Back on familiar (and friendly) ground. Sitting just a few feet from where I posted my very first blog for this trip. I'm missing England but the England airport, not so much. I think I had a sign on my head that signaled everyone to give me a very hard time. Most times I love airports but all the hassle I went through getting in and out of Manchester is almost enough to make me not want to go there again. Don't worry... I said almost. (I am already planning to go back.)
The longest part of the journey is over, but I'm still not quite home. John, Linda and the rest of the gang came back with me but had a different flight that was direct, so I think they are getting to Orlando right about now. I haven't minded the time to catch up with people on my phone that has been pretty much unused for two months!
I sure missed celebrating the 4th of July on Friday. No fireworks or days off on that side of the pond. But Saturday made for a day of a few more experiences. I can now say that I have spent more time on a train in England than I have in America. Kath and I took a train down to do a show in Liverpool and we were delayed for a long time by a train that broke down in front of us. After a long time on the track and being slightly disoriented from riding backwards for hours we got to the train station and I had my first ride in an English Taxi. The show was wonderful. It was titled "Sing the Ultimate Movies" and my dad did the voice overs for it. It was weird hearing his voice so far away.
A short night, a long day of traveling and I'm ready for a shower and my bed. I've spent a little bit of the flight reflecting on what I have missed while I was gone, and what I'll miss for England now that I'm back. Here is the list that I came up with:
Things I'll miss from England-
Fish and Chips
Long days of Sunshine
The culture and tradition
Cream Tea from Betty's
Driving around the amazing countryside
Linda and her girls
My new friends from the office
All the cakes and pastries.. mmm
Things I missed while I was gone-
Greasy hamburgers (5 guys anyone)
Mexican Food (although Indian was a nice substitute)
Drying my clothes in a dryer
Real coffee
All my friends and family
The 4th of July!!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
My Last Blog from England :-(
While packing I came across my journal that I brought. I made one entry in it before I realized that my blog could be my journal. But I thought I would use this post to share it with you.
"This spring break I was presented with the wonderful opportunity to travel to England this summer and work as a personal assistant for one of the owners of Sing Live UK, Linda Metcalfe.
Not only is this my first trip across 'the pond', but I'm doing it alone! I have had a lot of different emotions in preparation for my trip.
The first was disbelief that I was actually going to get to do this. This happened at such a perfect time, when Carson and I were going to be apart anyway.
The next emotion I experienced was being overwhelmed! Learning about customs and all the things that are different in England and what I was going to need for eight weeks! The overwhelming amount of things to think about turned into stress about whether I had everything and if it was going to all fit into my suitcase.
Now, as I sit on the plane to Manchester, it is pure excitement!! I fly all night to be picked up in the morning and taken straight to the office to work. Nothing like fighting jet-lag. Time to sleep, more experiences to come."
I was sharing with John that I experience so much every day and then when I sit down to write my blog there is no way to remember everything, much less find ways to express it in words. This has truly been an amazing experience, one that words can't do justice but will just have to live in my head. I hope that what I have been able to capture on this blog has given you a glimpse into the culture, language and things that there is to do here. I am so fortunate to have had this opportunity.
This will be my last blog from England but check back next week as I will be doing some reflection on my trip over here. It seems like too much to take in at the moment. I went out for drinks with the girls tonight and we had a wonderful time. They gave me a little gift of a picture of one of the streets that I had been to in York. I think it was then for the first time that I realized how much I am going to miss it over here. The places that I have seen and the people that I have met. This has become more than just a place to tick of my list and say that I have been. It is a place that has come to mean something special and a place that I will want to return to in the future. . . to my new family here.
"This spring break I was presented with the wonderful opportunity to travel to England this summer and work as a personal assistant for one of the owners of Sing Live UK, Linda Metcalfe.
Not only is this my first trip across 'the pond', but I'm doing it alone! I have had a lot of different emotions in preparation for my trip.
The first was disbelief that I was actually going to get to do this. This happened at such a perfect time, when Carson and I were going to be apart anyway.
The next emotion I experienced was being overwhelmed! Learning about customs and all the things that are different in England and what I was going to need for eight weeks! The overwhelming amount of things to think about turned into stress about whether I had everything and if it was going to all fit into my suitcase.
Now, as I sit on the plane to Manchester, it is pure excitement!! I fly all night to be picked up in the morning and taken straight to the office to work. Nothing like fighting jet-lag. Time to sleep, more experiences to come."
I was sharing with John that I experience so much every day and then when I sit down to write my blog there is no way to remember everything, much less find ways to express it in words. This has truly been an amazing experience, one that words can't do justice but will just have to live in my head. I hope that what I have been able to capture on this blog has given you a glimpse into the culture, language and things that there is to do here. I am so fortunate to have had this opportunity.
This will be my last blog from England but check back next week as I will be doing some reflection on my trip over here. It seems like too much to take in at the moment. I went out for drinks with the girls tonight and we had a wonderful time. They gave me a little gift of a picture of one of the streets that I had been to in York. I think it was then for the first time that I realized how much I am going to miss it over here. The places that I have seen and the people that I have met. This has become more than just a place to tick of my list and say that I have been. It is a place that has come to mean something special and a place that I will want to return to in the future. . . to my new family here.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Almost home
Sorry I missed blogging last night but I was busy baking! I learned how to make all sorts of posh things such as meringues and crème brulee! It was a very enjoyable evening in the kitchen with Linda. It was very fun to make and should be even more fun to eat tonight!
Wrapping up things at the office… trying to learn all that I can in a short amount of time. One more day at the office and one more show… then I will be on a plane to Orlando.
I got some exciting news that Carson, my fiancé, will be flying home from Clemson a week from tomorrow. It has been over two months since we have seen each other so I am very excited! As much as I will miss my new family over here… there are many people that I am missing back home that I can’t wait to see!
Wrapping up things at the office… trying to learn all that I can in a short amount of time. One more day at the office and one more show… then I will be on a plane to Orlando.
I got some exciting news that Carson, my fiancé, will be flying home from Clemson a week from tomorrow. It has been over two months since we have seen each other so I am very excited! As much as I will miss my new family over here… there are many people that I am missing back home that I can’t wait to see!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Time is flying. . .
Wow, my last week here is flying by and won't slow down. I'm trying to fit everything I can in. I have spent the last two days learning the company database. Don't worry, it's not as boring as it sounds and I'm quite enjoying it. Everything was created here in England and somethings don't match when you convert it to America (for example, they don't have states over here) so I have enjoyed working with Angela and "solving the puzzle" that is Access. It's a very useful system but it sure has its quirks. I have been "testing" Angela's knowledge by thinking outside the box but not knowing how to put it on the system. It has been a fun time of learning that will be very useful knowledge.
Right, now I didn't mean to bore you with work stuff but it's been the reason I'm here. Now on to more exciting things. Tonight Sabine and I went back up to the White Horse to hike a different trail down to Sutton Bank. I didn't take my camera because we were supposed to be doing some hard hiking and it's very heavy. Plus, I wanted to enjoy the scenery and capture it in my mind (sorry, but I do not have the ability to put mental pictures on my blog :-) Anyhow, despite be told by someone in the office that there was a proper path down to the lake, the path was not proper at all. I can't say that I minded because it would have been a very steep, long journey back up. So we walked up along the top of the mountain instead. We were able to get great views of the lake and of the countryside. All I could think of is how much I'm going to miss the beautiful countryside and how I can't wait to come back and see it again!
Right, now I didn't mean to bore you with work stuff but it's been the reason I'm here. Now on to more exciting things. Tonight Sabine and I went back up to the White Horse to hike a different trail down to Sutton Bank. I didn't take my camera because we were supposed to be doing some hard hiking and it's very heavy. Plus, I wanted to enjoy the scenery and capture it in my mind (sorry, but I do not have the ability to put mental pictures on my blog :-) Anyhow, despite be told by someone in the office that there was a proper path down to the lake, the path was not proper at all. I can't say that I minded because it would have been a very steep, long journey back up. So we walked up along the top of the mountain instead. We were able to get great views of the lake and of the countryside. All I could think of is how much I'm going to miss the beautiful countryside and how I can't wait to come back and see it again!
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