Since I have moved over here in September 2009 I have been putting my CV (aka resume) out absolutely every where. I can't tell you how many jobs I have applied for. Over here in the UK most places you fill out an application online they have a test for you to take as well. I applied for a cell phone company for a customer service job and had to take a test equivalent to the SATs (for my British friends it is the equivalent of the GCSE's to get you into college). It was ridiculous. I spent an hour online applying and taking this test and was turned down. This rejection can have an affect on you after awhile. But most places don't even let you know anything after you apply.
Then I start to worry. I think are they looking at my CV seeing I am American and then putting it off to the side and saying No...will I ever find a job? I look at my CV and I am qualified to do office work and being a technical analyst. And I want a job where I get to use my brain. But right now there are so many people going for the same job..and I have a mark against me because I am an immigrant. And I am a bit disheartened by it. But I keep trying.
I am lucky in the respect that I have a little part time job 2 days a week and I sell avon. But hopefully sometime soon I will find a job and finally have something to keep me busy and let me feel like I am contributing.
I am not going to let it depress me.. I am going to make it all work out..if I can't find anything maybe I will become a stripper or 1-900 operator hehehe
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Getting Used to the Food
One of the things that has been a little hard to get used to is the food over here. The vegetables are a little different. Oh they still have carrotts, broccoli, and cauliflower, and potatoes. (I have never eaten so many potatoes as I have over here. But there are new vegetables. Swede, Parsnips, and Turnips. And of course there are brussell sprouts which seem to be the countries favorite vegetable....These vegetables aren't bad except brussell sprouts. But the problem is everytime you get them they have had the hell boiled out of them. They are very unflavorful. I have been trying to learn new ways to prepare these so they have some taste.
There are pies which are usually steak and ale, or steak and kidney (real kidneys not kidney beans) these pies are called Pasties. They are big into roast dinners and most British families have a full roast dinner on Sundays. There are other things I haven't tried and it is merely for the fact of what is in it. Black Pudding is a sausage full of blood and other bits...there are some other foods but I don't want to put you off your meal if you are eating...Most of the food you get in Restaraunts here is very bland with no seasoning. I find that American food is very rich and it is probably all the preservatives that make it taste so good. But the one good side of the way they cook the food and don't fill them with preservatives is that it is healthier and when you go out to eat the food you get is often homecooked. It will take getting use to. But I don't think I will ever stop craving cheesesteaks, decent pizza, and chicken nachos from champps...I have to stop talking about the food I miss now because I am making myself hungry :o)
There are pies which are usually steak and ale, or steak and kidney (real kidneys not kidney beans) these pies are called Pasties. They are big into roast dinners and most British families have a full roast dinner on Sundays. There are other things I haven't tried and it is merely for the fact of what is in it. Black Pudding is a sausage full of blood and other bits...there are some other foods but I don't want to put you off your meal if you are eating...Most of the food you get in Restaraunts here is very bland with no seasoning. I find that American food is very rich and it is probably all the preservatives that make it taste so good. But the one good side of the way they cook the food and don't fill them with preservatives is that it is healthier and when you go out to eat the food you get is often homecooked. It will take getting use to. But I don't think I will ever stop craving cheesesteaks, decent pizza, and chicken nachos from champps...I have to stop talking about the food I miss now because I am making myself hungry :o)
Friday, 22 January 2010
My Neices
The one thing that is the hardest living on the other side of the world is missing my neices growing up. These two little girls are the cutest, smartest, and funniest little girls I have ever met.
Julianna is 6 going on 30-she is a tomboy in every sense of the word. She is a beautiful little girl. But she loves the dirt, playing outside, bugs and all kind of animals. We call her the dog whisperer because she is the only one that can calm my crazy sister's dog.
The other day my brother was trying to hook up their new HP printer and it wasn't working. So my neice decided that she was going to write a letter of complaint to HP. The words she couldn't spell she phoenetically spelled and then even told them they could come and fix it on Saturday.
She is curious about everything and wants to know about everything. And has a wonderful imagination. She thinks she is Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
Lauren is 5 going on 35-she is a girly girl. She always prefers to wear dresses
and jewelrey and her pocket book with her lipgloss in it. She wears here sunglasses on her head because they look cool. She thinks she is Cinderella and you can't tell her any different.
The other night we were skyping when she asked me what my favorite color is. Was it Red or Blue? I said Red and she started writing something down. I said what are you doing. She said I am taking a survey about your favorite color. And I said why? and she said her friend and her were talking and her friend thinks blue is the best color. Lauren disagrees and wanted to take a survey to prove her wrong.
The most fun I have had with them is having them in the wedding. They wanted a princess dress with a train like Aunt Josy and they wanted Tiara's...they got both and they loved it. There is a photo of Lauren with her sequined purse in her flower girl dress and her bejewelled sunglasses. And then like all Princesses they freaked out when the chicken dance came on...They are one of the things I miss the most from the states. I love them with all my heart and am happy that I have skype so I can see them and still somewhat be a part of their lives.
Julianna is 6 going on 30-she is a tomboy in every sense of the word. She is a beautiful little girl. But she loves the dirt, playing outside, bugs and all kind of animals. We call her the dog whisperer because she is the only one that can calm my crazy sister's dog.
The other day my brother was trying to hook up their new HP printer and it wasn't working. So my neice decided that she was going to write a letter of complaint to HP. The words she couldn't spell she phoenetically spelled and then even told them they could come and fix it on Saturday.
She is curious about everything and wants to know about everything. And has a wonderful imagination. She thinks she is Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
Lauren is 5 going on 35-she is a girly girl. She always prefers to wear dresses
and jewelrey and her pocket book with her lipgloss in it. She wears here sunglasses on her head because they look cool. She thinks she is Cinderella and you can't tell her any different.
The other night we were skyping when she asked me what my favorite color is. Was it Red or Blue? I said Red and she started writing something down. I said what are you doing. She said I am taking a survey about your favorite color. And I said why? and she said her friend and her were talking and her friend thinks blue is the best color. Lauren disagrees and wanted to take a survey to prove her wrong.
The most fun I have had with them is having them in the wedding. They wanted a princess dress with a train like Aunt Josy and they wanted Tiara's...they got both and they loved it. There is a photo of Lauren with her sequined purse in her flower girl dress and her bejewelled sunglasses. And then like all Princesses they freaked out when the chicken dance came on...They are one of the things I miss the most from the states. I love them with all my heart and am happy that I have skype so I can see them and still somewhat be a part of their lives.
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Normal Life
Well it is another beautiful day here in Brixham. Brixham is a small fishing village on the southwest coast of England. We have a beautiful harbor and beautiful beaches. (And for those of you who think that now I live here I should be using the British spelling of things you are wrong lol..I can't justify putting in an extra 'u" in a word). The hills and farmland are green with sheep and horses on the hill.
The one thing about this beautiful little town is the people. Everyone knows everyone else. So you can never get away with anything and if you ever need gossip you just need to wait and eventually someone will be telling you. I remember the first time I was home at night by myself cause Jason was working. I decided to order Chinese and have it deliver. As Jason walked in the door of the house that night he said oh I heard you had this for dinner. And he listed off what I ordered. So it is almost impossible to plan any kind of surprise here.
The people are very nice. And there is something really cool about having to walk everywhere and having people say hi to you as you are walking around. It is way different then life in Pennsylvania.
Life in the UK isn't the only thing you need to get used to. It is the food. Instead of Pizza on a Friday night most Brits get Fish and chips...there is beans on toast, cheese on toast, or you can have a jacket potato (baked potato) with beans on it or cheese or tuna...the vegetables are different to...like Swede, Parsnips, and spring cabbage...they eat a lot of brussel sprouts. (that is one vegetable that I will never ever like)...I sometimes crave food from the states that I can't get here. And trying to get used to the food here has been a little difficult for me. But it is all an adventure...there are some very good things that I love...chips with cheese (steak fries with cheese), sausage rolls (puff pastry around sausage)..I have even found that I like the mushy pea fritter...if I try to explain it to you it will just gross you out lol...
I am getting used to trying to cook some British dishes. On Sunday's they have a big roast dinner. I have yet to cook one yet. But someday I will gear myself up and do that...but for now I am just getting used to life here in Brixham.
Living in a small touristy town has its advantages. I have been lucky enough to be part of the town ghost walk in the summer. I have taken part in a few parades and was able to join theatre group The South Devon Players that helped me make friends and got me involved. For awhile I was involved in a choir in the town. So there are a lot of things to get involved with and that has been a great helping me feel part of the community.
I love the pace of life here. It isn't hectic or stressed. Its just right...
The one thing about this beautiful little town is the people. Everyone knows everyone else. So you can never get away with anything and if you ever need gossip you just need to wait and eventually someone will be telling you. I remember the first time I was home at night by myself cause Jason was working. I decided to order Chinese and have it deliver. As Jason walked in the door of the house that night he said oh I heard you had this for dinner. And he listed off what I ordered. So it is almost impossible to plan any kind of surprise here.
The people are very nice. And there is something really cool about having to walk everywhere and having people say hi to you as you are walking around. It is way different then life in Pennsylvania.
Life in the UK isn't the only thing you need to get used to. It is the food. Instead of Pizza on a Friday night most Brits get Fish and chips...there is beans on toast, cheese on toast, or you can have a jacket potato (baked potato) with beans on it or cheese or tuna...the vegetables are different to...like Swede, Parsnips, and spring cabbage...they eat a lot of brussel sprouts. (that is one vegetable that I will never ever like)...I sometimes crave food from the states that I can't get here. And trying to get used to the food here has been a little difficult for me. But it is all an adventure...there are some very good things that I love...chips with cheese (steak fries with cheese), sausage rolls (puff pastry around sausage)..I have even found that I like the mushy pea fritter...if I try to explain it to you it will just gross you out lol...
I am getting used to trying to cook some British dishes. On Sunday's they have a big roast dinner. I have yet to cook one yet. But someday I will gear myself up and do that...but for now I am just getting used to life here in Brixham.
Living in a small touristy town has its advantages. I have been lucky enough to be part of the town ghost walk in the summer. I have taken part in a few parades and was able to join theatre group The South Devon Players that helped me make friends and got me involved. For awhile I was involved in a choir in the town. So there are a lot of things to get involved with and that has been a great helping me feel part of the community.
I love the pace of life here. It isn't hectic or stressed. Its just right...
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
My new life in the UK
My Husband Jason and I were married in August of 2009. I got my visa and came over to Brixham to live with him in September. After 6 years my dreams finally came true. I was finally allowed to be with the man I love. I was so excited about not having a deadline of when I had to leave him to go back to the US. The stress that we had been through over the years of seeing each other every few months and substaining ourselves in the interim with emails and phone calls was finally over. And I thought everything was going to be alright. I knew there would be some homesickness it would only be natural. But I wasn't prepared for the stress I put on myself to be the perfect wife. I came over and immediately started applying for jobs with no luck. And then as time went on with no job the homesickness set in and I started feeling so lonely. My husband had to put up with me and teary weepy days. But he was wonderful and listened to me and comforted me. One of the things that helped me was my friendship with Patty and Ian, Jamie and Alan, and Kate. I wouldn't have been able to get through this without them. Patty and Ian came to our first Thanksgiving celebration here in the UK. Jamie and Alan would have been here but she got sick and was in hospital. (We missed her so). Kate and I have our regular Sunday's where we hang out and play Wii Fit and just hang out. All of these people plus the love and encouragement from my family is what has helped me adjust. And my friends who have supported me in this. So I am ready now to tell my story and to live my life and start my new life here in a new country. Getting used to customs and the way of life...
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