The Equinox, The NHS, and the Marathon Metaphor

The three items in the title are not necessarily directly related, but I appear to be like giving titles in threes...

So Happy Equinox everyone!  The Equinox and Solstice time causes me to feel the reality of seasonal change.  I used to feel like I got into a funk in and around autumn, but it was probably just the adjustment to less sun and the barrenness of the trees.  Everyone here speaks of the fall as the preface to the impending doom of winter.  In fairness, I have never experienced an English winter, which I'm told is incredibly dark, rainy, windy, and cold.  However, most English have never been through a New England winter.  So we will see how this goes.  I am determined not to succumb to the muck and the dreary (yes I am using that as a noun, and I'm fine with that).  I have bright red rainboots for goodness sakes.  They will be my winter talisman.

I finally registered with a general practitioner (they say this instead of Dr. here).  The National Heath System is interesting.  You pay a decent chunk out of your paycheck, and then you get free healthcare, but many things take a while (I may have mentioned before that no one here seems to feel that they are in a terrible rush), and healthcare is truly treated on a priority basis.  When I went to register, I went to my local health center, which looks like a cross between an emergency room and the DMV.  Then I essentially picked a doctor from a brief list - like choosing a shade of lipstick.  I have an introductory appt. on Monday, we will see how that goes.

I am starting to make friends a little bit, which has been a god-send and really quite lovely.  I was invited for dinner on Sunday night, by Antonio, an elder portuguese poet, and his long-time friend Ian, an old English bloke with a huge heart.  Man, I had the best time!  I was stuffed with veggie lasagne, soup, bread, trifle (it's an English traditional dessert here apparently and involves many a layer of creamy, fruity things) and more red wine than I should ingest on a Sunday evening.  Everything was spiced and herbed with fresh herbs from their garden.  They then took me for a coffee at a local pub off the beaten path, called the Swan.  There are pubs called The Swan in nearly every town here - not sure why.  This place is really amazing!  It is cozy, has a beautiful garden, and allows dogs inside.  I walked in and there were couples sitting and having drink on a couch with their pups at their feet.  Can't wait for Charlie and Shadow to see it.  Because Ian and Antonio have lived here for a bit, they know a lot of people, so a coffee turned into the next couple of hours being joined by several different people.  I danced home!

These things help me keep perspective when the day-to-day realities of my solo journey here are challenging.  I have reached another phase at work where I have much more to do than time to do it, and some of the struggles of the students have become apparent.  I continue to miss Em, the boys, my dear friends, and feel a bit guilty from time to time that when I experience something lovely, interesting, etc. that I am not with those I love to share it directly.  I am working to write about it more, beyond the blog. I have no shortage of inspiration here - the challenge I have is honing in on one or two pieces of inspiration, rather than trying to render the frenetic, constant stimuli that comes from being in a large city.    In that, we have the marathon metaphor.
and in that, I will end with a big hug and kiss to all those I love ad hope for a good day tomorrow!
J

One Month

One month ago today, I was scrambling about the apartment in Manchester, packing, re-packing and getting ready to leave for the airport.  Here I am tucked in a corner of a pub, one month later - finally having found a place in Chiswick that I can access internet until mine is installed.  I have a flat, a job, and I am now experiencing the actuality of the little dream I had a year ago (longer than that really, but the plan started to form structure a year ago).  Before I go into the particulars of being here, I must first appreciate how completely lucky I am to be able to do this.

For the time being, I am treating this adventure as I try to treat life (in my better, take-the-high-road moments) - as each day comes.  There are moments in each day that are beautiful, odd, mildly extraordinary, fascinating, irritating, exhausting, etc. I learn at least 10 things each day - which is a lot for me - and this is DAILY.  I also have this weird sense that nothing about this journey is an accident.  I have this continuous feeling that every step along this path is as it is supposed to be.  I can't think of another time in my life where I have felt so solidly in belief of intention, the connectedness of things, etc..  Is this faith at work?  Or is it my mind attempting to rationalize experiences to reduce my sense of overwhelm and distance?  Either way, it is my current thought....  Examples are below (sort of)..

I have a policy of accepting any offer of something to do - borrowed from one Mrs. Kate Waldo-Fillion, whether I feel like it in the moment or not.  For example, last Saturday I received a phone call from a new colleague inviting me to a photography exhibit of London street photography through the ages at the Museum of London.  I definitely wanted to see this exhibit, but had planned my day much differently.  I scrapped my plans and went. It was great.  So, I've talked about my flat - it is great, in an amazing location, and happens to sit between a pilates studio, and the town hall which holds zumba classes each week.  I didn't realize this when I moved in.  There is no excuse to not work out my body issues and get back into my body through these things.  I don't feel that this is an accident.  I went to my first zumba class on Tuesday, and loved every minute of it.  The class ended with the Tina Turner version of Proud Mary.  I felt my mom right there with me - dancing.

This is not to say that there have not been moments so far that have truly made me questions my sanity in moving so far away from people and animals I love and miss dearly.  Part of me wonders if part of this is a further measure to try to escape the cold and silent realities of having lost two people I couldn't imagine my life without, in as many years.  Here I am, 3000 miles away from the geographical locations in which I knew and loved these people (mom and Burg of course) - and they are still gone.  If anything, I feel them both more here.  How strange is that?

But also, and equally as important; I wanted to experience something, or some place that would hep me expand and grow.  I forgot that growth is sometimes painful, inconvenient, hard, and totally undesirable in the face of familiarity - even if that familiarity isn't necessarily good or healthy.  That plus a new culture - which IS different from the US.  I am clearly an American here - from my manner of speaking to my way of relating in the world.  I am intrigued by how embracing these differences will help me grow and expand - and I don't know how that will happen yet.

The school is interesting and great in many ways, and imperfect in many ways.  The students and my colleagues are really interesting and diverse though and they all have so far been great and have helped ease the transition.  More about that later...

So, one month down - onto the next!  Thank you all for telling me what makes home "home" to you.  The art, plants, and color are slowly progressing - the person and dogs will take a little more time...

Always love,
J

Time is a Relative Thing

The title of this one might lead a reader to believe that I have some awesome wisdom or philosophising to do on the blog today. But I don't.  This is a quick blog to let people know that the time frame in which things are accomplished is significantly longer here in the UK.  For example, when I moved into my flat and called one of the two local internet/cable/phone companies to get connected, I was told that the earliest time to install would be Sept. 15th...  Apparently this is common.  So, another thing to tack on to my UK education, and growth opportunity is getting used to things like this running at a slower pace.  Yet they drive more aggressively here, walk more quickly here....  So odd.  It's weird to be this disconnected from technology.  Ok - part of the ride, right?

This is to say, I have limited access to internet and will for the next couple of weeks, so for those of you who email and/or comment here or on fb - I thank you, I love you, and I am not ignoring you.  There are few cafe's and pubs that have free wi-fi, but as my mission is to walk all around my new neighbourhood this weekend, I hope to find a quiet little place where I can catch up with people.

I have had a good but really busy week, but it has helped that the weather has been really lovely - and it has been great to be slowly moving in to the flat and establishing new routines.  Tonight, my search is for stamps, good Indian Food, peanut butter (totally craving peanut butter - not sure why), and a brightly colored area rug for the living room floor.  I'm thinking bright orange shag - what do ya think? JK, but as the flat is mainly still in its generic off-white, unpopulated, echoey stage, I need to bring in some personal touches.

Here's a question for my friends and family - what is your favorite personal touch you add to your house/home?

Love,
Jo