Defeated

I quit the coffee shop. Shortest time I've ever held a job. I'm going to find another way of doing things. Working there didn't feel right. Its hard to work a job when your dream job is waiting just around the corner.

I've been defeated by a cold, or something. I've been out of commission. Runny nose, cough, a fever. This has been my day. Up side, the being sick thing totally justifies eating cookies and cream ice cream all day long. I do love spending all day in my flat. I'm not sure why. I really probably should have left or done something productive. But couldn't bare the energy to get up and go. Stupid cold. Get me another pint.

That's a picture of my staircase in my flat. The upstrairs is a little living room/ kitchen than there's a spiral staircase to my bedroom and bathroom. Loves it.

Big Brother

If you've ever watched Big Brother UK than you know what this is. It's the chair from the confessional room.
I went to my audition for Dating in the Dark. They made me answer questions, do tests, solve puzzles, and than asked me questions on camera. It was actually more intense than any job interview I've ever been on. The open casting will continue for another month. So I won't hear anything back for at least that long. Though at this point I don't think I will hear anything back and I have this overwhelming desire to work on my math skills. Yeah that kind of testing.

I started at the coffee shop yesterday. It's definitely a physical job. It seems like it's meant for a youthful strong guy and I'm not that. I have blisters from the first day, no joke. I'm not sure if I will keep the job. I already called in, I've been fighting off a cold and it hit me pretty hard today. They wanted me to work until 1am and come in at 7am. I'm going to give it one more day. But I don't think I'm cut out for this. Plus I drank 3 coffees in a really short time and it gave me the shakes real bad.

Today isn't over yet. But I doubt anything exciting is meant to happen. I'm beat to hell and not ready for an early day tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Since

I'm trying to stay here. I figured I should be a little more diligent about this blog. Not to mention that while my visa paper work processes, I have some time to kill.

I managed to talk the local coffee shop/ shisha (hookah) bar into letting me work there for cash. Tomorrow I start at 7 am bright and early. Its going to be interesting. I've never worked in a coffee shop, let alone one that also has a hookah bar. I've never even smoked it.

I did this amazing fashion show with the salon I'm going to work for. The models looked amazing, I did hair and make up together. I couldn't have asked for a better night. If this is a foreshadowing of things to come, I'm an insanely lucky girl.

I also decided that I'm going to try and take a picture a day of something I see in London. Whether it makes sense or not, these are some of the things I'm seeing. I really can't explain this one, but I was in Bricklane and someone had take the time to make a sticker of this and than they even put it on a light post.. No clue, welcome to London.

I've slacked off completely...

But I wrote this out and figured I'd post it on here..

They say if life hands you lemons, make lemonade. But I think sometimes life hands you lemonade and you just have to enjoy it.

Not too long ago I came across an agency that posts CV's (résumés) for salons. It was a sketchy looking website and you couldn't even upload a document. Out of boredom (mostly I had been sick and funds were low) I posted my half assed CV, with little hope.

A few days later I got some phone calls from various salons but none of them were even decent salons. I thought, "Well Celina, sketchy website equals sketchy salons, or should I say dodgy" Than I got a phone call from a salon. They asked for an actual CV and I did a mini phone interview.

I didn't think anything of it. But than I was asked to do an actual interview with the manager. I started really researching the salon, its an incredible company. I figured what's the harm in an interview. Which turned into a trait test or technical interview with two models, than a second trait test with two more models. I honestly didn't think I would even get an offer. Regardless of skill level, I'm a government issue. That's right, an immigrant.


I still have to be approved by the UK Border Agency to stay. But that's the next step. I've thought long and hard about this. It's a big change and it's not exactly an easy process. But I can't pass up the opportunity. I've been handed lemonade.

I'm going to miss seeing my regular clients, my friends, and my family, I already do. But i've been offered the chance of a lifetime. I'm the only one in my course from the states who has stayed, and only 2 in the entire course of almost 20 to stay in England. I worked hard to get to London to train here, and now I've been offered a chance to work here, to learn more from some amazing stylists, to try out this city, to challenge myself in a completely new way.

I look forward to the adventure, knowing that I'm risking everything, but I just can't pass it up. A good friend of mine told me, "Life won't wait," and it's true, London won't wait either.

Half way mark

It's crazy to think Monday marks 6 weeks I've been in this course. It's really starting to come together. They've changed up our instructors and the new ones are amazing. Daniel and Jay are both super technical and I love it. If they check your haircut its not just "see here" its "you changed your body position here" or "you've changed the direction of your comb" Little things I'm learning to take into account for. They've given us the basic tools and now they're teaching us to think in a whole new way. I'm absolutely loving it.

I managed to go out on the town last night. I had a client who gave me the name of a gay bar that plays pop and indie. A girl really couldn't ask for more. My house mate Cara and I got all done up (I did the hair and make up duh) and we met up with two of my classmates John and Nicole. We danced our little hearts out (but really until our feet couldn't take our shoe's abuse). As the English would say, "it was brilliant"

Next weekend Cara is taking Julie (other housemate) and I down to Brighton for Gay Pride Weekend. We're going out and getting all dolled up. It's going to be amazing. I will have pictures to post.

Anyways, I leave you with a picture of my drive home in the taxi...It's still weird to think I live in London... The red stripe is a double deck bus. It loses its novelty when it almost makes you late to school...

I had a long weekend

So I went up to Scotland. Unfortuantely the train I hopped on was fully booked with reservations. Meaning, no open seats to the unreserved like me. I decided to stay on board anyways and wait for some people to get off. The train make a good amount of stops so I figured I'd be fine. There was about 5 of us waiting in the cabin entrance so I sat in the same spot I stood in. I knew playing in cardboard boxes as a child attempting to fit in small boxes would one day come in handy. But my skill was really put to the test about an hour later when the only place for me to sit was inside the luggage storage shelving. There were no seats but there was space for luggage. I'm not sure why. But I managed to sleep in a tiny cubbyhole for almost two hours. Here's me and some luggage that's not mine.. It served as a pillow.

I got a seat after that and was fine the rest of the way. I had tons of fun in Scotland, saw Toy Story 3-d, had a BBQ, and I learned why not to mix alcohol.

Than back to school as usual. I had the most amazing instructor today. He's going to be with us for the next 4 weeks. He's incredibly helpful and super positive. I can't say that for all the instructors. I got to do round graduation with a heavy fringe on a Chinese girl.. Here's the result . .


Her fringe isn't crooked, she closed her eyes and raised an eyebrow. She ruined my picture.. Haha

Anyways, a side from my guest today flipping out and launching a formal complaint with the school because an instructor used the same comb to check the cut, everything's been good. I'm really enjoying London. And it's been a good work out, none of my clothes fit me. Too bad I'm broke and can't buy new clothes.

Also I've redone hairtobreakhearts.com. It's just going to be a way to look up prices so I can free lance here in London but I did it myself. Thanks iWeb. It should be working in the next couple of days.

Week Two

I started this week really upset. This course is definitely not easy. Not that I expected nor hoped it to be. Hair has always been something that came to me both easily and naturally. This course so far has reminded me that sometimes I am going to have to work at it. I can't determine if the haircut I did on Tuesday night was partially my own doing or the fact that the guest was a.) chalk full of nuts and b.) would not stop moving. The type of graduated bob that I did was very Sassoon styled but my elevation was off. Granted the client loved her hair and really only another hairstylist studying the cut would have noticed but I knew and that was upsetting.

But yesterday I had an epiphany about the technique and finally seemed to understand where I went a rye. I did another graduated bob with some layers on top and it was so much easier once all the pieces clicked into place. I really feel like I'm being forced to become a better hair cutter in a short amount of time. Which is exactly what I wanted. She needed her color done, I mean colour.


So the weather is going to be warm tomorrow and my house mates set up a sort of kiddy pool. I plan on sitting in it for most of the day and trying my new concoction. I love black current Ribena (juice) I'm going to add it to champagne. I hope its as tasty as I've imagined.

I also found the salon that Adee from Shear Genius 3 owns. It's beautiful. I found some really amazing shops today and to top it all off I had Chipotle. This town is growing on me real quick.