Preparing for UK Business Trip

In preparation for my business trip to England, Scotland and Wales at the end of February I needed to get in touch with my UK bank. Thanks to the ease of Skype I was able to seamlessly contact the bank by phone. Oh how lovely to hear the Glaswegian accent of the woman at the service centre. It was so familiar and I knew I was in good hands.

At the conclusion of our conversation the call centre woman, who had become increasingly excited throughout our call, (not because of my account balance), asked me where from the States I was calling. When I told her San Francisco I could just imagine the smile on her face and the gleam in her eyes. "Oh lovely, what is the weather like there?" I told her the truth, sunny and warm. "Oh bring some of that sunshine with you when you visit" was her response. I asked her about the snow they are experiencing today and she told me it had blanketed the entire UK but hoped it would melt before I got there. "I can use a little snow" I told her.

Closing Out the Old and Preparing for the New

I took some time yesterday to reflect on 2008 in preparation for starting 2009.

2008 was a year of significant and powerful life choices. I took a huge step to move into a healthy life for myself and moved back to the States on my own. Certainly not easy but I do not regret my choice.

I was also was accepted into a Doctoral program which was a goal I set upon returning to San Francisco. That is a huge commitment of several years. I plan to use it as an anchor for my work.

All this was possible because I clarified my core values. Yesterday I took some time to reflect on these again. One that I have difficulty with is recognizing when I am in an unhealthy relationship or situation. My tendency is to try and make it work by increasing my tolerance for discomfort (aka weirdness). Looking forward to 2009 I am going to be more aware of this and be more precious with my time and my value. This is especially important with grad school starting in just a few days.

As for specific goals I need to take some time to reflect on these. As I've mentioned before I have my goals posted on my bedroom wall. There are a few to add and some that have been met. I see it as a life in progress.

Cooking for a Crowd

Last night was I cooked up a thank you/good bye dinner for my DC hosts before moving on to San Francisco. As I mentioned in the previous post Meals Make Memories the menu was inspired by meals I had in the past two months after returning to the States from London.

Guests:
My sister and brother-in-law Marlene and Mandeep
My brother Matthew and his fiancee Rachel
Rachel's Mom Ann
Matt and Rachel's roommate Tyeliah and her friend Jody
Downstairs neighbor Richard

Here's what I served and the locations with links to posts on my blog which they commemorated

Jerk salmon, catfish, prawns and portobello mushrooms - Jamaica
Spoon corn bread - Maryland
Asian coleslaw - Teaism influenced
Steamed baby artichokes - Virginia
Strawberries with fresh maple/vanilla whipped cream - Virginia & Maine

Marlene also brought mouth-watering pastries that we shared.

What a meal!

Seamless Business Across Time Zones

Moving back to the States from London in early May one of my primary goals was to be able to continue consulting in both countries. Six weeks later I'm happy to say that its going well. Yesterday I proved it to myself when I called a program participant in Bristol, England to discuss content for a leadership session she was unable to attend. Of course she could tell I was American by my accent but she had no idea I was calling from Washington, DC. I walked her through the powerpoint presentations and answered her questions about content.

At the conclusion of our conversation she said, "I look forward to meeting you at tomorrow's session." She giggled delightfully when I told her that I wouldn't see her there because actually I am in DC and my associate Martin would be facilitating the session. "Oh my, what time is it in DC?" When I told her 8am she giggled more.

There are a few reasons I can make this happen. Technology of course is top of the list. I am using Skype's voice over internet for calls to other skype users as well as to phones. Email allows me to arrange meetings and share documents regardless of time zone. And then my ability to speak British English is huge. Because I know the lingo of The Third Sector in the UK and how British people use English I'm able to communicate clearly. Plus, of course, the exotic factor of an American voice and way of thinking keeps me interesting.

Here, There, Everywhere, Nowhere

You haven't heard from me in a few days because I'm too confused to write a good post. I thought that moving back to the States would be the decisive move that would clarify my life. But in the process I created a completely unstable base.

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know that I've been on the move since 2005 - from San Francisco to Houston to Connecticut to London and now DC. In every city I've made amazing friendships and worked with some fantastic organizations. But each move has required me to start again with housing, friends, jobs, activities... Although it is wonderful to have all these friendships it also hurts to say goodbye.

Now when people ask me where I live and what I do I have no answer. Starting over again. It takes a lot of energy to find inspiration each time. I think that I need to look at the next for to six week as a holiday and use the time to have some fun for the summer. How often do you have the opportunity to take a breather and be inspired?

Final Day of Work in London

Well, today is my last day of work in London. To go out with a bang I'm facilitating our Away Day (what we call a retreat in the States). We're holding it at an international law firm which provides lovely biscuits and tea every two hours to make sure you're well caffeinated. Don't worry, I won't have any tea - as many of you know caffein makes me beyond hyper and when I facilitate I'm already on super power mode.

Yesterday was my last day in the office. It felt strange because I wasn't sad to go. The job was excellent for my learning and career aspirations but I'm clearly ready to return to the States.

Free-Spirited Acts #8-14

Now I am accountable to my blog readers as well as my coach to commit 20 free-spirited acts by Sunday evening. It takes a lot of energy to keep this up. I'm sure this is a test of how free-spirited you can be with your free-spirit.

Here are today's:

8. Awakened at the crack of down to be the first on line to get my bike serviced at the first-come-first-served bike shop in our neighborhood.


9. Smiled at the people already waiting outside the shop when I arrived (very not British to smile at strangers).


10. Purged stuff I no longer need in preparation for move back to the States.


11. Set out to find a piece of art that reminded me of the UK when I'm back in the States.


12. Immediately found a piece that spoke directly to my dream of having a cozy farm cottage with a fireplace, books, nicknacks and a cat like Tika.


13. Purchased the artwork "Interior, Manor Farm" by Howard Phipps, wood engraving, 1991 (pictured above) from the Rowley Gallery.

14. Contemplated setting up a bi-coastal, multi-national consulting practice.




I didn't include hosting the weekly yoga class out my flat since I do this every week. But may need to pull that in if I'm having a hard time finishing up the last six tomorrow.

Thoughts on Whole Foods in London

I am a pretty regular shopper at Whole Foods in London. The place makes me feel like I'm back in the States. There is something hugely comforting about the size of the store, all my favorite brands and the American staff. But for some reason the store doesn't seem to be doing well here. This is based on my observation that during the week the place is dead. I was there last night from 6-7pm, key shopping time, and there were very few shoppers and even fewer people at the tills. I've put some thought into it and here are possible reasons.

1. You can get healthy, organic, top-quality foods at almost any grocer in the UK.
2. People are not fashion conscious about where they shop - that's a big deal with Whole Foods shoppers in the States. Food is not a lifestyle here. Shopping at Whole Foods in the States is a statement about your politics, income and where you live.
4. Too expensive! Cheese and dairy products are cheap in the UK because of European Union farmers' subsidies. Why the heck are the prices triple at Whole Foods?
5. People aren't foodies. You buy your food, you cook it, you eat it. You don't talk about it, obsess over it, create weird allergies around it (although mine are real).
6. The store is overwhelming. Most grocery stores don't offer this kind of choice in the UK or probably Europe at large. People are overwhelmed.

It is a super store and I love going there - even if I forgot to use my discount coupon today - people just don't use coupons here - perhaps I'm becoming European in my shopping? Nah, a European wouldn't have written this post.

Counter to my assumption there is an article in the 2 December 2007 Austin-American Statesman that says the store is doing well.
Signs seem to show that Whole Foods is preparing for second London store

Deaf boy's cotton wool bud 'cure'

You may recall that in October 2006 I expertly lodged a wax earplug into my ear and Stephen had to expertly extract it with tweezers. Yes the whole experience was gross and traumatic - although I did get some excellent advice from friends and yahoo answers.

The reason I take us down this path of memory lane is that Stephen found this story on the BBC news website Deaf boy's cotton wool bud 'cure'. What is so super freaky is that the boy had this cotton stuck in his ear for nine years and the doctors said it was probably just wax. There is no report of them investigating - they concluded wax and said, "sorry son, live with it." Of course this is not an exact quote, it is my take on the situation. Even the parents thought there was something lodged in the ear.

The poor kid was quoted as saying, "I think I'll be much happier at school now my ear does not ache all the time." I feel for you. I know what you're going through.

This is what scares me most about the National Health Service in the UK which seems to be run like a third world country. In the States this could would have had some kind of x-ray or probe put into his ear to see what the heck was going on. In the UK with their assembly-line health service they just say oh well.

On the Eve of Returning

Tomorrow Stephen and I head back to the States for a visit. It is very strange to be going back to my country for a visit as opposed to coming out to the UK for a holiday.

I'm worried about how it will feel to be back. Will I feel different? Will people seem different? Will I sound like Madonna with a fake English accent?

My work associates predict that I'll be shocked by how big and open the States are compared to the twisty little streets in London. I've hardly been out of London for the six months that I've be in the UK. It may be a shocker to see green and wide open spaces.

What I'm psyched about is the trip since we fly on my birthday. Although this wasn't planned we will be able to celebrate my birthday for much longer then 24 hours. Hip Hip Birthday!