Do you need some help, love?

I took the trains today during 'rush hour'.  The trains and tubes were crazy crowded!  I had to wait for three different trains for the central line tube on because there were so many people crammed in the cars the doors would barely close!  Thankfully, each time I got off one train, the platform I needed was the one directly in front of me so there was no running up and down stairs chasing after trains.  (That could be a horrific combination!)

I used the map I was given in orientation and ended up going the wrong way...oops!  Thankfully a nice scottish bloke recognized the confused look and my face and offered me some help!  

"Do you need some help, love?"

"Yes, I'm a bit lost."

"Oh you have a map, brilliant!"

He proceeded to show me where I was and where I needed to be.  With a "cheers", he was off and I was on my way.

I was in the general area of where I needed to be, but the map had me taking a left instead of a right on the road directly in front of my placement.  I asked the help of a road worker.  He was kind enough to help, but the map confused him as much as it did me.  A couple of other workers walked up and started adding their two cents in.  It was so funny!  They were getting upset at each other because one would suggest one way and the other would shoot it down.  "Are you mental, that's not the right way!"  LOL!! They finally figured out there right way just as Ella called me.  I thanked them and set off toward my placement.  -- Good thing I was early!

Ella and I walked in together and waited for Steve, our supervisor.  Today consisted of meeting everyone, listening to what they do, drinking tea, and filling out some paper work.  -- Basically, much like other first-day-on-the-job scenarios.  Steve has some neat plans for us, but this week will consist mainly of getting to know the place and shadowing others.

I will work in the kitchen tomorrow morning during breakfast and I am excited about that!  It seems that we will be kind of like a fill-in for many different areas.  Steve also wants us to come up with our own little workshop type meetings that we will have with some of the clients.  We will even organize an event for the end of our placement that will help promote the charity!  

We got lunch at a small Indian restaurant...which came highly recommended by a couple of British chaps leaving the restaurant as we were browsing the menu.  "Go in, it's fantastic!"  :)

Steve gave me directions on how to get to the record store, Rough Trade East, where I am currently using their WiFi.  They have actual records!  I haven't seen those in a while!

I'm headed out to catch the train home!  Hopefully, I can update tomorrow and not have to wait so long between posts.