are we londoners yet?

(originally posted on 7.17.11)

Probably not.

I surprise myself when I admit the risque pop R&B singer Nicki Minaj's words are inspiring me this morning. You youngsters can laugh at me while our elders can shake their heads in confusion. But in this moment I just feel so alive!

It was WELL over a month ago when most of you got a quick note from me telling you Chris and I had arrived in London safe and sound and were ready to get some peace and normalcy back in our lives. What we didn't realize then, and looking back really should have known better, was that this life was only going to get crazier. And that adjusting to a foreign city is just as difficult as leaving one you love. We've had so much more thrown at us than expected, and it's taken some getting used to. So there you have it, my excuse for not staying in contact as much as I had promised; my excuse for not telling you all short fun stories of my day as I had promised; my excuse for not staying up to date on your lives I miss hearing about so much; my excuse for not Skyping / FaceTiming

....Maybe as I start to take on this rejuvenating Sunday morning, we're taking a new curve in the road?

Man, I could sit here all day long and then into the night (and have one of you sitting with me to take this all in)! I'm in an internet cafe about 5 blocks from our new apartment. Chris says it must be the nicest least scuzzy internet cafes in existence. I'm new to the concept. The cafe doors are wide open and I am sitting in a corner with my iPhone playing and my mac with INTERNET! (Something we didn't know, it takes weeks and weeks and sometimes months to get internet and cable in a new apartment). The sun is coming and going outside, but no rain yet. Strong smells of coffee, cured meats, baking breads; the staff is busy behind the counter fixing up baguettes, but there are only about 5 customers in the whole place. I keep sneaking a peak at three Italian gentleman on the outside tables deeply engaged in conversation, guzzle down cappuccinos, smoking cigarette after cigarette.

Where's Chris? Well, we live together now and really don't have many friends, so we spend a lot of time together. Sunday morning was time for the two of us to do the things we love doing ourselves: he went for a run through the New River Walk which is a series of canals in the back area of Islington (our new neighborhood) that travels over 12 miles to Canary Wharf . It's beautiful, and if you haven't seen some of the pictures on Facebook of the little walk, I urge you to check them out. And I am here, listening to music, drinking a caramel latte, and being inspired by the internet.

So, how's life been in London you want to know? I'd like to know for sure myself! It's been an absolute whirlwind full of every emotion. I don't think Chris or I have ever had more anxiety about understanding what we don't yet know, never been more excited about all the things to do and see just in this one city, nor have I ever been so proud of myself for going on this adventure with Chris. One would think going from one large English speaking city to another shouldn't be that hard. You'd think, sure I'm already used to long commutes, city grime, fast walkers, complicated public transit -- but it's another world in this city. It's vast. Chicago looks like a cozy neighborhood to us now.

My family at this point in the post are probably thinking, good Lord she's a different person than she was the first week in July! And things are getting better -- since we arrived, Chris and I have stayed very active. Which is exactly what we wanted to do -- but it's exhausting! And in the midst of trying to sight see and be tourists, we're starting entirely brand new jobs (that are each whole posts in themselves; but I won't go into here), trying to find a flat, open a bank, close banks in the US, set up public transit, close public transit in the states, find a place for groceries, understand how restaurant service works, understand the 'accent,' find a neighborhood that we like, find a place to buy a TV/surge protector/hangers....understand how to rent an apartment...then understand what a TV tax is and why we have to pay a council tax on top too. PHEW!

I want to share every iota of detail in each experience with you. I wish you all could all be experiencing this along our side, truly. Unfortunately, I think it's going to take some time before I can get on a regular schedule catching up with all of you.