A Legal Alien

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04 April 2005

Now that life has settled down a bit, I have time to think and write. My family was in town for 2 weeks and with my sister staying here and having to play constant tour guide and oracle of all things English, I am simply exhausted. I have 2 drafts due in 2 weeks and I haven't done anything except write outlines. I'm supposed to have 8,000 words done on my dissertation and all I have done is my data gathering and the beginning of my analysis. I guess that's more than some of my coursemates have but I'm starting to feel things getting away from me.

But onto more positive things. My family's visit included: the bus tour of London, the Tower of London, the British Museum, the V&A, the Imperial War Museum, Westminster Abbey, Bath, Oxford, Edinburgh, Easter service at St. Paul's and a stroll in St. James' Park. It was a whirlwind 2 weeks and I was glad to have them here.

My sister left last Monday and my parents left on Saturday morning. They were kind enough to give me a day off of playing power tourist on Friday so I could wash clothes, dishes and clean house. It sounds so unexciting but I was in dire need of clean clothes and I still don't have all the laundry done. I missed being in my house all by myself. I forget how used to being alone I am. I was also tired of living in the high anxiety world that is my sister's head. I snapped when she had to plan out our morning bathroom rota down to the number of minutes I was allotted IN MY OWN SHOWER. I love her but ohmygod I couldn't take anymore.

Edinburgh was lovely. I had drinks one night with 2 expat friends and was able to get some work done on my dissertation during our down time. (Thank God for my laptop!) I definitely want to go back and spend more time exploring Scotland. It's beautiful up there and was a very welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of London. It was so bloody cold though. We had fab weather the entire time my parents were here so going up to Edinburgh where it was drizzly and cold was an abrupt change!

We had dinner with Laura on Friday night and saying good-bye to my mom was hard. She got all choked up again, like she did when I first left in August. I hate seeing her cry.

Back on Prozac after a 3 day hiatus when I ran out of meds. I also got some meds for my killer hormonal migraines. The downside to all of it is that I can't be on the Pill because of my migraines. I guess it can make migraines worse and since I already have one a month for at least 2 or 3 days, it's not something I feel like exacerbating with yet another daily medication. Bless my doctor though. She is wonderful about helping me get myself sorted out.

The rain started again today. It was so nice yesterday. I didn't even wear my coat. Ah well. Spring is coming. I'm just impatient for it to be here.

Still no luck on the job hunt. I've been turned down for 4 positions now. I'm sure there will be more. It's very discouraging. Not having a settlement visa or HSMP is making it difficult because any employer will have to sponsor a work permit for me. I don't know how many schools would be willing to do that if they can avoid it. I do not want to go back to the States but my options are limited.

I can only handle one crisis at a time. Must work on papers and get going as soon as I'm more with it. I have to get with it ASAP.

For Paul Barrett

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