Waiting...

The UK has given me more opportunities to learn the meaning of patience than I can count. Probably more than the rest of my life up until this point. I find myself constantly waiting for something, without any option to speed up the process. At home, if I had to wait more than two minutes to get my coffee in the Caribou drive-thru line, I was furious (and usually late for work). But here, waiting a month and a half to finally use my student loan money? Why not? Everything is a multi step process that ultimately rests in someone else's hands. All I can do is sit in my room and try to do other things, and not think about what I'm currently waiting on. Although I would love to get my debit card. Especially since it is now two days outside of the 7-10 day waiting period. So I'm nearing the point where I can be justifiably annoyed. Here are some things I'm now willing to wait for (often because I don't have a choice). As long as it takes:

The bus. Sometimes it takes an extra half hour to show up, but if I have my iPod, I can take it. I could never stand sitting in traffic, so one would think I would just start walking. But if you don't have a deadline to get back for, sometimes it's actually sort of nice to sit at a bus stop for 45 minutes (when there are open seats, of course). You might even meet some teens who ask you what made you come to "this shithole".

As mentioned, my money. That one has been a little harder to deal with, but I don't have any dire need for it at the moment.

Ethical approval. I have to conduct a questionnaire this term, and for any studies we do on campus, ethical approval is required. The results of the questionnaire don't even matter (in the usual sense) because the point is to develop the questionnaire, not to find meaning in the answers the participants give. Nevertheless, for this approval I waited two weeks.

Wifi. We have a router and our internet is included in the rent (which is awesome, do NOT misunderstand me). But it frequently disconnects and times out. So here I sit, waiting for it to reconnect. And waiting... and debating going out to buy an ethernet cord so I don't have this problem. Until finally resolving not to buy it until I get my debit card. Ha.

ios 4.2. The update itself isn't what I'm after, but the people who develop unlocking software won't unlock 4.1 until 4.2 is released. Which will finally allow me to unshackle myself from AT&T. And use my O2 sim card in my iPhone. And use all my apps, and even text people at home. I have been waiting for this for 2 months now. But it's another thing that keeps getting delayed, to my endless disappointment. It was originally slated to "drop" on Nov. 8th. At this point, "they" say it should be released by Thanksgiving. Fingers crossed.

Everyone in the grocery store to get out of the way. This is probably my biggest challenge. Again, I'm never in a hurry, I just can't believe how two people can blatantly take up the entire grocery aisle, along with their sideways turned cart, and they treat me as if I'm the annoying one because I want to get past them. The solution here would be to find a time when the store isn't as busy, but from what I can tell that time doesn't exist.

Oh yeah, Diwali was a bust (rain), and Guy Fawkes night was fun, but nothing to write about here. Except that I got to see this group live:

"The ZingZillas are four musical primate friends who live on a tropical island paradise pulsating with rhythm. " 

I think that pretty well sums it up for you.


Until next time.

I can admit, I was not prepared

I don't know if this is going to be any good, but I'll have a go, as they say. "They" also say that to start a blog you should have a purpose, an outline, some plan of what you're going to talk about. Me being in a different country probably isn't going to cut it. Especially if I want anyone to read it. So let's start with all of the ways in which I was not prepared to move to this country:

1. I had nowhere to live.
Sorted that out after a week and a half, but still.

2. I did not bring the correct attire.
As Beth would put it, I packed for a tropical vacation. Lots of tshirts, didn't leave out the swimming suit, but nothing more than light hoodies and ONE sweater. Lucky for me, I was slightly more prepared for the trend that is present in America, but running rampant here: tights and boots. See below:

But please don't think this is a dresses only situation. Nor is it limited to boots such as these. Any form of Uggs or Ugg impostors is also acceptable. And for tops, anything that probably covers your ass is considered good enough.

3. I was not ready for the food.
I mean, I knew what I was getting into, and I could be infinitely further from my comfort zone so I won't complain, but it has taken some getting used to. This country is not familiar with Mexican anything, so it's best not to even try because I've already discovered approximations are more disappointing than the absence itself.

4. I had no idea how the banking system worked.
In this country I've discovered that they won't give you money from a check on the spot, they actually make you wait until the check clears before you can access the funds. It's like they don't trust people or something. One of my classmates says it's so that they can invest the money and make a quick profit in that 5 day clearing period, and that sounds reasonable, but I still hate it.

5. Some things cost a lot, and some don't. 
In the city centre market you can get a grocery bag of carrots for £1! Even at home that's only $1.60. And that is a lot of carrots. Pretty much all produce comes in amounts too large for one person, but at an unbelievable bargain that this one person can't pass up. However I can't justify a £29 sweater because in my mind I can't stop thinking about how it's really $45. Can't win them all.

6. There is not one united city transport system.
Most cities that I've been to have a bus system. Just one, and it covers the entire city. You can get transfers, and you can get bus passes that work everywhere. Not Leicester. This city has three or four bus companies.

ARRIVA!!

Centrebus

First

Thurmaston

And most buses go to the same exact places and have routes with the exact same number. So I have yet to figure out if it's preference based, or if they each serve different outlying corners of the city, but I've chosen to be loyal to Arriva. So far they have had stops going everywhere that I've wanted to go, and I couldn't ask for more. But a lot of times it's easier to just walk.

So while I've been here for officially a month tomorrow, I'm still figuring out how this city works. And if I run across any more startling revelations, I will let you know. I have a feeling that with both Diwali and Guy Fawkes nights this weekend, I will have more than enough to report next week.

Cheers!