1 Week down and 51 more to go...

The first week in Aberdeen has gone off without too many issues. I arrived Saturday the 20th with 4 very large bags and 2 carry on's. After waiting in the Que for a taxi for about 45 min, the driver loaded all of my stuff and made a quick stop at the Marathon office to get the keys to my flat before delivering me to my final destination at 82 Queens Road. Right off the bat the flat was ice cold! I had to figure out how to turn on the boiler system so that I could get heat but it wasn't really that bad. Took a quick shower and then met the Avis guy to get my rental car. Made a rather long trip to the grocery store, picked up some food and other necessities for the flat and called it a day!



























The first week of work went by very quickly and I think I am going to fit in here very well. My new job seems very exciting and there are some high hopes for what I may or may not be able to achieve while I'm here.. I think I will have to keep reminding myself that this is only for a year, give or take a month or so. There is a ton of work to be done and I am sure I will be working many late hours to try and meet my own personal goals.

This past Saturday I was fortunate to get a free ticket to the Scotland vs. Samoa Rugby match and tried to keep warm as I watch my very first rugby game. It was rather fun and I do think I will make it out to more matches. On Sunday I had planned on venturing out to get more supplies for the flat and stock my kitchen now that I had a better idea of what life outside of the office would be like. That plan did not happen. My rental car, a little 4 door Peugeot got stuck in the snow! Did I mention that it started snowing here this past Tuesday and hasn't stopped snowing since! It snows off and on with the in between times of sunny blue skies. The car is back in it's parking spot at my flat after spending the day in the middle of my parking lot, but in the end the Peugeot will be going back to Avis and I will have a new rental car starting tomorrow! I'm super excited because I will be back in a Land Rover!! I think they are bringing me a Defender 110 but won't know for sure till tomorrow.

Anyway here are a few things that I have learned since moving to Scotland…

In order to have packages delivered you have to pay the VAT on any shipping from outside the UK

They don’t plow streets when it snows unless it is a major road

They don’t plow sidewalks… the city of Aberdeen thinks that this is the responsibility of the person living at each residence where the residents believe that this is the responsibility of the city….

It takes anywhere from 1-2 weeks to get your TV set up but it takes 2-3 weeks to get your phone and Internet… and the technician says that he will call you on your home phone to tell you when they are coming to set it up.. uuuhhh hello!!! I don’t have a phone, hence why you are coming to my flat!!

You have to pay 140GBP to watch any TV in the UK!!

So Cheerio for now!

For the Rugby pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mtwildflower/2010ScotlandVsSamoa

Flat in Aberdeen

I recently returned from my business mission to Aberdeen Scotland where I will soon be living for the next year. While there I managed to find a furnished flat that will be my future home. Here are some pictures of it. I will be living on the top floor.

Up and Coming Changes

For those friends and family members out there that haven't heard yet, I'm moving to Aberdeen Scotland for a 1 year rotation with Marathon Oil. I found out that I was selected for this job on September 17th and will be moving over there on or around November 1. Since finding out that I'm relocating, I've already moved my dog Kady back to Montana where she will be living with "grandma" and Ali for the next year. I think she has already adjusted to this change better than I have. It doesn't hurt that grandma and Ali spoil her! I couldn't be more happy to have her spoiled for the next year. I flew Kady to Montana on September 30, spent 48 hours getting her settled before flying to to Seattle. I only had 24 hours in Seattle but it was a great 24 hours! See the pictures below. I'm off to Aberdeen tomorrow, October 8th for a week. I'll be back state side October 16th for just 2 weeks before I'm gone. I'm looking forward to all of the 'what ifs' and adventures that are awaiting me over this next year. I'll have a 2 bedroom furnished flat in Aberdeen and would love to have visitors. Or I'll meet anyone anywhere in Europe for travels. Just let me know.

Ireland

At the end of June I got to travel to Ireland for work! What a great opportunity it was. The first week there I was staying in the lovely coastal town of Kilkee. After my field course was complete my mom flew over to join me for another week of touring Ireland. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from my two weeks in Ireland. The rest can be viewed on my Picasa site. http://picasaweb.google.com/mtwildflower/2010Ireland#

Me in front of the Cliffs of Moher.

Castle in Cahir.

Liza and me outside of an art museum in Dublin.

What better way to spend Memorial Day Weekend?

I got to spend Memorial Day weekend in Seattle where I was pleasantly surprised at how much Aislin has grown up. Plus she really didn't want me taking her picture. I don't blame her since she is always in front of the camera, but can you blame me? Look at how precious she is??