Cheers to The Beginning

Departure time from Charlottetown was approximately 5am on September 19th, 2010. Arrival time at Heathrow Airport was noon on September 20th, 2010.

The skies were clear and the sun was shining, 25degrees and despite our exhaustion and the sensation that we might possibly be leaving a faint smell behind us, we were pumped to being our journey.

Expected Plan # 1: Pick up luggage
Reality: Missing luggage, file a baggage claim report

Expected Plan # 2: Meet driver with our name scrawled across a laminated sign wearing a black suit and tie and drive to pre-paid apartment in Bayswater London
Reality: Wait patiently, pace airport arrival terminal, scroll through emails from expected landlord, cry, yell and say many words that would make for an 18+ film

Expected Plan # 3: Unpack and unwind in our own apartment for the afternoon before finding a unqiuely British pub and enjoying fish and chips with a pint of Britain's finest ales (pale for me, dark for him)
Reality: Spend a ridiculous amount of money on a hotel, cry in bathroom and to both sets of parents, spend 16 hours looking at bed and breakfasts, hotels, hostels and flats for rent

As you can see, none of our expected plans came to pass. We expected to have an address, a place ot unpack, a bed that would be our own, time and lesiure to enjoy a pre-holiday before beginning to work as UK residents. Instead, we became gypsy nomads, adrift in the large and incredibly fast-paced city of London, and yet in these unexpected plans came some even more unexpected blessings.

Despite our frustration and angers, we met 4 people who reached out to us and offered us their home. They served us breakfast in bed, gave us invaluable instructions and directions, and allowed us to experience some peace and reassurance in what was undoubtedly a nightmare of experiences.

You think that the lack of housing was the only mishap, well alas you would be mistaken. We have had more series of misadventures and mishaps than one could count; but of course I will try.

Mishap # 1: 400 calls to bed and breakfasts all fail

Mishap # 2: There are no lifts at any stations, so we carried 200 lbs of luggage, three carry ons weighing 50lbs up three flights of stairs while everyone pointed and stared. Of course luggage fell, bags broke, and we fought every lunge and groan of the way

Mishap # 3: We had to lug that luggage on three tubes, two buses, and a train. Not to mention two taxis.

Mishap # 4: I got a cold. Not just a sniffle and bit of a wheeze, but a full fledged serious just kill me now please dear Lord kind of a cold. A cold where one box of kleenex simply will not do. Try being stuck in a circulated ventilating subway car with 500 people when you have a cold; they honestly think you might kill them at any moment.

Mishap # 5: We have no idea where we are going. We spent most days walking in circles through crowded streets and still never end up where we want to be. Thank goodness taxis can be hailed whenever you need them.

Mishap # 6: It is downpouring rain. Try lugging all of that luggage through crowded streets, drenched. Try going to an interview covered in dirt and leaves (oh yes I had three in my pant leg and one in my hair), so soaking wet that you actually leave puddles of water on the floor of the office in which you are applying for a job.

Mishap # 7: Rain makes mascara run and hair go frizzy. Here in England they take your picture at interviews. I have a feeling mine won't be so hot; memorable, but perhaps not quite the professional that they are looking for.

Mishap # 8: Grocery shopping is a horrid affair, now let's walk ten blocks..in the down pouring rain..with an umbrella that keeps either blowing away or hitting you in the face..while each grocery bag bottom breaks. Our pasta salad is currently creating a hansel and gretel trail from Warwick Road to Holland Road. I am sure the pigeons were grateful though.

Ah, cheers to the beginning. As we lay in our newly acquired closet that is 4 feet by 4 feet, except for a 1 foot wide wall that leads to a 1.5 by 1.5 foot bathroom, we are still laughing and I guess that despite all the unexpected realities, that is the greatest one of all. We can definitly toast to that.