English Cinemas, London Flats, and Hurricanes

I just walked back to Jamie's flat from Uxbridge.  Tonight is my last night here.  I get to move into my flat tomorrow.  I bought hangers today in anticipation...  I have a pot, a pan, a towel, a blanket, coffee I acquired at the market in Cambridge yesterday, a french press, a jar of apricot jam, and two cheap art prints that are colorful to put up in the flat.

I am so excited to ground, and to unpack my suitcases, and to sleep in a bed that is, for the next year at least, mine :).  I feel like I've been running on adrenaline for the last three weeks.

My new job is proving, daily, to be larger in scope than I had anticipated - and this goes well beyond the math that I was so concerned about (which I still am, but with a small class, it is more of a tutorial, and thus a bit less pressure - so onward with numbers!).  Suffice to say, I have my work cut out for me, and though I have students with generally a greater sense of ability, I am essentially re-inventing the wheel so to speak here.  For years, I have been one member of a team of professionals, and I am suddenly a team of one - daunting!  I am my mother's daughter, I never back down from a challenge, but jeez - does this feel like Princess Buttercup looking up at the Cliffs of Insanity (Princess Bride reference, for those of you going, what??).

I went to the movies here (they call it the cinema) for the first time tonight.  What a trip!  First off, they asked me where I wanted to sit - premium seating vs. regular seating?  I actually had to (or, maybe got to?) choose my seat from a little screen.  Then came the concessions counter.  There is an entire counter devoted to ice-cream - which threw me off.  I went to get my popcorn (a move is not a movie without popcorn, in my humble opinion) - and the dude asked me if I wanted sweet or salted popcorn.  "I beg your pardon, what?"  Apparently, you can get a bucket (not the huge ass tubs or bags we have in the states) of either kettle type sweet popcorn, or salted popcorn.  They do not put butter, buttery oil, or buttery type substance on the popcorn.  They simply fill your container, fill your soda (without ice - but it's cold, and a little goes a long way this way) and you go to your seat.  And about 10 minutes before the movie starts, an employee comes in and checks every single person's ticket for their row and seat number.  That job officially overtakes my previously least desirable job (telemarketer).  Then 20 minutes of commercials with two hideously long previews, and finally, the movie...

While I was watching the movie, I periodically thought of Em, the boys, and those I love back in NH and MA, and the fierce wind and rain Irene has brought on.  I wish I could blanket everyone in warmth and safety.  I continue to miss the familiar, have at least one solid evening each week where everything is hard and unusual, and different in a totally non-endearing way that makes me question my sanity in making this move.

I wish I could call my mom at least twice a day, especially when I see the pink sky at sunset just over the brick row housing chimneys, or I hear a child call out, "mummy".  It is in so many ways because of her that I am even able to have this experience, yet, this is so big - the first big thing I've experienced in my life without being able to bounce it off her, or to make it real just by telling her about it. I dream she is with me, seeing the same pink sky, holding my hand as I walk through the uneven streets of London, and winking at me from the seat across from me on my way home on the tube or on the bus.  So, she is here, I suppose....    

On that note...  Onto more re-packing to fit stuff in every little pouch, corner, and bag.  Tomorrow, I go to my new home.


Love,
Jo