Wales

This weekend I went to Wales with some friends--Nate, Lindsey, and King. We took a train from London to Swansea, a medium sized coastal town and the home town of Dylan Thomas, a famous poet (the one, supposedly, after whom Bob Dylan took the 'Dylan' part of his name). They had a couple museums, one of which we went to. It was okay. The more interesting parts of the city were the bay area by the beach and the Dylan Thomas exhibition. We had a nice lunch at a restaurant called The Pumphouse right next to the Marina. There we experienced a special dish in Wales called Beef & Brains (the 'Brains' referring to a brand of beer used for flavouring). Anyway, it was nice.



After wandering around Swansea for a while, we jumped back on the train and headed to Cardiff where we met up with my dear friend Kate. In Cardiff, we stopped by the Hard Rock Cafe and then made our way to the Cardiff Castle. The castle was really neat and it was nice to have a guided tour to give us some background on the history and such. It would also have been nice to be able to just wander, as we only got to see a small portion of the entire thing. The rooms were so elaborate. Every detail was a symbol for something or captured some sort of historical or cultural factoid. For example, the children's play room had drawings of all the classic children's stories etched on the walls and on the light fixtures. It was pretty impressive.



After exploring the Castle and swording around in the gift shop, we reunited with Lindsey (she didn't want to see the castle), and then headed to find food and drinks. We walked for quite a while and eventually found a place that had really cheap drinks, but no luck on the food. King and Lindsey had to head back to London, so we said farewell, and then Kate, Nate and I enjoyed some of the local nightlife before making our way back to the Cardiff Backpacker's hostel where we were staying for the night.

Sunday morning began with breakfast in the hostel lounge for Kate, Nate, and I. After checkout, we took a Stagecoach bus from Cardiff to Caerphilly (about 15-20 minutes or so) to visit Caerphilly Castle (pronounded Ca-filly). It was also very interesting to check out. It felt so peaceful and quiet to be there, too, especially after being in the busy city of London for the past few weeks. It was a nice break from the city and it was enjoyably educational, as well. After spending the majority of the day at the castle and trying to figure out the bus schedule, we finally took a cab back to Cardiff. We had dinner at the Prince of Wales restaurant and then caught the train back to London. It was a very nice weekend away.

Tower of Caerphilly Castle


Me at Caerphilly Castle

It's nice when

the internet works like you want it to. The past few days the internet hasn't been cooperating. It is for the time being. So, I was finally able to upload some more pictures.

Yesterday I had training all day for the database that we work with for cases (it reminds me a lot of working at the Tech Desk with Helpline, but it works better than Helpline, thankfully). Training got me thinking more about combining social work and technology. The system was implemented in March, so it's fairly new. I think there are a lot of agencies in this same position--either newly migrating to using a database and computers to keep track of case notes and case files or about to implement the system. Interesting...Anyway, the training went well. I'll need some time to get used to the system and use it properly.

I spent most of the evening looking through my travel books and trying to figure out what kinds of trips might be on the near horizon. Hoping to make some of them happen soon.

Today I got some of my cases at work, so I will be starting to do home visits and such. I am curious to hear back from the GSCC about the status of my qualification. Patience, patience.

It took me a long time to get home from work today. The bus ride from the town hall to the tube station took reeeeaaally long. I really need to find new housing soon. I do like the people here at the hostel and am starting to hang out with them more, so that is nice in a way because I like it here, but it makes more sense for me to move closer to work, so it stinks. Blah.

This evening I went out with some hostelmates to a pub for a going away get together for one of them. It was decent. I've got housing hunting to do. Peace.

Catch up

My first (half) week of work went pretty well. I went with a colleague to court on Friday morning. I observed only, but it was really good to see. It was her first time going to court for a client, as well, so I think she was comforted by having someone with her for support. We had lunch at the Belvedere again. I really need to start bringing my lunch. The food there is really good, but it's too expensive to eat out every day. So, I survived my first few days of work.

Saturday I met up with Kate in the afternoon. We walked around London and checked out some different areas we hadn't been before. We had lunch at a pub and then walked to Green Park. On the way to the park, we walked through a pretty posh area where we went by Tiffany & Co., Gucci, and other designer stores. We hung out in the Green Park for a while, stopped by Buckingham Palace, and then wandered through St. James Park where there were a variety of birds and ponds.

We went by the Horse's Guards Parade (a building with some horse statues outside of it and a couple of the guards that won't move or interact with you, even if you try), where I took a bunch of pictures. We then walked down to see Westminster Abbey and the area north of the Thames River, again. We took more pictures of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and the Eye, but went around the entire building, getting a new angle and some really cool shots. Big Ben looks spectacular at night and the moon was out, so it felt pretty magical to be there.

On Sunday, I had to go to the Apple Store (they have many of the same stores here as they do in the States—and especially restaurants...for example, Subway, McDonald's, Burger King, Chili's, TGI Friday's) for a new adapter to plug in my laptop and other electronics. Electronics have been a bit frustrating here. My flat iron no longer works and I am pretty sure the adapter/converter that I got right before coming here is broken. Grrr. Anyway, hopefully I won't have any more trouble for the rest of my time here.

Sunday afternoon I met Kate at Hyde Park. Before Kate arrived, I checked out the Wellington Arch across from the Tube Station. When she got there, we started down the flower walk through a garden, sat for a bit at the Italian Gardens, and then made our way towards Kensington Palace. [As Kate and I were going through Hyde Park, we noticed that parks feel different here than what we have experienced back home. People go and spend hours just relaxing in the park. Some people play sports or are doing an activity, but many seem content to simply be there, without needing a reason or activity. It is very pleasant.]

After meandering around the park, Kate and I met a few people from my hostel at the Sports Café. This is a popular place with the foreigners, as it is one of the few (if only) places around that shows American football games (remember that here in Europe they call soccer football). We hung out there for a while, had some dinner, and then parted ways.

Today, Monday, I had to get my photo taken for my work I.D. Card, so I got to sleep in a bit and then went to Ealing to get my picture taken. By the time I made it to the office, it was about time for lunch. I ate at The Belvedere (I have not yet had a lunch anywhere else since I have been employed there), again, with a bunch of my co-workers. The telephone systems and network were down for much of the day, so it was hard for anyone to be very productive (I am still working on finding a way to combine social work and technology—have all ready had some conversations with people that continue to peak my interest in how the two merge in people's daily work lives). The day went by pretty fast. Tomorrow, I have training for the computer database systems that they use, but will likely be allocated my cases later this week (wish me luck!).

After work, I met up with Michelle (former college roommate) who arrived here in London this morning and will be staying for the next six months to live, play, work, and travel. We met at St. Paul's Cathedral and then walked to Pizza Express—a yummy little Italian Restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere. I had some really good pizza and we split a dessert (Banaoffee Pie—unbelievably tasty!). Michelle did the London Business semester last year, so is very familiar with the London area. We had a nice dinner and caught up a bit on life. It will be fun to have another friend here from home to hang out with. Being she and Kate are both Wisconsinites and huge Packer fans, we may just have to see if we can catch a game or two at the Sports Cafe, among other adventures.

Oh, and I got an email today regarding the place I looked at last week. I didn't get it. Surprisingly, I wasn't as disappointed as I thought I would be. Guess it wasn't meant to be.

The hunt for housing

Today was my second day of work. It went pretty well. I read policies most of the day. I had lunch with a bunch of my co-workers at the same place Kate, Amber and I ate at yesterday, The Belvedere. It has pretty good food and is decorated really nicely. Many of my co-workers are leaving and none of them really like the job. On the other hand, they get along with each other really well, so I think that makes it easier. We had about three rounds of tea throughout the day, too, which was kind of fun. Very English. They prepare their tea so it is very strong and then add milk and sugar. They thought it was funny that I had mine black. Anyway, work was okay.

After work, Kate and I went to Ealing to bum around a bit and then she came with me to see a house in Ealing with a room for rent. The house was really nice and the room is decently priced. The room itself was pretty small, but would be adequate for my needs. The rest of the house was really nice. It would be close to work, too. The girl that showed me around was very pleasant. She said that they had more people looking at it throughout the weekend and that she would have to wait to let me know what she and her roommates decide. I really hope I get it, but will have to just wait and see. I did email a few other people about places and there is space available in the BUNAC flats, yet.

Today I have been in London for a week. Crazy!

First day of work

Today was my first day of work. The commute was about an hour, kind of long, so I'm really on the hunt to find new housing that is closer to work. The day went well and it went by fast. I am working with Kate and another girl that was hired through UK Pro named Amber. She is from Niagra Falls, New York and is really nice. The three of us had lunch together. After lunch, I went with one of my colleagues to a meeting and a home visit, and then all of a sudden it was time to go home. It was a busy, but pretty good day.

Orientation, Accounts, and Employment

Lessons from today:

1. Sometimes walking is faster than taking a taxi or other public transportation.
2. Wear neutral colors, especially black, if you want to blend in.
3. There are markets around London where you can find inexpensive clothes.
4. Restaurants may not be as straightforward as one would think.
5. Beware of young couples who think it is funny to pull down each other's trousers.
6. It is okay to come back to the BUNAC Hostel after having moved out; however, this is only true if you come back again to stay, not just to visit while you are living somewhere else and simply want to use the internet. This is not a policy, but part of the hostel culture.

Today I had orientation at the BUNAC Office. It took about a half hour to ride there in a taxi-- what it usually takes to walk--and only ten minutes or so when driving. The orientation took about an hour and a half and then after the session, I checked out some their housing resources.

I had an appointment at 2:00 pm at the bank to set up my account. It took me a little while to find my way there, but it was fine. As I was walking, I noticed that everyone around me was dressed ten times nicer than I was (jeans, a tee, and a hoodie) and that they were all wearing neutral colors, with the occasional color mixed in. I took a little detour through a market on Leather Street that seemed really cool. It was mostly clothes and accessories, unlike most of the markets I have ever been to. I want to go back there sometime soon--maybe I can 'Londonize' my wardrobe.

I made my bank appointment on time and got my account set up without any problems. Before the appointment, I received a call from UK Pro saying that the job in Acton Town could still work out, though since I do not have my qualification from the GSCC, that I would have to be 'unqualified.' Not sure if this means that the work would be any different, but it does mean that I get paid less. However, once I am qualified by the GSCC (assuming I will be), the pay would increase to the normal wage. At this point in the day, UK Pro was going to verify this information with the manager at the job and let me know later.

After my bank appointment, I stopped at a nearby cafe and had a late lunch. It was a neat little cafe on the corner of Kingsway and Aldwych, right across from the BBC building. They have it set up so that you can either have your food 'take away', so it stays in the original packaging, or 'eat in' if you want to stay there. I learned this as the experience unfolded...I was momentarily confused when the girl took my sandwich and it disappeared behind the counter as I searched for my pounds (GBP) out to pay her. As she placed the unpackaged sandwich accompanied by a few crisps on a plate in front of me, I realized what had just happened. They also had pasta there in packages, which I had thought about getting before I went into the restaurant, but assumed it was to buy and prepare at home, so passed on that idea. I got a sandwich (they have tomatoes and cucumbers on many/most of their sandwiches--I love it!) and some crisps (potato chips) with a fruity drink, which were all delicious. However, I was a bit disappointed by my cold sandwich, as a few minutes into my lunch the waitress brought out a steaming hot plate of pasta to the lady sitting nearby. Like I said, it was a learning experience...and one of those moments where you silently chuckle at yourself because of your ignorance. Anyway, it was a nice lunch and it was fun to sit and watch all the hustle and bustle of Londoners go by.

The rest of the afternoon went by quickly, as they have been, and I just went about my usual business of getting settled in and figuring out all the financial, logistical, scheduling, and such done. I also received a call from UK Pro saying that I did get the job in Acton Town and that I start tomorrow!

And, now that I have a job, I have begun to search for housing. I am considering moving to the flats owned by BUNAC, as they are much closer to Acton Town. I would probably only live there temporarily, but it would save me some time and money if I did with the (much) shorter commute. Erin (my current roommate) and I just got a new roommate today, too. She is from Texas and seems pretty nice. However, it's pretty crowded in our room with three people and all of our stuff. So, I spent quite a bit of time looking for housing online this evening, and hopefully things work out well.

Sunday, Monday

Yesterday I slept in a bit and then unpacked some of my things and tried to become more organized. I went shopping at Tesco, a grocery store, nearby and picked up just a few things. It is kind of hard to get settled in here at the hostel when I am not sure how long I will be staying. And, I don't want to have to pack any more stuff than I already have for when I move. This will depend on when and where I get a job, so I will just have to be patient.

This morning, Monday, I had my interview in Acton Town. This is in the same office that Kate is working, so if I get the job, we will be working together. I got up pretty early to get there and arrived over an hour early, but there was quite a few shops and things around, so I stopped at a coffee shop, had some breakfast, and tried to prepare for the interview.

The interview went okay. There were certainly some questions I could have answered better, but I felt pretty comfortable with my interviewer and it seemed like I would fit in there rather nicely. The job would be working with the Children In Need team, doing home visits, and case management sort of work. It would certainly be challenging, but good experience to have.

I heard back from UK Pro in the afternoon saying that the manager would like to hire me (all communication is done through UK Pro); however, she first wanted to know if I was "qualified." [This means that she wanted to know if I have been licensed through the UK Social Work licensing body, which is the General Social Care Council (GSCC), and the people for whom I had to fill out the intensely long and detailed application. The only information I have heard from them (this was in July) is that they received my application and fee, and they gave me a reference/registration number; however, I have not heard anything back from them and am unsure of when I will. I tried contacting them before I left the US, but had no luck in finding out anything (they do not like to be contacted for checking on application status).] UK Pro was going to tell the manager that I have a registration number, see what she said, and then let me know. So, basically I will just have to wait and see what happens.

This afternoon, I went over to West Kensington to check out the flats (apartments) owned by BUNAC. They are similar to the hostel here in the center of the city, but are two people to a room, each floor with a bathroom, and each room with a mini kitchen. The price is the same as here, too, which isn't too bad, but the rooms available right now are pretty small and the cost doesn't change with the size. Also, with the flats the rent is due each month instead of each week like at the hostel. The lease is only a month, though, so it is pretty flexible. If I get the job in Acton Town, I will see about living there because it would be closer to work, at least for a month or so. Otherwise, I will probably stay here at the hostel in Central London until I find a job.

After checking out the flat, I headed to Ealing Broadway to meet up with Kate. We walked around her neighborhood a bit and did some window shopping. We had a nice long dinner at a local pub and then I caught the Tube back home.

Tomorrow morning I am going to get my BUNAC orientation out of the way and later try to get my bank account set up. Hopefully I will hear more from UK Pro about the job in Acton Town and/or other interview opportunities, if need be.

Out on the Town

Saturday, Kate and I spent the afternoon exploring London. We walked a little bit around Central London near the British Museum (since it was such a nice day out, we decided to spend the day walking around outside, so we didn't stop at the museum). We took the Tube from Tottingham Court Road to London Bridge and then walked along the Thames towards the Tower Bridge. We got some lunch and then walked through a market near Vinopolis and Southwark.

We walked around that area a little bit and then headed to the Waterloo Station via Underground (Kate's shoes tore up her feet, so we were trying to avoid any more walking than was necessary to see what we wanted to see). There we walked along the Thames some more and navigated our way around through the crowds of people watching the street performers. We saw the London Eye, the Aquarium, and Big Ben. We sat in front of the Aquarium to rest for a bit and ended up spending the next several hours just hanging out and watching the people walk by. It was very entertaining.

The interview that didn't happen

Friday I spent much of the day traveling to the interview that didn't happen. I left the hostel at about 10:00 am and went to figure out how to use the transportation here. I didn't have an Oyster card (a debit card for travel, so you put money on it, use that until you run out, and then 'top up' to put more money on it) or any coins to buy a bus ticket, so I went to go find one.

I stopped at the Warren Street Underground Station and got some assistance from the staff there. I bought an Oyster card and was on my way. I took the Underground to Victoria, near the southern part of London, and then found my way to the National Line Train. I barely made the train, and then relaxed a bit while I rode to my destination. On the way there, they announced over the loud speaker that there was a fatality at another train stop, so the trains were going to be delayed for an unknown amount of time. I was going to be late for my interview.

I called Wanja at UK Pro so she could get a hold of the interviewer. I finally reached the right stop and had just gotten into a taxi to the office when I got a call back from Wanja. Apparently, the person who was supposed to interview me quit earlier that week and had not told anyone about my interview. It was cancelled. So, I had the taxi driver bring me back to the Train Station.

Honestly, it was not such a bad thing. I decided that I do not want to work outside of London--it would be much too difficult to rent a car and drive to homestays and such. It would have been nice to have the practice with the interview, and it was a bit expensive to get all the way to Redhill for nothing. At the same time, I learned the transportation system pretty well and I got to see some of England that I may not have seen otherwise. I took a different way back to London--towards the London Bridge--so I got to see more of the city, such as the Eye, Big Ben, and a few other landmarks. I liked it.

Eventually, I made it back to the hostel. I was pretty tired and took a nap for the rest of the afternoon. It was very restful.

Friday night met up with Kate in Ealing Broadway (where she is living) towards the west end of London. I think I will forever remember the mental picture of Kate standing outside of the pub, I was so happy to see her! We greeted each other with huge hugs. We spent the rest of the evening talking and hanging out with her friend David from Ireland. We stayed out much too late, but had a fun time. To end the night, we bought chicken kebobs and chips (fries) and walked back to Kate's flat.

Finally Here, Day One

Travel went very well. I left Minnesota yesterday (Wednesday, September 12) at 4:05 pm, connected in Chicago (O'Hare Intl.). The layover, only 35 minutes, was not a problem, contrary to what I had feared. I was lucky!

From there, I boarded another plane (a big 777 with 9 seats in a row--biggest I've ever flown in!) and headed to Heathrow Airport in London, England. The flight was about 7 hours, though with the time change, I arrived in London at 7:20 am (six hour time change from Minnesota to London). After arrival, I waited in line with many, many other people from all over the world to pass through Immigration (about an hour and a half to two hours, yuck!). But, eventually, I got my passport stamped (with the correct one, yay!) and I was on my way.

From the airport, I found a taxi to take to my hostel (if anyone travels to Central London from Heathrow Airport, find a different way than a taxi--it was a pleasant ride and convenient with heavy luggage, but VERY expensive). Though an expensive ride, it was cool to get to see some of London, and I made it safe and sound without any issues. I was welcomed into the hostel and checked in without any trouble. I also checked out some of the neighborhood, bought a phone, went to Boots (like a Walgreens) and got a few things, went to the BUNAC Office (where I will have orientation), and then headed back to the hostel.

The BUNAC Hostel is dorm-style living and there is a pretty tight-knit community that lives here. Some of the people have been living here for several months, some a few weeks, others just a few days or arrived today. The group dynamics are interesting to observe (the social worker in me, of course). The people here seem easy-going and the hostel is fairly comfortable so far. TV is actually very similar to home--Scrubs was just on and now we're watching The Simpsons. Most of the people here are from the U.S. and Canada, so maybe that's why.Tonight I've got studying to do with the UK Acts and Laws regarding social work practice. I have an interview tomorrow at 1:30 pm with the Surrey County Council for a qualified social worker position. Surrey is outside of London, so will have to navigate the public transportation system tomorrow (thankfully, Kate gave me directions and some tips on how to use it!). So, after studying, I'm going to go to bed EARLY! I'm pretty tired with having only had a couple hours of uncomfortable sleep on the plane this morning.

All in all, I am doing very well and am happy to be here (though I already miss people from home a bit--wish you were here!). The weather is pretty comfortable and I love hearing everyone's British accents!

So, my adventure begins...but really, I have been planning this trip for over a year and have wanted to travel/live in Europe for several years. In this time, so many people have helped me to prepare for this--friends, family, co-workers, supervisors, and professors. Without all of the listening, discussions, feedback and other support from all of you, I would not be here in London right now, beginning to fulfill my dream. I hope you know that I am so thankful to have you in my life and I appreciate your support more than I can express. I will do my best to make the most of my experience and share it with all of you.

Much Love,

Heidi

A Fine Farewell

On Sunday around 3:30 pm, I drove to Edina to have dinner at Maggie and Katie's apartment. When I walked in the door, Maggie and Katie both greeted me with a hug and invited me in to the living room. To my surprise, as I peeked around the corner, I saw Dina, Ryan, Mary, Sara, Jon, and Brian. It was a surprise going away party! I was so thrilled to see everyone and greeted them with hugs.

In addition to the fabulous friends present, Maggie had prepared a smörgåsbord of food--red and white wines, strawberries and grapes, shrimp wrapped in bacon, chips and layered taco dip, homemade brownies--that was all delicious. It was an enjoyable afternoon spent in good company and a very pleasant surprise. I got to say farewell to everyone, which I wasn't sure would be possible, given the short time I have left here in the States. So, I am very thankful.

Brian, Katie, Jon, Dina

Sara, Maggie, Ryan, Mary













Me and Maggie

A week from today

I will be moving to London, England.

I feel mixed feelings about this. Excitement. Apprehension.

This morning, as I was organizing my things and trying to prepare for the journey, it hit me. I am moving to England. In a week. Can I do this? Can I move away from everything familiar and comfortable--my family, friends, and the comforts of home?

I guess there's only one way to find out.