Experiences

     Yes, it has been a while since my last post, but I will blame it part on the fact that not a lot of "blog-worthy" things were happening and I have been working! Yes, working!! Thank you Jesus! The past two weeks have kept me busy as a temporary Office Manager. Not sure how much longer I will be working, for this company at least, but it's nice to be out and about.

     My commute takes about an hour, more or less; it really depends on the time I leave home. The first week I worked, Jeff and I were able to commute part of our journeys together. It was nice to have him with me... really, he was a great buffer for the extremely daunting/mildly terrifying experience it can be to get on the morning train. Every morning it's the same thing. Everyone has it down. Queues (lines) formed along the platform. Train approaches and stops. A few people get out, then a massive pile-in ensues. Madness. I don't really know how else to explain the experience inside the train other than it's like you're spooning while standing up. Seriously, there are no boundaries. This week of work, I made the commute all by myself as Jeff has been in Manchester and then Ireland. I found myself one morning laughing as I am almost touching someone's behind. I was so cramped and could barely move that I just stood frozen like a statue. Better yet, the volume on my headphones was a bit loud, and somehow I had synced "Ripped My Pants" by SpongeBob SquarePants (something I had used for a project in college related to working with kids) to the playlist I was listening too. I don't even want to know what those people thought of me. I hope I made them smile, if anything.

     Once the cozy train ride is over, the experience at Waterloo begins. I have to walk from one end of the station to the other, and once I've made my way across, I always want a "high five" or a "great job," because it really feels like an accomplishment. So many people wanting to go every direction imaginable. Most walk fast, but there are the slow pacers too. Avoiding bumping into people while I make my journey across this station is not really something I should do, and I found that out quickly. Too much thought causes me to hit more people. If I relax, listen to music and just walk, I do fine. Then there are some mornings I just really need a boost, so I put on "pump Sarah up" music and I just get after it. Before I know it, I've made it and I am ready to wait in line for the bus.

The line has been much, much longer.

     Bus Stop by The Hollies is one of my favorite songs from the 60s. I just found out today that they were a British pop band, and Bus Stop was their first US hit in 1966. Pretty neat. Once I started riding the bus everyday, I couldn't stop singing this song in my head. Since I added it to my commute playlist, I listen to it many times a day. Riding the bus is the last stretch in my journey to work, and I would say it is my favorite part. I've noticed there are many different bus riders - iPhoners, readers, music listeners, sleepers, gazers, avoiders, observers (few of us), and violators. Violators? Oh yes, I've witnessed a few people try to get on the bus, with no pass, and then go nuts when they are asked to get off the bus. A lot of cursing is involved. Kicking, gesturing, yelling... it's too much. On the second day of my commute alone, there was guy who not only did all that was mentioned above, but he also ran after the bus for two stops. He was extremely upset. It really scared me, especially the one time he was able to get back on the bus after catching up to it. He then spat on the window separating him from the driver, and then the driver began taunting him before speeding away. There weren't a lot of people on the bus during this time, and one guy, I think had been watching me watch this crazy scene unfold. I had tried to hide my uneasiness, but my eyes gave it all away. It was nice to get off the bus that day. Oh, and I'm a combo of music listener, gazer, observer and iphoner (don't do much of this due to car sickness).

Right outside the office where I work, there is a really neat food market on the street. Caribbean, Thai, Brazilian, Indian... so many delicious options. My recruiter told me I should try a Scotch egg, which I had never heard of before. It is a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat that is coated in breadcrumbs. I was hesitant because I am not a huge fan of hard-boiled eggs, but I like trying new things, so I bought one.

Scotch egg

Delicious

Whitecross Street Market

I am a believer. Scotch eggs are good. Greasy, but really good.

   
     I'll finish this post with some other photos I took while I've been out and about. I actually had more to talk about than I thought, but it is late, and I have an impromptu flight to Ireland tomorrow morning. I am ready to spend a wonderful weekend there with Jeff! Time to pack and sleep. I will catch you all up soon!

Big Ben

Westminster Hall

"Near this spot, at the Kings Bench at the South end of the Hall, took place the trial of Sir William Wallace the Scottish Patriot on Monday, 23rd August 1305."

The Ministry of Defense

Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square

One of the cool side streets Jeff and I took to church one Sunday.

Blackfriars Bridge

St. Andrew Holburn - 1,000 year old church

Sunday stroll by the Thames with Jeff.

St. Luke's Church near my bus stop.

Just a fancy office building in Holburn.

View of London at night from Waterloo Bridge.