Thursday 26 July 2012 - Random ramblings
We've been here a few months now so I guess we could say we're reasonably settled and quite happy. My work, being self employed, is going to be "interesting" from time to time, ensuring I have enough income to provide for my family. But hopefully the wife's documentation will arrive from the Philippines soon and she can take the NCLEX exam to enable her to get a job as an RN for a more stable income - even if it's only part time.
A few months is also enough time to start thinking about things we miss. Oddly one thing I wasn't expecting was to miss spicy Mexican food. The box dinner kits you'd get in the UK used to be quite spicy but here it's not! And this is genuine Mexican food so I have to assume the UK version was altered to the UK taste. But Mexican food is still good here; it's just different - and mostly mild. Yes there are some spicy dishes but not many. We had an Indian last night which can be described as interesting - good quality meat but the sauces seemed to come from jars, and the naans were thin and crispy rather than the soft, doughy ones that you get in the UK. The one dish ordered spicy (ie mine!) was predictably only a medium. I guess I'm going to have to learn to cook Indian from scratch to get anything like the UK versions!
Had blood tests today as part of a routine annual physical with Kaiser. Turned up at 8am at the clinic, which does tests on a "turn up and take a number" type of basis, and got seen within 5 minutes. Went home and 2 hours later my results were posted on the web (privately!) in full detail - numbers, normal ranges, and everything. Back in the UK I had to phone between 12 and 1pm, one week after having the tests, to be told by a grumpy receptionist if it was "normal" or to see a doctor. Yes, I'm paying a lot for this, but so far it's been pretty good. Oh, except for waiting times sometimes. The pharmacy made me wait nearly an hour before telling me "actually, we don't have it. Come back tomorrow". And the wife was kept waiting for 2 hours to see her doctor who was running seriously late.
Our stuff shipped from the UK arrives on Saturday! This was after getting an email over a week ago saying I needed to pay customs charges ASAP otherwise delivery would be delayed. I paid the same day but it wasn't until a week later that they phoned to say that delivery wouldn't be for another two weeks because they were busy. I naturally got rather pissed off at this and fired off emails to Pickfords in the UK and Graebel's (the local agent) HQ. The next day I got an apology and an offer of a delivery this weekend. That's better - I just hope the stuff arrives intact!
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About Me
My attempt to get an EB1a visa for the US, a person of extraordinary ability, which gives a green card pretty much immediately, and there is no waiting period unlike most other visas.
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