Of course, as always, craziness finds me quickly, so my first experience with getting to know my new countrymen happened rather quickly...I was still at the airport.
Totally not my fault, but the driver for the car I hired did not appear to be there waiting for me as prearranged. I looked up and down the entire receiving line of greeters, drivers, family, friends, and airport personal that seem to line the cattle shoot like exit of the customs area. No worries, I can handle this..I had foresight to copy the company number down on the email receipt just in case something like this happened. However, the pay phone did not seem to understand the numbers I was dialing, nor the refund policy when the connection isn't made...£2 and no call later, I wondered around a bit more trying to spot my name on the many signs waving about.
No luck...then I spot them...I thought they were security guards or something, they were wearing bright reflective vests and lounging on one of the airport trolleys. So I approach them..."Aye Luv, you look a bit out of sorts" Luv? I had an ex that used to call me that, but apparently I'll need to get used to complete strangers saying it around here...frequently...So I explain to the both of them that I can't seem to use the phone (which I was loath to admit at 30 years old) and that I can't seem to find my driver.
Well, they both start talking at once, to each other, about what could be wrong, what could be done, and how to go about it. Then they look at me....'I think we've got her more turned around than before' one says to the other. My mistake - they had been talking to me! "Let's just see about this...leaving a pretty lass like you waiting."
The one - I've determined now that he is Scottish, the other English, picks up his cell and dials the number I've written down. And proceeds to explain the situation to the operator, starting with, "Well here now lass, this is Gatwick security and we've got a lost driver." With that he turns to me, winks and says, "She doesn't need to know we're not security." Hmmm.... After a few moments, I hear, "He's here is he? Well, we're here and we don't see him."
With that English looks at my name from the email and darts off into the crowd like a hound hunting his fox in search of the elusive driver. "Well, now tell him I'm standing across from the information desk waiting a white paper," I hear. When I turn back to look at Scotch, he has now stepped up onto the seat of his trolley and is fervently waving my email paper in the air. Oh man....of course everyone is now looking....this is my welcome to London...
"Found him...Found him!!!" I hear from across the corridor. Lovely, it's getting better now!! "Found him!" yells English as he half drags the poor driver across the room. "He was all the way over by the wall! Can you just believe that! How was the poor dear to see him at all?" English says to Scotch.
Well, this ought to be a fun ride home, I think to myself as the poor driver nails me with what might possibly be the saddest look I've ever seen!
I thank my would be saviors and off I go. Behind me I hear Scotch say to English, "Aye' now that's an American lass I don't mind helping. No airs to her, so nice, she'll do just fine here." "Yes, that and she will," replies English.
Hmmm...well, that put a little smile on me.
That said, Wambie (no idea if that is spelled correctly, but we'll just go with phonetically), the driver and I head out on our way.
Turns out Wambie is quite the talker! Once he knew I was new to London, he proceeded to fill me in on everything he though I needed to know for my new life in London. Turns out Wambie is from Somalia and has lived in London for about 9 years. He's driven a taxi for 8 of those years, and in the last 9 months, recently bought his own cab and is now a contracted driver....what can I say, people seem to open up to me.
Anyway, I've gotten settled into the new flat in Notting Hill rather nicely. It took a bit of trail and error getting used to a few of the new appliances...the heaters are all in Celsius, so that took a bit of trail and error...sweat and goosebumps.
I've had dinner out and later learned that I grossly over tipped the waiter...explaining the huge smile on his face when I told him to keep the change.
I've done my grocery shopping and learned a few things I never knew...for instance, I never knew that milk that comes in a box from off the non-refrigerated shelf could taste so incredibly different from milk that comes in the carton...and not different in a good way.
Well, off to bed I go...it's almost 10pm here, which is 5pm back in the states. I think I've gotten used to the time difference rather quickly - thankfully. No naps yesterday and up at 7am this morning has forced me into the new patterns quickly, so hopefully there won't be any excessive yawning at the office tomorrow.
1 comment:
that's hilarious! glad you got settled in and the trip over was a good one, take it easy.
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