I'm friends with an ex-convict?!

We'll despite him being found not guilty, his named is ruined in Scotland and thus, he moved to London and is now my one of my best homies and chef at my pub. My Scottish homie chef and I had a heart to heart last night. I basically asked him why he came to London. He's been through a lot. I can tell he's been through a lot simply from all the scars all over his body, especially on his head. He always tells me, "you're such a breath of fresh air" "you're absolutely darling"- He explained to me, the people in Scotland he hung around did a lot of drugs and drank a lot and he came here to get away from all that. (Mind you, he's told me he's calmed down his drinking habits, but I think he's mad! He drinks sooo much and well, I've never really seen someone drink as much as he does.) Think of a Scottish Popeye without the "gugugug" laugh and a pint of beer as spinach. 

What's wild about the whole thing, I looked his name up and this dude's name is seriously ruined. There's articles about him for years. His face was plastered as a murder for over a year in Scotland. I even found an article about him in USA Today! Poor dude is a mess though. He was basically there when he watched another person kill a friend of his. It was a dispute over a woman and things got ugly one night. The woman smashed a bottle in the guy's face and killed him. My Scottish dude witnessed the whole thing. He watched someone die in front of him and spent a year in prison. He's only told two people his story since he's arrived here, the other chef he works with in the kitchen and myself. He went to see a psychiatrist today to talk about everything and to get help. Mentally, he's not been well. I can't even imagine. He has a good heart though and that's what matters. I told him about my situation out here... and he's been really understanding. He even tried to get Al a job at his sister's pub. He's a good dude. It's crazy the people you meet when you travel. Scottish dude wants to write a book about all the stuff he's been through. I told him I would help. Maybe it could be called Trainspotting 2.

It's everywhere

The owner of the pub I work at wants the managers to cut people's hours. The credit crunch hit everyone. I tried to be a pleasant little bumble of joy today and I brought in some croissants and fruit for the everyone.  But I think I take people too seriously, and I just felt at times that people I worked with were talking down to me. On top of that, it was such a stressful day at work. There was a leak in the pipes and I got rubbish pipe stuff all over me in the morning. 

It was one of those days. I think it hit me today how alone I really am out here now. At least before, I had Al living with me so I could come home and talk to her about my issues and stresses. But I don't live with her anymore. My plumber homie was my only other real friend I had here, and now his wife or whatever thinks I'm shagging her man, so I can't even call him! Damn broad pissed me off! I actually feel really bad for her, because I don't think she'll ever trust plumber dude, and he's actually a really nice guy. He actually told me he wanted to work things out with the threatening mad woman just for his little girl's sake. But anyway, it's not about them, this is about me... So yeah, I really take things to heart here as well. Apart from being alone here,  I get really sensitive knowing I'm not from here. I feel like an outsider at times, and then when customers at the pub are rude to me, I take it personally. I don't know why, in New York when I dealt with rude mo fo's, I just brushed it off, but here, especially today, I really took things to heart. And it was at the point where it really bothered me the most, when I realized, I am so alone out here! YIKES. I mean, yea I have great flatmates, but at the end of the day, they still have lives that have nothing to do with me. I'm not part of their system yet, or enough for them to care about me and wait up for me, to hear about my day and know that I got home safely. 

I do think I'm taking strides however. I am still happy. I just realized new things about myself I didn't know. I like coming home with that security of knowing there's someone home to listen to you and care. Peter is almost like that, but not enough. Plumber dude was that, but not anymore. Al is I'm sure struggling herself. Although she has a hot room now that I moved out. FYI, Hugo is a terrible flatmate now- he uses up 8 thousand shelves in the fridge for his food, mind you, there's 3 other people living in the flat! Poor Al. 

No way Jose!

My flatmates are so messy! AHH. See, I'm kinda on the neat side and well, they aren't! 

Peter got wasted the other night, like super wasted. The British word for wasted is pissed, which confuses the hell out of me because I use to think everyone was a really angry drinker.

Yeah, and everything got thrown all over the place and well, it's still all over the place. 

He did buy everyone Krispy Kremes this morning though, so I mean, I guess I can overlook the huge mess in the living room, bathroom and shower. Damn those Krispy Kremes, they're everywhere!

I've become really passive to the British accent these past couple weeks. I honestly don't even notice it and I think it's making me less conscious of my own accent so my New York accent is coming back a lot stronger and everyday this week I've been asked where I'm from.

So wild story but I need to explain this...

I'm a bit of a risk-taker (not sure if you noticed) and in my ridiculous efforts to try and stay in this country, I decided to email some companies I thought would be interested in sponsoring a gal like me. In my research efforts, I stubbled across a certain media company and basically feel in love with them! I had emailed them once before and never heard back from them. So about a month ago, I tried again, but this time, I thought I would try and directly contact the CEO of the company. Unfortunately, his email was not easily accessible to the public, aka me. So, I turned to my stalker practices on good ol' Facebook, and lo and behold, the CEO of the company had a profile. Now, before you jump to conclusions, I want to make it clear that I hesitated to contact him this way, I actually just wanted to see if his email was viewable on his profile; it wasn't. So yes, I sent him a facebook message explaining who I was and that I loved his company. I've been feeling like an idiot for a month now, until just a couple days ago. TELL ME HOW DUDE CONTACTED ME BACK!? I'm still flipping out about the whole thing. I just met with him the other day and he explained that he's trying to branch his company to New York and LA! He's forwarding my resume to the head of his production department, and we shall see where this leads. Honestly, dude made my time here that much better just by answering my message. If nothing else, I made a contact out here, and well, I just feel like anything is possible after he contacted me back. 

I work all day tomorrow... AHH, but I'm still happy! 

(still trying to load cribs london to youtube... don't think I forgot!)

I'm happy!

I am Happy. Just simply living and happy. I have no agenda and it's amazing! I have fully engulfed myself- living in Zone 3. Working in Zone 2. Meeting interesting people. Seeing interesting things. Getting interesting phone calls. 

My friend A.D. who works at the pub I live above just lent me some music. He is a professional drummer and lent me all these crazy rock groups... they are good! I'm rocking out as I type! I also asked him for some posters to put up in my room, so he gave me some posters he had lying around, which makes my room quite interesting. Peter already left a stupid mulled wine poster at my door the morning after I threw up from drinking too much wine. YUCK... (I will get into that in a bit... ) So now I have hanging on my walls, A mulled wine poster hanging next to a rock group named AMEN.

Back to me throwing up... No it was nothing like THIS. It was like a cat throwing up a hair ball, like a straight gag outa nowhere and it was all out. I was fine really. I went with Al to get a couple drinks, but to be honest, I am such a light weight out here. People drink so much out here! British, Scottish, Irish, Australian... AYE! they all drink like crazy people... I had two glasses of wine and a big cocktail drink and went to bed about 2 hours later. I really don't remember how long I was asleep for, but I only recall waking up and just puking. I couldn't even hold it in to get to a garbage or toilet or anything. Disgusting... It was like red yuckiness! 

But yeah, like I said, I'm happy!

I am a Westender

I watched it on a small television in my pub, but nonetheless, I was able to catch our 44th president get sworn into office. It was amazing. It was all over the newspapers here. Everyone in London is happy with Obama. Every paper had it's front page with Obama. 

Today they were talking about it in the pub. It makes me laugh to myself because I hear a lot of my customers talk about Americans this and Americans that... and it isn't until they hear me speak, do they shut up. 

Na honestly, it's been great to speak to my customers about cultural differences and how they feel about America. To be honest, it's wild, but I'm the first American some of these people have ever met or befriended. 

I work pretty far out from Central London, which is nice and kind of what I wanted. I like that everywhere I go I hear a British accent. I love that my customers nag me for my accent and joke with me about things. I almost feel like they are just as excited as I am to be here. 

I really love my flatmates. Peter is my favorite... we often watch season two episodes of Dexter before going to bed. He looks out for me a lot. 

I also realized that I am now fully engulfed in this country. I am a true Londoner. I had a phone call from my homie plumber dude's girlfriend. She threatened me because she thought plumber homie was cheating on her with me! AHH geeze, it was baby mama drama to the max! Plumber dude has a kid and is trying to work things out with the mother. But somehow she got my phone number and called me screaming and cursing up a storm! I told my manager because the phone call stressed me out. She told me, "I don't even have to watch Eastenders now!" 

SOO TIREDD!!!

TOMORROW INAUGURATION! The newspapers made a big deal about it here.. I think everyone is pretty happy about Obama here.. 

I will have full coverage tomorrow after work!!!

What would be better...

Honestly, I am happy. 

I've hit this point in my life. I feel amazing. I am making rubbish money. I am doing rubbish work. And I feel absolutely amazing. 

I'm working at a pub and living above another one. 

I now live with two Australians who drink way too much but are just so sweet and an English guy who is one of the funniest and most pleasant people to be around. He's kind of like this older brother to me. 

We watched Dexter tonight. He has all of season two on bootleg. Na, I'll call my English dude Peter. He's awesome. He recently went to Boston and now has all this stupid ugly Red Sox memorabilia. Knowing that I'm not cool with the whole Boston thing, I woke up this morning, to find a huge Red Sox towel hanging on his door. Now every time I leave my room, I see this American sign of stupidity and evilness hanging on my flatmate's door.

I really am just living an alternative life. It's amazing how different your life can be just across the pond, or anywhere for that matter. I mean, I feel the same, but I have just met the greatest people who are just making this whole journey a whole lot better and much more interesting. Take my two Chef's at the pub. One is from South Africa and the other is Scottish. Both young dudes. The South African is married and has a kid. He has a beautiful heart. I can tell he's not happy in London. He told me yesterday he's not and he's actually flying his wife and kid to New Zealand so they can set up a new life there. He'll be working at the pub for a while however, because he needs to save money. I can see the anguish in his eyes when he talks about it. I don't know how well he will be, living without his wife and kid for such a long period of time. 

The Scottish dude is awesome as well, but he drinks too much. It's funny I can understand him really. He has the roughest accent. Al didn't even understand him. I don't think many people do, but I do. I don't even understand British accents. He makes me the best meals at work. Which is great because I'm always hungry! I'm actually just thankful I can eat again! I have been full everyday this week! It's glorious, my stomach feels like I'm back home. 

Today I had a rough day at work. It was really busy and hardly any help. I felt my manager was a little rough on me, then again, I'm not sure I can take her seriously at this point, she's going through a rough breakup with her ex-boyfriend who she's been with for two and a half years. YIKES. She's going to Egypt next Tuesday for vacation. 

My Scottish homie chef made me feel better after work however, and told me to keep my chin up. 

I saw two foxes on my walk home from the bus. TWO! I was like.. wat the... ?! 

Things are good... I am happy. 

My internet is working now! More daily blogs to come! Cheers

So far so good

So to now fill people in...

I started working at a pub, a real cute one! They have a lot of regulars (which I like about it most.) 

There's this guy Michael. He's a little crinkled old man. He uses a walker with wheels to get around. He wears the same red wind breaker jacket everyday. His face is red from drinking. He can't hear very well either. 

Michael sits in the same seat everyday with his Guinness. He looks around or watches television, but he comes in so often, it bothers me when someone is sitting in his seat when he arrives. 

I've been opening the door for him when he leaves at night, and the other day he looked at me and said, "hey I don't know you" "Yeah, I'm new here, I'm Sarina" I tried to lean down close enough for him to hear me without struggling. "Oh, well hi. I like to come in here and drink Guinness, thanks for helping me." 

There's also another group of regulars that stand on the left side of the bar and play a game called Shove Ha'penny. About four guys play, two are brothers. They drink Fosters and bring their own peanuts. They are Chelsea fans. I like them a lot.

It's weird being an outsider working at a bar. I don't know all the beers. I can't understand pronunciations. Half the time I just pretend I'm deaf so I can get customers to repeat themselves. Other times I try and trace their eyes to which beer they want and then guess. It will get better. 

I am also doing a live-in position. I will be living above another pub not too far from the one I work at. I'll live with two Australians and one English guy. All young. They seem like good people who like to drink, which I can handle. I'm supposed to move in Saturday. 

Tonight I am going to a Chelsea match. It's against Southend- and I will be going to the away team's stadium. Should be interesting.