My T-Mobile broadbabd USB stick has been blocking my access to this site since I bought it last Thursday, but I was able to get it to stop after calling the company. I bought it at Carphone Warehouse for 40 pounds and have 90 days free mobile broadband. Much cheaper than the 75 pounds a week for wireless broadband at the hotel.
Since I last updated I've been in to the office 3 times, found out my lease car isn't coming until April 1, had more trainings here at the hotel, and walked into the town centre of Ashford to register with my NHS doctor, Dr. Pinnock. His office is called North Street Surgery (surgery is what doctors' offices are called in the UK and it's on North Street.) He was recommended to me by one of the managers who interviewed me, Teresa, when we had a luncheon last week. I called his office and was told to come in to register in person, so when I was in the office yesterday, I did. It took me less than an hour to walk from my office to his, register, and walk back. I could have done it faster even probably. I have a nurse appointment Friday and have just finished filling out the paperwork for that. I only have enough carvedilol to get through Friday so hope they can hook me up with that PDQ. It's a beta blocker and the last time I ran out briefly my anxiety skyrocketed - - it definitely helps with anxiety.
Thought I could walk to work from home, but turns out it's too far, so I have been investigating buses. Emailed the bus company to enquire which bus line to take (I knew it would be B-line or C-line) and they recommended C-line boarding at Church Road. Since I didn't know where on Church Road the bus stop was, I called, and this time I was told there is a bus on Luckhurst Road (where my house is) that I can board to take to Town Centre, from which I can walk to the Civic Centre, where my office is. I guess, after I get the house keys on Friday, I can see where the bus stop is. Haven't heard yet when to be at work Monday morning but one of the trainers today told me 9:30 would be good, as my manager would probably want to deal with the rubbish on her desk before having to deal with a new worker first thing Monday, LOL.
I've ordered an Aerobed and before I could get hold of the delivery company (had to wait for Amazon.co.uk's seller to forward me the consignment number) it had been delivered and signed for by a D. Jones, who is apparently one of my neighbours. Hopefully I will be able to get it without difficulty, as well as make my nurse appointment at 4:40 p.m. Friday.
Many people here order groceries online and have them delivered, and since I'll be without a car for a while, I will probably do the same. Planning to camp out in the house until my shipment comes, ETA March 8, Also hoping to send for Toby once I get the keys to the house and see how much money I have left. Money will still be tight at least until my second paycheck. Pretty much everyone in our group of new social workers is worried about not having brought enough money and I even heard one of the most stable-seeming of us today musing about whether she had enough money for a plane ticket home. At lunch she said she had hit the wall in regards to making decisions about so many things every day and had decided not to make any more decisions for a while. We tend to talk each other down when one or the other of us gets wrapped around the axle, which happens to all of us at one time or another.
I'm going into Maidstone tomorrow to get 2 passport photographs, which I will need for my work ID, and hopefully get to the bank when it is open so I can deposit the check I've been carrying from selling my car in the US. I'd also like to transfer the money on my US debit card to my UK debit card and deposit the small amount of US currency I have. The banks are generally open about 10 to 4:30 and I haven't been able to get to a branch since receiving my debit card and other banking info a week ago Monday. It's not an emergency but it is something I would like to get done.
I'm working on trying to slow down in general - - it takes longer to get things done here and the pace of life is generally slower, which I wanted, but I didn't realize how much I was used to getting things done immediately if not sooner. For instance, I set up broadband and phone at the house on February 13 and the first available install date was March 1. It's fine, just different. Once I hit the groove I know I will enjoy slowing down very much. Not to mention 26 days off a year, plus holidays!!!
Driving in the UK is a sepaarate post and I'm not going there yet.
All in all I'm doing well and feeling quite happy. I do have occasional stabs of loneliness and try to avoid using my mobile as it costs 80p (what, about $1.50)a minute to call the US. I've topped it up with 10 pounds at least 4-5 times. Can't figure out what happened this last time. As far as I can tell I only used the mobile for local calls after my last top-up and it ran out of money in absolutely no time. Maybe it's the same rate to make calls within the UK as it is to call the US. I don't think it is but I haven't checked specifically. I'm on a PAYG (pay as you go) plan and changed my tariff (rate plan) to one that looked more affordable than the one I started with, but it would probably be cheaper to get a contract. However, not all the new social workers have been able to get phone contracts as they require credit, which we don't yet have in the UK. We've been told different things about how long one has to be here to get credit; 3-6 months is the average. I still have my US cell phone, which I like very much, but don't know about using it - - it's out of date already, of course, and I want to keep my UK mobile number, which I've finally only just memorized. I was given a mobile at work too but I don't seem able to charge it up with the charger I have for my other UK mobile, which is odd in that they're both Nokias. It seems to plug in with the charger I have but the indicator doesn't start flashing while it's charging as it does for my other phone. Oh well, filing that under ongoing mysteries of UK life.
I so can't tell what people are saying the first sentence they say to me, When they realize I'm American they slow down and it gets better. Still a lot of "what does that mean?" on my part though. Quite funny sometimes IMO. The woman sitting next to me in the office, on my asking why the radiator next to me was making odd noises, said she'd "had a moan" about it, meaning she'd called maintenance. I didn't understand her at first and when I did I busted out laughing. Fortunately she didn't take it personally - - it just hit me funny at that particular point. I really find that I'm taking on phraseology quite a bit; it's part of congruency in my social work practice and also there are lots of expressions and words I quite like, and I'd like people to forget I'm American to the extent I can by modifying my speech.
I hear seagulls every time I'm in Ashford, where I'm working. It's only about 10 miles from the coast so it's not surprising, but it just intrigues me. I haven't seen the ocean since I've been here and there has been a lot of snow in Ashford, and I associate seagulls with the warm, palmy beaches of my childhood. It kinda makes me feel as if I'm in a Pink Floyd video.
I'll write more when I have time and now that I can get onto my blog. :)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Went into Ashford today and had so much fun. It was cold but not snowy here in Maidstone, then halfway to Ashford on the M20 we hit a blizzard!!! It just snowed and snowed and snowed. My assigned buddy Hazel drove me back to the Hilton this afternoon, by which time there were at least 3-4 inches of snow on the ground and I got my first experience with lotsa gray SLUSH that I've heard of all my life. While I was sitting up on the 2nd, uh, 3rd floor (first floor = ground floor, 2nd floor = first floor, 3rd floor = 2nd floor UK:US conversion) it snowed on and off. It was so cozy.
I think I am really gonna like working in Ashford. We're all in a big room together. There are 2 other duty social workers (which is what they're calling what I'll be doing) and they're glad to have me as they have been quite overworked. All the other social workers are there too - - Hannah, who will be working on a long-term care team and is with my group of recent American arrivees, will be in the room with me, which is great. It's just the warmest, friendliest atmosphere you could ask for. Apparently it's SOP to be asked if you want tea or coffee every hour or so, so that's lovely. Just talking to everybody was great. I'm going in again tomorrow but only for a couple hours - - Andy, one of the other workers, has a home visit in the morning but he will pick me up after that - - probably around 11:30 or 12, and then he's leaving around 2 or 3 to get his kids. I think I will finally meet Deb, my line manager, tomorrow though. She wasn't in today.
Well, since it's early and the shops are open late I think I'm gonna try taking the bus into Maidstone. It's time for me to try as I haven't done it before. Laters!!! :)
I think I am really gonna like working in Ashford. We're all in a big room together. There are 2 other duty social workers (which is what they're calling what I'll be doing) and they're glad to have me as they have been quite overworked. All the other social workers are there too - - Hannah, who will be working on a long-term care team and is with my group of recent American arrivees, will be in the room with me, which is great. It's just the warmest, friendliest atmosphere you could ask for. Apparently it's SOP to be asked if you want tea or coffee every hour or so, so that's lovely. Just talking to everybody was great. I'm going in again tomorrow but only for a couple hours - - Andy, one of the other workers, has a home visit in the morning but he will pick me up after that - - probably around 11:30 or 12, and then he's leaving around 2 or 3 to get his kids. I think I will finally meet Deb, my line manager, tomorrow though. She wasn't in today.
Well, since it's early and the shops are open late I think I'm gonna try taking the bus into Maidstone. It's time for me to try as I haven't done it before. Laters!!! :)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Apparently quite a few of us didn't pass our driving assessments. We're not getting another lesson until 10 days before our cars come in - - and that could be a while. We were told 5-8 weeks on that.
Today we had a session on adapting to British life. It was quite good actually. The instructor was not reluctant to talk about specifics of interacting with clients, colleagues and management. It turns out KCC brought social workers here a while back and want to do a better job this time, so they're trying really hard to prepare us. They're very well aware that coping with moving country is quite a big job, or rather series of jobs and emotional experiences, which is comforting. Gives me confidence that things will work out as we go along.
We did get a reminder of how rude and blunt our clients can be - - as if we needed it - - we've all been there, but this was in the context of talking about how most British people are not particularly direct and certainly not confrontational, and how even some of our American forthrightness can be misinterpreted as too "in your face." We discussed ways to handle such situations with clients though, so really it was quite helpful.
Gonna try to get an early night tonight as I'm being picked up at 7:45 to 8 a.m. for a ride into Ashford with a social worker who works there but lives in Maidstone. Not sure what I'm gonna do, but I should get to meet some people, so that will be nice.
Feeling much more sanguine and much less worried today than I did yesterday.
Today we had a session on adapting to British life. It was quite good actually. The instructor was not reluctant to talk about specifics of interacting with clients, colleagues and management. It turns out KCC brought social workers here a while back and want to do a better job this time, so they're trying really hard to prepare us. They're very well aware that coping with moving country is quite a big job, or rather series of jobs and emotional experiences, which is comforting. Gives me confidence that things will work out as we go along.
We did get a reminder of how rude and blunt our clients can be - - as if we needed it - - we've all been there, but this was in the context of talking about how most British people are not particularly direct and certainly not confrontational, and how even some of our American forthrightness can be misinterpreted as too "in your face." We discussed ways to handle such situations with clients though, so really it was quite helpful.
Gonna try to get an early night tonight as I'm being picked up at 7:45 to 8 a.m. for a ride into Ashford with a social worker who works there but lives in Maidstone. Not sure what I'm gonna do, but I should get to meet some people, so that will be nice.
Feeling much more sanguine and much less worried today than I did yesterday.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Driving . . .
Well, I'm depressed. The driving assessor is recommending another 2-hour session for me. I thought I did OK - - but not great. She said I needed more experience with roundabouts and she's right. Of the other social workers I've talked to, 3 passed their assessments and one did not.
If I don't pass next time, I have to pay 50 quid for a 3rd mandatory session. Hope THAT doesn't happen. IDK. It was fun driving today, just being out and about. I mean, I did the motorway and everything. That went well - - it was the bloody roundabouts and keeping away from the kerb. Oh yeah, and I kept shifting into 4th instead of 2nd - - think I need to push the shift to the left, instead of to the right as is my habit.
Of course I've been very nervous about this and didn't sleep terribly well last night. If I didn't have to drive for work I might not - - at least for a while - - just being on the roads and getting used to how things work. It's all still VERY new to me and I don't think I pick up new info as quickly as when I was younger either.
That said, I'll get there eventually. Don't know when we'll get lease cars yet anyway. Of course, any cars that are available will go to those that have passed their assessments first. Once I get past the assessment that says I'm fit to drive the lease car, I hafta start preparing for the UK driving test since I'll need a UK licence within a year and it may take that long.
Fortunately I had no illusions that my first year in the UK would be easy - - I knew it would be tough and things would come up that I might not know how to manage straightaway. Things will get better. The meantime, sometimes, is hard to get through. I've been walking a lot but not really enough to shed stress. More meditation would seem in order.
Am I whingeing enough yet???
Waah, :(
If I don't pass next time, I have to pay 50 quid for a 3rd mandatory session. Hope THAT doesn't happen. IDK. It was fun driving today, just being out and about. I mean, I did the motorway and everything. That went well - - it was the bloody roundabouts and keeping away from the kerb. Oh yeah, and I kept shifting into 4th instead of 2nd - - think I need to push the shift to the left, instead of to the right as is my habit.
Of course I've been very nervous about this and didn't sleep terribly well last night. If I didn't have to drive for work I might not - - at least for a while - - just being on the roads and getting used to how things work. It's all still VERY new to me and I don't think I pick up new info as quickly as when I was younger either.
That said, I'll get there eventually. Don't know when we'll get lease cars yet anyway. Of course, any cars that are available will go to those that have passed their assessments first. Once I get past the assessment that says I'm fit to drive the lease car, I hafta start preparing for the UK driving test since I'll need a UK licence within a year and it may take that long.
Fortunately I had no illusions that my first year in the UK would be easy - - I knew it would be tough and things would come up that I might not know how to manage straightaway. Things will get better. The meantime, sometimes, is hard to get through. I've been walking a lot but not really enough to shed stress. More meditation would seem in order.
Am I whingeing enough yet???
Waah, :(
Sunday, February 7, 2010
7 February 2010!!!
Been moving toward this day for soooo long, and it's finally here!!! Well, it's almost over now. I got to the Hilton about 12:30 or 1 p.m. Our "social" was to be at 5 p.m. but the hotel desk told me it had been changed to 6 p.m. as of today. I hung out in the room and paid 5 pounds for an hour of free internet - - used it up mostly on business - - paid for another hour later and ran out just as I was about to finish something - - so now I've broken down and parted with 75 quid for a week. I've been sooo internet deprived, and absolutely everything I'm having to do here requires internet. Read and reread the banking info I got by mail, was gonna try to activate my debit card by text, but really getting online was the only way to go. You CAN do things by phone, but online is way easier almost every time, I'm finding.
There is no LIFT in this hotel!!! (Uh, I mean elevator. Pardon me when I lapse into UK-speak - - it's happening more frequently every day.) I'm only on the 2nd floor but yeah, I got hotel staff to carry my suitcase from hell up the stairs. Kevin at the B&B said it wasn't that heavy and I have moved stuff out of it into other luggage - - but he's a 30ish in-shape guy. Maybe if I was working out I coulda done it, but I'm not so no way. Anyway, when it came time to leave I was walking around my floor making SURE there wasn't a lift (couldn't really believe it) and ran into another social worker, so we walked down together. Her last job was in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where my brother lives. What are the chances??!!??
There really ISN'T a lift in this hotel.
The social was seeing the managers that hired us again, snackies and drinkies, a wee bit of paperwork, and off to dinner. (Oh btw they DO sell alcohol in the grocery stores - - I saw some Bacardi and some Tia Maria before I took myself outta that section!!!)
Dinner was buffet-style in the hotel's restaurant. Apparently we have 20 pounds 50 pence per night for our dinners, and this week we can take them in our rooms if we want. We have individualized schedules which we received along with other items in a tote at the social. Looks like we're mostly together the first couple days, then start splitting off to do different things. In that I already have housing, I have about 5 days during the 2 weeks where my schedule is "to be determined." Ideally I'll finalize my housing, buy a TV and schedule its delivery, schedule the TV/phone/internet service install, like that.
We're supposed to get snow/sleet/freezing rain starting as early as tonight!!! We have DRIVING LESSONS on Tuesday!!! Don't know which is more exciting.
None of us seem to know what we can afford yet, and we're all planning our first trips into Paris and/or London . . .
There is no LIFT in this hotel!!! (Uh, I mean elevator. Pardon me when I lapse into UK-speak - - it's happening more frequently every day.) I'm only on the 2nd floor but yeah, I got hotel staff to carry my suitcase from hell up the stairs. Kevin at the B&B said it wasn't that heavy and I have moved stuff out of it into other luggage - - but he's a 30ish in-shape guy. Maybe if I was working out I coulda done it, but I'm not so no way. Anyway, when it came time to leave I was walking around my floor making SURE there wasn't a lift (couldn't really believe it) and ran into another social worker, so we walked down together. Her last job was in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where my brother lives. What are the chances??!!??
There really ISN'T a lift in this hotel.
The social was seeing the managers that hired us again, snackies and drinkies, a wee bit of paperwork, and off to dinner. (Oh btw they DO sell alcohol in the grocery stores - - I saw some Bacardi and some Tia Maria before I took myself outta that section!!!)
Dinner was buffet-style in the hotel's restaurant. Apparently we have 20 pounds 50 pence per night for our dinners, and this week we can take them in our rooms if we want. We have individualized schedules which we received along with other items in a tote at the social. Looks like we're mostly together the first couple days, then start splitting off to do different things. In that I already have housing, I have about 5 days during the 2 weeks where my schedule is "to be determined." Ideally I'll finalize my housing, buy a TV and schedule its delivery, schedule the TV/phone/internet service install, like that.
We're supposed to get snow/sleet/freezing rain starting as early as tonight!!! We have DRIVING LESSONS on Tuesday!!! Don't know which is more exciting.
None of us seem to know what we can afford yet, and we're all planning our first trips into Paris and/or London . . .
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I'm here!!!
Better make this quick as I'm gonna run outta juice and air time. Had the best jetliner ride I ever had from JFK to LHR - - slept for half an hour before we ever left the ground, had dinner, watched the Michael Jackson movie "This Is It" twice on my personal video screen, started listening to some jazz on the AA channel, had a continental breakfast (croissant and OJ) and landed. There was snow on the ground at Heathrow!!! It was quite cold the first day or two but it's been warming up since. It was sunny at first too but has been gray and drizzly since. Ironing my hair EVERY night, as I thought I would.
Found a place to live on Tuesday - - it's a semi-detached house with a lovely solarium and back garden (back yard.) I move in the 18th or 19th. It's close to work, I can walk into town and it's close to Ashford International rail station too. Between now and Sunday, when I move into the Hilton in Maidstone for induction, I don't have anything I have to do. Yesterday after signing documents for the house, the relo lady dropped me off in the Maidstone high street and I wandered around there for hours and went to the Chequers mall. Today I'm at the Society Rooms/Wetherspoon restaurant for the free wifi. It's in the Maidstone high street too. When I leave here I may walk back to the Chequers mall - - there's a used book I want to buy there. Or I may go back to the B&B. This laptop is HEAVY when you cart it around without a shoulder strap.
Having a blast so far though!!! The TV is great!!! Have seen some good documentaries, some funny shows, and the chat shows discuss interesting topics with people in their fields. Not so celebrity-driven. I've learned a lot about Afghanistan and the economy from watching TV, and am trying to pick up on British social habits from talking to Brits and listening to conversations on the streets.
I like the word "blimey."
More later . . .
Found a place to live on Tuesday - - it's a semi-detached house with a lovely solarium and back garden (back yard.) I move in the 18th or 19th. It's close to work, I can walk into town and it's close to Ashford International rail station too. Between now and Sunday, when I move into the Hilton in Maidstone for induction, I don't have anything I have to do. Yesterday after signing documents for the house, the relo lady dropped me off in the Maidstone high street and I wandered around there for hours and went to the Chequers mall. Today I'm at the Society Rooms/Wetherspoon restaurant for the free wifi. It's in the Maidstone high street too. When I leave here I may walk back to the Chequers mall - - there's a used book I want to buy there. Or I may go back to the B&B. This laptop is HEAVY when you cart it around without a shoulder strap.
Having a blast so far though!!! The TV is great!!! Have seen some good documentaries, some funny shows, and the chat shows discuss interesting topics with people in their fields. Not so celebrity-driven. I've learned a lot about Afghanistan and the economy from watching TV, and am trying to pick up on British social habits from talking to Brits and listening to conversations on the streets.
I like the word "blimey."
More later . . .
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