Okay, so I jumped the gun a little. . .

So, those close friends of mine that got that email from me last week, you may want to chock it up to my typical rantings when I get in a mood and think I've made up my mind. . .and then change it again. Something about the impending birth of Uma and finding out the next child in my brother's clan is going to be a girl had made me a little homesick. I'm really missing you guys in the States, but I don't really miss the States (if you catch my drift). By the next day of sending out the email and getting the wonderful responses from you guys, I realized as much as I want to be back with you all, I can't give up on opportunities to experience as much as I can before it's time to come back to the western hemisphere and be a suedo-adult again. Hopefully, I should be able to take two months and have enough money to basically go wherever I want. How can anyone pass that up???




So then the next dilemma arises- where to go? I have been talking and thinking about this a lot. Those of you who know me well know about my passion for the continent of Africa and this strange obsession with lands I've never seen. I ended up kind of ruling it out because some of the countries I want to see just aren't safe for a single gal traveler like myself. Or, perhaps not that those countries are not "safe," but just that I am not savvy enough to do it on my own. So then, with my recently renewed fascination with Eastern philosophy, I started thinking Asia. India and Nepal, perhaps? But I could spend two months in India alone easy and I am not sure about Nepal's politics at the moment. So then it brings me to Southeast Asia- perhaps a tour of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and some bits of Thailand I didn't see last time. There are just so many phenomenal places in this world, I just can't decide! Chats with friends here and a little forward Julia sent me has got me thinking about Africa again, though. There are plenty of amazing countries there that would be just as amazing as the ones I've dreamt of living in since I was little. Now, I have got Brianna on the scent and I am working on her to leave her job early and go with me. We even started thinking tonight we could both find short-term volunteer projects somewhere on the continent and relinquish that lingering desire to join the Peace Corps. Perhaps it's just The Constant Gardener on her brain.




Who knows folks??? I can say that regardless in the next year I will be home. Even if something crazy happens and I don't come back for good, I will visit! I think I am just a bit giddy and optimistic because I have a new crush, and I don't get those very often. But no worries, I'll settle down eventually somewhere, and I have strong reason to believe it will be with you all back home.

Calla plays for the small crowd

Went to Bar Academy last night to see Calla. They have about four albums out, but I only have and have listened to Televise, which I think was their third. I was impressed, but not entralled. I felt somewhat bad for the guys because it was in the Bar Academy, which is a small venue off the side of the Carling Academy in Birmingham. The stage is almost level with the crowd and I think most of the crowd (of which there was not many) were there to see the opening band because they knew them or they were a band member's grandmother or something. I was more interested in my new found music buddy who came along, ready and willing without knowing what music he was getting into. Think I have finally found a friend in England who will try out new music without being too over critical, but just snobbish enough. We managed to end the night after some bad, cheap lager, likely annoying each other with our favorite music and singing along to them. And yes, I was an hour late to work this morning after staying out late for a show on Sunday. But I have the flexi time. . .

My Social Scene is Broken

But at least I have managed to make a few good friends here and see some good music now and then. It seems my goal is not only taking advantage of traveling opportunities this year but also of good live music. I took Bri along with me last night to see Broken Social Scene, a band from Canada that I have been following for a few years since they released their first album You Forgot in People and they have now released a second, self-titled album. I teased her that it was our Valentine's date since we have both once again found ourselves single in the last month or so (although I refuse to believe in that Hallmark holiday- I secretly wish for admiring cards). What can I say, except best live performance I've seen in sometime. My only disappointment is that I did not get a hug from the primary male singer during his rounds (There's like ten of them in the band and they all do all sorts of stuff, hence the word primary and not lead.). If you have not heard of them- LISTEN! If they come to your town- SEE THEM! If you have any music taste at all- YOU WILL LOVE THEM!

Kadialy rocks my soul

Finally made it to the MAC tonight. It's a center in Birmingham that has loads of various exhibitions, films and performances. One of those fabulous community type centers that only certain folks appreciate when they want to avoid the lastest trance crap at the local clubs and the latest shoot-em-up movie at the local cinema. I went to see Kadialy Kouyate tonight, a musician from Senegal which I had written in my book to go see for over a month now. I was very happy I did. I was mesmerized by his kora playing and was entranced by his singing. I would highly reccommend checking him out. I have his solo album seen on the link I bought that night, but hope to find his album with Fimber Bravo soon and start exploring this music more.

Reflections One Year On

On January 12 last year, I was flying into to Birmingham, with no clue as to what was about to hit me. Five days later, still no place to live officially, I was starting my new job working as a Social Worker for the Dudley Borough. I have been meaning to write some thoughts in the last week or so as to the course of my year here. But, I have found myself with a kidney infection over the weekend and motivation to do little else but make herbal tea, cut lemons for my ample supplements of water, and lay on the couch. Really, I think that is partly an excuse for my void of reflection.




The four remaining (two have since quit and flown the coup) "Americans" left here in Dudley got together for dinner to celebrate our anniversary of one year here in England. Techinally, Brianna has been here for 7 months, but she's an honorary one yearer. Stacy was feeling very reflective and I was feeling, yep, so another year has passed. Teri has little to reflect on besides her work experiences because she has been consumed by cases and court work. But, when I think about each of us individually, I think we have gone through some major experiences and changes. Some together but mostly individually because we are each so different and really the only thing that brought us together is that we were hired to come live and work in the Black Country, the area most disparaged by the rest of the UK. Of course, once we were brought toghether we found we had a lot more in common than just our country of origin and current job status; I especially have found a lot in common with Brianna and have found good friends in both Brianna and Stacy. It will be interesting to see when this is all over where we all end up (I can predict most of us will end up close to where we once were, but doing new and different things) and how well we stay connected after this experience.




As for my own experiences, I feel like I have had two living experiences here so far. My first six months in Amblecote, where I found a pub that brought me into their circle of friends immediately and helped curb some of that initial lonliness and homesickness. And now, my home in Sedgley with Brianna, where we have started going out in Wolverhampton and just now starting to explore Birmingham. I also feel like I do actually have friends now that I can go to if I need something; particularly Brianna but I have developed a handful of friends that I feel I have developed a true friendship with and feel supported by.




I don't think I have changed much over the year. There has been no epiphany from my experiences here that have led me to what my next course in life will be. But when I look back, it is funny to think of those first days when everything was so new and foreign. For instance, I remember the day I went to look at my flat, having been in the country for only about four days, taking a 15GBP taxi ride through Merry Hill and Amblecote (the area I was soon to live) with a taxi driver who I could understand nothing from but the fact that he was trying to hit on me. Now, I drive myself through Merry Hill and Amblecote going to work each day, praying that old Rusty doesn't break down and I have enough petrol to get me to payday next week- just like any other regular Black Country resident. I think as adaptable as I thought I was, I have become even more so in my year here. I also think in combination with that I have become more comfortable and confident, and although I am still the nice Lisa, I don't put up with the same crap that I often put up with before.




So, I have learned and changed a bit, but just enough and not too much that I would alienate myself from my true home with friends and family. This year, I plan to take better advantage of my situation and travel much more this year. Brianna and I have a mini-break planned in Tenerife for March, I have two of my best gal pals coming in April and I'm hoping to catch up with Efrat in Israel in June, among other trips in the works. After this year, I have contemplated still trying to do some work in Africa or just explore a bit more. But, I think when my contract is up next January, I will leave satisfied that I have done something extraordinary and will have just increased my thirst for travels yet to come. I probably will take a month or two once I leave the job to see a few more places before heading back. And then the question will be, where to head back to? Florida? Indy? Chicago? Any suggestions from the Peanut Gallery?

Oh Christmas Tree

Brianna and I finally managed to get our tree today. I had been told that real ones were very expensive so we were going to get an artificial, but with a few more conversations found out they weren't bad on price at all. Bri had seen a place off a country road near Stourbridge that had trees so we headed out there. They had all sorts of breeds and I of course had to go for the spruce with the most prickly trunk. The guys working there netted it for us and managed to get it all the way into Rusty. The top of the tree was all the way onto my front dash and served as an entertaining barrier between myself and Bri in the passenger seat, particularly because she has to lean over to my side to open my door for me (the lock is broken on the outside of my driver's side door). We went and got a few decorations and one Christmas CD, came home, made a coffee and Baileys and decorated our tree to the music. It's a lovely little tree and we're both finding the lounge very cozy now with the tree lights, the gas fireplace and a few candles.

Our lovely tree! The width of the bottom just barely fit!

This is the base of our tree. They do have tree stands available, but most just put the tree into these natural wood blocks. I quite like it actually, it makes the tree look much more natural, I think.
Posted by Picasa

Happiness

Happiness is. . .


That was more or less the question for the day today. Following our dinner at Rachael's Thursday night, she invited me to attend a workshop she was doing today on Happiness. Rachael has recently attended the 8 week series of courses in London put on by Dr. Robert Holden, who is the director of the Happiness Project and wanted to share some of what she had learned in a workshop here at home. I am not one to be all for the self-help craze, and some of you may look at the site and think that is all it is. But I do very much appreciate meeting new people and being able to share thoughts and feelings in ways we wouldn't normally (if at all). I've had some big ups and downs since my trip to New York in October- personally and professionally, so I also thought this might be an interesting way for me to reflect a bit.




I really enjoyed the whole day. Everyone that I had a chance to get to know in the group a bit were amazing people each with their own story. We laughed a ton, especially when having to spell words with our bums toward the end of the session and I at many times was brought on the verge of tears (good ones). I left with the idea I need to start journaling for myself again (not just blogging for you all:-)!) and writing down all my little reflections at the end of the day and some of the things I am grateful for each day, which I also discovered today I am fortunate to have many.

Random Acts of Friendship

About a week or two ago, I received a call from Rachael at Homestart. Homestart is a wonderful charity organization that trains and supports volunteers to support families with children under age 5. I had made a referral to Rachael and when we met she shared that she knew another American living in the area. She rang somewhat out of the blue and invited me to hers for dinner and to meet her friend, Carolyn. I was more than happy to accept the invitation- the more friends the merrier here! Brianna came along with me and we had a great evening. It was funny because towards the end I think we were all getting tired and all said we needed to get going, and then stayed and talked for another hour or so. We found we all shared similar policital and some philosophical views, and Brianna has found herself two new running partners (I of course, have abstained from that invitation). I am planning to attend a workshop Rachael is doing for some colleagues and friends on Saturday and Bri will be running with them in the next couple weeks. It's funny how easy it can be, once one person makes the move to reach out, to make some new connections.

Let it Snow!

My first real snow in England and I have soon discovered that many people in this area do not know how to drive in it! It started lightly in the afternoon and really started to get heavy around 3 or 4pm. I had to drop Karen off to pick up her car and was headed to an appointment when I began to notice that traffic was coming to a standstill. I called the mom I was meeting and told her I would be late. About 15 minutes later, I called and suggested we rescheduled. I then headed home, starting at about 4:15. I tried to work my way through Merry Hill (the giant shopping mall in the area) thinking it would be quicker that Brierley Hill High Street. It wasn't! By the time I made it home to Sedgley, It was just at 7PM. It should usually take me about 20 minutes to get home. Brianna was stuck somewhere in Dudley as well and it took her almost as long, so we were texting, entertaining each other with jokes about the music on Radio 1. She said later that at one point she contemplated getting out of her car and dancing in the street; I think some may have joined her. Or maybe they would just think she was some wacky foreigner, "There's no way that nutter's from the Black Country!" She made it home about five minutes after me and we headed straight for the pub! We just had a few beers and on the way home I started a snowball fight, which was a very good laugh.

Festive Weekend

We started our Thanksgiving festivities more so on Friday. Thursday night I had drinks planned with someone so Brianna took over the kitchen to get her wild rice dish and pumpkin pies done. I woke up about 6am Friday (you would have thought it was Christmas morning and I was 5!) and started cooking around 7am with an apple pie and the turkey. I had to call Stacy because she had done a smaller dinner for some friends on Wednesday and had experienced this turkey business. It was not easy, especially coming from someone who once upon a time would eat nothing that came from animals! I managed to get the giblet bag out without too much screaming but Stacy had to endure my moans of agony at eight o'clock in the morning as I pulled the nasty neck out. Using Grandma's recipe, I managed to get it cooking. We had to take it out during the day to cook all the other dishes and I got it back in just before people came. It looked amazing but with Lesley's help to see if it was all the way done, alas it was not. We put in back in for a bit and it was fine and Paula helped me to cut into the poor bird. Everyone brought loads to drink (we still have left over wine, YAY!) and seemed to love the food. Lesley, with family in tow, Nikki and I headed to the Beacon for a few pints after people began to leave. Then later, Nikki and I got Bri and headed out to dance off the food for a bit.

I am very proud of my first turkey!

Come on! Even you vegetarians have to admit it looks pretty good to be cooked by a former vegetarian who still struggles to cook anything meat!

Lesley and Nikki, both friends from my work team you've seen on the blog before.

Lesley's daughter Charis (on right) and her friend Natalie joined us as well. They remind me a lot of our gang in high school (essentially, that means you Julia)- which was a bit amusing and a bit nostalgic at the same time. I even ventured to say that evening watching them made me miss that age, but I would like to retract that statement after further reflection. :-)

I gave Charis control of the camera and now have quite a few of her and Natalie...and a few like...

This...Can you guess which legs are mine?


After leaving the pub Nikki and I went back and picked up Brianna. We tried to just go up the road to Montey's but despite Brianna's bartering the bouncer would not let us in. We talked some guy into paying for our taxi up to Wolverhampton and were back to Cheeky's for a dance. I behaved myself and maintained, so Nikki and I were able to shoo away all the leeches. I managed to encounter the whole spectrum this time, from 17-37 year olds. The 37 year old didn't even believe that I was from the States, he thought it was some tactic. Brianna, on the other hand, while I think she may have behaved, kept disappearing on us now and then.

The next day we got up, slowly but surely, and headed for Ludlow. Needless to say, Brianna had to make one or two stops along the way, from drinking the night before. But she quickly recuperated once we got to Ludlow, for a little Medevial festivities and Christmas shopping. I agreed to drive this trip but have now decided (after all my moaning and anxiety on this one) that I will no longer drive poor old Rusty any farther than Bridgnorth.

Brianna attempted to stay warm while we waited in the long queue for the cash point (ATM) and it started to rain.

The armored man looked right at me when I took this; I thought he might come and get me for disrupting the posterity of medevial times with my photo technology!

If you look to the center you can see a very tall man in a dark cloak. This was a giant friar with a huge felt face; kind of scary when you are a little hungover!

I got myself a giant Oggie, basically a huge pasty with beef, leeks, potatoes and gravy. Not so easy to eat!

We caught a bit of the medevial carolers. The lead guy was telling jokes to the crowd that everyone seemed to laugh at but us.

And rested our weary medievial shopping arms with a half pint of ale (well, I did) and some medievial jams.

Posted by Picasa

Sunday, I went with a friend shopping in Birmingham. We were mostly shopping for Christmas gifts for his family, but I managed to get a couple CDs for myself while in HMV. Birmingham was very nice. We don't go there often enough and Bri and I keep saying we are going to get there more often on the weekends for a change of pace. It was lovely to just walk around the Bull Ring and see all the elaborate holiday decorations about. I also got a little tour of Selfridges and discovered they have some "American" foods I haven't seen anywhere. I got Bri some Aunt Jemima pancake mix, but the syrup was 6GBP so I just went with the mix!

Stacy, Brianna and I finished off the weekend Sunday night going to see the new Harry Potter. I thought it was pretty good; and Ralph Fienes plays Valdimor! I still refuse to read the books, though.