Saturday, September 23, 2006
Living in England
This three-week holiday hasn't quite turned out how I expected, but that's not a bad thing. I was meant to go and see my dad in France on September 10, then missed the flight, then ended up getting another one on September 11 (great day to fly!).
Then I was meant to be going to Turkey to see the people I used to teach English to. But I got a call just over a week ago from the assistant to the managing editor of the Daily Mail (a national newspaper here), saying "We'd like you to come in on Monday for two weeks' work experience." So I did. And Turkey has been put on hold till next year.
The work experience thing isn't as random as it sounds. A couple of weeks before I left for England, I sent my aunt my CV and a covering letter to pass on to someone my uncle knows in the Associated Newspapers. Then I forgot all about it until I got the phone call.
So now I've been there a week, and *drum roll* I was published on Wednesday!! Yep - my writing, and byline, appeared on page 27 of the Daily Mail. Another notch on the journalistic bedpost. The whole of next week I'm in the travel section, which I'm really looking forward to. Then it's home to carry on living normal life, whatever that is.
It's weird - I've only been in England 2 weeks, but living in one place and working 9-5 and seeing all my old friends means I feel like I live here again. The only thing missing is Joe. And thinking about everyday life back in Canada, about the people at the shelter and friends from church, is decidedly weird. It almost feels like I had a dream about Canada and now I'm waking up.
But hey - it's either culture shock or staying in one place - and I know which one I'd rather do.
Then I was meant to be going to Turkey to see the people I used to teach English to. But I got a call just over a week ago from the assistant to the managing editor of the Daily Mail (a national newspaper here), saying "We'd like you to come in on Monday for two weeks' work experience." So I did. And Turkey has been put on hold till next year.
The work experience thing isn't as random as it sounds. A couple of weeks before I left for England, I sent my aunt my CV and a covering letter to pass on to someone my uncle knows in the Associated Newspapers. Then I forgot all about it until I got the phone call.
So now I've been there a week, and *drum roll* I was published on Wednesday!! Yep - my writing, and byline, appeared on page 27 of the Daily Mail. Another notch on the journalistic bedpost. The whole of next week I'm in the travel section, which I'm really looking forward to. Then it's home to carry on living normal life, whatever that is.
It's weird - I've only been in England 2 weeks, but living in one place and working 9-5 and seeing all my old friends means I feel like I live here again. The only thing missing is Joe. And thinking about everyday life back in Canada, about the people at the shelter and friends from church, is decidedly weird. It almost feels like I had a dream about Canada and now I'm waking up.
But hey - it's either culture shock or staying in one place - and I know which one I'd rather do.
