Happiness

Ah... faster than the last post, for two reasons, really:

1) I half wrote this entry with my last one, but decided to keep my posts to less than two pages in Word before I post them on my blog and

2) I am having an exceptionally good day today which is attributed to:

a) my dongle working on my entire journey into work (however, it is characteristically not working on the way home)

b) the enjoyable music of Florence and the Machine (love it!)

c) my public transportation connections are ahead of schedule... let's see if this lasts. I have decided that my mood is directly influenced by my travel day. See graph for further explanation.

Continuing with my most and least favourite things, here are 5(ish) things I don't really like about this place...

1) The weather. I am cold! It's damp, which gets in your clothes and your linens and you don't seem to ever warm up. And you use your heating sparingly because it is expensive.

2) There is a lack of rubbish "bins" in public places. This leads to quite a lot of litter on the side of the road or in wooded areas or on the train. I think someone once told me that the reason for this was because people used to put bombs in the bins. Don't quote me on that because I am sure how accurate that is.

In many parts of Europe this is also the case and I remember (seeing it first hand) and learning about it in a cultural nutrition class that in general, Europeans aren't the type to eat on the run/walk, thus leading to a slimmer population. However, seeing the number of "crisp" bags, choccie bar wrappers, and empty pop and lager cans near the side walk is direct evidence to why the UK is just as fat as North America. The only difference here between Brits and N. Americans is that we have a magical hole to hide our gluttonous evidence on every single street corner.

3) Along with the acceptability of drinking in the afternoon and in public in the UK, it also poses as something that I don't like about this place: young lads (generally) drinking in the park, on the street, etc who feel the need to get lager-ed up as soon as they get up. Groups of them who have nothing better to do because not many employers are hiring this category right now, get together and get drunk, and usually cause a ruckus. This leads to the next two peeves...

4) You are able to leave school at the age of 16 in many parts of England where the onus is on you to apply to a "college" and gain the necessary skills that will help you to gain a job or further your education. From what I can tell, the two main reasons why these youth don't further their education is because cash-strapped employers are not hiring this demographic, so why would you bother investing the money in training if you know you won't get a job? This is changing in many parts of the country where it is now mandatory for students to remain in school for 12 years. I am not entirely certain on the situation and it will be something I look into further.

5) The money and living accommodations doled out by the government seems to cover the price of booze, drugs, and junk food. Yes... LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS! Although, not the nicest digs, you apply to the government when you are 18 and it is their obligation to find you a home. In cases where you are a single mother with multiple children, your government benefits are better than a wage you would earn if you were working (in a low-skill job), which feeds into the "why bother" mentality... if you aren't educated, then you don't get a descent wage so why bother working? You don't build your job skill profile, thus are still not hireable. Why not take a course if you are unemployed? That costs money, although there are subsidised programmes available, they aren't exactly teaching expert skills. And again, unemployment for low skill jobs is high and is forecasted to remain high for the next few years and again, why bother working if you make more money sitting on your ass or having babies?

These are all big boos for England, but I have fully considered them and will continue to throughout my Adventure until they play into my final decision (whenever that day may come).

On a better note, I have been up to some great things this month:

I completed a 10km race in 54 minutes. For only running once a week, I'd say that is not bad. My friend Tracy also started running this year and finished in 57 minutes! Great for her and it is also exciting because her running group was featured in their local newspaper ( I was a teammate by association). We went out afterwards to celebrate, which ended up an experience in itself... all for the next blog entry.

www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/sport/local/5055830.New.runners.do.well/

Apart from the news that our pickled onions turned out really really well (spicy zingers), I hope that the likes of spring are starting to touch you wherever you are just as it is here. Stay tuned for my next entry where I talk about parties and my picture diary.

Peace out!

Month 3: Job!

Hello!

Month 3: What have I been up to? #1: New Job! Yay! Pretty much exactly what I wished to be doing. What do I do? Have you ever noticed the subtleties in a chocolate bar? For example, not only that it smells of chocolate, but it also has a hint of coconut or raisin? Do you think it had a taste of vanilla, or maybe plastic? A papery, yet caramel aftertaste? I work in sensory science, a subject that I took a liking to as soon as I was introduced in my final year at university. In a nutshell (is that almond, or hazelnut? Sorry!), I work with two and a bit handfuls of normal people who are able to notice these tiny differences and try to gather all of the aromas, flavours, etc that they perceive from the product that they are tasting. We do some discussion, validation and results interpretation to see how products compare. I am on my way to becoming an official sensory scientist!

I'm still loving England as it is still quite novel to be here... which I have been warned will wear off.

England- some favourites:
1. Accents- I like to listen to others and others like to listen to me. Every conversation I have with a new person is a novelty. For example, while talking to my bank on the phone the other morning, the very Scottish customer service rep was in love with me..."always a pleasure to hear an accent"; to which I replied, "aren't you the one with the accent". Our conversation ended with me having an increased credit limit and with him begging me to call back anytime! Of course, Craig did experience this effect whilst in Canada just as I seemed to have a heightened interest in any customer at the currency exchange that was British-sounding.

2. Betting- 2 pound bet with a return of 132 pounds. Not at all bad for watching 2 hours of football. Choose your score, choose your scorer. Don't you thing it would be more fun watching hockey if you could do the same? Choosing spreads just doesn't compare.

3. The Sunday afternoon tipple- yup, just as it sounds. Strategically the Brits have a feast called "Sunday Lunch" where you have a roast with all the fixings as early as 12.30 on a Sunday. This gives you the excuse to start drinking in the day, even earlier if you are cooking ;) But it isn't just Sunday Lunch, it is widely acceptable to go to the pub with your mates on a weekend afternoon (particularly if it is a gorgeous day) and get your drink on.


It's not that you wouldn't go around to your friends' house on a Sunday afternoon to watch the NFL or NASCAR and of course you would crack some brews, it is that you aren't looked down upon for doing it in England. Ad while I'm on the topic of booze, it is cheap (in comparison)! I can squeeze an extra bottle of wine in during the week for the same money I was spending at home in Edmonton. Not that I am drinking an extra bottle of wine a week... I promise.

4. The landscape: It's gorgeous; however, I am biased being from the prairies of Alberta. The
rolling hiss, clusters of trees, green grass (even now!), native daffodils coming up, and the pride of grooming a traditional garden makes for a refreshing glance out the window at any time of year.


5. Fashion- Of course there are more and less desirable styles here, just as there are in Canada. But I think what attracts me is that people aren't afraid to go bold: patterns, sparkle, flowers, bling... subtle is worn by a minority of people. As well, more people dress with purpose as if you wanted to impress your in-laws for the first time by not looking like a bag of rags... but it isn't a chore to dress in this manner, it is natural.

On that note, and with an example of a less than desirable combination of patterns, etc. I will leave you. I am still enjoying my time here and am especially excited for the next months as I continue with my job and the advancement of spring. However, I am starting to think that I have actually brought a bit of the Canadian winter with me because it is now mid-February and it has snowed again! There hasn't been this much snow in Britain for 50 some years. Enjoy cheering for Canada at the Olympics! certainly am here!