The 9-to-5

I thought this week I would talk about the differences from my working in the US versus working in the UK, because it definitely has it's pros and cons. Mind you, I have only been working for 3 weeks here, and not fully acquainted yet, but this is my impression so far. 

My office here spans an entire block and is basically a labyrinth inside, unlike the single floor I worked on in New York. I had to go to the Pensions department to talk about my options being a US citizen, and it literally took me 15 minutes, a lot of double backing, many strange looks from people at their desks, plus asking 2 people how to get there. My meeting lasted all of 8 minutes, and then it took me another 15 minutes to figure out how to get out. I also bumped into this guy on the way.  Just kidding, but I kind of wished I ran into the Minotaur, as he may have known his way around better than the people I encountered. A random thing that I have also experienced here is that it seems many Brits are REALLY bad at giving directions. The way they express directions is either really confusing with a thousands turns, the history of everything I will pass, and no street names; or just really terse where I am supposed to some how intrinsically know what they mean. Also, I must blend in better than I had originally thought because within my 3rd day I had at least 2 people a day asking me directions on how to get places. Beats me why they would ask me rather than someone who looks possibly more native, but luckily I had a handy map, and was able to assist in a very efficient way. You know me and efficiency.

Anyways, here is a list of pros and cons to keep it even more efficient!

Pro UK/Con NYC:

25 vacation days and no guilt for taking them!

Research travel opportunities (I found out I was due to go out to Egypt in November for research the day I started)

Internal cafeteria, coffee bar, and shop (all costs money, but very convenient)

Gym in building (there is a membership fee, so prob not going to join)

Bicycle servicing every Wednesday (only relevant here since I have a bike now)

The ability to use a wider range of art styles 

More readers published through this office, so ability to use more trade styles

Pre-primary titles for really cute stuff

Only showing 5 -8 hand selected artists samples rather than every illustrator known to man

More Art Editors to bounce ideas 

Electronic invoice approval (no more stickers!)

Pro NYC/Con UK:

Smaller staff, so it's easier to get to know people (and find where they sit! I don't really know where my editors sit)

Not as much walking around because the office is smaller

Free coffee and tea, and free bagel Fridays

Summer Fridays will be missed by me

Electronic contracts and electronic photo selection

Less meetings (if that seems possible)

Tracking and Excel (because I am nerd, I still use my tracking, but I don't see a comprehensive way art is tracked in the UK. The photos are tracked well though, it seems)

Working on a wider range of product (where in the UK I only work on Primary, which I like, but I will miss working on adult titles eventually I think)

Not having to ride a bicycle into work

Manicure meetings with Stacy

My own cubicle, rather than open plan office

As you can see it is a trade-off in some areas, but I think overall it all amounts to it being just different rather than worse or better. 

On a funny note, I have been making some SERIOUS vocabulary offenses in the office as well. I was talking to my co-workers about how I was getting so annoyed with the lines in Tescos that I just wanted to "bum-rush" the line. This apparently means something completely different than queue jumping (just think of what Brits mean by the word bum). Then we went into this charity shop during lunch, and there was this hot belt that doubles as a "fanny-pack." The girls started cracking up in my face after I said fanny pack, so you can also imagine what that means to them. The last one was while we were walking around on a gray day, Michelle described the weather as "ming," so later that day before we were leaving, I repeated it out loud in the studio, but mispronounced it as "minge." Well, little did I know that "minge" refers to rank lady parts, and I basically shouted it in front of one of the design managers. OOPS! I wonder how long I can get away with being the ignorant American.

Anyways, as for updates on the weekend, I just chilled out. Was going to go to London, but Andrew moved here on Saturday, and I think on a red-eye, so I didn't want to go annoy him as I know how crack-a-lack'ed out I was when I arrived, so I def hope to see him and Yuan next weekend. Just went out to a bar on Friday night, watched some people make-out in our faces at the bar, and then went next door to get a kebab with a friend. She just got something, and I ate from hers because it was HUGE and crazy. The meal was Dona meat, french fries, tomatoes, lettuce, white sauce all in a pita. The first few bites were good, but then it just made us feel gross, and we were just talking about going to Spain, so I doubt eating this will help us get into beach bodies any time soon.

On Saturday, Michelle took me to the Botanical Gardens on our way into city center (free for all employees at my company). The weather has been gorgeous here, so it was a nice walk around. Also, I didn't explode into allergies, which usually happens when I am exposed to anything more than one tree at a time. Here is a pic:

I think I have just been exhausted because my body isn't used to so much physical activity like biking and walking (or apparently moving voluntarily), so hopefully I will soon be able to cope with such an active lifestyle! The convenience of city-life has made me a shell of a human. 

I also got invited to a "fancy-dress" party for someone's 30th birthday. Fancy-dress doesn't mean ball gowns and tuxes, it means costume party. The theme is anyone from the past 30 years, which is really broad! I was thinking of being Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice because I have a dress I can wear and can just do my hair up, but leave in the comments if you have any other suggestions! I have already been told to be Lucy Lui from Charlie's Angels... if this was anywhere else, I would be offended, but here I think they were trying to be helpful. I think Margaret Thatcher was another popular choice. hahahahaha...HOT!