Full of BBC!

BBC is local

Now I loved BBC in America, especially our NPR locally streamed in the morning on the way to work. And over here in England they have 4 local television stations and at least 4-5 radio stations. I can choose from local BBCs or BBC London. Its so interesting to get the perspective from this side of the pond on reports of America and also the current Middle Eastern War (what's it being called now?). The health care reform in America is highlighted but I don't hear any fear-based messages. However, every Brit I have spoken to cannot seem to wrap their mind around why on earth American's wouldn't want universal health care or a national health care system? We call it NHS here. Obama is very popular and the War is NOT (at all). I don't think people seem to understand why they are involved. A recent NHS story--During our first week here, an overseas recruit who is over here with her family had a near crisis. Her son was playing around in the house and tripped and fell and cut himself. They had to go to A &E (Ambulance and Emergency). We have not been given NHS numbers yet and are also considered "immigrants". However, she went in, there was no bill or copay, they treated him very kindly, fixed his cut and off they go. Simple as that. Now, I have a feeling if I was a new immigrant in America w/out having time to secure insurance--this would be thousands of dollars in bills.

One more thing about the local news (AKA BBC)...they SLAUGHTER social workers here. Really. Even more so than in America, I will be defending my professionalism including the quality and necessity of my skills. The joke here amongst colleagues is based on a cartoon of a social worker going into a home and removing a child due to abuse and then getting hung publicly by the public and media then a second box showing a social worker leaving a kid in the house with the family and still getting hung. So, you see, it seems we are always right there at the mercy of the public. It seems the only news is bad news. How exciting is that?! Well, I am not afraid. I love being a social worker and I'm very passionate about contributing to the awareness of what exactly we do and why we are so important. Looks like I have a big battle ahead of me.

Funny Language Barrier Stories:

Setting: Week one training at Anglia Ruskin Unversity, looking at court proceedings for a child protection case. There is a list of roles including a solicitor for children.

Me: What exactly does a solicitor for children do here?

Professor: Well they protect the children's rights?

Me: What is a solicitor?

Professor: A lawyer, what is a solicitor to you?

Entire Class: Door to Door Salesmen!

Me: I would hope you are not selling off children in need!

Setting Number 2: Driving Course

Instructor: What do you think is the difference between a double carriage-way and a single carriage-way?

Me: A horse and buggy with two horses as opposed to two?!

Instructor: That's quite funny?

Me: I was being serious. What are carriage-ways?

Instructor: Our name for roads.

The other Americans: We were thinking horse and buggy's too!

Setting Number 3: Out at a club with my new roommate, Vicky, last Friday in Chelmsford, Town Centre (Within walking distance of our house).

Vicky: I think I may be pissed.

Me: Why, what happened?

Vicky: I don't know, I'm just pissed?

Me: Did someone do or say something to you?

Vicky: No, I think I just drank too much wine.

Me: Ahh....you say "pissed" not "drunk".

Driving on the Left side of the road in the Right side of the vehicle. WHAT?!

If any of you have been following my Facebook Updates you'll notice that most of them seem to be about driving. I think this has been the hardest transition for me! Well, its actually quite nuts trying to un-tune your natural reactions on the road and learning a whole new road signage system. As my colleague Adam was describing his often daily feeling on the road, "Oh, I think I may die now. Oh, wait, not today." This was during the discussion of how crazy it is that you will be entering a ramp onto an interstate (which jets out from a roundabout) and all of the sudden (while going 70 miles an hour) you'll see two large white, circular shaped signs outlined in Black w/ Black slashes across them. An American would naturally assume you are going the wrong way or do not enter. Oh no, it just means no parking. There are hundreds of examples of driving follies. I am just thankful I have not side swiped an entire row of vehicles on the left since i have no perception of how much space I have over there and the roads are ridiculously narrow.

A Very Quick Update of My Whereabouts

Okay--My first two weeks were spent at a temporary house set up for me by the relocation firm, Reed. Anne Chamberlain responded to the post that was in her Essex County Council news and offered a room in her house. Anne has been a social worker in Essex for 20 years and was simply lovely. I stayed with her and her two daughters, Jo and Sarah and am so grateful to have met this family. They are going to be so fun to be friends with and to also gain support from. They also took me out for a lovely dinner on my 30th b-day to a place called Ivory Room!

I found a room to rent in Chelmsford, Essex. Its in a house with a live-in landlord. Vicky is local so I am getting a quick acculturation into British culture and accents! We're the same age, both professionals so we have similar schedules and we're having a good time here and there after work or just spending a lazy Sunday watching movies all day. I also live with a cat named, Belle! The house is really gorgeous and the street definitely feels European w/ character. We're down the street from a University and w/in walking distances to the high streets (shopping, restaurants, pubs, retail, etc.) as well as trains and bus stations. I am a 30 minute fast train to Central London. The shopping here is fantastic!! I can't wait to upgrade my wardrobe little by little :)

I am working in Basildon, Essex. Its 26 miles East of London. It is a "new town" meaning it was built after WW2 to accommodate the overspill of population in London. Wikipedia states it was, "a reaction to the housing shortages caused by enemy bombing and large amounts of substandard housing in the capital." Of course you would have to expect more history of how that transition affected low income families and the amount of isolation they felt after the move. However, today it is a large city and it also remains one of the most low-income communities. So, lots of use for social workers in this area!

So, right now I am just trying to adjust to my new job and get used to it getting dark at 4:30 (CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT--and, YES I'M YELLING). Its odd to drive home after work in complete darkness. Its hard to have motivation to do anything else other than make dinner and watch tv then go to bed. Obviously, I have some work to do to prevent this--first step, Join a Gym and connect w/ my local running club.

I am still happy I am here. My job is going to be more challenging than I could have really imagined. I won't lie, I have spent many evenings crying because I just spent too many hours being lost or feeling out of place or walking into one of the hardest posts for social workers in Essex County. All big shockers. But, I'm in a huge learning curve at the moment and hoping to see the light here in a couple weeks. The way it works: Family gets referred to Children Services: 1. It goes to Initial Referral; they decide if its child protection/emergency or a child in need. 2. If its child in need it comes to my team, Family Support. I then have 35 days to carry out core assessments of every family member. This process includes both child-focused interviews as well as parent-focused. I'm excited to do clinical work with such an age range. However, during this process I also link to resources (advocacy services, parenting classes, Domestic Violence, substance abuse, etc.), make recommendations and facilitate meetings with key persons such as schools, health visitors, pediatricians, etc. The idea is that the family will work to exit the system. Most families don't change in 35 days, so I'll get to work long-term with some families. So in summary, I am doing what American's might call "family preservation"! At any point of the process, I may end up in Court or removing children. Very scary power to have, really. The idea of being able to empower a family to grow in a healthy way is very exciting to me. The idea of having to look through boundaries and notice red flags in order to safeguard children is still terrifying--but I know its a very important role and I'm up for the challenge!

This Blog is unusually long due to the beginning nature of SO many things! I promise to be more concise in the future :)

Cheers!

Angie

Full of Little Moments

My first blog is occurring as a I wait for a delayed flight from Indy to O'Hare. From O'Hare I will fly to Dublin and then finally to London, Heathrow Airport.

Wow! These past couple weeks have left me floating around in this weird space. The premature nostalgia began a few weeks ago when I took my daily walk though the alley on East Market Street from the parking garage to work and passed the wonderful smell of Giorgio's Pizza. They bake fresh pizza in the morning and the smell is awesome. If you haven't tried the cheese slice here, its a must. I guess I started noticing the little things i'll miss about my routine: Ike from Quizno's (although I don't eat there, Quizno's is located in my former job's lobby). Ike is always outside on the corner, along w/ Bobby (who is one of our homeless neighbors) giving out hugs and smiles. These random, sort of strangers, who are both as genuine as you will find, put a smile on my face every day. I also think of all the wonderful and great things about Indianapolis. Ah, the community of Indianapolis--it really is a very big, small town. I love the nonprofit world I have become so acquainted and at home with in Indy. We know how to make each other's programs successful and have fun while doing it! I can tell you is leading the way for community development, green living, human services, youth development, violence prevention, and so much more. AND, I can tell you where the best happy hour or fundraiser or volunteer opportunity is happening. I will miss that connection which I know will be harder to build in a much larger city where I am moving.

And when it comes to saying good byes to all of my amazing friends? Well, I have to admit, I have the very best of friends. They all came out of the woodwork these past few weeks: hosting yard sales, farewell parties, loading Uhauls, packing my kitchen up last minute, providing the most meaningful gifts, loaning their vehicles and condos for temporary usage. When you make a decision, such as moving out of the country, all of these little things overwhelm you at first. My biggest life lesson in this process was learning that if you make a decision this big, you just put one foot forward. You don't have to have all the answers up front. You don't have to have the entire process mapped out. Your support and loved ones step in and make it happen for you. All of the little moments I have had with all of these friends and family along the way have left me honestly overwhelmed with the love and support I have felt. The cards expressed so much love to and for me that I am left speechless. I do not think I realized how much I was loved in my world here. Do any of us ever stop and realize that? I feel so lucky and so blessed.

But, as we all know, this journey of mine was a long time coming and was innately right. As we are always sad to see a loved one move away, I know most of you were happy to kick me across the pond. So, here I go. Thanks for the gentle and loving push.

AND-where would we be today without technology. Most of you have my contact information. I hope you will Skype with me. Go to www.skype.com to download a free internet phone service.

Skype: angie.turk

Gmail: angieturk@gmail.com

Wendy reminded me today that fear and excitement evoke the same physiological response and since I have it coming on both ends--you can only imagine how I'm feeling!!! But, without moving into and through fear, its hard to continuously grow and evolve.

My friend, Dan Somers, stated eloquently today that, "Time and Space are illusions. Love has no boundaries." Nothing could better wrap up my amazing relationship w/ Tom, who has been the most incredible support and source of excitement. We have managed to have a meaningful and rich relationship in two different countries for over a year and a half. This is evidence I will be able to cross those time and space barriers and stay close to all of you as well.

Jason Melchi broke the seal. As i've watched so many of you get teary-eyed these past few weeks, I have held on to my emotions. Today, when I finally had all the small details finished and my suitcases packed and ready to go, it hit me. I want you to know that I cried too for my loss of being able to call my beautiful friends up at any given moment and get a coffee, go for a run/bike ride, just be with each other. But, like you all have expressed, it is a happy and sad cry. A very bittersweet feeling. I will miss you terribly. I will see many of you in London! Thanks for everything and I mean EVERYTHING!

Be Well,

Angie