My first party

I had the BEST time last night. Halloween party at the Berkeley ward mansion - So. Good.

Great music, great costumes, amazing people, great venue, brilliant vibe.. Loved it.

USA Lesson number 1

At YSA fireside, and in jest, I didn't return this guys high five.

Quote of the day.. (he said with a totally straight face):

'You cannot ignore an American's high five. It physically hurts us.'

Hilarious!! Noted my friend, noted. 

Never have I ever

.. Seen this much food in my L I F E.

Thankyou Berkeley Bowl, for schooling me on food.

Also thankyou for the Brit aisle.
But get some milk choc digestives asap, what are you trying to do to me?

The Right Side

Today, I drove.

As in, the right side of the road. 

On the left side of the car. 

Insanity.

My instructor: 

'So you've driven before? 'Yea, in England. We drive on the left so..' 

'How long you been driving?' 'Well since I was 18 so 4 years, but that was in England.' 

'So you're a good driver?' 'Yea, in England!' 

'Ohh, no big deal, you'll be fine, you get right behind the wheel!' 

Clearly she wasn't understanding the gravity of the situation..

Turned out she was a great instructor, very chill and put me at ease. I was fine! 

There are, of course things I need to work on (intersections for example - the right of way is based on who gets there first. Seriously. Like musical chairs) but overall I was ok. I need lots of practice and I'm sure I'll pass the test. 

Unfortunately, I'm ridiculously competitive and hate not being good at things immediately.
Who is there to compete against? Myself.
Yep, its that bad. 

I can't wait until I get good at it, the day it doesn't freak me out, I don't have the urge to turn into oncoming traffic and I don't get lost, will be the day I know I've made it as a CA driver. 

Bring it onnn!    

'You saand like you iz from Lannndannn'

.. That's what I heard today about 5 mins before I sat my drivers permit test..

Thank you Russel Brand for that gem.

It was quite funny actually, a huge, black american dude putting on a (terrible) 'English' accent, presumably to make me feel at home! 

More importantly, I passed the theory and got my permit! I had to wait in a setting disconcertingly similar to the visa building debacle in London, but it was worth it - woooo! 

So I have my 1st driving lessons tomorrow. Blaeguuhhhg hfsdfhipsfhonsn I'm scaredddd.
But I shall man up & power through. 

Tonight I went to Target, and found, to my surprise, a whole Boots aisle. It made me feel right at home, who knew that little blue symbol could mean so much.

Speaking of, my host dad bought me Ribena, as a 'home comfort'. Ribena?! Don't they have that everywhere?! 

Then I saw the label - 'Made with British Blackberries' - Who. Knew. Perhaps everyone, but I've never noticed/read/cared about that little label before.  

Vimto too, as if Americans don't have Vimto in their lives, EVERYONE needs Vimto in their life. 

And do not even get me started on digestives. And hob nobs. Seriously.

Anyway. Loving life, 2nd day of proper work tomorrow, there's lots to do, but it's all about routine I guess. I got this y'all
Lots of love to good ole En-ger-land!! 

Newbie at the Student Ward

Guys, I went to church today. (I walked for half an hour. Again, without getting lost or run over, wooo)

And I Made. Friends.

Yayyyy!!

Going to a fireside later, with some really nice girls in my ward, should be fun!

Hay Y'all

Today marks 2 momentous occasions:

1. I went for my first solo walk in the neighbourhood.
This is way bigger than it sounds, since I managed to avoid getting run over, and also did not get lost. As you all know, both are a huge deal for Nicole.

2. My first hay ride. Also the first time I've sat on a bale of hay. Or gone through a hay maze, or heard country & western live. And picked a pumpkin.. All of these things simultaneously equal..

A Pumpkin Patch!!

We drove maybe 30 mins out of town and suddenly I'm in deep midwest. Ok obviously I wasn't but we did go to Marin County. Everyone goes for Halloween prep (that's right, actual weeks in advance) to select from tons of pumpkins on this ranch thingie in the middle of nowhere. It was very cool!

I repeat: Middle. of. Nowhere 

Legit American yo

Welcome to the good life..

Got here last night, its fantastic!! I'm actually H E R E, in Berkeley.

Cool to finally arrive after all the planning and the hype and stuff.
Kinda weird that it doesn't feel weird, the normality of everything, I feel totally at home (I know I'm adaptable but this takes it to a new level).
My street is an average, normal street. Nothing fancy, very chill, very American, the area has a lot of students, its nice.
It has a lot of character, lots going on, I like it.

The family are wonderful. I feel comfortable already, nothing is awkward (which there's a lot of potential for since I've essentially moved in with strangers) they've made me gifts, given me flowers and a freshly decorated, beautiful room. The kids are total cuties and they seem fun.
They'll definitely keep me busy but we'll have a good time this year I'm sure.

Today I drove around the area and explored a little, (when I say 'drove' I mean I was driven, whilst trying not to squeal repeatedly as we made turns onto the 'wrong' side of the road). Then this evening there was a school event for the boys -  a pot luck.
The parents of the children in 1 class bring food and all the kids and parents eat dinner together.
'..But why?' I asked my host 'mom'
'No reason', she shrugs. 'To promote community'

Would this ever happen in England? The answer my friends, is a very British, no. We just about managed jubilee street parties, before gratefully retreating back to denying the existence of our neighbours.

It was cute though, everyone eating outside together, playing games, holding hands, making tie dye tshirts..

I exaggerate, but it was lovely, and my first introduction to the weird & wonderful cultural differences of California.

Its going to be a good year.

PJs courtesy of Mama and the sewing crew - THANKS you guys!! 

Next stop Berkeley

Said bye to my girls in NY, and now waiting for my flight to CA!!
(Airport Jamba juice and donut of course, mandatory)

Life so far..

My lovely, extremely New Yorkan driver, CJ 

Our ny tour guide

Lena & I 

Fie, Hanna, Lena & I

Lena's Incredible photography 

Time Square

Little piece of heaven in NY ;)

Where Joey from Friends does his 'performances'

The road where Friends was filmed 

I thought I loved London, but making room in my heart for a new addition! 

Empire State of Mind

Arrived safe and sound in New Jersey. The flight and everything was all very chill, had a driver pick me up at JFK and take me to NJ - just how I roll.

The agency have put us up at the Hilton in NJ - again, sweeeet deal. Loving it.
So we have classes all day and then we're free at night.
Tonight. Was INCREDIBLE.
Went into New York and just loved it.
Obviously Alisha Keys was playing over and over (in my head) as we walked around Time Square.

Visiting the statue of liberty was just perfect, we got there just as the sun was setting. I've met some wonderful people here, and I'm about to do this huge thing, feel like I'm at the start of an amazing journey.

So being in NY, with these great girls, old lady liberty and a burning orange sunset - was just a little emotional!

I have more classes tomorrow and then rolling to CA thursday - pictures to come!!!

Leaving, on a jet plane..

2 days..

Flight essentials done!

Should I freak out now?

I have 3 days left.
And my room still looks like this..

Now that's what I call clearing out

SURPRISE!!!

They threw me a party, they actually threw me a party!

I had absolutely no idea, Ashlee and my family had been planning this for months - they're incredible!

Honestly, (self-deprivation not intended) I just found it so sweet that people took time out of their schedules to come and celebrate with me. Dana even got a babysitter, dedication! Just really grateful.

Best Night Everrrr

And so the goodbyes begin..

So Mark left this morning to go back to uni - I just had to say bye to him.

Him being the male he is and me being the emotional equivalent of a male, I said.. 'Be good. Don't do drugs. See you in a year' we hugged it out and left it at that.

Definitely going to miss him though, that kid is my best friend - pictures from last night crack me up!!
Ah, he'll only be a Skype call away..

My First Dollars!!

The fantastic Liz gave me this pressie today - it meant so much to me. (Mostly because I'd completely forgotten about the different currency) but she gave me a beautiful card too!

She's one of the wonderful ones in life, such a star. She's absolutely kept me sane in London.

Getting dollars just made this even more real for me!! Arghhhh!

10 days..

10 DAYS.
10 freaking days.
I guess I'm feeling pretty excited, but I'm not sure what for. Its like my brain has noooo idea what to expect, so its just not at all registering that I'm leaving the country.

I had an email from my 'host family' in Berk today. And it was all about things I needed to know for my arrival, that I'll have a phone, that the house has wi-fi (um is it wrong that I totally expected internet?) that I'd meet some of their extended family at Christmas etc - and I just couldn't imagine myself there. At Christmas.. having a whole new routine.. and life!
I mean, its insanely cool, and exciting, and such an amazing opportunity I'm about to.. embark upon (cringe phrase, but needs must).
I guess I just keep expecting it to HIT me. Whatever 'it' is. But it still hasn't. So I'll just keep waiting.

Packing up my room in London to go back to Chelmsford tomorrow. I get 10 days with my family & friends, then I'll be packing again and on a plane. Feels kinda cool to be popping around so much, London for a few months, America couple months after, its great. Its definitely an exciting time in life, new chapter, new era, all that jazz.

Started to make friends with a few of the girls who will be at training in NY. Lovely girls (no-one else is flying out from england, of course - I expected that. I do feel like au pairing is a very 'european' thing to do, ie spain italy argentina, mediterranean. and then like russian, bulgarian, romanian.. anyway, not very 'british'. not that thats a problem), will be nice to have a familiar face when I get there.
ARRGHH, I'm going to New York!!!!

Did I mention its 10 DAYS.