17/2/2009 2 days to go...London calling
Dear me, haven't been that nervous about anything in a long time...
Weird, very weird but with a hint of excitement and looking forward thrown in!
03/2/2009 Schnee in London
Hihi, diverse Berichte aus der Stadt bestätigen, dass die Lage wirklich brenzlig ist. Etliche Londoner konnten gestern nicht zur Arbeit, da kein einziges Verkehrsmittel funktionierte. Weder Busse, noch Tube, noch Auto, noch DLR, noch Schiffe.
Gut, es sind ca. 30cm Schnee, was so ca. alle 15 Jahre passiert (in London), doch wenn man bedenkt, dass im Herbst auch Züge wegen Laub auf den Geleisen ausfallen... irgendwie kann man nicht so recht Mitleid empfinden ;-)
Den Bildern nach zu urteilen, siehts aber richtig schön aus... und es sei so ruhig in der Stadt, sagen einige - kein Wunder ohne Verkehr :-)
02/2/2009 Yay!
Soeben gebucht, am 20. Februar gehts für 2 Tage nach London. Ich, mein Fotoapparat und London. Ein Nachtessen mit Freunden, sonst werd ich die "places of personal interest" abklappern - erstes Hotel, Internet Cafe (wo ich praktisch gewohnt habe :-), erste Wohnung, erster Arbeitsplatz... usw.
Frau Xirah, keine Sorge, das steht unserem Besuch im späteren Frühling nicht im Weg! Da werden wir einfach nur Touris sein (und mit Strassenkarte allen im Weg stehen :-))
29/1/2009 I got my money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, money isn't everything but when you know they owe you some and it looks like you'll never get it (long story about British bureaucracy - better don't ask) you almost fall off your chair when a considerable amount of GBP is paid into your account (after 7 months of back and forth - seriously, don't ask).
I'm leaving for shopping now - I won't buy anything but knowing I COULD is going to make me sooo happy! :-)
19/8/2008 Orange Cinema mit Brechreiz und Regen
Am Freitag war ich mit Manda im Orange Cinema am Zürichhorn. Schöne Lage, gemütliche Atmosphäre, viel Regen und 2 Cosmopolitans, die wohl aus 50% reinem Alkohol bestanden.
Fazit:
- Idee super, gehe nächstes Jahr gerne wieder
- Trocken würds etwas mehr Spass machen (in jeder Hinsicht ;-)
- 2 so starke Cosmopolitans auf praktisch leeren Magen und DANACH eine Bratwurst ist definitiv keine gute Idee
- Im Film 2 Mal davonlaufen müssen (inklusive "alle aufstehen bitte, ich muss kotzen" oder so ähnlich) ist nicht besonders lustig
- Film Wall E war zwar niedlich, jedoch habe ich trotz eben halbe Zeit verpasst nix verpasst... so Tenor der anderen Zuschauer
30/7/2008 Schon komisch...
Hab gerade nach langem hin- und her meiner Freundin in London abgesagt. Wollte Sie eigentlich im September besuchen gehen... hab also immer wieder Flüge gecheckt, Preise verglichen, Ab- und Anflugszeiten angeschaut und jedesmal bekam ich statt erwarteter Vorfreude einen Kloss im Hals und Gänsehaut!
Wie soll ich sagen, ich bin vor gut 2 Monaten geflohen und kann einfach nicht zurück - noch nicht. Es ist noch alles so frisch, ich seh mich binnen weniger Minuten in den selben "Stressmodus" zurückfallen, sobald ich angekommen bin. DLR vom Flughafen vollgepackt mit komischen Leuten, das Chaos im Stadtzentrum, der Dreck, die Hektik, das komische Licht, der "enge" Himmel...
Tja, wird wohl heuer nix mehr, sie muss mich besuchen kommen und jetzt brauch ich noch dringend einen guten Friseur (nein, schreib das nicht mit ö) im Raum Zürich! ;-)
22/5/2008 a look back on adventure
I remember
My flat in Switzerland full of packed IKEA boxes, stacked in high towers, filled with my stuff
My flat in Switzerland full of packed IKEA boxes, stacked in high towers, filled with my stuff
My late baby sitting between them with her broken hip, looking at me puzzled, wondering what I’m doing
Saying goodbye to my dear friend, crying on each others shoulders
Saying goodbye to my dear parents and brother, no tears, just eager to get away to avoid emotions
Arriving in Luton, hopping on the bus to the city
Standing at Marble Arch in the rain with my heavy suitcase, not aware of what’s ahead, aware of what’s behind
The hotel Prince William, close to Paddington station, the view from the window over the Victorian buildings
The Italian restaurant with the charming waiters, the excellent Spaghetti Carbonara
The Internet Café with the friendly Indian guy, the many hours spent searching for jobs, the many Cappuccinos he brought me
The hunt for flats, the many holes I saw
The first time I saw my studio, cosy, cute, home, relief
Buying groceries, towels, hooks to make my new nest liveable
The arrival of my stuff, the first time wondering what I could possibly do with all this
The complete absence of sadness or home sickness, to busy to adjust, to busy to learn, to busy to watch, to busy to make a home and living
The many visits to agencies for jobs, the many tests, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, typing, the same question all over again, the same feedback “we’ll contact you”, the wait, the checking emails at the internet café with another Cappuccino before another Spaghetti Carbonara
The interviews, the wait for feedback, the lack of it
The many walks, sightseeing, the getting to know the bus system, the many blisters
The first day at NOP, the introduction by Stephane, the butterflies over that handsome French man in such a very British city
The getting to know future friends, friends who will make me stay longer, get through bad times, share good times, Melanie, Natasha, Susan
My first English pay check, the excitement
My getting a bank account, finally, after 3 months – the joy
The interview with BioMarin, the beautiful office
The confirmation of getting the job, the joy, the relief
The travel to Belgium and France as a tour guide, my first time in the Eurotunnel
The first week at work, the migraines
The making my studio flat cosy, the feeling home
The attacks in front of my window, the screams, the police
The sneaking in of homesickness
The demons reappearing having followed all the way to England
Why did I do it in the first place, what did I expect? Praise, envy, maybe daddy would be proud of me? Maybe I’d finally have something to talk about next to all my amazing and interesting friends?
Ups and downs, the ups get less frequent
Boredom, fear, laziness kicks in
Mask, “I’m having a great time, don’t regret anything” speeches make me want to puke
Was the death of my cat baby, stuck in the window next to all my packed boxes a warning?
I look at cute kids and feel empty – what’s going to stay when I’m gone?
I buy a canvas, sit in front of it, stare at it, can’t paint, nothing – am I dead?
Too many people everywhere, in my house, the streets, the busses, the trains, people everywhere
I have to many things in my head, thoughts, smells, sounds, emotions, more and more each day, I’m going to burst
And then:
The epiphany in Barcelona, sitting on the terrace, cuddling a cat:
I tried adventure, thrill, career, big money, travelling to beautiful places in business class. I tried being strong and not needing family or friends around, tried to be a “big girl” all on my own. I bought stuff and more stuff, pillows matching the bedding, useless little vases matching the sofa, clothes I’d never wear matching shoes I’d never wear.
I seek the comfort of being home, of having the people I love close, of buying food I know and love, of speaking the language I grew up with, of shaking my head at the familiar weaknesses of a country I had to leave to love, shaking my head at the familiar weaknesses of people I had to leave to love. I seek the comfort of learning to accept who I am and stop trying to be what I’m not to impress everybody but myself. I seek the comfort of reconnecting with me, expressing myself, turning my inner self into pieces of art just for myself, not for others approval and praise.
Finally, I hope for my dark and bitter self to learn to accept that this was worth it, that even if I failed in some things, I succeeded in others I didn’t even expect and that everything during these 2.5 years was worth going through – the good and the bad – as it’s another piece to the puzzle that I am and will be.
14/5/2008 Wohnung
Ich hab soeben eine mail gekriegt, dass ich die Wohnung bekomme. Sobald ich den Vetrag gefaxt kriege, werde ich meine neue Adresse emailen.
Ich halts hier wieder nuechtern, koennt aber heulen vor Erleichterung und Freude.
3-Zimmer Wohnung in Zuerich, tami ist das geil!
Danke allen fuers Daumen druecken, vielen, vielen Dank!
13/5/2008 Moving
well well, I hired this removal company and was asked to pay the full amount of 580 GBP in advance. Which may seem okay but not if you know how companies in Britain work. By the time I'm actually moving the company may be gone and over!
They gave me a contact in Switzerland for all customs related questions and guess what: The email bounces back and the phonenumber doesn't exist... now I'm seriously worried and glad I'm not a very trusting person - didn't pay the money yet!
We'll see, I did ask about it... wonder what they'll come back with!
02/5/2008 Wohnung update
Okay, Anmeldungsformular ausgefuellt und geschickt, Referenz vom jetzigen Vermieter mitgeschickt, Geld auf mein Schweizer Konto ueberwiesen (hehe, wie die Boesewichte in Bond-Filmen ;-), warten auf Antwort und Bestaetigung.
Weiterhin Daumen druecken!!!
Weiterhin Daumen druecken!!!
Entries
1 -
10
/62 |
