Greetings from Bristol, UK (5-26-2008)

About 24 hours have passed since my last post. The 6 hour flight across the north Atlantic was fine. I think I actually managed to get some sleep… unusual for me. We landed in Bristol about 8:30 this morning (UK time). Bristol International is the smallest international airport I’ve been through. They don’t have jetways between the plane and the airport concourse. You actually have to exit the plane, walk down steps to the ramp, then walk into the concourse. Anyhow, exiting the plane it became clear I had arrived. The temperature was near 10oC and it was raining and windy… couldn’t ask for more stereotypical UK weather. After claiming my baggage (I checked two bags. Max allowable weight is 50 lb each. Mine weighed 48 and 48.5 lb) the chauffeur car driver was waiting to pick me up (The sign said ‘Rolls-Royce’, not ‘Mr. Reiger’. I guess that will have to do.). We struggled a bit finding my flat, but after 20 minutes of waffling about we found the building and sure enough right next door was a Tesco.

The flat looks great. It’s a bit small, but other than that I’d say it’s the UK equivalent to my place in Indy. As soon as I arrived it became clear I have a lot to learn just to accomplish day-to-day tasks. For example, getting the door to the building to unlock is a trick. It’s not obvious how to operate the appliances. And at first I was looking for the controller for the air conditioner, then remembered most places don’t have air conditioning (including this place).

The hire car (rental car) has been delivered but I can not find where they left the keys. So the car sits out on the street unlocked. I’ll call the delivery company first thing in the morning to see if they can’t tell me where they left the keys.

The bed didn’t have any sheets when I arrived. I guess tonight I’ll be sleeping on a naked bed. After work tomorrow (assuming I get there) I’ll make a trip to the mall to buy some sheets and pillows, among several other things. For example, door stops. The flat has doors separating the few rooms. Most are spring loaded and want to close automatically (for fire code reasons I suspect). After tomorrow these doors are going to stay open.

My only complaint is there is a funny noise that comes regularly from outside and can be heard through the walls. I have yet to figure out what it is, but if there’s some way I can put a stop to it, I will.

In theory work starts at half 8 (that’s 8:30) in the morning. If I’m lucky I’ll have found my car keys by 8, but with a good half hour drive I’m guessing I’ll be a bit late. However, I’ll call it a success if I get to work since never before have I driven on the wrong side of the road from the wrong side of the car. Not to mention the layout of the roads here are total chaos. You have to remember most everything here is older than the United States and far older than the modern car. When they ‘planned’ the city, horse pulled carts was the most advanced mode of ground transportation. As a consequence roads are going every direction. There’s no grid system. Roads do not run north and south… they just run. As a result you get disoriented real quickly. I say ‘planned’ because to be honest I can’t see any evidence of a plan. I would guess it just evolved.

On My Way (5-25-2008)

We’ll, here I sit in Newark’s Liberty airport waiting to board my flight to Bristol, UK. I wanted to make one last post before I leave the States, even though I probably won’t be able to upload this to the blog until well after I arrive. Even so, I wanted to record my thoughts pre-Bristol.

I found out I was clear to travel Thursday, just three days ago. We secured my flight Friday. And not until just before we left for the airport this afternoon did I have everything together for the trip, both at the office and at home. The one nice thing about making the trip this weekend is not only is it a three day weekend in the States (due to Memorial Day) but it’s also a three day weekend in the UK. Monday is a bank holiday for the British. They have these bank holidays several times a year. I’m not sure yet what they’re for, but I’m sure I’ll be finding out soon (I’ll let you know).

I left Indy just before the 500 was to end. You could tell as we taxied away from the gate in Indy because there were probably about a dozen private jets lined up on the tarmac with doors open and red carpets rolled out… all waiting for their soon to be arriving VIP passengers. The flight from Indy to Bristol a Continental Boeing 737 was pretty empty. I sat next to the window in a row of three by myself so I could stretch my legs.

So you may be wondering what’s going through my head as I depart on this adventure. We’ll, many things. For one, I wonder what life will be like 2-3 years from now when I return. What will be different? Some people will have moved. (Phillip and Kelly?) Some people will be married (congrats Crowell). Some new people may exist (thanks to Phillip and Kelly?). Who will be president? How much will a gallon of gas cost? How will Indianapolis and my neighborhood have changed? What will be the same? How will I have changed?

From a professional standpoint I am excited to go. I feels good to sort of start fresh and the work I will be doing will be interesting. The projects I know I’ll be working on at this point will be challenging and exciting. I’m sure working with my new colleagues will be fun (though hard to beat my previous colleagues). And not to mention the doors this opportunity may open in the future. Rolls-Royce thinks highly of their employees with international experience.

And yes, I feel a bit anxious as well… mostly from a personal standpoint. Having to leave friends and family behind is not easy and I’m sorry for what I’ll miss. But with technology the way it is these days there no reason we can’t keep in touch. And on the flip side, who know what I might miss if I don’t go.

So the plan is I land in Bristol in the morning (UK time), a chauffeur car picks me up (I hope he’s holding a sign that says ‘Mr. Reiger’) and takes me to the Tesco (grocery store) next to my flat where I’ll pick up my keys (remember most businesses are taking the day off), then to my flat. Later tomorrow a rental car (what they call a hire car) will be delivered. I’ll use that hire car for the week until I pick up my permanent car in Derby (a train ride away).

They’re beginning to board the flight. Wish me luck. My next post will be from Bristol, UK.

1st Day... ????

Today was to be my first day of work in Bristol, but here I am still in Indy typing this post. My supervisors, government security and I are struggling to get all the necessary paperwork in order before I leave. As of now my departure date is a bit unknown... maybe this next weekend. My delayed departure however is giving me a chance to better wrap up several things, both in and outside of work, not to mention more time with friends and family before I go. As mentioned before, the worst part of waiting is living in a TV-less condo, but I've been finding ways to cope. For example, Tuesday nights are "Deadliest Catch night" with the Jarvis's.
Since my last post...

Happy birthday to Sam Reiger. Congratulations to Ella Reiger and her first dance recital. And congratulations to Phillip Reiger and his new 2008 Harley Sportster. After all that pedalling he finally figured out bikes come with engines.

1st Day - May 19, 2008

It was finally determined today that my first day in Bristol will be May 19. We initially thought it might be as early as May 12, but due to circumstances at work here in Indy we've pushed the start date back a week. All this is fine with me, but it does mean another week in my near empty condo (and by near empty I mean no TV).