Week 1

Well, its Friday afternoon and I survived the first week of work in england!

I must admit, Monday night was a bit difficult as it was the first night here on my own. I would be lying if i said i didn't cry, but i got through it and made it the rest of the week without any tears. I think the biggest difference for me is just the feeling of coming back to a flat that i dont know well and not having any friends to call, people to go to dinner with, tv to watch, etc. I am working on getting cable, internet, phone etc set up at the flat, but things take quite a bit longer here to get set up. So, anyway, i have been doing a lot of reading in the evenings and having a lot of reflective quiet time on my own!

Work is going fine. the team here is very nice and friendly. There are 3 from the UK, 2 from the USA, 2 from Australia, 2 from New Zealand....quite a fun mix. Not sure how many socialize together after work, but i am bound and determined to get a happy hour of some sort started sometime soon. I am taking the time to get to know my teammates and learn the business now while my calendar is not too packed with meetings

Taking the tube each morning has been interesting. The tube strike at the beginning of the week caused a little havoc, but that is resolved now and i am riding it with out much trouble. Still working out the fastest route to work which may take a few more days to figure out. I am getting pushed around a bit on the escalators and such but trying not to let it frazzle me.

I found the gym here at work and went Tues-Fri of this week. Its a small gym - nice, clean and new, with nice trainers who already know my name and have noted that i will be a regular. the treadmill is in km per hour and the weights are not in pounds so that will take some time getting used to. thinking about trying to get into the London marathon for this spring ... i will keep you posted

i have plans to go with some work colleagues to a symphony concert in Hyde Park this weekend which will be nice. i am also going to try to buy a tv and a radio so its not so quiet in the house when i get home at night. wish me luck. might take a walk around Westminster tonight and 'people watch' all the 'tourists' in Trafalgar square...since I'm a local now of course :)

i miss you all dearly and look forward to hearing from many of you soon