Management Mix-ups.

September 23, 2010

Got to work this morning and was immediately asked to go into the preschool room for Ashley, so that she could work on some things, so, in all, I spent a very limited amount of time in the toddler room, which I am not complaining about. Nothing of any note happened this morning except for the fact that it poured all morning, so we couldn't go outside for our hour time slot and, thus, the morning dragged on and on.

Finally got to go on my lunch break with Erin where we (who thinks they know what we did?!?!), yes, wrote to our boys and ate a hurried lunch at the coffee shop/outside on our picnic bench.

Went back to work and spent the afternoon in the toddler room, which wasn't too bad. However, at one point, one of the parents of the kids came in while I was changing diapers and she started to change her daughter's diaper, but left her other daughter in the stroller by the door. Jailyn, trying to keep prying two year old fingers out of the baby's face, did not notice that two children were climbing on the couch and I was in the bathroom, so I really was not supposed to be watching them and Jan came in and started telling the mother that she couldn't have us be responsible for the child in the stroller and that it really wasn't safe for her to be changing her daughter. Jan later came back and made sure that Jailyn and I understood that she wasn't mad at us. I, changing diapers and potty training, didn't really have a clear idea of what had happened anyway, so I was not offended.

Finished up the day outside and then, getting ready to leave for the day, Jan stopped me again to apologize for talking to me in front of the kids because she thought it may have offended me. While it did not in the least, (I may have been upset had the kids been able to understand that I was getting talked to sternly) I appreciate the fact that, as a professional, she is candid enough to apologize to me for potentially offending me.

Went and got internet for a little bit and got to watch Darrick watch our amazing God the Distance music video for him. He smiled in a few parts, but I don't think he was as impressed or thought it was as funny as Erin and I did, but that's okay. Got to talk to him for a little bit and then came home, ate some rice and soy sauce (pretty standard meal for me here) and then watched some How I Met Your Mother. 

Things I learned today:

1. There are some people in management positions who are human enough to apologize to their workers when they do something wrong. 

2. According to Darrick, it's a good thing I'm in another country to make myself look like an idiot by running through a busy park and making him a music video. Jerk. 

Curse you for being literate!

September 22, 2010

Today was a pretty good day considering that I got to spend the morning in pre-school and then we went outside because it was absolutely gorgeous weather today! When I took the kids in for lunch, Jan, our staff trainer, was in there and played a game with the kids and then showed me how to do the family-style dinner with the preschoolers since it is completely different than the serving style for the toddlers. While it's kind of frustrating because she makes me feel like I am completely uneducated despite the fact I'm almost over half way done with my masters, it is nice to have the extra hands.

Then got to take my lunch break where I, of course, e-mailed the boy and otherwise checked my e-mail and facebook stuff. 

Went back to work and, for the first hour I'm back from lunch, the kids sleep, so I decided to bring a book with me to read. I didn't think it would be a problem considering I had gotten the idea from seeing another staff member read a personal book the day before. However, of course, because Jo hates me, she came in and asked if I was reading a book for pleasure. She then brusquely told me that that wasn't allowed and, when I asked if I could do CA homework since everyone else studies their modules for work during that time, she grudgingly said, "Yes." She then asked if Yana left me anything to do, which I told her no.. I mean, if she had, doesn't she know I'd be doing it. She then had me clean the top of the shelves, which I did, but left shortly after to give Tasha her break. I will be doing homework during that time from now on. Screw being their slave on top of being free labor. So frustrating! Especially considering that I didn't get yelled at on the other days where I sat there for an hour and stared off into space, but the second I crack a book, BAM!

I then went to give Tasha her hour of study time and she came back twenty minutes late, which meant that I then had to go back to the preschool room twenty minutes later to give her her fifteen minute break, which, not breaking the pattern, she came back another 20 minutes late for her break. So frustrating that I arrive before I am supposed to be there and leave right on the dot and people like that can abuse their breaks and not get yelled at. Don't know what I ever did to piss Jo off so much, but I cannot wait to be done with this internship and back with Darrick, my family and my friends. *Sigh* Eleven weeks and counting...

After work, I came home and Erin and I went to our community pod dinner, which was breakfast for dinner themed. Arriving early, we were supposed to be the first in line, but a bunch of people cut us off and then we ended up sitting across from Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Drunk, these two girls who thought they were so hardcore, but just came across like they were mentally deranged. Needless to say, the food was good (of course, anything is goo when you don't have to cook it), but the conversation was a little awkward. Left dinner and went and talked to Darrick for 40 minutes.

Came home and cleaned up our apartment for our fire inspection tomorrow and christened the new vacuum that they bought us, which works, but gives you quite the work out to use. Erin and I then watched a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother and watched our finalized version of Go the Distance, our music video for Darrick and Paul!!!

Things I learned today:

1. Reading for pleasure is not allowed at work, but sitting on your butt doing nothing is. Perfect logic. Absolutely flawless.

Adults get boo boos too!

September 21, 2010

Went to work this morning and ended up getting to be in the preschool room from 8:30 until my break at noon because Ashley had training to do and had to take a test. That being said, my morning was so much fun because I actually got to be in a room where the kids can vocalize their needs and actually listen (most of the time) to what you are saying. However, there is some drama going on with one of our new kids, which involves his claiming that he was bit on his elbow and ear although there are no marks to prove it. This is the same kid whose mom comes in everyday at lunch because he cries for her and then sits there and spoon feeds her 4 year old son. Ridiculous!

I then took the kids outside and, pushing kids on the swings, Erin was walking by on the bike path, pulling two kids in the wagon. With her back to the path, she ended up tripping over a kid on a bike who was in front of her on the path and fell on her butt. At first, she started laughing and then she started crying. I rushed right over, lifted up the back of her shirt like she was a little kid to check for scrapes, but I think her butt took the majority of the force. OUCH! The kids did learn that adults get boo boos too and need hugs too though. 

I then went on my lunch break and Erin and I checked our mail... Neither of us had any, but I have three packages on the way, so I'm just waiting for some love from home! Ahhhh! After the post office, we walked over to the Outdoor Rec center to our buddy, Nigel, and put our names down for the horseback riding trip in Wales in October. SO excited! After that, we went to the coffee shop for internet and, both needing caffeine and being close to our periods, ordered a pop and a candy bar. ha ha We're allowed to splurge every once in awhile. :)

Then, in the afternoon, I went back into the toddler room and then went over to give Tasha her break. In the fifteen minutes I was gone, Jailyn managed to lose total control over the kids, which left the room in shambles for me to clean up when I got back. This is getting really frustrating!

After work, I had internet with the boy and then came home and had Mac and Cheese for dinner with leftover hamburger, watched a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother and worked on our music video for the boys before I wrote Darrick a letter and finally fell asleep. 

Things I learned today:

1. Adults need hugs too when they get hurt!

2. Sallie does healing on top of teaching, MFLAC and speaking a multitude of languages. What doesn't that woman do?

Super Hero Knock Out!

September 20, 2010

Went to work this morning and got to work with Erin in the baby room and then I went back to the toddler room and went outside. Took my lunch break and pretty much e-mailed Darrick and ate lunch as per my usual routine. Went and breaked Tasha and then went back into the baby room, so that Erin and I could take the babies outside to play since it was so beautiful today. Went back to the toddler room for another outside session and then FINALLY got off work and got to go and talk to Darrick for a little bit!

Went home, ate some dinner and then Erin and I started making our music video for our boys to Go the Distance by Michael Bolton with the footage we took in Hyde Park over the weekend. Needing a super hero's welcome, Erin dressed me up like a superhero in black leggings, a black shirt, a red blanket attached with a huge broach (I now answer to the super hero name of "Broach Girl") for a cape and a headband on my forehead. Deciding we needed a picture of me flying, we thought it was a good idea for me to climb on top of my tall dresser and jump off of it to get a picture of me flying. Of course, the timing was off, so I had to climb up about 12 times and, when we finally thought we had the timing down, Erin counted, "1...2...3...JUMP!" Listening to her command, I jumped... HIGH.... Into the ceiling above me... About knocked me out, but Erin and I ended up laughing hysterically for 5 minutes straight and then started making our incredible video! I am so excited to see the finished product!

All right, all. It's time for bed. I'm so exhausted! G'night! :)

Things I learned today:

1. Don't jump off a dresser when it's a few feet from the ceiling!

2. Strollers here are called buggies.

Really ridiculous rants cause a raucous...

September 19, 2010

Erin and I got up and ate breakfast at the hostel, which consisted of cereal and toast and then we were lucky enough to be able to check out early and get our deposit back from needing the card to swipe in the door to return to the hostel after ten pm. Totally necessary, but glad I got my five pounds back! 

Erin and I then headed to Hyde Park where we looked around for Speaker's Corner and, checking the map multiple times to our location, we finally asked someone and they told us that it didn't start until 11, so we could have totally slept in. To kill time, Erin and I people watched for awhile and then got the brilliant idea, listening to her ipod, to make our own music video for our boy friends back home. So, thus began the running, skipping, puking, laying on a bench, getting prickles in the butt cheeks, climbing a tree, etc. videos to put into Go the Distance by Michael Bolton from Hercules. It's going to be totally amazing!

Having killed enough time, we were then just in time to watch some of the speakers talk. The first guy, an African-American, speaking about how we do not know God, looked like he was doing the disco with his gesticulations throughout his entire rant from his perch on a ladder. Tiring of his speech, which didn't make much sense anyways, we went on to two speaker's who were talking about the need for a global government that represented the people. Good idea, but it will NEVER happen. One of the two speakers for this stand told us the history behind Speaker's Corner, which involves the fact that the corner they hold it on in Hyde Park was one of the bloodiest corners in England and a lot of hangings occurred here. However, before the convicts were hanged (yes, as an English teacher, I hate that it's hanged and not hung), they were allowed to make their final speech and, thus, Speaker's Corner was created. Really interesting.

Erin and I then took a bus to the King's Cross train station, so that we could take a picture with Platform nine and three quarters from Harry Potter. Finally asking where it was at, we found it, took a few pictures and left. Whoo hoo. Thank goodness we paid for the unlimited tube day pass otherwise it might have been a very disappointing trip. But, now I can say I've gone. 

We then waited for another bus that never came, but, while we were waiting, we saw a car get pulled over by a cop and we were totally fascinated by the fact that the guy actually got out of his car to give the cop his paperwork, which would NEVER fly in the states. We then just went to the tube instead and headed towards Central London where Wagamama's (a restaurant) and the Globe Theater are. Eating dinner outside and freezing to death, Erin and I decided that, having not slept well the night before (just look at the pictures), we would skip the play this weekend since we'll be back in London next Sunday anyways.

Had a very enlightening LEGAL taxi ride back to base (see #1 in Things I learned today) and then I spent the evening writing Darrick a letter and his postcard from this weekend's adventure, walked down for internet and then, on the walk home, a guy from my building (he lives above me I guess) stopped to ask if I wanted a ride because, wrapped up in a blanket, trudging home, I looked cold. I politely declined, but I am absolutely taken aback by how nice everyone on this base is compared to Bamberg where people wouldn't even smile at you when you walked by. 

Things I learned today:

1. White taxis are the only legal taxis. We took a black one last weekend. FML (Our taxi ride with a legal taxi cab cost us 14 pounds from the train station to base.. Last weekend we paid 22). 

2. Bicester central station will take us to Oxford for 1 pound. :)

3. When you get pulled over in England, it's okay to get out of the car. That WOULD never fly in the states without being asked first. 

4. Heckling is fun.

5. Sitting outside in London when it's cold is probably not the best idea when you have a cold. 

6. Getting prickles in your butt is totally worth it for a legendary music video. 

How dare you!/Waiting on a waiter...

September 18, 2010

This morning as Erin and I were walking out of our apartment on our way to meet our ride to the train station, we realized that Erin had left a trail of underwear and socks to our door that had been sitting out there all night. ha ha Deciding to treat ourselves to some tea and hot chocolate, we made some and then I stupidly left mine in the car and Erin almost left hers in the train station ticket window. So much for a treat. 

When we finally got to London, we walked to Primark (a really cheap and fashionable store) off of Oxford Street where we hopped for a couple of hours. I ended up buying a really cute gray coat for 15 pounds! Erin ended up buying much more than that. ha ha

Finishing up at Primark, Erin and I decided that we were both hungry and tired (neither of us got much sleep last night), so we hopped on the tube for our fifteen minute ride to our hostel on the outskirts of London. Arriving there, we got all checked in and then ended up taking a short, but glorious rest for a little over an hour until two girls that were also staying in our room showed up. We felt retarded for taking a nap in the middle of the day when we were in London, but it was definitely needed. 

After waking up and primping, Erin and I went to Cambridge Circle, which is the street where there are a TON of musicals (Priscilla, Chicago, etc.). We found the elusive wig shop that we had been looking for only to discover that they're closed on weekends and we wont be able to go and try on wigs. Booo! 

After that, we decided it was time to dinner since we had time to kill before going to the bar anyways, so we stopped at this restaurant called MedKitchen. We got this adorable little table in the window (window was open, so it was basically like we were sitting outside) and our waiter, who was very pushy, kept trying to get us to drink and eat dessert. Both finishing up our three egg omelets, we asked the waiter to bring us our check. We waited. And waited. The guy next to us who had been eavesdropping on our awkward conversations with the waiter the whole time then asked for his ticket and got it within a minute. I told the guy at the next table that he should ask for our ticket and he's like, "Well, he doesn't like me as much as he likes you guys." Great! Aggravated that our waiter was forcing us to stay, I finally got pissed and asked the guy who sat us to bring us our bill. Too bad tip was included in the bill otherwise that jackass would not have been getting much of a tip. 

Finally managing to pay our bill, Erin and I headed over to Covent Gardens where we stopped to watch a magician performing on the street. Recording part of his magic tricks, he looked straight at Erin and I and then grabbed Erin's hand to be a part of the magic. However, the first trick he does, without telling her what he was doing, was to put his hand up the front of her dress and stick a lit cigarette into the cloth where his hand was. So, essentially, Erin got groped by a total stranger. 

From there, Erin and I decided to head over to the Sports Bar where, within 3 minutes of arriving, we met two Englishmen, 2 Americans and a person from Portugal (not sure what they're called). One of the American's went to the University of Oregon and was pretty nice, but his friend was a complete jackass. He kept calling me an asshole because I worked on an air force base and was being really off base. And people wonder why I pretend to be as un-American as possible overseas... People like him give us a terrible rap.

Slowly backing away from the Americans, we ended up hanging out with Alan and Dean, the two Englishmen and entered into an hours-worth of foosball where Erin and I placed the bet on the winners buying the losers drinks.. Erin and I, really trying, managed to win a couple of games, but ended up losing big time in the long run. However, Alan, not drinking himself and we're pretty sure gay, was such a sweety and bought Erin and I both two beers for the night. Dean kept telling me how beautiful I was even though his girl friend was meeting us there shortly and I told him I was unavailable, but he was way plastered and was full on making out with his girl friend at our table when she showed up. She was a total sweety, but we were regaling her with stories of how Dean kept trying to moonwalk even though it was pretty much just a stumbling back walk. He wasn't very happy when I told him that the moonwalk died with Michael Jackson. ha ha Other funny things we learned was that Alan does a really good American accent when he says, "Gee. Nice pants." ha ha Random! And, every time I playfully offended one of them, they would say, "How dare you." 

Finally left the bar after 2 beers at 11:45 and headed back to the hostel and pretty much fell asleep. 

Things I learned today:

1. A "Chav" is the English word for "Red neck."

2. The moonwalk died with Michael Jackson.

3. "How dare you" is a common English phrase.

4. Sudoku is not a professional sport.

5. Don't call British people British. They prefer "English."

6. We now know why foreign people think American's are jerks. 

7. Zone 3 on the London tube is far away!

8. Waiters wont bring you the check if they think you're hot and want you to stick around awhile.

9. Erin can't carry laundry. 

10. We suck at foosball aka "table football."

11. Magician's like to grope strangers in their shows without warning.

12. No one says, "English-Americans" even though many of us hail from England. We have "African-American," etc., but no "English-American." People think it's redundant.

13. A common American phrase, "I like your pants" really means, "I like your underwear" in England.

14. "Life's a square." The phrase our English friend, Alan, taught us. 

Good friends will always come running...

September 17, 2010

Got up and got ready for work. Prayed for God to give me strength to get through the day and had a very good morning this morning. Jordan, one of my favorite little boys in the toddler room, sang me Happy Birthday (a day late, but that's okay) and I just love the way he says, "Ms. Hillary." I then went to the baby room to help Erin out for an hour, but a half hour in, got asked to go back to the toddler room to help Yana even though she had Miss Sallie and everything seemed to be under control.

Went on my lunch break at the coffee shop and wrote Darrick and then went back to work. While I was giving Tasha her break this afternoon, Jo came in, which really got my heart to racing at first. But, all she asked me was if I could go to the baby room with Erin when I was finished breaking Tasha, so that she could take the babies outisde. So, I went outside with the babies for awhile and then went back to the toddler room where I had to lay the smack down because Jailyn was letting them climb on furniture and could not get them to clean up for the life of her. Going out twenty minutes later than normal, I finally got the kids under control.

The day ended and it was the first day since I've been here that I haven't gotten yelled at!!!! Whoo hoo! Went to the coffee shop after work and waited almost 2 1/2 hours for Darrick to show up, who ended up being hungover. ha ha But, given the fact that the boy never goes out, I couldn't be mad that he didn't get out of bed early to talk to me. If I was hung over, I wouldn't get out of bed either. Ended up talking to him for several hours on skype and Erin, leaving me around 8:45, came running back down at 10:00 when I had yet to return... Darrick had said that if Erin really cared about me, she'd come back. And she did. ha ha Sorry, Erin! Didn't mean to freak you out!

Came home, had a bowl of cereal for dinner (hello, college days again!), started laundry and packed for London for the weekend! Whoo hoo! So excited.

Things I learned today:

1. If I don't come home within a reasonable amount of time, Erin will come looking for me.

2. Internet in the coffee shop is terrible. But, walk ten feet outside and the signal is superb. You just have to freeze to get it. LAME!

Hello, 23. Nice to meet you.

September 16, 2010

Woke up this morning, slightly more optimistic than I have been any other day that I've been here for the sole purpose that it's my 23rd Birthday. Confused because I woke up an hour early yesterday and Erin was up before me in the shower, I freaked out that I had way over slept. Getting up and opening my door, however, I realized that Erin had streamed Happy Birthday streamers in my door frame and, in the kitchen, had decorated a Birthday chair for me. On the kitchen table, she had a Nebraska postcard as my Birthday card with ribbon sitting on top of a Shakespeare pamphlet for the Globe Theater... The postcard said that she will buy me my ticket to Henry Iv on Sunday! Best gift ever!

Decided that because it's my Birthday and the commissary had Honey O's (my favorite cereal in the states), I helped myself to a bowl of cereal before heading off to work. 

When I got to work, I psyched myself up and decided that I was really going to try and build rapport with my two co-workers to hopefully smooth out our differences, so I asked Yana about her night and she went into this long story about seeing Resident Evil and how her friend freaked her out. I think we're on the right track to being better co-workers if not maybe friends. 

The morning itself was pretty good until, getting ready to leave on my lunch break, Jo came in and asked me if she could borrow me for a minute. Of course obliging, I followed her into her office with another co-worker, Crystal, when Jo started saying, "So, apparently there is concern that you guys are not paying attention to the kids There was a child who got a scratch and you guys couldn't tell the parents how it happened when they picked her up." I then asked the smartest question of all because no scratches happened on my watch... "What child?" Hesitating, deciding whether or not to tell me, she mentioned the name of an infant and I promptly told her that I don't work in the baby room and Crystal was like, "Yeah, that's Erin." So, Jo made me go get Erin to talk to, but it aggravated me because she just assumed it was me and doesn't even know what room I work in and, when she realized she made a mistake, didn't even apologize for yelling at me on my BIRTHDAY! Grr!

Went to the coffee shop at lunch (pretty typical) to get internet and e-mail Darrick like I do every other day. Discovered that Darrick actually got a facebook account just for me. Though he'll delete it when I get home, but at least now I can make and send him videos while I'm abroad! :)

Went back to work and had a relatively good afternoon. Yailyn kept talking to me about wanting kids, but how she likes her tits. She said that they are perfect and that she doesn't want to lose that. I couldn't get over the nature of the conversation given that I've known her a matter of days, but she cracks me up with her broken English and the topics she brings up. She also mentioned, in the same conversation on a tangent, that she wants to teach me how to body paint. 

After work, I went to the library and talked to Darrick for FOUR lovely hours! Came home and Erin and I set about decorating my Birthday cake. Not sure how to do it, we had the bright idea that we would make a Croughton cake and, thus, needed three random balls on my cake like there are three random GIANT balls in a field of sheep on base. Using a coffee cup as our cookie cutter, we got three balls and started to attempt to frost it, but it kept crumbling, so we only frosted the front for pictures. ha ha Then, having no candles, we used popsicle sticks and stuck caramels on the top of them and then I lit a match, stuck it in the cake and blew it out for a picture. 

Deciding Erin and I did not need all the cake to ourselves, we walked barefoot with a ball cake down the outdoor hallway to Miss Sallie's room, who is our MFLAC, but pretty much our pseudo-grandmother for the next two weeks. When we got there, I told her that I didn't know how to cut that balls and she's like, "You're 23 for heavens sake. You should be able to figure out how to cut a ball! Or at least bust one." After she dropped the f-bomb a few times, we were regaled with hilarious stories from her past and, to end the night, she told us this story about the guy behind the Chicken Soup books and how he was making 13,000 dollars and wanted to make 100,000 dollars in a year. He wrote "100,000" dollars on a dollar bill and put it so that it was the first thing he saw in the morning and the last thing he saw at night. He then came up with his idea and, in a year, made 93,000 dollars. Sallie gave each of us a dollar and then told us that we couldn't live in fear, had to dare and take chances and we, like her giving up a really good job at home to be an MFLAC, could make 100,000 dollars a year too. Really powerful story and was exactly what I needed to hear. :) Now I have my 100,000 dollar dollar bill in my room, so I can see it and remember to take chances and dare. 

Things I learned today:

1. Always ask questions. It can save you from getting yelled at.

2. Three balls on a cake can be some of the funniest memories of a Birthday you could possibly have.

3. If you are a non-American who joins the military, you can become an American. 

Bad day blues...

September 15, 2010

I should've known getting up this morning that today was going to be a bad day. Did my usual. Rolled over, turned off my alarm, forced myself to look as optimistically as I could at the day and stumbled down to the shower. Getting out of the shower and waking up Erin, she told me that it was a quarter to six!!! Somehow, my clock got set an hour early, so I woke up an entire hour early. Laid back down for an hour to try and attempt some sleep, which did not work.

Went to work and had a very stressful morning as Yana, supposed to take an hour for lesson planning, took two hours, which left me in a room alone with seven two year olds while I was trying to change their diapers and keep them from dumping every toy imaginable in the room. She finally came back just in time to take her half hour break, so I took the kids outside. Gave Ashley her break for a half hour and ended up having to stay in the toddler room because one of the kids pooped his pants and she had to change him.

Went back to the toddler room and fed the kids lunch and then took my break where we dropped off our mail at the post office, talked to Nigel and found out that they cancelled the Wales horseback riding trip this weekend, so we will now be spending Saturday and Sunday in London and then went to get internet. To make my day even better, my battery in my computer wont charge and/or is very particular about how much it will charge. Grrr..

Went back to work and was breaking in the toddler room when Jo, my boss, came in and rudely asked if I was helping Yailyn clean up before I went home at the end of the day. I told her that whatever I was playing with the kids with, I did, but that usually they were still playing with the water table, so I left that. She kind of shrugged it off, but I asked if that's how Yailyn felt and Jo said, "Basically, yes." Upset to the point that I was frustratingly wiping away tears, I decided to confront Yailyn about it and just ask her to do me the courtesy of telling me first before taking something like that to Jo. She told me that she didn't say anything to Jo about it and I believe her because her English is limited and I know she can't understand Jo, so she limits her talking with her. That just really pissed me off! I freaking hate working here. I dread everyday. I hate the room I'm in, the drama in my room and my boss who is so freaking rude. Trying to find some strength, but I'm tired of waking up wondering who will yell at me and what for each day. 

Yailyn, a make-up artist, did tell me that she loves my hair and that it's really healthy and then asked me if I would be willing to let her do my hair and make-up, so she can take pictures and put it in her portfolio. Why would I say no? A girl can always use a little pampering!

After work, I vented to Erin and then, talking to Darrick, tried my hardest not to tear up again... He always manages to make me laugh someway or another, but it's still frustrating being so far away from everyone I love and hating what I'm doing abroad. Twelve more weeks. Only twelve more weeks!

Came home and made tacos for dinner and then Erin and I made my Birthday cake. Watched a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother and now it's back to bed, so I can get yelled at on my Birthday tomorrow. Can't wait. My last day as a 22 year old sucked. Why shouldn't my first day as a 23 year old suck in the same environment? Never thought I would say that I missed Bamberg. 

Things I learned today:

1. When your day starts off on the wrong foot, it's a pretty good indication that it wont end up much better.

2. Trying to figure out how to bake a cake in two little pans in degrees celsius is a bit of a challenge.

3. Erin can't do fractions. HA HA Scooping excess water out of the cake batter was pretty hilarious though. 

Black Eye Blues...

September 14, 2010

Today began with my being berated by Yana at the beginning of my shift because Jailya used a food bowl to put paint in, did not clean up her mess and did not close the room down properly. Yana tried to tell me that it was my responsibility to make sure my co-worker was doing what she needed to be doing. First off, I was doing diapers while she was doing the freaking art project. Second, we are both NEW to the freaking center and, therefore, do not know all the rules. Especially when no one explicitly tells us the expectations. Third, it is not my responsibility to take care of my co-worker. She does her job. I do mine. It was a REALLY frustrating way to start my day!

Luckily, I got to go to the preschool room for an hour while Ashley did some lesson planning and, bless her heart, she purposely found other things she "had" to do, so that I could stay out of the toddler room a little longer and she also mentioned that she was going to talk to Jan and tell her that she needs a little more help in the preschool room, so I should be getting out a little more.

Took the kids outside for an hour this morning while Yana took her break and, upon her return, I got yelled at for letting the kids play in these planter's boxes that we don't use because we were searching for bugs. Sallie, our MFLAC lady, could tell I was upset because NO ONE TOLD ME THEY CAN"T PLAY IN THE PLANTER'S BOXES, so she gave me a hug and told me it's taken her three weeks to learn them and not to stress about it. 

Then gave Ashley her break and went into the preschool room to read the kids stories. Went back to the toddler room and served lunch and then FINALLY got to go on my break. Went to the coffee shop with Erin and pretty much e-mailed Darrick before I had to return. 

Worked with Jailyn for the remainder of the afternoon, which wasn't that bad except for the fact that Jacob got a black eye when he was fighting over the clipboard with another child (Johnny who he always fights with) when that child let go and it hit Jacob in the face. Luckily, Jacob's dad was not upset. Just inquired as to whether the "other child" was Johnny and said that they were always fighting. Whew. Although, had he been upset, I could've just blamed the center for putting two new staff members in the room for the afternoon all week... Grrr...

After work, there was a downpour, so Sallie, bless her heart, took Erin and I to the commissary to pick up some things we needed (toilet paper and such) and then Erin and I went down for internet where I got a nice surprise of talking to Darrick for a little bit even though I wasn't expecting it.

Came home and Erin and I had a waffle and eggs for dinner, watched two episodes of How I Met Your Mother, got ready for bed and ended up talking for another hour and am only now starting to write this blog, some postcards and a letter to the boy. :) Good night, all.

Things I learned today:

1. Apparently I am supposed to learn rules through osmosis.

2. Apparently I am responsible for my co-worker's actions.

3. Working with grubby, germ-infested two year olds by day and sitting in the cold at a picnic table for internet at night leads to a cold. Blgh.   

Can't trust a Monday...

September 13, 2010 

Went to work at 8 this morning and spent a half hour in the toddler room before I headed over to the Blue Room (Pre-tods) to help Erin out for an hour. I then, unfortunately, had to go back to the toddler room where the morning actually went pretty fast because we played play dough and then spent an hour outside. While outside, Yana took her hour break, so Ashley and I were outside alone and I swear, the one minute that Ashley and I were even standing remotely close to each other, was the second that Jo came out to yell at us for talking. I seriously think she was sitting in the staff lounge just waiting for us to do something, so she could yell at us.

I then breaked Ashley for a half hour before I went back to the toddler room and served lunch. Finally got to leave on my lunch break and then was alone in the toddler room for the afternoon with the new teacher who barely speaks English. The kids don't listen to her, she speaks limited English and, in the half hour it took for me to change all of the kids' diapers, the room was a mess, a child hit his head (she couldn't even write the accident report for it) and everything was absolutely mayhem until I finished and made the kids clean up... It's going to be a long week of afternoons if today is any indication. Then was 15 minutes late for giving Tasha her 15 minute break, which was stressful, but it all ended up working out okay. 

After work, I went down to the library, which was closed. I ended up sitting in the hall for all of about 5 minutes before this lady rudely came in and told me she was going to kick me out, but, luckily, her co-worker was sticking around and said it was fine for me to stay until she left work. Erin showed up about a half hour later and then we were told the building was officially closed, so we vacated and went out to our picnic table post. Spent an hour or two on internet, came home, burned the first batch of chicken nuggets in our microwave, ended up baking them in the oven, had pickles and corn as a side dish, started laundry, watched a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother and started watching 27 dresses. 

Time for bed now. Yay for Monday being down! Three days until my Birthday! Four/five days until the ice bar to celebrate my Birthday. And, hopefully, six days until the horseback riding trip through Wales. YAY!

Things I learned today: 

1. Paid staff at the CDC only works half days, but Erin and I, since we're free labor, work 8 hour days. Also, when CDC staff works 8 hour days, they get two one-hour lunch breaks. We get one... Not sure how this sounds fair??

Fumbling in the dark...

September 12, 2010

Deciding that Erin and I deserved a day to sleep in, neither of us set an alarm. Having nothing pressing to do, I didn't even get out of bed until 11 (I was playing with pictures and writing my blogs). Showering and getting ready for nothing pretty much, we decided to do the dishes, clean up our rooms and attempt laundry although everyone and their brother were doing laundry today, so we didn't manage to get our laundry in until late.

I then finished up editing the photographs and then, figuring out that the library was open until 5, Erin and I went down to the library to upload photos, read e-mails and otherwise catch up from the weekend's festivities. 

Came back to the apartment at 4:30 to get some dinner and then went back down for internet at 5 since our boys would be online. Finished putting captions on my photos, responded to the rest of my e-mails, wrote Darrick some e-mails and played around with Picnik.com photo editing until Darrick got online and I got to talk to him for a little bit!!! Then, when he left, Sarie got online and we got to talk about boys from a distance of England to Taiwan. Good times!

Came home, watched a couple of episodes of How I Met Your Mother, FINALLY got to put in our laundry, which didn't actually run the first time (just took the soap, but didn't mix with water) and then, running the cycle again, finally finished it, so we could put it in the dryer. However, figuring out how to start the dryer for the first time when the lights in the room don't work (it's literally pitch black), we managed to use a flash light and discovered the writing underneath the button that said, "Push to start." Felt like a total idiot.

Wrote our blogs, watched some more tv shows and then finished up our laundry.

Things I learned today:

1. Doing laundry for the first time in a pitch black room is quite difficult.

2. Picnik.com is a really fun photo editing site.

I see London! I see France!

September 11, 2010

Alicja from work, bless her heart, picked Erin and I up from our apartment this morning and took us to the train station. Trying to figure out the new station, we finally opted for asking at the window what the most cost effective ticket would be for us to spend the day in London. The ticket for a day pass for North Bicester (our closest train station) and London cost 18 pounds and, for an extra two pounds, we could get the train pass as well as a pass that would allow us to take the tube and buses throughout London.  

Finally getting on the train, Erin and I were noticing how the British trains were divided, so that some cars were "quiet zones" where you can sleep and mobiles (yes, they call them mobiles over here) are not allowed where as other cars are just normal conversation. Seeing the car in front of us was a "quiet zone," we figured we were safe, so we spent the first 15 minutes having a conversation between the two of us. Eventually, Erin paused, mid-conversation, to ask if we were in a quiet zone. In deed, we were! Wow.. Could we be anymore American? Promptly being quiet, our feelings of guilt were quickly assuaged when many other people got on the train and also began talking in the "quiet zone." Whew!

Arriving in London and navigating the tube to Earl's Court (in South Kensington), Erin and I exited the train station and saw Baker's Dozen, her old bakery that she went to all the time when she studied abroad in London three years ago. We saw some adorable little donuts that had sprinkle hair and cute little smiley faces, so we each bought one. They were mighty delicious save the sprinkles, which tasted like bacon. 

Continuing on, we went to South Kensington where Erin lived and I got to see her old apartment and street that she lived on. From here, we decided to just walk towards downtown London, so that we could see a lot and ended up spending a fair portion of time admiring Harvey Nichols' shop windows, which had a variety of scenes made out of one item. For instance, they had the front of a car made out of little metal horse statues, which we thought signified "Horse Power." They had a tree that was made completely out of pencils (we figure because pencils are made of wood). They had a piano made out of cassette tapes (music related) and a bike made out of bolts and wrenches (mechanical related). Anyways, to make a long description short, they were the most fascinating window displays I have ever seen.

We then walked on to Hyde Park where we got to see some of their really fascinating gates and spent a little bit of time just at the front entrance of the park before continuing on our journey to Piccadilly Circus, which is the equivalent of Times Square in New York. Erin, having lived there before, remembered that there was a statue of Hellos' horses (a Greek god) that had very anatomically correct parts, so we thought it would be funny to take a picture. Trying to get my hand in the right position to "cup" the horse's balls, Erin directed me: "Up an inch. Down half an inch. Now cup." Got an absolutely hysterical picture out of it and only one lady caught on to what we were actually doing. HA HA

We then went to Trafalgar's Square where we saw this giant ship in a bottle and a couple of sphinxes with a spectacular view of Big Ben in the background. Stopping to people watch for awhile, we eventually crossed the street to a statue of King Charles I in the middle of a roundabout and decided that we were hungry. With Big Ben as our view, we sat in the middle of the roundabout and ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwich when this random Egyptian guy asked Erin if she could take a picture for them. Taking their picture, she was then asked to be in a picture with them and, as the picture was being taken, the guy's hand kept creeping further and further up Erin's side until he was practically grazing her breastal region. The guy then asked if I wanted a picture, which I politely declined and we promptly left. Wow. 

Continued on towards parliament and Big Ben where we took the ultra-touristy pictures in a telephone booth. Crossed the bridge to get down to where the Thames Festival was going on and, on the walk, found the most interesting saying on the back of a soft serve ice cream truck: "Often licked. Never beaten." We contemplated it's meaning, but, finding none that made sense, we decided it was just a hilarious quote and took a picture with it. We then saw a Subway sandwich guy all dressed up and joked about having our picture taken with him. A tour guide, overhearing us, said, "You like the Subway guy. Come. Take a picture." So, grabbing my camera, he directed us to pick up Subway dude (we politely declined) and had our picture taken... Very interesting people.

Starting walking towards the festival, we were stopped by a red-headed zombie who is in some show they were publicizing, who engaged us in a conversation about how gingers are a dying breed and it's his mission to keep the population alive. He then asked where we were from and actually knew where Oregon was, which was absolutely surprising. Trying to sell us on coming to the show, Erin said something about free to which he replied, "Nothing is free in London. But, I can do ya very cheap." We weren't sure whether he was referring to giving us a cheap ticket or some other less than appropriate offer. 

Finally making it to the Thames festival, we watched a breakdance show, saw some giant bubbles be blown by a bubbleologist (didn't know that was a profession), an obstacle course that the audience could join for free and the worst breakdance battle I think I have ever seen. 

We then continued on to the wharf where we recreated pictures that I had taken a couple of months ago when I first came to London with Jacey and Sarah. Stopped by The Globe Theater to take pictures and saw that they were doing Henry IV at 7:30. Deciding whether we felt like standing for a three hour and fifteen minute show after walking all day long, Erin and I threw caution to the wind and bought a 5 pound standing ticket. 

We then went and walked around a little bit more of the Thames Festival and watched a live performance of the Fairy Tale Circus Company and then, with still a few more hours to burn, we went to St. Pauls and crossed the Millennium Bridge and then decided to just go sit down for dinner at Pizza Express, which, ironically enough, was one of the slowest restaurants I have ever been to. Finally went to the theater and stood in line for our standing spots and, entering the theater, managed to get second row standing "seats" where you could literally see the stitching on the costumes, the spit fly from the actors' mouths, etc. At one point, this little boy just flat out comes and stands right in front of me, which kind of pissed me off since we had stood in line and got our seats. He eventually moved to the stage, but the guys standing in front of us kept giving me a hard time about being bitter until, at intermission, the little kid stole one of their standing spaces. Then it wasn't so funny. Anyways, the play was absolutely impeccable. Erin and I, exhausted beyond belief, were so entranced by the performance that we could not help but be drawn in by the happenings on stage. We were laughing hysterically and were so pleased with our decision that we are planning on going back to see the second half of Henry IV as soon as possible.

As soon as the play was over at 10:45, Erin and I booked it to the "nearest" (okay, in actuality, it ended up being a lot further than the map indicated because of construction) tube station and managed to get back to the Marylebone train station just in time to catch a 10:36 train back to Bicester North. Calling Alicja so that she didn't freak out about our not calling her, we left a message with her husband to tell her we were find in the morning. Once on the train, we started talking to some people on the train. One guy in particular had a book that he had finished reading and was trying to give away instead of throwing it away. However, in his book pitch, he told me that the book was "quite ordinary" and he had a hard time finishing it. Asking him what it was about, I realized it was definitely not a book I was interested in reading, but offered to take it and throw it away when he wasn't looking, so that he didn't feel guilty. He decided, after some prompting and sales pitch help from us ("Just tell them it's the best book you've ever read."), he went to the next car and gave it away quickly. Poor sap who wastes his time reading a "quite ordinary" book. 

Paid 20 pounds to take a taxi to base and then had a very awkward and forced conversation with the guy who checked our base ID cards and, finally getting back, changed into comfy clothes and decided it was a good idea to walk ten minutes across base in the pitch black darkness at 2 AM to get internet. On the walk, a rabbit, scurrying in the bushes, took off running in our path and scared the crap out of me. Then, as we were sitting and getting internet, we could hear someone inside the building, which totally freaked us out. Don't think I'll be traipsing across base in the dead of night for internet anymore. 

Got home at about 3 AM, absolutely starving, so we had Ramen noodles and uploaded/traded our pictures. Finally passed out at about 3:45 absolutely spent!

Things I learned today:

1. Gingers are a dying breed by British standards.

2. Scotland is part of the UK. I'm an idiot apparently.

3. A taxi from the train station to base (a total of 6 miles) costs 20 pounds one way. OUCH!

4.Egyptians you've never met before are happy to see you again???

5. Lunch in a roundabout is fun.

6. Stripes and checkers together are all the rage in England fashion.

7. It is apparently okay to wear a dress that shows your entire bra while you're out for dinner with your mom.

8. There is such a job as a bubbleologist.

9. It is possible to get out of a play at 10:45 and make it to the train before your day pass expires. 

10. Quiet zones are not necessarily quiet. 

11. When trying to get someone to take your book, do not tell them that it was "quite ordinary" and you couldn't get to the end. It's not a good sale's pitch. 

12.It's okay to suck face in public. Anywhere. 

13. Bedlam is the first playwright written by a woman to be performed at The Globe Theater. 

Power Outage!

September 10, 2010

Went to work as usual this morning and was, once again, stuck in the toddler room for the entire morning. Covered Yana's break, which consisted of me playing playdough with the kids, getting them to clean up the room and feed them lunch. At one point, Jan, one of my bosses, came in to have me sign some paperwork. Deciding it couldn't hurt to ask, I pleaded my case about Erin and I splitting our time in the toddler room, which she flat out said no to because the kids need consistency. Ironically, however, I will be covering breaks in other rooms, which is not consistent, so there went her entire theory. Really ticked me off because I really hate working with toddlers and I was so near tears at that point.

Went on my lunch break to the coffee shop with Erin where I got to read two e-mails from Darrick and an e-mail diagnosing all of Sarie's dysfunctional men who are vying for her attention. It was definitely some good comic relief! About 10 minutes before our break was over, the power went out. 

Coming back on, we got to the center and then it went out again. At one point, Jo, my other boss, comes in to call me out, which totally freaks me out, but it was actually just Nigel calling from Outdoor Rec to tell me that they had two cancellations for the canoeing trip this weekend if we were interested. In the midst of the conversation, however, the power went out again. Freaked out that they couldn't watch us on the camera, they yanked me from the toddler room and put me with Erin in the baby room for like 40 minutes.

Ended up going back to the toddler room for the rest of the afternoon with the power going on and off a few more times.. Had a good visit with some of the parents and FINALLY got off at 5:30. Erin and I then went to our picnic table and got on internet. Having shut down my computer, I was waiting for Erin to finish up when I had a feeling I should get back on. Thank goodness I did because I ended up video skyping with Darrick for an hour, which made me laugh so much. He started by making our chat screen a super cheesy heart and then proceeded through a really creepy teddy bear talking to me and then Abe Lincoln where he cited the Gettysburg Address, which had Erin and I in hysterics. 

Getting off at about 8:30, Erin and I came home and had the most pregnant-woman- cravings ever - pickles, hot chocolate and mac and cheese. ha ha And it was mighty delicious too! 

Watched two episodes of Rules of Engagement before they stopped (each 15 minutes in) and we didn't have internet to refresh the page. Ended up starting How I Met your Mother season 1 and now it's time for bed since we're leaving for LONDON in the am. Whoo hoo!

Things I learned today:

1. Abraham Lincoln says the funniest things and you can get your picture taken with him. Though he looks quite ghostly.

2. People don't know how to cope with the power being out on an air force communication base.

3. Baby powder is a good zit zapper. ha ha ha Don't ask.

4. Watching movies via skype dates is a fun alternative to just instant messaging. 

Yellow...

September 9, 2010

Got to work this morning and Jo said she had a question for us, which, of course, related to the e-mail from Camp Adventure Head Quarters and basically did not change anything about our going into ratio today. 

After that uncomfortable conversation where Erin and I defended ourselves and what we actually said to headquarters, I was sent to the toddler room for another day. Got to do an art project of sponge painting with the kids and then spent the majority of the morning playing inside and outside with the kids. At lunch, I got to serve lunch and then rubbed backs until kids went to sleep and it was finally my turn to take a break. Erin and I, comparing the schedules we got that has me working with toddlers from 8-5 all next week, decided that we are going to talk to Jo about alternating our work schedule, so that Erin and I alternate who is in the toddler room from week to week. This was neither one of us will get burned out as quickly and hate our jobs as much. Ran to the post office to get our address, the atm to pull out both American and England currency, the Outdoor Recreation office and the coffee shop travel agency in order to start planning our trips. 

Returning to work, I got to do story time with the kids and feed them snack and then, since September 11th is this weekend, there was a service on base and a walk afterwards to remember those who died in the attack. We took all of the kids down to the chapel and then did the walk with everyone else, which got the kids really excited and made the afternoon go pretty smoothly.

Had one pretty funny story stem from our time out on the playground where my classroom kids (who we refer to as the "yellow room kids") are not allowed to go on one of the play structures because it's too high. Ironically, my one little Asian toddler was trying to climb up and I said something along the lines of, "No yellows allowed up here." Not realizing how it sounded, another teacher, Tasha, was like, "Girl, say what? That's racist." It was only at that moment that I realized it sounded so bad, but Tasha was just giving me crap. Guess I have to watch how I phrase some of my wording. Whoops!

FINALLY got off work and, with a mind-splitting headache, Erin and I headed to the library (the library is open until 8 on Thursdays!!!) where we spent about two hours on the internet in actual warmth. Came home, made rice and soy sauce for dinner, started to watch Hoodwinked, which we both fell asleep for and then decided it's bedtime. So, good night all. :)

Things I learned today:

1. Even when a child is in the yellow room, don't refer to them as "yellows." It could come across as racist.

2. "Flush it slow, it won't go. Flush it fast, it'll pass." - The rhyme we learned to teach us how to flush toilets over here. 

3. At the center, we have people working there from Russia, Poland, England, America, Cuba and Mexico/Puerto Rico. Quite a lot of diversity and languages spoken there!

4, Next Monday, Jaylun (one of my co-workers) will be turning 32 on Monday when, on Thursday, I will be turning the opposite, 23. Interesting. 

5. Toga party at the "club" on base tomorrow night! Whoop! Whoop!

Maddening Mishaps...

September 8, 2010

Day three working at the center and our alarm did not go off, so Erin and I were in crunch mode this morning trying to get ready for work and get there on time. With about twenty minutes, we managed to get out the door and ate a box of sugar cereal on the walk, which made us feel like fat kids in a cafeteria when we were walking by the air force men working out. 

Managed to get to work with ten minutes to spare (trying to get on our boss' good side again) until we got there and realized we left our observation sheets on the kitchen table... Don't think she was too happy with us for needing another copy. Way to blow our trying to do everything we're asked. Blgh. Spent the entire morning doing our 4 hours of observation. Finished up our observation sheet and then Erin and I, at 12:30, were informed that we were supposed to take our breaks at noon, but NO ONE told us! Upset that we were expected to know something that we had not been told, Erin and I took our break and then talked to our boss about conflicting times that we had heard for our schedule this week since we have yet to receive our schedules! 

After lunch, we were put into ratio where I got to (okay, more like had to) work with the two year olds because they were having a rough day. One little girl in there has decided that she hates me because I made her clean up a mess she made (the other teacher babies the children whereas I let them cry when they push their friends and I tell them "no"), so now she hits me, pushes me away and refuses my help. I am really not happy being in the two year old room, so I am really hoping I spend a majority of my time in the preschool room where I genuinely enjoy spending time with the children.

Got to go outside this afternoon and we have these tandem bikes where the kid sits in the front and, if their legs don't reach, the adult can sit on the seat behind them and pedal. I was riding with one of the kids and Tasha, one of the new employees who started the same day I was, was giving me a hard time about how silly I looked. Pretty sure I'm going to be sore in muscles I never knew I had and that I'll have bruises on the back of my thighs where the handle bars are. ha ha

Finally got off from what seemed like the longest day in imagination and headed to our picnic table for internet. E-mailed Camp Adventure because they wanted to know our training schedule and, upon finding out we were already in ratio, our contact person e-mailed our boss who will now probably be even more upset with Erin and I come tomorrow. Being in the middle of the differing expectations between our boss and the head person of the program, I finally just told CA head quarters to take it up with my boss because I didn't feel comfortable being the middle man, but Erin and I are definitely feeling frustrated. 

However, despite my rough day, it was made all the better by the fact that I got to talk to Darrick through IM for the first time since I've been here and, man, was it nice to talk to him again. Totally brightened my day!!!

Came home to a toilet that was fixed (thank goodness we didn't need to get inventive on ways/places to pee) and made goolash for dinner while we watched the second half of The Holiday. At about 9:30, I crashed until midnight and then got up and spent a few hours talking to Erin before we decided we should probably head back to sleep. 

Here's to hoping tomorrow is a better day!

Things I learned today:

1. British air force men say, "ladies" as way of greeting you as they walk by.

2. Two year olds like to call "tatter tots" "Teeter tots." 

3. Toilets over here require a quick flush and then multiple longer holds on the handle to get anything to actually flush. It's mighty frustrating.

Numb fingers and toes...

September 7, 2010 (Day 3)

Today started out as any other day does... The alarm jarring me from a slumberous dream of home, me tiredly walking barefooted down the hall to the bathroom for a hot shower. Spending the majority of my hour of getting ready time in the shower, I managed to be out the door at 8:25 to catch our ride to the CDC where we asked to simply observe in the three classrooms for the first hour or so of the day. Got to see the one year old room, two year old room and the preschool room, which, in all, has about 24 kids. Met some adorable little ones (Erin and I are fighting to work in the one year old room with the little tikes and the best teacher at the CDC). There's this one little baby in the one year old room whose name is Christian. He has dark brown eyes and hair with the biggest and most adorable dimples in his cheeks and the cutest little voice saying, "puppy" over and over again. Already he brings me a book and sits in my lap every time I enter the classroom.

After our initial observations, Erin and I were whisked off to an office on post to get our military ID cards, a process that would take us the next three and a half hours. After an hours wait just to be helped, I was taken back to be asked a slew of questions varying from my height to my weight to my blood type to whether or not I was a blood donor. I then had my picture taken and my finger prints (it was kind of like a game trying to get my finger positioned correctly on the finger print reader with the right amount of pressure, so that the computer would register my prints). And then I was done... With the first ID card. When that ID card initially came out of the printer, it did not laminate correctly and half my face was missing. I appreciated the fact that this was not acceptable to them (I quite like having my face whole), I was then asked to come back with a different guy to help me at attempt number two. This time around, the guy had to re-do my picture and photograph, which, in the midst of waiting, he managed to give me his phone number (Ummm, dude, I don't even know your name and I'm not really available either... The paper was promptly thrown away in the trash bin outside his office) and tell me that I looked like "a sheet" (what exactly does a person who looks like a sheet look like?????), which he thought was nicer than saying I looked "ghastly." Really?!? Then, blessedly, the ID card printed and I was saved from any more awkward conversation... Or so I thought. This time the ID card printed correctly, but the magnetized portion did not give me the clearance I needed to enter the commissary and other privileges on base. So, the second guy had to call in a replacement who gave him his ID card to override my card... However, to log in with his ID card, the creepy guy who we shall call guy 1 needed the replacement guy's who we shall call guy 2 finger. Guy 2 said something along the lines of, "Do you need my finger?" to which guy 1 said he didn't know how to answer and then said, "No homo. It's don't ask don't tell." AWKWARD.... So, long story short, I had to have my fingerprints and picture taken ONE more time and everything over a 2 hour chunk of time finally worked out the third time around. 

With my ID card processed, it was then Erin's turn, which only took about 25 minutes to process. Grr.. Though she did get lost at the airport, so it really was my turn for some bad luck. ha ha

Finally finished with the office, we walked back to the CDC where we were given an hour break for lunch. Sallie, the MFLAC lady who works at our center and, ironically, worked with Erin in Germany, went with us to the bowling alley for lunch (I know.. The bowling alley, right? Who goes to a bowling alley for lunch?) and then we headed back to work for a few hours of painful training, which is not only redundant, but a downright diss to mine and Erin's intelligence level considering we're both LICENSED teachers! We then spent the majority of the afternoon reading packets, taking quizzes, doing scavenger hunts of the primary and secondary fire escapes and doing observations in the classrooms... Erin and I, not wanting to over burden the other two classrooms who already had a new employee shadowing them, decided to go together to the one room that didn't have any children, but, in the end, we ended up getting told rudely by our boss that we didn't need to be in the same room together. Whoops.. My bad???

After work, Erin and I got dropped off at the commissary where we spent 90 bucks on groceries and had to carry all of it across the parking lot and to our building, which was quite hilarious considering the sheer amount of weight in cans and liquids we bought. We put away all of our groceries and then headed for the library, which, like everything on this base, closes early, so we scoped out a picnic table under the covered area outside the library, which is one of the few places we get internet on base. Being a fairly mild day weather-wise for England, we were good until it got to be like 7, which just shows us that we'll be freezing our little buns off to have any semblance of communication with our loved ones back home. 

Getting home around 8:30 when base is pitch black and virtually deserted, we made some cheese ravioli and alfredo sauce and tried to open our jar of pickles for probably 15 minutes before we FINALLY got it off... (Picture of one said attempt to be uploaded soon). Then, to top of this very interesting journey so far, Erin went to the bathroom and now our toilet doesn't flush!!!! For now, we're just peeing and throwing our toilet paper away, but hopefully we can remedy this problem soon... 

Watched about half of The Holiday and said we were going to bed, but ended up talking about relationships and boys for about an hour before we finally closed the doors. But, now it is certainly time for bed. Gotta work early! Blgh!

Things I learned today:

1. Sperm donors in England get approximately 25 pounds per ejaculation.

2. British law has limited the number of women who can receive sperm from one donor in a given area in order to decrease the likelihood of half-siblings later procreating. WOW!

3. Apparently, Erin and I bring the thunder because it was only after meeting our staff trainer that she interrupted our training to make us listen to the thunder and told us that in all the time she's been in England, she has never heard thunder.

4. Erin is crazy and sees perfect circles on windowpanes.  

Dizzying Disasters - Day 2

September 6, 2010 (Day 2)

Continued flying the remainder of the night and, just my luck, the brief 15 minutes I manage to fall asleep is the time when they come around with breakfast and I MISSED it.... 

So, having a maple bar before I took off and some very unpalatable dinner in my stomach, I arrived at the Heathrow airport where I got to feel like a celebrity looking for Erin and a pink sign that said, "Croughton," which would be my driver. Seeing only a pink sign, I tapped the guy on the shoulder and asked if his sign said, "Croughton." Indeed, it did, but Erin was nowhere to be found, so Keith (my driver who makes my name sound so beautiful with his old man British tongue) and I spent the next 2 1/2 hours trying to track down Erin... Finally, giving up on finding her after several pages and checking different terminals, we headed towards Croughton (even though I told him she wasn't the type to just leave the airport) when we got a call that said she was back at terminal three waiting to be picked up.

Keith flipped a bitch (yes, correct term) and we went to get Erin, but having very little in my stomach, being exhausted from no sleep and being subjected to some very twisty driving (straight spirals up and down the garage to get to the other levels), I took off to the bathroom before getting Erin (under the guise that I was going to check the bathroom for her, so that I wouldn't have to offend poor Keith) and threw up what little remained in my stomach. Feeling much better, however, we FINALLY proceeded to the car and headed towards Croughton where I managed to sleep a scant 10 minutes. Grr...

Met up with Jo, our Point of Contact on post, who showed Erin and I our rooms and, naturally because we had to get out of the car, the rain started dumping... They did say that this morning marked the last of summer for England, so let the rain begin!  The highlights of our room can be summed up in the following list: Heated towel rack for toasty towels each morning, a walk in closet (my first ever), a beauty station with a sink in our individual rooms, AMERICAN outlets, so we don't need all converters, a mood lighting lamp (wont be needing that, but it's nice to have), close proximity to the washer and dryers (Babe, it's art!) and a nice location on the bottom floor, so Erin and I can jump rope without disturbing our neighbors. The low parts of our living situation can be summed up as follows: a bag of potatoes with sprouts and mold, which has attracted an insane amount of bugs and no internet unless we want to pay 35 pounds for a month! 

After managing to unpack and get everything situated, I was going cross-eyed from trying to keep myself awake, so I took an hour snooze when I overheard Erin talking to the two neighbor girls who said that they travel every weekend (Did someone say travel buddies??) and then Erin and I chowed down on about 3 bowls of cereal with watered down whole milk. Delicious. We'll have to go to the commissary tomorrow after we get our base passes and everything, but we've settled in pretty nicely.

About to watch The Holiday and settle in for the night, so that we can start work tomorrow morning at 8:30 am. Whoo hoo!

Things I learned today:

1. Heathrow airport has very windy/twisty parking garages, which can lead to nausea. Especially with a driver who has the automatic prescription glasses that change from light to dark and who, upon entering the garage, lets you know that he can't see and, therefore, to warn him about any pedestrians. Oh, now I feel safe!

2. Potatoes stored in a forgotten cupboard for God only knows how long will attract an assortment of bugs.

3. Too much time on a flight with socks and boots on will give you kankles. Just a snapshot of how they'll look when I'm prego someday. Oh joy. 

4. People who drive cars with the driver's seat on the left side (like we do in the states) have to compensate for parking meters, ticket stamps, etc., which are all located on the right side of the car. Lucky me, as the passenger, I got to get all the parking tickets taken care of.