I've begun to slack

I wouldn't say really slack, but been less than diligent. I spent the weekend in Scotland to help out a friend who broke his foot. But Monday was my first day of school.

If you've ever see an episode of Japanese television that has been dubbed over in English, than you have an idea of to what my class is similar. There are 8 Japanese students that don't really speak English. So they have a translator. I'm really learning a lot. Down side. Vidal Sassoon hates blow dries. No volume, no round brushes, no real product.. It's a little bit of torture. I did have a nice afternoon with Julie my house mate afterwords. We went to Regent's park and just sat outside.

DAY 2 We were thrown to the wolves. I did a cut on a guest. The instructor had only demonstrated a one length the day before. Luck for me, first guest was a one length. I did well. The educator gave me pretty high marks. There's always room for improvement and I can't blow dry hair without my nozzle and round brush. Awful I tell you. I walked around Westminster and found a park to eat lunch in. I though how very Londoner of me. Until Day 3 when I got lost getting back to class from the park. I should have just stuck to what I know, no new paths.

Miss April left yesterday. I don't have my North American friend to translate me to the house mate. It won't be the same with out her. But all six of us (the 4 house mates, myself, and April who's room I'm staying in) all went out for curry. My first time, and the boys did a wonderful job ordering Celina friendly food. I want more naan.

Today I have no voice from that lovely cough so asking questions on paper to an instructor who's blow drying hair proved to be highly ineffective. If I pushed to have a voice, I sounded like Morse code, every other work came out. Hopefully some rest tonight will resolve that.

Day 4 tomorrow. No more getting lost. And no more weird Italians hitting on me when I'm lost with no voice. At least I was lost in the "good" part of town. The park sits in between a Porsche and Bentley dealership. Oh yeah, it's real fancy. I try to look professional to blend in with the other 4 piece suits, although the arm is kind of a dead give away...

Primark..

I woke up with a little bit of a sore throat today. Two of my housemates had colds when I got here. Not to mention I stayed up with little sleep for like 3 days. It made me sleep in some. But I went to Oxford Circus again this time with housemates, ironically the ones that were sick. I bought my sister a shirt for her birthday even though it's not until November. It was just so darn cute, and I know she will love it.

We went to a store called Primark. It was intense. Imagine the chaos of Forever 21 and Disney combined. Awful. But we did manage to find these awesome glasses.
That's right its both visor and glasses combined. You're very jealous I know. We named ourselves the foreign blondes. I think it could be a band. One girl is Irish and the other is Canadian. So it was fun walking around London town with non-Londoners.

I'm really enjoying everything I've been doing. Although they can't seem to get my drink right at Starbucks. Just saying. I'm off to Scotland tomorrow. A good friend has to have surgery so I'm going to help out. Long train ride tomorrow but I have a good book and an iPad. I should be fine.

Riding alone

I woke up early today to try and figure out how to get to school. And how to get a rail card, but that's a whole other story, that's really pointless. Anyways. I topped up my oyster card. (Meaning I put money on my card to ride the subway train) Hopped on a double decked bus to get to the tube stop. Just a side note, construction workers whistle at you here too. One house mate suggested I get off on a particular stop rather than changing lines for just one stop. Needless to say my sense of direction failed me, but my memory didn't. I ended up at Piccadilly since I've been there before. Definitely not near my school, but none the less familiar. I finally figured it out. I went in asked if there was a dress code, if I need anything and left, not too exciting. But I did snap a picture while pretending to text. I hardly wanted to seem like the lame tourist that I am.




I rode the tube back to Brixton and met up with my house mates. We went to a beer garden and watched the football game. It was a beautiful day, I think I may have gotten a little tan on my non fully tattooed arm. Overall a really nice day. I'm really enjoying it here. And I can't wait for my actual course to start so I can get a real concept of life in London. Right now it's very holiday-esque. Not that I'm complaining, its just a new concept to me. I like the freedom, but I want to learn what I came here for.

Welcome to your new home...

Here's a view of my front door. I know its adorable. Maybe after I finish setting up my room I will take a picture of it also.

I made it safely though the airport. One large suitcase, one carry on, and one iMac later, I can't live without any of those things. I know its a bit much, but I tried to narrow it down.

While I waited to board a little girl pointed out to her mom that I had a castle tattooed on my arm. I told her I had Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty and she lit up. I ended up sitting next to her the entire flight. Her name was Esme and she was 4 years old. I taught her how to play Angry Birds on my iPad, we played a few games of Checkers, and we even tried Plants vs Zombies (although it proved to be a little too difficult) I felt a little like I was baby sitting but I really liked her. By the end of the flight, she told me I smelled like Ribena (its a fruit juice), that I had pretty tattoos, soft skin, and she asked me to come to her house. It was adorable. It was probably one of the best flights I've had. Although this flight competes for first place based on an announcement of someone leaving the teeth (dentures) in the lavatory. Yep, someone took their dentures off in an airplane bathroom and left them.

The queue for Board Patrol was spanning over 6 lines. I don't even think The Hulk ride at Universal Studios is that bad. I made it through no problems. They gave me more hassle the last time I was here. Suitcases arrived safely, and my ride patiently waited for me. I was picked up in a big Land Rover with a "Relentless" energy drink logo plastered all over it. I didn't think the UK had big cars, I was wrong. I had to climb up into that car, it was hard.

I'm renting my room from a Canadian girl, she's incredibly nice. Although she won't be staying here past the 30th. I've only met one other of my housemates. She shares an affinity for shoes and being blonde. We'll get along just well.

Day one has been amazing, I couldn't have asked for a more smooth ride. Now to unpack..

Good byes and fairwells..

This has been my home for almost 20 years now.
Orlando, Fl, known only for it's theme parks, really. (I took this picture with my iPhone while I was at Disney)

I'm about to leave it behind. It's a weird feeling. I've planned this trip, this adventure, for over a year now. It's literally days away (4 to be exact). Now I'm sad to say goodbye. I know its temporary, but even having to say it, is new to me. Every day I have to say bye to someone its really hard on me. I hate that I'm leaving friends, family, and clients for three months. I know its for my best interest and definitely will benefit my clients, its just all so different.

I'm so many adjectives its not even worth typing out. Nervous seems to be the leader across the board. It's good to be nervous, I would worry if I wasn't. It's all so crazy to me, I've been talking about this dream for so long, and now its coming to fruition. Every few minutes the idea passes in my head like the flashing tickers on CNN.. Just a reminder "YOUR GOING TO LONDON!!" It's always streaming before and after my regular thought process. It's like it won't fully set in, just always current news to be alerted on.

As a child, I always wanted to win the "Disney Dreamer and Doer" award. It's silly but I always saw it as a huge accomplishment. I've driven past the elementary signs that list the school's winners. I realized I may never have won, but I sort of did in a way. I've wanted to go to Vidal Sassoon since I was in hair school. I assisted under this amazing stylist who had studied there. I still to this day look back at her skill in envy. It's taken a few years to get to London, but I dreamed something, and I did it.

I worked hard for this, and I know the stories, lessons, events, and escapades I will have will teach me so much. I think I'm ready, or at least as ready as I can be.