First friend...and deep pan Chicago pizza

So tonight we have a launch on the website I work on...so have to stay up until midnight to ensure it all launches successfully! Might be a late start to work tomorrow! At least its Friday!

However, with this in mind I asked one of the girl's from the agency we work with if she was free. We went out and I have my first experience of Chicago deep pan pizza!! Its a lot different to deep pan we have in the UK. It was lush - in fact i can't believe I ate the whole thing. We have individual size ones and shared the two different types between us. I can't even think how big the other sizes were. Its not the width so much but the sheer depth of them!!

Anyway...going to go and amuse myself now with some cheesy American soaps. Managed to stay up late last night whilst prepping for a meeting...watching Hells Kitchen and Criminal Minds!

Also, slightly stressed as left my mobile at work i think?? Can't find it anywhere! If not I think i may cry...watch this space!

My friend asked me the biggest difference between here and the UK and I was going on about the difference in customer service here and in the UK. But hoestly I have to say the hardest thing right now is having to say 'I am going to the "restroom"'...ITs called the TOILET people!! Or LOO depending on what you prefer!!

Englishgirl in New York!!!!

So my 3rd day in Chicago and thankfully I am starting to shift this horrid cold. Still have not had a chance to put my clothes away – the flat is becoming more and more untidy as the week goes on and work piles up! I may attempt tonight however I still have work to do and Hell’s Kitchen is on which is absolutely hilarious! How much abuse can Gordon Ramsey throw at these poor American chefs! My boss is coming to stay this weekend though to better get my arse in gear!

Anyway, this week has been pretty mental so far. We have some big website changes going live on the brand site on Friday so it’s been a case of ensuring the client is happy here, briefing in the changes to the guys in the UK before I go to bed and then praying when I get up that the work is done. It is quite a good test of organisation, as if you don’t get something briefed in before bedtime here, then it simply won’t be done by the morning CT time by the team in the UK.

It is nice being able to be here for the clients though. I have had a little taster of how they must feel when they need some information and we are all tucked up in bed at home! The 6 hr time difference in that way can be a blessing and a curse all in one!

So, I haven’t really stopped at all this week! I think it’s going to be interesting this weekend. I haven’t had a chance to meet anyone new here outside of work so it may be a bit lonely. I have mentioned to a couple of girls from one of the agencies that maybe we could do drinks at my place but we’ll see. I’m definitely going to try and investigate some other ‘grocery stores’ and maybe pop to the shops....a little bit of Urban Outfitter me thinks! Plus, I am going to see if I can investigate some social groups so I can meet new people.

I have to say though each day I have been here I have had something that has made me smile. Whether it’s a crazy taxi driver singing and clicking to the radio or the guy in the grocery store who as soon as he heard my accent thought I was amazing (the song ‘Englishman in New York’ comes to mind’).. and after showing me where the sugar was, just stood by me until I had to say...”thanks I’ll be OK from here!!” Bless him!!

First day

Would you believe it! My first day in Chicago and I am ill! I think its some kind of sick revenge as I was the only one in the UK office that hadn't had it. Although I reckon I caught it off of some germ ridden buggar on the plane!

So after landing I headed straight to my apartment and it's just as good as I remember. Did all my calls back home - gave mum a tour of the apartment via Skype and made her feel sick!! And then went investigating supermarkets...or 'grocery stores' as they are called here.

Wow, I have never seen so much food in a small place. It was amazing. Plus, they have a little rainforest spray show which happens every 15 mins over the fruit and veg to keep it fresh! The first time I heard it I wondered what the hell was going on.

One thing I must admit i struggled with strangely is buying milk. You know how they say everything is bigger and better in America! Well when it comes to milk thats so close to the truth its unreal. It took me forever to decide which milk to get and then to get one smaller than the actual cow which produced it was the next feat. Eventually I found a small one which seems to taste ok?? A learning curve indeed!

I am very concerned about food and eating here. I love love love food and it is so easy here to eat. In the grocery store they have a fried chicken counter, a ribs counter and cakes are literally as you walk in!!! I will be strong however! I am cooking as I would back home and hoping I can resist becoming so fat I no longer have a chin or neck!

Need to try and conquer the flu though as the apartment is a tip! Two suitcases still in the middle of the floor!! May just be a lazy arse and leave it until the weekend.

So for now...I am heading off to indugle in an American version of Lemsip and Dancing with the Stars! May not go for the 11 hour sleep tonight!

Intro...

I remember years ago thinking that I could never live in America! The whole idea made me shudder! The cheesy accents, the fake charm! Well I’ve come full circle and realised it’s something I’ve been dying to do. Ever since my first visit to Chicago earlier this year, I knew this was somewhere I could live.

The last few weeks have been filled with seeing friends and saying goodbye. Although this stint will only be for 3 months, it’s really overwhelmed me how much my friends mean to me...and hopefully me to them.

It strange though, up until my trip to the airport I hadn’t felt nervous at all! I think I have had so much to think about until this point I hadn’t had a chance to stop and get nervous! However, when I said goodbye to Mum and Dad and went through security I felt really emotional and had to hold back the tears.

It was then that it dawned on me to start this blog. I want to write about my experience and hopefully pass on some key learning’s to any other Brits heading over to the States for work! So here I am leaving the bright lights of London far behind and replacing them with the windy city of Chicago!

My first wonderful experience whilst still on British soil has to have been the extreme security measures!   IT seems the staff of British Airways think I may have possibly been a threat! I must say when queuing up to board and seeing my name on a little list at the boarding gate I automatically  thought (and prayed) that this was it......my business class upgrade I’d been so desperate for! I was brutally mistaken. The little list I was on was not of a Business Class nature but that of EXTRA security checks. I had to have everything in my hand luggage pulled out and yet ANOTHER body check. I think if they had asked me to strip I would have lost it right there and then.

Oh well, I got through it and was very happy to be in the air after a 30min runway delay, plus I had booked extra leg room..little tip for you all! £50 on British Airways though so beware! I did however keep falling asleep and waking up realising I had been sleeping with my mouth wide open....embarrassment central!

And so starts my US adventure....Chicago here I am!!