In the mean time...a photo or two to thank you for coming to check on me and my status.
Just a reminder of life without snow for my friends over here in snowbound North America!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Gears turning...
The British Consulate in NYC is too far for me to be able to hear the gears turning up there, but I'm confident that they are! Right? Today is the "earliest" date that I was given, so any day now....
In the mean time...a photo or two to thank you for coming to check on me and my status.
Just a reminder of life without snow for my friends over here in snowbound North America!
In the mean time...a photo or two to thank you for coming to check on me and my status.
Just a reminder of life without snow for my friends over here in snowbound North America!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sunny day
Will definitely need sunglasses outside today. When I eventually do get out there. Is it just blue-eyed people who are sensitive to light? Guess not, since my brown-eyed grandmother really struggled with "the glare." I've only noticed it since I passed 40. Difficult to look at people who are standing or sitting in front of a bright window. Cannot keep my eyes open when driving on a day like this (without the sunglasses)...sun shining on all the snow everywhere.
Since I don't have any news on my visa yet (and have decided I won't mention it again until I do get some kind of news) here's what my neighborhood looks like after last night's snow.
Since I don't have any news on my visa yet (and have decided I won't mention it again until I do get some kind of news) here's what my neighborhood looks like after last night's snow.
Sun through the snow...best I could do from inside my house.
And bravo to the plowers and shovelers for getting out so early!!!!
Grounds for Sculpture is closed today so no work for me. Should I make it a productive day or fritter it away? Will probably do both. I'm reading a gigantic book, "...And Ladies of the Club"...so there's that and inventory my Mary Kay stock. I'll shoot for that.
Friday, January 7, 2011
One of those days
Today I had to say bye-bye to my little niece...one and a half years old. Even though the separation will only be for a few weeks (ahem, that's a hint to you visa approval folks in NYC) it is always a tearful affair (for me, not for the little one).
I love being with the really little people, especially my own nephew and nieces. So it is hard on us all, my parents, my sister-in-law's parents, me, when my youngest brother and his family head back across the ocean to London. And how we appreciate them even making those flights with her on their laps hour after hour -squirming for much of it. Thanks P & M!!!
This little niece was a big part of the decision to go to teach in Scotland. Don't get me wrong, I love Lewis and the people I know there. Teaching will be great; I really loved those children! But I'll be ever so much closer to London and, yes, having them there certainly did influence the decision.
But, still no visa in hand.
I love being with the really little people, especially my own nephew and nieces. So it is hard on us all, my parents, my sister-in-law's parents, me, when my youngest brother and his family head back across the ocean to London. And how we appreciate them even making those flights with her on their laps hour after hour -squirming for much of it. Thanks P & M!!!
This little niece was a big part of the decision to go to teach in Scotland. Don't get me wrong, I love Lewis and the people I know there. Teaching will be great; I really loved those children! But I'll be ever so much closer to London and, yes, having them there certainly did influence the decision.
But, still no visa in hand.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Making life a little easier
I'm very excited to show you.......my new debit card!!!
My fellow Americans, one of these will make my purchasing life much easier - at least in London and Stornoway. I can't say how things are anywhere else in the world, but my American credit card causes confusion at check out. I know it is blurry, but do you see that little white globe symbol on the left side of the card? That is a microchip which our cards don't have even though we have other shiny globe things on ours.
Many cashiers don't know what to do if you don't give them a card with a "chip." For me there have been enough instances where I either hold up the line or have to listen to, "haven't had one of these in a long time; must get someone who's been here longer......" to send me in pursuit of this little chip.
Thing is they are VERY hard to come by over here in the US. I found a little kiosk at the King of Prussia Mall that has them and they will give you one! Your American card will work in the UK, but brace yourself for a little hassle once in a while. Cash machines are still no problem, thankfully, for the chipless.
Check another task off the list. Done!
My fellow Americans, one of these will make my purchasing life much easier - at least in London and Stornoway. I can't say how things are anywhere else in the world, but my American credit card causes confusion at check out. I know it is blurry, but do you see that little white globe symbol on the left side of the card? That is a microchip which our cards don't have even though we have other shiny globe things on ours.
Many cashiers don't know what to do if you don't give them a card with a "chip." For me there have been enough instances where I either hold up the line or have to listen to, "haven't had one of these in a long time; must get someone who's been here longer......" to send me in pursuit of this little chip.
Thing is they are VERY hard to come by over here in the US. I found a little kiosk at the King of Prussia Mall that has them and they will give you one! Your American card will work in the UK, but brace yourself for a little hassle once in a while. Cash machines are still no problem, thankfully, for the chipless.
Check another task off the list. Done!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Getting off the ground
If you are reading this, you probably know me, so I can skip over personal info!! And you also know that I am hoping to go to the Isle of Lewis to teach for about six months.
When I've visited the Isle of Lewis in Scotland before, some friends and family have asked for photos and this blog will, I hope, satisfy your curiosity about the place. I can also keep you up on what's happening with me whenever you feel like checking in.
As of now, January 3, 2011 I am still in the US and in the middle of applying for my visa. There's much more involved in that process than I had imagined.
Application filed online.
Fingerprints taken this morning.
Now...need to mail in a stack of papers - financial, travel, passports, photos, certificates of sponsorship - to the proper authorities. Then wait. For how long, I don't know. They say 1-12 weeks. Uh oh.
And here we go!
When I've visited the Isle of Lewis in Scotland before, some friends and family have asked for photos and this blog will, I hope, satisfy your curiosity about the place. I can also keep you up on what's happening with me whenever you feel like checking in.
As of now, January 3, 2011 I am still in the US and in the middle of applying for my visa. There's much more involved in that process than I had imagined.
Application filed online.
Fingerprints taken this morning.
Now...need to mail in a stack of papers - financial, travel, passports, photos, certificates of sponsorship - to the proper authorities. Then wait. For how long, I don't know. They say 1-12 weeks. Uh oh.
And here we go!
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