Aberdeen!

So I meant to blog almost every day but I had to pay for internet at my serviced apartment and there isn't free wi-fi all over the place.  Anyway, a quick recap since I need to actually get to sleep tonight since I have to work tomorrow:

We almost have an apartment.  Put a deposit down so now it's just reference checks and waiting.  If all goes to plan we'll be moving in next weekend!

Generally things have been frustrating and I feel like I've been hitting a lot of walls and obstacles and had a lot of moments where I just wanted to go home where I know how things work.  Every time I'd try to get a bank account they said I need a permanent address, which I don't have yet (My job is paying for me to stay in a serviced apartment for two weeks, thank goodness).  But most apartments like you to have a bank account so you can set up direct debit for rent payments.  And even more importantly I can't get a monthly cell phone plan without a bank account and address and therefore couldn't get my iPhone that I've wanted for so long. 
At the beginning of the week things were looking up since Peter and I found a great apartment on my first day in Aberdeen (Saturday) in a location we loved and it was through a person and not a solicitor (aka real estate agent) so the checks weren't as thorough which is great because I have no job history, previous landlord, current address, etc in this country.  So we sent everything in, talked to the owner, but then found out Tuesday we didn't get it because she gave it to someone else due to their personal situation.  So then started the apartment scramble.  I'm pretty sure I saw every two bedroom in the few mile radius we were trying to live in and found a great place in almost the same location that had a lot more furnishings than most of the places I've seen (we're getting furnished since neither of us have anything).  And even better, the solicitor works by having you put a deposit down to secure the apartment so it gets taken off the market and then the application process starts, which made me feel better after losing the last place.  They also pride themselves on getting an apartment turned around quickly, so moving in by the 12th (when my free lodging is up) was an actual possibility.  So I'm feeling good about that now.

In addition to the apartment, other things started looking up.  I looked at the cell phone plans and got my iphone as a pay as you go plan and was still able to get the international plan I wanted.  I'll switch to the monthly soon since I pay a lot for outgoing calls, but incoming calls are free and I have enough texts and data to keep me going.  Having access to the internet and google maps all day is amazing and so helpful.  Wish I had gotten the phone before Friday!

So in my quest for a bank account I had stopped in some different ones asking what I would need and got enough different answers that I didn't really know what was going on.  So I looked it up online for the bank I wanted and it said all I needed was my passport.  Well I have that.  So I went into one branch and was told that I needed a signed employment contract.  I had my offer letter but I accepted the position online and don't have anything physically signed.  He also said I needed a signed lease.  So I felt pretty defeated and frustrated after that.  It's just difficult because I keep feeling like everything I had in the US doesn't matter anymore.  I had a car, a good job, good credit, bank accounts, everything but need to start my life over from scratch.  So I decided to walk a few more blocks and go to another branch.  I don't know if it was because it was full of women or because the second question she asked was what's my salary and I had a good answer, but they were very helpful and I got my bank account.  It was remarkably easy, the lady I worked with was so nice and I finally felt like things were coming together.  Not having a permanent address didn't matter, they're sending my debit card to the place I'm staying and I should have that in a few days.  Friday was a good day.

And today I bought a dongle.  No I didn't make that up.  It's the UK word for the mobile internet from a cell phone carrier that you plug into a USB port (what I'd call a wireless air card).  But anyway, I'll have more and better internet, so hopefully I can catch up on blogging.  Sorry this is so rambly but it's off to bed for me.  As much as I'd love to stay up to watch the superbowl, I'd rather be alert for my first day at work :)

Goodnight US!