Nobody solves a problem like Maria.

I've recently joined a gym here in Bristol. I was hoping the classes would be like something I'd done in the US. They offer similar classes but so far the overall experience is very different. For one I can't understand the teachers- both have had very strong accents that when shouted very quickly causes me to miss atleast some of the point. Both teachers were male. That was a new one for me as well. Teacher number one looks just like Nick Lachey except he's english and tries to kill you through spinning! Its a little unsettling when Nick Lachey is staring at my legs going on about we should speed up. Translation I SHOULD speed up.

That class turned out to be a dream once I got to my next one : Circuits. Its like the boot camps I've done before but a zillion times worse. That guy didn't look a thing like spinning Lache but he was equally murderous.

I miss my aroebics group pictured above. We all worked out together for over a year. Tuesday and Thursday night step class and Thursday morning spin. It was awesome. It was more like a family all because our wonderful instructor Maria made it that way. I have a feeling I am not going to find that here... Spinner Lichey and circuit man don't seem to be the type.

Maybe the gym will help me meet at least one person. This alone time is getting to me! Just a couple more weeks until the first Bristol Yankees meeting. That should be interesting at the very least. BUT MOST OF ALL.. I'll be home in less than three weeks and am staying for two weeks! That my friend is the best news ever.

Below is just ONE of the reasons I can't wait to get home. Meet my beautiful neice Kyara!

English Encounters.

My favorite thing about Bristol is how pretty it has been this fall :) We need a new camera battery charger, I happened to get this picture before it died.

Now onto the encounters... So most days I live in silence because I have no one to talk to thanks to the time difference and lack of knowing people here. Oh and my husband works all day! The last two days I've had some interesting breaks in the silence when on my way to or waiting for the bus.

Encounter # 1:

English man: Can I park anywhere here or is there visitor parking?
American: All spots with numbers belong to an apartment. Visitor is over there.
English man: Thanks
The American starts to walk away and the English yells: I can't wait until your election is over. I am sick of hearing about it...
The American smiles and continues to walk away.

Encounter # 2:

American waiting at the bus stop: Do you know where you can buy bus passes?
English man: Asking the bus driver would be your obvious answer.
American feeling like an idiot: Oh yes, thank you.
English man: Are you from Canada?
American: No, I am from America, Seattle actually.
English man: Oh yes..there is a movie from there isn't there? Something about being in Seattle?
American: You mean Sleepless in Seattle. Yes.
English man: That was a good movie wasn't it?
American: Yes
English man: Don't they make cars in Seattle too?
American looking confused: I don't think that is what Seattle is known for to my knowledge.
English man: Don't know much do ya?

Ahhhh the return of my silence is welcomed. :)

Alligator tears.

It happened. The first big cry. Only 8 days into this new life of mine! We were going to bed last night and I just looked and Mark and said "I feel like crying..." So I did. It was a I want to go home cry... a I need a job cry... a I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss my job cry. Most of all it was a good cleansing cry that ended just as quick as it started.

After I was done and my poor husband was going to sleep much later than he should because of THE cry...he asked if I was ok and if anything had sparked it. I said no.. I'm just transitioning.

Today is a new day. I'm so far tear free and just back from a long jog. Tonight we go to curry with Mark's colleagues/friends. :)

Bristol City Centre.

I was able to successfully find and take public transportation into Bristol today. Sadly Whole Foods is no longer in Bristol.. that I could find anyway! So I went to Starbucks to make myself feel better. It worked :)
I did some more shopping to make our home a little more complete. Nothing big unfortunetly, just paper towels and anti bacterial soap. Could I be any more boring?

My sister will be having a baby any day now! Its crazy! and sad I won't be there. Thankfully I'll get to see them both when she's still a little baby.

I miss my job! I miss HAVING a job. Sooonnn hopefully I can get one!

Oh England.

WELL! I am finally here and settled...ish. We had our second wedding celebration this last weekend. I should be getting pictures soon! We had a ceremony followed by a reception with a live band. It was crazy doing it all over again..although they were sooo different its hard to say we did anything AGAIN. The ceremony involved hymns and kneeling. Our Seattle ceremony was far from formal. I will post with pictures soon.

As for the big move..its been interesting. We arrived a week ago today and Mark had to leave the next morning to put in a couple days at work. I stayed behind at his parent's house. We are now both in Bristol- where he works. Today is actually my first day on my own for about 10 hours since Mark is working long days. Its VERY weird not having a job and being in a place you don't really know how to get around. I did have an outing today and got all turned around and ended up going in a big circle rather than getting anywhere THEN the instant I realized I was back where I started I slipped on a patch of moss and fell!! What the heck? How embarrassing! So since I was back at the apartment I went in to change my muddy pants and tried again. This time I found the shops I was looking for. Now I know how to get to the main road that will take me to the city center tomorrow..once I figure out the buses. :) My big day tomorrow consists of WHOLE FOODS. I can't wait to go there. I am a little homesick of course so I remedy that by listening live to 103.7 The Mountain online. :)

As you can see my life is super exciting now... I clean, do laundry,exercise, cook, read, and walk around. I hope after a week or so I figure the area out a little more. Sadly we have to move to another place mid November so I'll have to start all over.. but that's OK cause then I'll know TWO WHOLE AREAS of Bristol.

While this new life is a lot to get used to its worth it! I do love seeing Mark every day!!

More to come with photographs.. You have to see how the English dance at weddings. It was pretty awesome.

BIG CHANGES!

WE'RE MARRIED AND LIVING IN ENGLAND NOW! More pictures and posts to come! I am using a very slow computer but will have access to a faster one early next week :)

Will write again soon!

Mrs. Mark Underwood

Wait! Slow down!

Time moves faster than I can handle these days! I feel like yelling HEY! STOP AND GIVE ME A MINUTE! Unfortunetly that just does not happen.

I will be married 28 days from now. Can you believe that? I hardly can. I am more than excited to see Mark! Its less than three weeks from now. It has been almost 4 months!

The final wedding details are tedious but necessary. I guess you have to actually send invitations for people to show up ;) I have sent out about 100 so far.. Crazy. I didn't realize I knew so many people. Correction- I don't know so many people, My mom and dad do!

The Sahli family, post Papa's stroke, is still trying to cope. Each in their own way. Like I said before we haven't actually come together like some families do. Maybe in time that will change.

Papa is doing pretty well. He had another small stroke last weekend but it was so small it didn't leave permanent damage that we can see. He is up on Whidbey Island until his house near Seattle finishes. I can't wait until he's closer. I can only see him on weekends now and with only two more before Mark is here they are VERY full. Trying to move and get everything squared away for the wedding takes quite a bit of time in the last month! It will be hard for me to leave my family. I think the space will be good right now but when I think about the long term I feel a bit sad.