Guess what? I am OK!

After my first UK post I got a lot of concerned emails and communications, which was great. You know what though? The transition happened quickly, although a bit stealthily. One day I just didn't feel like crying anymore, and then soon after I realized I was pretty happy to be here.

I think the "ah-ha!" moment happened last Friday afternoon. I had been to an interview in the morning with a fabulous company, and then one more in the afternoon on a beautiful side street near Notting Hill Gate. Instead of hopping straight back on the tube, I decided to take a stroll and ended up at the top of Kensington Gardens. The sun was shining, and it was warm. People were out in the park walking their dogs and playing games with kids and adults. All the spring flowers were in bloom and it was green and lush and smelled great. So then I got a phone call from my recruiter with more positive feedback from interviews, along with a stellar job offer (not my first). I just felt on top of the world, and I said to myself "I am in love with London right now!"

Not bad for a week and a half. And not to say that I still don't miss people and things in LA, but it just means this is right for right now, and that I am enjoying myself and relishing the opportunity to be here.

And wow have I been busy! What have I been up to?

.......


Massive Amounts of Job Interviews
* Like I mentioned before, the demand for Sr. level project managers in the creative interactive consulting world is HUGE in London right now, and despite my best efforts to hold off on things, I have been drawn in...(while writing this blog, I have had 3 calls from my two recruiters to set up more interviews!)

* I still plan on waiting a while to start working, but I am happy to say that I have met with some great people and companies, who apparently all are interested in hiring me

* Better still, even though they are in a similar vein to the companies I have worked for over the past 10 years, many of them offer a distinctly different environment and challenge for me, so I am actually excited by the prospect rather than bored by the same old thing -- THIS IS KEY FOR ME -- having done this for 10 years I felt myself on the edge of total blahness and potential burnout if I couldn't find something a bit new that made me excited again...so hooray!


Massive Amounts of Roller Derby
* Been throwing myself into the London Rollergirls of course...practise is 2x a week so I don't miss one

* Also, since I have bouting experience, I have been doing a bit of coaching and teaching the girls more stuff like blocking and strategy and some fun new pace lines, etc...and have joined the athletics committee

* Getting to know all the girls - guess what...lots of Americans, and Aussies too!

* I also skated the Serpentine Road in Hyde Park on Sunday, which is where all the roller disco and London skaters hang out....pretty fun, not quite as fun as Venice Beach, but it's a good substitute alright


Massive Amounts of Socializing, Exploring, and Pubbing
* I have found myself pretty darn busy: running errands to get "life" supplies, job interviews galore, meeting with people for drinks, etc...

* In Camden I have been to The World's End (first large stop off the tube pub), tThe Devonshire Arms (goth pub...also have recruited bouncers for derby), The Elephants Head (rockabilly, punkish pub), The Hawley Arms (uber trendy indie music hipster pub where I drunkenly talked the owner into considering me for a job), and several canalside watering holes as well

* Went to a burlesque cabaret night at the Bread and Roses pub in Clapham (south of Thames) where Blue Murder (LRG) was performing her solo ukelele act and her acoustic duo all in one night

* Been to Anna Monoxide's house several times for a hard core punk show...and for some good takeout Japanese (and free sushi cause we waited so long)...all in Brixton (must go back to the Brixton market for cheap stuff!)

* Wandered into Liverpool Street Station and decided it was one of my favorite railway stations even though its on the smallish side

* Become addicted to cheap and healthy sandwich options at Sainsbury's, Boots, and M&S food halls (salmon and cucumber, british ham and cress with mustard!, roasted vegtables and hummous)

* Took the bus through posh neighborhoods and wished I was a millionare

* Went to a concert with my flatmates at the Shaftbury Theatre, and partied backstage in a teeny tiny dressing room afterwards (because the room I occupy belongs to the pianist, who is on tour and happened to be in London for a show)

* Sang cabaret with a live piano in a small basement jazz club (not quite as well or beautifully as the regulars AND my flatmate R - who is an excellent professional singer)...also poo-poo'd the quality of our cosmos as "way too red"

* Begun to speak with a slightly modified accent, and have adapted British phrases and terms (but seriously, its just easier to be understood)

* Played ultimate frisbee near the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park with my other flatemate's regular crew

* Toured round Camden Market with Ethan (Le Grande Morte, husband of La Petite Morte of the Throttle Rockets from Rat City Rollergirls and co-owner of Fast Girl Skates). We discovered we worked for the same company back in the states, ate BAD british hamburgers at a chain pub, and searched for derby accessories sporting a pink star (for the throttle rockets)

* Hoegaarden = good, Guinness = good, bottles of wine in pubs = good (and cheap), vodka and soda with lime = weak cause they measure it, red bull = always good

CONCLUSION: it's all good....

P.S. Next up: my friend Brian from NYC arrives on Wednesday for a visit. He has never been to Europe, so I am looking forward to showing him around and seeing his reaction!