While in the USA I Enjoy Listening to Pandora, But Miss Watching BBC iPlayer

I’m currently at home in New York. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by life. Not to imply that the two things are directly connected, though like everyone who has ever moved away from home and subsequently moved back (“boomeranged” as it were) I certainly do find being here a bit stressful.

I’ve actually had a decently productive stay so far, though I’m still hovering near the 0 word mark on my dissertation. I’ve registered for Health Plus, which merely required a couple of humiliating affidavits stating that I am a 24 year old woman who is unemployed and living with her parents. So it’s legal! I am officially a layabout! On paper! Still, the whole thing frees me up a bit for this awful awful job search. I can work part-time to get some experience without worrying about being hit by a truck since I am now insured for the next year. I would of course prefer full-time employment that sees me living far away from Staten Island, but bla bla bla beggers, choosers etc. Current backupish plan consists of getting a part-time museum job and spending the rest of the work week getting a certain something off the ground. We (not royal…mysterious!) had planned on waiting a few years until we got established in our careers, but judging by the difficulty we’re having even starting careers maybe it’s best to jump right in. I’d say stay tuned, but that might jinx it.

Right now I’m trying to sort some stuff for that, doing the usual dissertation nonsense (aka not terribly much), doing some novel research, applying for jobs, hanging around with family and friends (doing fun things like seeing Avenue Q, going to the beach and…fingers crossed…eating kangaroo!), and trying to keep my internal clock somewhat close to GMT. I start my internship about 34 hours after I arrive in the UK, so my body isn’t going to have much time to shake off the jet-lag. I head back Saturday, start work Monday and, dun dun dun, will be working on the 4th of July! Oh England.

The Shiftless Gypsy Blues

I have come to the conclusion that I would never throw anything away ever if I didn’t pack up all my belongings and move once or twice a year.

This move, from a country I arrived in with 2 suitcases and will leave with 3, will involve even more purging than usual. In addition to all the papers and books and half-used bottles of spice that I would normally schlep between NY and VA, I will be disposing of pots and pans and bedding and towels and a laundry hamper and a printer. It is insanely wasteful, but I simply can’t carry any more. I’ve posted some stuff on freecycle and will take several other bags of stuff to charity shops, but the majority of it actually came my way via a friend who got it from charity shops 2 years ago. I guess it has mostly been well-used but it’s all still perfectly serviceable. It just seems like such a shame.

You may figure from the above that I’m moving back the the US soon. Not so! I visit briefly, with suitcases overweight with books and boots, starting on Monday. While there I plan on speed-writing my dissertation, registering for what is essentially welfare health insurance, hanging out with friends, celebrating my Nana’s 87th birthday, and finding some cute summer work clothes. Then it’s back to London for my work placement. But all my stuff will still be in Leicester! And I can’t go back for it for at least a week after I arrive in the UK! So essentially I also have to pack a week’s worth of summer clothing in addition to all the winter clothing that I’m taking home.

Then I have to take all my stuff from Leicester to London on the train, without Rebecca’s help this time. Ugh. I just can’t think about it.

In other news, woo hoo Barack Obama!