Paperwork

Leave it to the letting agent to make everything complicated. I thought the process of renting my house would begin speeding along today, but instead, I have to fill out a bunch of paperwork and pay the application fee before they will even let the base inspectors do their inspection. This makes no sense to me, because if the house were to fail (which I am sure it will not), the housing office would not let me sign the lease... so why bother applying first??? Sigh. For those who have never rented overseas, it is wayyy more complicated than CONUS.

Most of today was spent running errands all over the place on and off base. Driving is becoming less stressful (as long as I avoid the "five ways", the gigantic roundabout), but I am sure it will take a while longer for it to feel natural driving on the left and turning into the other side of streets, etc. The car is a rental from the same guy who owns the little hotel I stayed in the first week, and today I had to stop by there to ask about getting the driver's side mirror fixed. It had two big cracks when I picked it up, but I didn't realize how big a problem this was until I was driving back from Cambridge on Saturday night on a road with three lanes and headlights were reflecting in different directions and I couldn't see a thing.

I didn't mind stopping by the hotel, because as previously mentioned, I really enjoyed the owner and his wife and their new manager, Paul, who started working the same week I arrived. Paul is so much fun to talk to because he is a younger guy and very interested in all things American, while I, of course, am very interested in all things British. I think he gets a kick out of me because I get so excited when he tells me about things I need to see here, like castles and cliffs and beaches and all kinds of interesting things. Today he told me about a bar in London where everything inside (tables, chairs, glasses) are made out of ice. I sort of wasn't sure whether to believe him on that one or not, but I Googled it later and sure enough, check this out: http://www.urbanpath.com/london/cocktail-bars/ice-bar.htm

I did succeed in impressing him once last week, while proudly describing Penn State's legendary (American) football tradition, I happened to mention how big Beaver Stadium was (107,000 people). He insisted that I Google Image it so he could see what it looked like. I did, gladly, and he looked somewhat awestruck, especially after learning I had marched with the band on that field in front of all those screaming people. I guess football (what we call soccer) fields over here are not quite so big. Go Penn State! :D

Anyway, Steve (the owner) ordered a new mirror for the car and it should be fixed soon. My other mission today was to make progress on getting a cell phone. Like renting a house, this is much more complicated than you may think, if one plans to call both US and UK numbers with the phone. I think I found a pretty good plan for a home phone line when I move into the house, but the cell phone issue is still very confusing. There is no such thing as unlimited minutes or free nights and weekends, or any of the plans we are used to in the US. In fact, cell phones do not seem to be intended for international use over any long periods of time. This will require a little more research.

Tomorrow I will be headed over to Downham Market to the letting agent's office to hopefully get everything straightened out on the house. I was hoping to start work tomorrow (though I am supposed to have this week off for "Personal Readiness Duty", a fancy way of saying get all your random stuff like housing, phone, finance, etc. done), but looks like that will have to be Wed instead. Friday I get to go on the newcomers' bus tour to Bury St Edmunds, a town to the SW of the base which is supposed to be very scenic. Can't wait!!! :)