World Cup 2006

It is finally over...and English football fans don't know what to do with themselves!!! The premiership games rolled into the World cup, and now they have to wait for a whole month before it starts up again.

I am so glad I was over here for it. I heard that the games were only showed on Cable in the states. Over here, the final was carried on 3 different broadcast channels, and I would venture to guess that about 3/4 of all of the viewing public was actually watching the game.

As much as they love their footie over here, they also love to tear down their favorite players too. The England team didn't do so well, and were basically banished when they returned home. All of the players were apologizing in the press, over and over. It was really weird. But I guess I am just used to a team that doesn't do well, so I wasn't too bothered that they didn't make it to far. I must say, I got some pretty good teasing about the US team. But no one really expected much out of them to start with, so it was alright.

07/07/06

Today is the one year anniversary of the London Bombings. I barely remember about them happening last year. But for the last few days, it has been all over the news and then yesterday, a tape was released showing one of the bombers from Al-Jeezera. My flatmates and I had a discussion about it last night and they were saying that they were going to stay away from the tube today just to be safe. I was saying that of all days, I am sure that today there would be really good security on the trains and busses (they didn't buy it by the way). I am sure since I didn't go through that whole thing last year, my attitude is a bit more relaxed about it.

So when I got up this morning, I was running late of course and decided that in order to make it to work on time, i had to take the tube (I noramlly take the bus, but it take about 20 min longer). It wasn't till i was well on my way to work when I saw some guy reading the newspaper with a headline about the 07/07 bombings, that I remembered about the conversation we had last night. I had a slight panic, until realized how many other people were also riding and felt a tad bit better. I was definately glad to get off the tube at my stop. And then i realized that one of the bombings happened at the next stop, Aldgate Station. Very eerie feeling.

Luckily nothing happened and after thinking about it, I did see much more police presence at al l the stations, but they just seemed to be looking around, and not really doing to prevent any attacks. I would have thought there would be bomb sniffing dogs or something. But I arrived safely and everything seemed as normal as possible. Made for a weird start to my morning.

I have had to have a huge think in the past few weeks about where I want to be for the next year+ and it has been really difficult. I really thought that I wanted to be in London, as I have been thinking since I got done with school in December. I figured that 6 months in London just wouldn't be enough. And after some long and hard nights thinking instead of sleeping, I have come to the conclusion that I do in fact want to come home. In the beginning I felt like i was chickening out, and just abandoning my life here and my plans that i had for myself. But after the big think, I realized that I am happy with my decision. I have really enjoyed my time here in London, it has been so much more fulfilling than I could have imagined it would be, and one of the most difficult things I have ever done. I have really been missing my friends and family back in the states (and Toronto!) and just feel that it is time for me to come home, and for now that means back to Seattle (sorry Sarah!). And I feel like I have accomplished what I came here to do, it isn't something that i can tick off on a checklist, but it just feels right. Even though my office is still interested in keeping me on and has offered to pay for part of the fees to get my visa, I have decided that I don't want to stay tied to the firm. I am enjoying the job alright, but the longer I am there, the more I feel like I am getting used, instead of learning the things that I will need for taking my exams back in the states. And the project that I am working on is very unorganized I feel that I am getting a bit lost in the shuffle. So my plan as it stands today (and like all my plans here, it changes by the day) is to work until August 4th. I have a lease on my place here through August, so i will stay until the end of August to keep my stuff in one place, and take the last few weeks to travel. I would like to see Paris and visit Maria in Dublin and maybe go to one other place, still haven't decided where yet. Then I will come back to London and pack up my life and hop on a plane back to the states, DC to be more specific. I have all my stuff in storage there, so I will go through it all again and repack it to be sent out to Seattle. I plan on being back in Seattle around the middle of September. I am not sure where i will be staying, but Carol has offered her extra bedroom, so that sounds good at this point. I will probably be looking for a job and a place to live in Seattle, and as I sold my car I will need to be as close as possible to the city with out transportation.

So I will look forward to seeing you all in the very near future!

Happy 4th!!!

I hope everyone had a great holiday! I gave my notice on Monday and am looking forward to coming home in the middle of September to hug everyone!

Lots to do before then, but I am looking forward to making my life back in Seattle for a little while.