first day of work...

So work started off nerve wracking. Basically, I showed up in the UK without having any contact with the person who offered me the internship for over a month. Then I tried to contact her for the past 4 days and didn’t get a response. So I was more than a little nervous. Compounding the problem, I had to pick up my suit from the drycleaners in morning (couldn’t get chocolate/something stain out with water), but I had lost my ticket, then raced to change in a mcdonalds but the stall was broken so I just changed in the middle of the bathroom (luckily no one came in). Finally got to Westminster only a touch after nine, called her office, no one answered. Tried her cell, no answer. Waited for over an hour.

Then miracle of miracles, she showed up.

Work itself was okay, neither thrilling nor particularly disappointing. Not sure what I expected, but the pace of life in a bureaucracy is just a bit slow…it’s strange. Interesting work: trying to phrase questions for PMQs. Uninteresting work (bulk of time): typing up notes. So, relieved but vaguely disappointed. At least my director-esque lady was very nice, and she + the people I talked to at lunch (from other offices) were quite smart/interesting. So discussion was also good.

After work chatted apartment owner for a while. A great example of mom’s beloved instinct/first impression being completely wrong. He’s a smart guy, nice, well-read, knowledgeable and likes good music. Interesting guy…

Got very frustrated yesterday. Combination of things—tired from shitty sleep (bed sucks), worry about internship, frustration with how fucking expensive everything is, frustration with having to arrange everything for my friends (every trip, every event I do, I’m almost always the one that puts it together. In general, from when I was 5 and we organized capture the flag games, I’ve always been the one to put things together. I’m usually okay with it – in fact, suits my minor control freak tendencies – but sometimes you just get tired of it all). And without anyone here to talk to/do things with, frustration, aimless anger just coils up…

For dinner Reheated 2 day old overcooked pasta last night. Probably my culinary low point thus far—certainly worse than the bread+nutella dinner of yesteray. . Not sure if I can sink much further.