Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day

Merry Belated Christmas! I hope everyone's Christmas/Holiday went well. Mine did. It was nice to finally see family and friends during the holidays. I think about how lucky I am to have the opportunity. I can't stop by give myself time to reflect about other people in this world that won't have the ability to share this time with family and friends due to uncontrollable circumstances, or other obligations such as the duty of being a US soldier in a foreign country. I am also grateful for my health and the good health of my family. I pray for for all those who are not in the best of health around these times, and hope they can recover very soon. Now that I live in another country, I can't help but appreciate being home, especially during the holidays.

After seeing many friends and family, I'm asked the normal questions (i.e. How do you like it, how long will you stay, etc.) but one question that makes me think a bit is:

"So how does it feel to be home?"

Initially this is a real quick question to answer. Of course it feels great. No doubt about it. But I really haven't stopped to really think about it truthfully. Not to say it doesn't feel great, because it does, but I think there's a bit more to it than "great."

First off, the food. Wow, perhaps its the holidays, but I've eaten so much here since I've gotten back. I've had a burrito and hooters wings, and of course filipino food. I seriously don't eat this much in the UK. And the portions here are so huge!

Laundry. OMG, our washer and dryer are huge. You really don't appreciate it until you do laundry in the UK.

Driving. Wow, its weird driving after not doing it for 4 months. I mean its like riding a bike, but still, its work. I'm usually just hopping on a train or bus! I actually try to defer driving as much as possible to friends and family now.

Malls and Big Parking Lots. I couldn't find where I parked today. I seriously forgot. I went out the wrong entrance of Marshall Fields and walked around like an idiot. I think I pissed off a couple people because they tried following me to see if they could park in my spot, but little did they know I had no idea where I was going.

Accents. Everyone has an American accent. Obviously. But I actually miss hearing the English accent as background noise..

I'm sure there's more and I'll add to the list as the next couple weeks go by.

Boxing Day
Tomorrow, the 27th is Boxing Day We have this day off in the UK, so why not take it off here since I live and work there.. I will use this holiday wisely I promise. And for those who read this during work... sux to be you, but thanks for reading. =)

When I was in London...

So I went to get a sim card for my UK phone yesterday. I realised that living in a different country as an American serves as a great conversation starter.

I was talking to the salesman and I mentioned I was back for a few weeks and needed a SIM card.

He started by saying how he was a 100% Sicilian but had never been to Sicily, and that I was lucky to live and work outside the States.

I told him that he was still young and had the whole rest of his life ahead of him to visit. Then he started asking about London and the UK: if I liked it, how it was different, etc.

Its quite interesting discussing how my life is in another country now that I'm back in the States. I mean, people would ask in London, but its not as fascinating to them because its their country! But by talking to other American, I guess it tends to be a bit more interesting to discuss. I mean, after all, we are the greatest country in the world! Who would dare live and work outside the US!! =)

But I think 20 years from now, looking ahead, its going to be part of my life forever. Its an experience that I will have learned from, grown from, and something I know I will be talking about for the rest of my life.. which I know will always start with..

"When I was in London.."


Other blogs
A colleague of mine has a photo blog. Very cool. He mentioned that I made one of his posts.. check out my goofy self... 830 degrees

"Welcome back."

There's something about the people that work in customs. Typically, they are the first people that ask about your trip, and more importantly, welcome you home.

This time it meant so much more to hear it from another American.

He asked how long I've been away and I immediately said:

"Too long."

Even though it wasn't my hometown Chicago, the next best city to come into would definitely be New York.

The best part was him finally saying: "Welcome back."

Christmas
Hard to believe that Christmas is this weekend. I have to say, if you haven't been in NYC around Christmas, its something you have to see. I've always seen it in the movies, but the big Christmas tree at Rockefeller center is something you have to see in person. The ice skating rink with all the people, the Christmas music in the background, its a experience you have to have once in your life. I even saw a guy in the middle of the ice skating rink propose!! That was a sight to see!

MTA Strike
Another site to see here in NYC is all the people walking and the lack of cars! There is a mass transit strike that has shut down all trains and buses in the city.
They are also limiting the cars going into Manhattan unless you have 4 people! Its crazy! Its interesting to be here in this city while this is happening.

Mmm.. Burrito
Had my first taste of Mexican food yesterday evening. There's really no such thing as eating a burrito in London, primarily because there are no Mexican restaurants in London! And if there is that off chance you find one, its not very good. So yesterday I had a steak burrito and it was so damn good. But since I'm not use to the big portions, I didn't finish it! =(

Coming home..
Finally... going back to Chi-town tonight. And yes, if you requested something, I did get it. Consider it your xmas present and my the expression of my gratitude for being a faithful reader. :p

10 min and counting

10 min and a car will arrive to pick us up. It is off to Heathrow.. chillin for 2 hours, then jumping on a plane back to the states!

Excitment is creeping up on me and it was nice to spend the last few days in London before I leave with a long time friend.

My next entry will be in the states!

Wow, that was fast.

108. That's how long I've been here. 3. That's how many days I have until I go back to the States. 5. That's when I'm back in sweet home Chicago.

Wow, that was fast.

I can tell you now, looking back, I've made the right decision. 3 months is nothing.

I think next year should be more interesting since after I come back from the States it will be a longer stay. Double that probably. I won't be home until the summer I suspect. But I think as time goes on, things get a little bit easier.

I honestly thought it would be much worse. I thought I'd be miserable. All alone, taken away from friends I've known all my life.. close family.... but its not bad. Not bad at all.

I wasn't one to step out of my comfort zone. Late twenties.. who cares about personal change.. I'm set in my ways!!

But alas, here I am, outside that comfort zone, experiencing a rare opportunity to live and work abroad in the "old world." Europe. With many of its cities, history, and culture at my disposal.

Its been a quick 108 days. In fact, a a great movie character once said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I've been stopping and looking around, that's for sure, and the only missing I've been doing is of family and friends...

(oh how poetic... anyway..)

Language
A longtime childhood friend has come to visit. And one of the interesting questions he asked me while we walked through the underground..

"Why does it say Way Out? Why can't they use exit?"

The floods

I paid the price for the picture with boots filled with water from the canal. I even took the risk of standing on a table to take this picture. It's a priceless picture though. I couldn't believe how flooded it was. In any case, the pictures are up from the weekend. Good times.

Where's the snow?

Its mid December, but there's no snow. I actually miss it. I miss the snow, but not the cold. This weekend is was about 45 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny both days.

Typical weekend. Friday visited the pub with coworkers, Saturday was Oxford Street. Started shopping for things to bring back home for friends and fam. I still can't believe how many people live here. It was shoulder to shoulder on the sidewalk!!!

Anyway, in a week I'll be in the States. That will be different that's for sure. I think the toughest part about going home is the week after I come back here to London. I'm sure the cycle of being homesick will start over. But its all good, I think the weekend after I come back there are tentative plans to hit Amsterdam. I've been before and it was a good time.

Entourage
Has anyone ever watched this show? Its probably one of the best shows I've ever seen. Good stuff. Spent some of the weekend catching season 1 and some of season 2. If you haven't seen it, you are missing out!

3 months later..

So its hard to believe that I've been here for over 3 months. Its gone by faster than I thought. I wish I can write something thought provoking, an entry about how the past three months has changed my life. But honestly, right now, its too early.

Thinking introspectively, I think I'm learning more about myself than anything. Back home I kept myself busy surrounding myself with friends I've known all my life and sometimes you get lost in all of that.

The past three months I've spent a lot of time to myself, thinking to myself a lot and even changing my ways on how I look at things.

One of the conclusions I've come up with is that I'm pretty lucky to have friends I've known most or all my life. Friends from grade school, friends from high school, and even maintaining college friends. But at the same time, this comes at a disadvantage.

I think because I rely and lean on these friends I've had all my life its harder for me to meet and create new friendships. As you grow older you tend to have your set cliques and people you can trust and talk about anything and everything with.

After moving here I had to start all over. I realised that its really hard for me to open up to people easily. I can't act myself for some reason. I learned that I'm more of a listener and don't have much to say around people I hardly know.

I've got to learn the skill of superficial conversation. =) Having friends all your life you tend to discuss more personal things and even rely on stupid inside jokes that you've collected all your lives. You know how each person acts and things are just comfortable.

I can say after three months that I'm not comfortable yet. No set cliques and no inside jokes. I can look at the weekend and can say I don't have set plans. But I'm working on it.

I'm finally getting into the routine of things with work and errands, but I still miss the stupid inside jokes, the personal conversation, and just having genuine friendships.

A friend a while back told me: "Your friends will always be there." And sure enough they will and they have been. Thanks for all those who have made the effort to keep in touch! It means a lot.

It will be nice to go back home in a couple weeks to see everyone. And yes, I do have "other" stories to share. =)

London list
So I have a London magnet, London golf hat, London Olympic pins, chocolate, and shoes to shop for. Anything else? I'm still taking requests. =) I'll do my best to pick some of these things up this weekend.

Wet Socks and wet feet

One of my biggest pet peeves is walking around with wet socks. I'm walking around in warm socks and all of a sudden, I accidentally step on a section somewhere on the floor that's wet. Ugh. It just feels so weird and very uncomfortable.

Unfortunately this was taken to a new level over the weekend in Venice.

First off, Venice is beautiful. After talking all sorts of transportation to get there: train, walk, train, bus, plane, bus, and finally water taxi, it was a pretty impressive sight to see a city like Venice for the first time. It was just like scenes from the movie: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but better! Our hotel was near St. Mark's Square, so seeing the square and St. Mark's Basilica for the first time was pretty amazing. The square was completely empty since we arrived around 1am and it was all lit up with Christmas lights. Quite a scene.

After settling in one of the smallest hotel rooms for 3 people I've ever seen, we tried to find a place to party. A bar, restaurant, even a club. But alas, this is the city of romance and even the guide books say that the party scene is slim to none. So unfortunately, our Friday night alcohol binge was postponed until the next day.

Midway through the night I heard loud air raid sirens. If I remembered correctly in my guide book, this meant high tides and flooding! But I ignored it and went back to sleep.

But my memory served me correctly the next morning as our hotel lobby was flooded! In fact, most of the city was flooded, at least knee high!

There were two options to take on the flooding. Buy a cheap pair of pseudo water proof boots that pretty much looked like garbage bags that covered your shoes. Or buy galoshes/boots. I decided to go for both.

I would buy the galoshes and use the garbage bag shoes to cover them since they covered a higher part of my lower leg than the boots. I was invincible.

My other coworker decided to do the same thing. We were going to brave the high water and walk into St. Mark's Square and take amazing pictures while keeping our feet dry and warm.

We were wrong.

St. Mark's Square was about a hundred meters away from the front steps of our hotel. Maybe less.

At first I was splashing through the water like a little kid. But, not even halfway to the square the water was way too high for my boot / plastic bag combination.

"I'm breached!" I yelled. We both were.

Water had penetrated through. I spend money on new boots and its whole purpose to keep my feet and socks dry had failed. The water was soooo cold.

I didn't even want to think about how clean or dirty this water was that had entered the inside of my boots.

We made it to the square, found a section of tables and chairs and climbed up the chairs and tables to admire the site of a flooded square. Quite an unbelievable sight.

I was bold enough to stand on top of a table and balance on one leg to empty my water filled boots. My coworker had his digital SLR all ready to take that magical moment of me falling backwards into the water.

Luckily I didn't. He took 3 or 4 pics of me of my balancing act which I hope to get from him soon!

Unfortunately I sucked it up and spent the whole day in wet socks and wet feet. It wasn't the most comfortable feeling. At the end of the day you won't believe how hard I scrubbed and washed my lower legs and feet. Ugh.

Overall, the weekend was a blast. Great stories. Great experience with the floods and I only hope to return one day to take that gondola ride under the bridge of Sighs with that significant other.. =)

I shall post pics soon!

Language
The hotel staff consisted of filipinas that worked in the hotel restaurant. What was cool was that they were speaking Italian! How cool was that?!? I busted out some Tagalog and they hooked us up with "extra" breakfast!

Two weeks
In about two weeks I'll be at home! Again, for anybody reading this, if there's anything you want from the UK, let me know!

Off to Venice

ah.. Last trip before going back home. 4 different countries in 3 months. Not bad. Will take pics. Hopefully I don't fall out of the gondola.

Concerts
Coldplay in London in two weeks! Can't wait!