Double Three 3-3

Two weekends ago I celebrated my 33rd birthday in the West End. I met up with some friends that I have made here - Jacqui (right), from Australia, Amber (left) who I met in Barcelona, from Oklahoma but last lived in Chicago for 6 years, Jacqui's friend, Louisa and some of her friends.


In looking back at my blogs, I realize I've never speak too much about the new people that I meet...So here goes....

Jacqui's been one of my best friends since I've moved here. She's so sweet, the life of the party, enjoys cheap wine with me and loves Stanley. She's been a great Auntie, watching Stanley when I am away for business or on holiday. She even had him running short sprints with her! Her husband (also a great person) introduced me and Stanley to Sunday roasts which we love.

Although I just met Amber, I think we knew each other in another life. We arrived in London around the same time, both from Chicago, have similar interests, share similar stories, fellow single lady....to name a few...Notice how we almost match! And it was not done on purpose. I'm looking forward to our Easter holiday in Lisbon.

Back to my birthday....We headed out for a nite on the town stopping first at a "Mexican" restaurant for dinner. Food was tolerable for British Mexican food. From there we headed to Verve, a lounge/club in the West End. In the West End you'll find the theater district, night life, Chinatown, and loads of people always up to have a good time. The night was spent dancing to great music, laughing and just being silly. I had a memorable night that evening.

On Sunday, my actual birthday, I was invited for a Mexican lunch at my friend Rob's house in Chelsea. The food was awesome and it was great to meet his friends.

To cap off my birthday weekend, I met up with Jason. We had a few drinks in Chelsea at the Big Easy and he surprised me with a nice gift. I walk around with these white bobbie socks. Well Jason upgraded me to some white and purple checkered socks from a foo-foo place. I love it!


Jason was my first friend in London. We share a love of R&B music, he gives me great advice and he just cracks me up. He's shown me the ropes around my neighborhood and in London yet empowers me to learn some things on my own. I am truly grateful for his friendship.




It is my wish that every year, I continue to meet great people like Jacqui, Amber and Jason and make lasting friendships for a lifetime.

The Passport Stamp Demystified

Another stamp on your passport. Although it may sound worldly or distinguish you from those who are not fortunate enough to globe trot, the truth is it's not that glamorous.

I'm here to tell you about some of my travel woes and mishaps. It seems like every time I go somewhere, something always happens. I don't want to continue to jinx myself but it's a pattern lately.

When I leave and enter any country, I can always count on being questioned about my occupation, if I still live in the same place, what type of business I am here to conduct, what is the name of the company that I am visiting, etc. Once as I walked away, I heard another agent, say to his colleague next to him "You see what I was trying to do." Deport me????

I also have to go into the "special" queue for non-EU citizens where there is only 1 or 2 agents for 3 or 4 flights that have arrived at the same time. I guess we do the same in the US. I have gotten used to it and succumb to the fact that this comes with being an immigrant in a foreign country. It also gives me more sympathy to what we in the US put our immigrants through. I am sure they have had to endure far worse.

So in my one of my earlier blogs, I wrote that on my first business trip, I went to the wrong airport. Well on Tuesday, I had to be in Paris for a very important meeting I was facilitating. I arrived at the station only to realize that I had forgotten my passport! I talked to the French authorities and there was no way I was getting on. My US drivers license wasn't going to cut it. I rebooked for the next train and rushed back home to get my passport. That day I must travelled the Victoria line 6 times! In the end, I was lucky to make it on time. Not a single hair out of place.

Today, I travelled Ryanair. They are notorious for wanting to make money off of you. They have very strict boarding procedures. If your bag is too big, you are charged. If you are late to check in by 5 minutes they refuse you. On the advice of my manager, I made sure everything was sorted before I left the office. I printed my boarding pass. I entered my passport information. Well how come I made it through the initial airport security and when it came time for me to board, I was denied? Turns out because I am a non-EU resident, my passport information had to be validated at the front desk. So really, what was the purpose of me checking in online and entering my passport information? There was no budging. I was told I needed to be escorted out of the airport. Embarrassed as hell, I had to call my manager yet again to tell him that something had happened to me as I was travelling and that he should not wait for me at the Dublin airport. After waiting an hour and a half for someone to walk me out of Gatwick, I finally made my way home. For a moment, I was ready to scream false imprisonment because the woman said that I need to stay near where she could see me and that being escorted was the only way I could leave the airport .

On another occasion after I arrived from Barcelona, I took the train home from Gatwick. It was delayed at 1:00a.m. (go figure). When I finally made my way home, I got off on the wrong stop in Selhurst (never heard of the town) at 2:00a.m. and there were no other trains until 6:00a.m. I was able to get a taxi. Of course the taxi driver asked me a million questions about why I was out so late, where I was from because I don't sound like I am from around here, etc.... I told him my train situation and that my fictitious boyfriend didn't have a car otherwise he would have come to get me and that he was waiting for me at home.

So what I have I learned you may ask? Going forward, I am going to read the fine print not once but twice and not take anything for granted. I'm in a new country with new rules. I also need to pay more attention to detail and make sure I have a plan when I travel. Perhaps subconsciously my nervousness gets the best of me. Maybe I need my friend Andrea (human map) with me permanently....or maybe I can just marry a British man and my passport problems will be solved!

I've Got a New Attitude

Last week I returned from a 10 day trip to Chicago primarily for business. Yes, I've only been gone for four months and have been back 2 times but I think this trip really put things into perspective. I was lucky enough to have my trip paid for by my company and I was able to add a head and tail weekend to visit my friends and family.

Because I've never been in the situation where I lived away from Chicago, I never had to go back "home" to visit. I must say that it's quite stressful trying to make sure I see everyone. Then there's the added stress of shopping for things I don't get in London and eating food that I normally don't get it. Well that part is not so stressful but rather over indulgent.

What a week it was. Work was mentally draining. I caught a cold from the weather. I was jet lagged the entire time waking up at 5:00a.m. My colleague made fun of me because she said that I went away for 4 months and forgot what it was like to live in Chicago. I celebrated my birthday a few weeks early. Spent time with my favorite people in the world. Got to meet my cousin's baby for the first time. My cousin Ashley added my mom's name to her daughter's middle name. I was so touched. My aunt made this great photo album for me. All in all, it was a great trip but draining trying to do everything.

I arrived back home, with an extra suitcase more than I came with. As the taxi driver was driving down Clapham High Street, I was really glad to be coming back "home" to London. The streets were lively and bustling. The people were dressed really nice. As I stepped into my flat I felt a sense of home. I really, really like living London. I am starting to make more friends and have a more active social life.

This last trip helped me appreciate London even more. I am not homesick. By the time I left Chicago, I was ready to return back to London. I actually feel silly for buying soo many things. I also came home feeling like a fat American for eating so much.

Since I've been back (aside from getting food poisoning from some Cuban food I ate right before I left), I went to my first play in Covent Garden. I've been exploring some great restaurants in my neighborhood. I found Stanley a dog walker and he got his first groom (so cute!) I went to see some live bands play in Brick Lane last night. Today my client from Chicago was in for business. I showed him around London and in turn I learned how to navigate the city even more.

Life is definitely good in London.

Just Dance, Gonna Be Okay

Wow, today I was invited to a mediation class in the form of dance. It is called 5 rhythms dance - http://beatrootdance.webs.com/5rhythmsislike.htm

You basically let your body go with the flow of the music and the emotions that you feel with it. I have to admit, when I saw a 60 year old man and a middle aged women galloping around the open area of a church, I could not help but laugh and wonder what the heck I was doing here.

But then I closed my eyes and just let the music take me away. Music can bring back so many memories, good and bad. After I left the session, I left very refreshed. I definitely recommend doing something out of the ordinary for your spirit.

It's Just the Little Things in Life that Put a Smile on Your Face

I feel the need to blog about the little things in life that we (I) sometimes take for granted. When you stop to appreciate those things, it puts a smile on your face. I think this experience in London has opened me to see things like this. Periodically, I will blog about my little things.

Here are my little things for this week:

The email that I received from one of my best girlfriends (I am lucky to have about 10) telling me about her great news. I was very touched she remembered me thousands of miles away and included me in the girl gossip.

The daily IMs during work with Vicky. We were both on holiday together and separately so it had been awhile since we had our usual chat.

My catch up call with Rosie, giving her crap for not calling me but knowing that I am always on her mind. When we talk, it's as if I am right next to her...if you can understand that feeling.

My first Christmas card received in the post yesterday. Dang US Mail or maybe Royal Mail? :)

My great-aunt posting a message on my Facebook wall asking her if I called one of her contacts in London. She knows people everywhere!

What really got me this evening and prompted me to write this blog....Stanley's slobbery kisses and his enthusiasm. It's amazing what a dog will do for a little treat and for the love of his owner. We play this game every day to see what trick he will do for a treat. When I feel he's earned it, I say "Okay" and he happily hops over the kitchen where I keep his treats...tail wagging...Happy Feet.

Right now, he's relaxing by my feet. Ah...the good life.

Christmas in Chicago

Going home for Christmas was a mix of feelings. I was excited to see everyone but what if I missed them too much and didn't want to go back to London?

I arrived on Christmas Eve around 1:00p.m. My stay was very short and every day was planned with seeing family and friends and of course shopping. I felt bad I could not see everyone in my short 4 days. My surroundings felt the same yet different. When I woke up the first day, all I could do was stare out the window at the houses and the snow. It was familiar yet foreign.

I gained a better appreciation for home. It felt really good to be home in the comfort of family and friends. Rosie made me feel very welcome in her home in the middle of her construction. My family welcomed me with open arms and my friends were happy to see me. Rosie's mom cooked tamales and posole that I ate the whole 4 days I was there. Yes, even for breakfast at 7:00a.m. I had the best coffee. I surprised my grandmother and loved the smile on her face. She even cooked my favorite dish of hers - fideo. Even though I changed up Christmas for my cousin and her kids, I really enjoyed it. I was very proud of her for keeping my mom's traditions. We shared some very emotional moments about growing up with my godson and moving forward in life. I loved sharing stories about Europe with my Aunt Diane's family. I also got to meet the newest baby in the family.

It snowed about 5 inches or so over the course of the weekend. I worried that I would forget how to drive or the main roads. Nope. If anything, I felt like a road warrior..Not only had I not driven in 3 months but I was still able to drive in the crazy snow.

On Monday, the 28th I headed back to London. Since then I've been a little homesick but I still have a lot to do in Europe. I had my first visitors, Niria and Sonia to ring in the New Year. I think it is perceived that London is so far from Chicago. At least for me, it's just a plane ride away. (I sleep most of the way) Thank goodness for modern technology to always keep me connected to my loved ones.

Happy Christmas!

Today was my last day at work until the New Year and I can definitely say that the city is becoming a ghost town. I can easily get on the Tube, no pushing, no shoving. I might take the train to the airport instead of a taxi. My colleague said that the roads might be crowded and I'd be better off travelling by train.

We had some "bad" weather here. A light dusting of snow on Monday and a little colder than normal. My poor friend Jacqui's flight was cancelled to Prague but her husband was determined to give her a great holiday and rebooked on another airline. I was checking the local papers online for any word that Heathrow was having problems.

Right now I am watching some cheezy BBC Christmas show. They are playing an ABBA performance from an old segment...Since when does ABBA know Spanish - Chiquitita???

Anyway, less than 12 hours before I head out for my flight! Can't wait...

Happy Christmas as the Brits say!