat.

We Got a Flat

Now, in the States, this might sound bad: picture us stranded on the highway. I'm talking about a flat tire. Lame. But here, getting a flat is great news. Maggie, Matt, and myself found a great flat, and we took it right then because property is flying right now. It' in Mile End, just a couple minutes walk from the Stepney Green tube station. It's big, has three bedrooms, a nice kitchen/bathroom, and a great common room. Also, there's a nice balcony, and we're on the top floor, so the view is cool. I'll put up pictures soon. We move in on Wednesday, and I cannot wait. I should have the Internet all the time then as well. That way, I'll stay in touch much more easily, which will be a great relief after this hit-and-run Internet use of the past ten days.

I start work this week; more exciting news. I can't wait. I also joined a gym, so now I can get back in shape and work out after work since it's really close to Jigsaw.

What else have I been up to? Well, a lot of wandering. London is great for just walking around. For example, yesterday I wandered around the South Bank. I breezed through the Tate Modern, had a crepe at Gabriel's Wharf, and watched the skaters skate. It was quite pleasant.


We've also been enjoying fun night life. Maggie, Matt, and I went to the Ghetto the other night. It was a special party called Nuke Them All. We got in free because Pennie (bartender/new friend) put us on the guest list. Lots of characters there, lots of dancing, and lots of photos. Here a couple:


I think that's all for now. Go to Stranger Behaviour for a lot more pictures. Next update will probably be on Wednesday. Then, I'll have moved into the flat and worked a few days.

Highs and Lows

Well, I have a job, and that's a really high high. I'll be working at Jigsaw, a really chic women's clothing store on Bond Street (where all of the big designers are located). I'm not quite sure how I landed the job, now that I think about it. I have no retail experience and my CV (resume) is not really that impressive. I suppose it was my American charm and youthful charisma.

It started when I was getting my phone replaced at Orange. I had to wait for quite a while while they did paper work in the back, so I chatted with Ness, another employee. She told me that her friend works at Jigsaw and that they just had someone leave and need a new employee. I said, "Why not? Might as well give it a shot." So, she texted her friend and told him I'm cool. Good to make connections with anybody, I realize. Well, I printed out my CV and filled out an application. Andrei called me and set up an interview after speaking with me briefly at the store.

Tuesday morning, the day of the interview. The day before I bought some new trousers and black shoes (they don't wear khakis here at all). So, all spiffed up, I headed to Bond Street, feeling confident but nonetheless undeserving of the job. Oh well, if you really act like you know what you're doing, you should be fine, right? Well, I guess that worked out.

on my way to the interview

The interview started with a chat about who I am and what my goals are and why I came over to London. All of that was cool. Then came "The Challenge." Andrei gave me a hypothetical situation: a woman comes in who is going to a wedding in the afternoon and needs something chic to wear. Wow. I'm not a fashion adviser, but I knew I had to try this out or I wouldn't get it. I went around the store, picking up this and that. I got a flowy dress and a small top, some nice sandals and a cool necklace.

But, that wasn't quite enough (or a good choice?). Andrei told me to really let my imagination run wild. The second time around, employees noticed what I was doing, and they would give me little hints. It was really cool how they all helped out. "Don't pick up anything on sale." "Get lots of accessories (and the most expensive ones)." "That purse is almost 400 pounds." Basically, I needed to just choose tons of stuff, the more the merrier, and the more the pricier.

This time, Andrei was a little more pleased. We chatted a little bit more, and he asked me some more questions. I didn't quite understand all of the payment stuff he told me, but I think I'll be making a nice amount. He said if he chose me, he'd be generous and treat me pretty well. Fine with me. Help the American gain pounds.

So, I got it. Later that night, Andrei called me and said he wanted to offer me the position. It's going to be interesting. I know he's taking a chance on me, so I'm going to have to be impressive. I'm going to get some fashion magazines and study what's in right now. I'm also going to have to go shopping for some new outfits because my current wardrobe might not cut it.


Partnered with this job-gaining excitement was/is the impending need for our own flat. Matt and I met a girl named Maggie, and she's wonderful. A fellow BUNAC-er, she is from Washington, D. C. She's also an English major and recent graduate. So, we're looking for three-bedroom flats to rent. It's so stressful. We took the tube out to see a flat, and it was alright, but we found out this morning that it might now be the best, so we're crossing that off. Now, we're just setting up appointments and visiting flats. Hopefully it will work out soon.

Echoing past remarks, I just want to settle in. Have my own room, the internet, all of those simple pleasure. Yesterday was overwhelming, and I found myself asking those inevitable questions: "Am I crazy for doing this? What was I thinking? Should I just go home?" Well, those kind of sentiments become magnified when you're feeling stressed. They've washed away since yesterday. I'll update this again when I have a flat and I'm cozy.

Catch Up

This'll be a brief entry with a few pictures. Just to catch you up with my London happenings. Everything is great (a general announcement). The weather's been great. Everyone is a model and dressed incredibly well all of the time (quite intimidating yet exciting, too). The food is nice. All is well.

cheeseburger in London

I probably walk five miles a day. My legs/feet are killing me, but it's good to travel on foot. Where have I been walking? Oxford Street, Holborn, SoHo, Camden Town, Bond Street, Regent's Park, Hyde Park...all the hot spots.

How's the job search going? Well, slowly. I turned in a CV to Ripley's Believe it or not, which is opening in London on Wednesday. I think most of the spots are filled already, so we'll see. I do have an interview tomorrow for a nice clothing store on Bond Street (aka the posh, designer avenue). Perhaps I'll win them over with my American charm. Chances are I'll take the job if they want me. Then I'll be able to start working and looking for a flat, which I can't wait to find.

I'm so ready to settle down in my own flat and fall into a routine of working. Everything is wonderful right now, but the uncertainty of job hunting and sleeping in a hostel are beginning to grow old. The past few days have been long, starting early and ending late. I've spent time in the parks, walked along the busy streets, eaten at plenty of cafes, and meandered through different stores. And I've done business-y stuff like buy my mobile, open a bank account, and started looking for a job.

Hmmm, this is a bit scatterbrained. I think I'll just post a few pictures now. I'm going to update next once I have a job. So, cross your fingers that a new update comes really soon.

Alphabeat @ KOKO in Camden

reading in Hyde Park

in the tube (first day)

New post coming soon...Believe it or not

Sorry everyone (if anyone is reading this), but my internet availability is not great at the moment. When it becomes readily available, I'll provide a nice entry. Until then...

From VIP to ISH

Well, we're here. And we're safe and sound. That's the most important thing to know for now.


Now for a few more details. At about 7:30, the parents and I loaded the BMW with all my stuff and drove to the Indy airport. It was book-finishing trip; quite nice. Then after a passable airport salad and a tearful goodbye, I checked in. Matt and I sat together on the flight, and it flew by, literally/metaphorically. We arrived in Chicago, got our tickets at Virgin, and went through security. It was all a breeze.

Then we started a miniature wild goose chase to find a VIP lounge since I recently got a special card for some reason from my bank. It was a great way to blow a few hours before our flight. I enjoyed free beer, espresso, finger sandwiches, and fruit. It was quite nice.


On the London flight. Wow, it was so nice. I lucked out and had two empty seats next to me. In other words, I had a bed. After watching the sequel to Harold and Kumar, I snuggled up as comfortably as possible on my three-seat bed. It worked well. I woke up, rested and ready to arrive. We landed, went through Immigration (less than ten minutes), then through customs. We decided to spend a little more money and save on comfort by taking a taxi to our hostel. Expensive, but we liked it.

Got to ISH, stowed our luggage away until we could check in later, and made our way to BUNAC for orientation. We were excited that everything went so smoothly. Then, it rained on us. And we were fine because we're in London, and that's how the weather works. I'd like to think of it as a baptism of sorts. So, we made it to orientation, and that went well.

Now, here's where reality sets in. All of a sudden, we felt overwhelmed (they tell you A LOT of information) and tired. We needed to decompress and rest for a bit. So, we went back to ISH, checked into our room, and after a difficult but doable push of our suitcases, we arrived at our building and took a nice nap.

Then I got up and took a shower (accidentally in the women's...oops; it sucked nonetheless). And now I'm here, in ISH's internet cafe. Tonight, Matt and I are going to have dinner and explore. No plans; just enjoying being in London. Tomorrow, we dive into the job hunt, the bank account opening, the mobile phone buying, the accommodation searching, all of that fun stuff.

This Is How It Starts

This is how it starts. Three days away and unpacked, which will be a different story in a matter of hours. Then I will have broken open the freshly-bought luggage and begun to plan the best way to organize shoes and shorts, shirts and pants, wires and travel-sized toiletries. It will be a challenge, but the time has finally come. London is steadily approaching, and what truly seems like a dream will become ridiculously real as I board that plane on Tuesday and arrive in London early the next morning.

How this really started is a little over three months ago. As our friends talked about Teaching for America, graduate schools, or first jobs, Matt and I were not so confident with our future. We were as bewildered as most English Writing majors most likely are, so we sought an alternative route: the post-college escape from America to find ourselves and/or have an incredible adventure that parents will deem "life experience" when explaining to their adult peers. It took shape after a suggestion by the lovely Christine Dougan about traveling abroad and working.

Enter BUNAC (aka our ticket out). After some research, Matt and I quickly said, "Yes, let's do this. Let's get the hell out of here and have an adventure." And that's what we hope to do. When I say "get the hell out," I am not necessarily suggesting a term of escape; more of a purging of stress, a much needed six-month departure from the pressure to know our future after four years of learning that we have no idea what we want to do yet. And when I say "adventure," I use the term to encapsulate the fact that we do not know just what's going to happen.

We have our passports, our work visas, and a program's worth of assistance, but we do not have definite answers to those repetitive questions: "What's your job going to be? Where are you going to live? You know London is super expensive, right?"

Check back here in about two weeks.

picture from summer of 2005 with parents

Now I'm going to get to that work promised in the first graph. I've sold my car (holy moment for my Grand Prix), I'm giving my mom my phone, I've had three different farewell dinners, and I have all the necessary documents. I'm pretty much ready, but the bags, still unpacked. I'm sure that each article of clothing carefully folded and placed into those beautiful red Samsonites will be a reminder that yes, this is all about to happen, and I can't wait.

Now playing: The Clash - London Calling