A Legal Alien

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18 August 2005

I've been out of London for about 24 hours now and I already miss it. I don't know anyone here that well. I'm overwhelmed by learning a new system, a new school, a new curriculum, a new town.

Right, about the move. Everything went off without a hitch and we arrived at the cottage about 10:30am. My bedroom furniture was piled in the study and the hallway upstairs and a drywall contractor was in my room replacing the entire ceiling! When I was here on Monday, there was a hole from where the plaster had dropped down and needed a patch. The landlord said he'd get it taken care of on Tuesday before I moved in on Wednesday. Apparently a patch wouldn't do any good as the plaster was so badly cracked it would eventually all come down. So all my stuff is piled in the study and I'm sleeping in the box room (which is a euphemism for large closet). At least the bed is comfortable and my housemate is gone for the next several days so I have time to settle in and scour the place. I don't know when he last ran the vaccum but the carpet needed some serious attention, especially in the entry.

Today, we went down to school so I could talk to the head of English but he'd already left for the day. A group of people were planning to go have lunch and invited us along. Leah was the most friendly to me initially, maybe because we'd chatted a lot on the day of my interview. She's Canadian and understands what it's like to come from an outside system and try to fit in. She walked around the high street with me today and showed me how to get to Sainsbury's so I could buy some food. I really felt like an outsider today, not even being able to understand the conversation about exam results and staff members. I tried though, but it was frustrating. I don't always ask what things are or what people mean because I don't want to look like an idiot. I know it will get better as I get to know everyone but at the moment, I feel sort of lost. I don't really know where I belong here. It will pass but as of now, I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. It will get better when I can get in my room and unpack my stuff. I don't feel like I live here yet. My only unpacked belongings are in the kitchen. It's good that I've gotten out though.

For Paul Barrett

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