I'd already had a few instances of trying to communicate with other English speakers and found my new world accent kept me from getting the words across. And people here talk fast and loud, and the topics shift quick. I can't remember the last time I was scared to talk. I nod my head, try to make eye contact, and hope my chance would come. I feel like a white version of Eminem in 8 Mile, standing on the stage trying to find the words. Then it happens
I throw out a one-line. And everyone laughed. We clinked glasses and took a sip of warm, British Ale. I finished my thought and rolled off a few quick stories. I guess shooting the breeze at a bar is universal. I even got the ego inflating "Tell that one again, Clive* was in the bathroom." Great end to a good day.
I split time today between the training office and the main sales office, which may be the coolest office I've seen. I'll post a pictorial tomorrow. I got to meet the rest of my new team and bumped into a few other ex-pats that I didn't realize were in the London office now. Its really a surreal thing to bump into people you know so far away from home (sorry, that's probably a shabby humblebrag...I'll try to do better.)
How far away from home? I figured I'd add some further context:
- 3,270 Miles from Boston to London
- I weigh 80.2 kg in London
- Pence is the singular of penny (intuitive, but still an ah-ha moment)
- A pint is a pint
- A half pint is half that (also intuitive, but still pretty great that you can order it at a bar)
- A dollar is worth like, 4 pounds. The exchange rate keeps getting better
Few other things that TUYOPR* today
- The ground floor is 0, not 1 here. This has gotten me a few times. People here are so friendly and love when you hit the 1 button then stay on
- They list the day before the month in the date. So Friday is 6/4/12, instead of 4/6/12. That scared the shite out of me when I was checking my flight to Madrid and thought I booked for June
- There isn't a trash can under everyone's desk, like I'm used to. Beyond that, there is no straight up trash can. There's perishables, landfill, bottles, dry recyclables...and I think they expect you to sort things out. I just end up sneaking into the mother's room and dumping my mixed waste there
- In most hallways, there are fire doors on either end. There is a button you have to press to open the fire door, and its usually a white button on a white wall, in a place you wouldn't necessarily look. Its like trying to get out of the ATM cubicle in the dark. I have been trapped between more than one set of fire doors so far. My first night here, I had to ring the doorman to let me out. Me and him are off to a good start
- I get that cars drive on the wrong side of the street...but you totally forget it when you go to cross the street. You're so used to looking left for oncoming traffic its second nature. I've almost had a cab Bernard Pollard me a few times stepping out the wrong way. I know I wouldn't be the first American to have that happen to me, because on many curbs at busy intersections, there's actually a sign on the pavement telling you which way to look
- Street signs are not on posts on the corner. They are about 12 feet up on the first building on the corner. I actually like this quite a bit now that I know where to look
- There is no rhyme or reason to the way people wait in line (or queue) for anything. Sometimes there will be one big line behind 4 subway token machines, and sometimes there's no line at all and people just hammer their way through
But, some things are the same. Its still fun to grab a beer after work and chop up the day. And the theme song to "Two and a Half Men" is still really weird and creepy.
Till tomorrow...
*Until I know your name, you're Clive
*Tripped Up Your Old Pal Rob
*Until I know your name, you're Clive
*Tripped Up Your Old Pal Rob
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