Ups and Downs

Sometimes it's so hard to blog, like when you don't have the internet at your house. But maybe it's harder once you get it? Ever since the internet touched down here on Jubilee Street, I don't think I have done a blog entry.

The last couple of weeks have been filled with lots of good times and some not so wonderful.

My high was having time to myself on the Wednesday of last week. With my time, I decided to go it alone on my bike down the canal, except I wasn't really alone because I had Peanut. We rode through Stepney Green up Ben Johnson Road (the only place I really had to brave car traffic) and down to the Canal (Regents). I cruised at a very relaxing pace while Peanut ran behind me. My planned destination was a coffee shop on par with Ritual in SF but we stopped at Victoria Park (the definition of gorgeousness) for a little bit on the way and then continued. Peanut sat with me inside the cafe while I read the newspaper for an hour and then we walked to London Fields across the street and played catch. (I cannot get enough of the autumn leaves here, not to mention the smell of the leaves and the grass together.) Then it was back down the canal, around Victoria Park and home again. The only thing that would have made my day better would be flannel lined jeans.

The low came this week when I was looking into nursing schools and I turned up some information that I feared I might. Basicially it is impossible for me to get a nursing education here. All the nursing programs are run through the NHS which fully funds the education of its students. I don't have access because I would have to be a resident for 3 years and that would be 8 more years for me since you can only apply for residency after 5 years of living here. Not a huge deal if they'd just let me pay. But NO. It does NOT and will not allow me to pay to get a nurse's education here. This was confirmed over and over again by several people though a managing nurse and doctor who I am acquainted with had no idea that this was true. Apparently the system was different years ago and you could pay. I don't know what to make of this situation since I had been counting on being ABLE to take some nursing classes. Yesterday, on the phone with someone with NHS, I received information that there are actually very, very few spots that are incredible hard to get for those who want to self-fund their nursing school in the country but they are very difficult to find. Hmmmmmm.......Do I feel like hunting for those spots?

This was a downer and it didn't help that I paid 17 pounds and 52 pence (basically $36) to send my parents 6 dollars of cookies the day after. Apparently since the clerk had already printed out the postage even though I hadn't paid for it yet,it was irrevocable. Rather than go to jail or look like a cultural moron, I capitulated after an ernest objection. (Sorry Ken, if you thought there was any hope I would actually send you those digestives, you can forget it now.)

I can't believe how utterly powerless I felt with the rejection from nursing. I wasn't even dead set on it but I always counted it an option and it seemed like a good plan. I am reassured that God is in control and I know that he brought us here so perfectly and smoothly and don't doubt this is where we are supposed to be but it was hard to get my mind around the fact that this willing, paying adult could not have the choice to go to nursing school anywhere in the UK. (My friend Scott facetiously says it is "another reason to hate nationalized health care.") It made me think about the position that other people are put in on regular basis--infertility, terrible political situations, not knowing where your children are when your country's at war, bad health, etc. That gave me a bit of perspective but also a touch of empathy for people in those situations in a way.

Anyways, interesting journey this week. And on my bad day, D's computer bit the dust. However, it is under warranty and the hard drive is currently being replaced free of charge.