Week 1: UK/England - London, Crewe and Torquay
Hello, Blog Followers!
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give you a lot of the details from this week, almost to make it feel like you’re actually here! If you want a condensed version:
3/6: arrived in London
3/7: explored London with our host and Brent, including going to Chinatown, breakfast and the British Museum
3/8: Train to Crewe to get to a farm for WorkAway
3/9: OMG I hate farming, get me out of here!! Chicken poop is gross!
3/10: Escape planned, but have to work for one more day on the farm. Met a fellow volunteer.
3/11: Train out of Crewe to Torquay (pronounced “Torky”), coastal town, staying at and helping at a hostel and tourist pirate ship!
3/12: Rainy day in Torquay, stayed in playing games with other volunteers/guests and catching up on journaling/reading/puzzling
3/13: Windy but sunny! Adventure out with a few guests, walking around and then getting fish and chips for lunch before heading back to the hostel. Later will shower, and Mexican food and going away party for some volunteers/guests tonight!
If you want to feel like you’re here with me:
Well, as you all know, my big three month European adventure has begun! I arrived in London last Wednesday and spent two nights in the city with a family friend. Those first few days were a little rough, trying to fight the jet lag. But after the third day of being here it had seemed to have completely gone away. So yay!
The flight over was long with not great sleep, but I made it. It was a different and interesting having dinner and dessert AND breakfast served to you on a plane.
Brent and I met up in the airport and then headed to the family friend, Melissa. We dropped our stuff at her flat and then headed out for some early dinner before heading back and staying awake a little longer before heading to sleep.
Brent and I met up in the airport and then headed to the family friend, Melissa. We dropped our stuff at her flat and then headed out for some early dinner before heading back and staying awake a little longer before heading to sleep.
First thoughts on being in a different country: the landscape and culture and everything is obviously VERY different. Not bad, just different. The weather here is pretty similar to home right now though. London is sunny in the early morning, and then the rest of the day its grey, windy and rainy.
The next day Melissa offered to take us out for breakfast before she had to head to work. So we took the tube from where she lives to Covenant Garden, then ended up wandering through Chinatown and trying these yummy buns that were pastry-like. I got a ham and egg bun, and it was so good!! The ham was nice and sweet and the bun was sweet but not too sweet.
Next we got breakfast at a place called the Balance Cafe. Melissa left us from there and once Brent and I were done we walked to the British Museum. It’s huge!! The museum covers SO much history, not just British history. The exhibits that Brent and I got to were the history of money, Greek and Roman history, Romans in Italy, some Egypt history and learning about mummification, and the history of China and South Asia. I think my favorite thing to learn about was Gebelein Man (he’s over 5,500 years old and was found almost perfectly preserved!). The skeleton was found in upper Egypt in a shallow grave, where his body was naturally mummified. He is so well preserved that we are able to tell how he died and even some of his hair is still preserved!
Next we got breakfast at a place called the Balance Cafe. Melissa left us from there and once Brent and I were done we walked to the British Museum. It’s huge!! The museum covers SO much history, not just British history. The exhibits that Brent and I got to were the history of money, Greek and Roman history, Romans in Italy, some Egypt history and learning about mummification, and the history of China and South Asia. I think my favorite thing to learn about was Gebelein Man (he’s over 5,500 years old and was found almost perfectly preserved!). The skeleton was found in upper Egypt in a shallow grave, where his body was naturally mummified. He is so well preserved that we are able to tell how he died and even some of his hair is still preserved!
It was also really cool that there was an entire room dedicated to a very large collection of China platters, bowls and cups that is organized by the different dynasties.
I wish we could have gotten to it all, but we had already been there for almost 4 hours, so we decided to call it good and be on our way to walk the South Banks. Along the South Banks we walked past the London Eye (we’ll ride it when we’re there at the end of the month).
I wish we could have gotten to it all, but we had already been there for almost 4 hours, so we decided to call it good and be on our way to walk the South Banks. Along the South Banks we walked past the London Eye (we’ll ride it when we’re there at the end of the month).
The plan was to head to Shakespeare’s Globe, but both of our phones had very low battery and it was starting to get dark, so we decided to head back to Melissa’s.
On our way back we stopped by Sainsbury’s, a little grocery store, to get a couple things for dinner.
When we got to Melissa’s I got to call and chat with my mom and boyfriend for a little before heading to sleep.
On day 3 Brent and I got up and had a little bit of a late start to getting to the train that goes to Crewe, where we were working on a farm, but we got there safe and sound. Out hostess picked us up and showed us the cottage, let us eat a little, and then put us to work cleaning the horse saddles and bridles. It was okay, but wiping mud off leather isn’t much fun.
For dinner we made our own pasta and then headed to sleep, hoping the next day would be better.
Day 4: Shocker - wasn’t any better. I quickly learned that I DO NOT LIKE farming. We got up, and got straight to work, Brent cleaning the stables, me cleaning the chicken coop. And then we were given the tasks of weeding and cleaning sticks out of the hedges.
Flash forward, and we’ve been working for almost six hours. The deal is supposed to be that we only work for five hours. So I’ve gotten to a bit of a stopping point and mention it to the hostess. She tells me to wipe the mud off the saddles and bridles that they had used that day for hunting with the horses, and then we can be done. It was only two of each, but it took FOREVER.
The night before I knew it felt like not the right fit and the hostess was very particular about how things were to be kept and taken care of. So with the help of my mom we found a last minute host and they got back and said that they could take me. So I came up with an excuse to get to the train station and told the hosts, which they were very upset about, but no way was I going to be staying there for three weeks. One more day. That’s all.
On our way back we stopped by Sainsbury’s, a little grocery store, to get a couple things for dinner.
When we got to Melissa’s I got to call and chat with my mom and boyfriend for a little before heading to sleep.
On day 3 Brent and I got up and had a little bit of a late start to getting to the train that goes to Crewe, where we were working on a farm, but we got there safe and sound. Out hostess picked us up and showed us the cottage, let us eat a little, and then put us to work cleaning the horse saddles and bridles. It was okay, but wiping mud off leather isn’t much fun.
For dinner we made our own pasta and then headed to sleep, hoping the next day would be better.
Day 4: Shocker - wasn’t any better. I quickly learned that I DO NOT LIKE farming. We got up, and got straight to work, Brent cleaning the stables, me cleaning the chicken coop. And then we were given the tasks of weeding and cleaning sticks out of the hedges.
Flash forward, and we’ve been working for almost six hours. The deal is supposed to be that we only work for five hours. So I’ve gotten to a bit of a stopping point and mention it to the hostess. She tells me to wipe the mud off the saddles and bridles that they had used that day for hunting with the horses, and then we can be done. It was only two of each, but it took FOREVER.
The night before I knew it felt like not the right fit and the hostess was very particular about how things were to be kept and taken care of. So with the help of my mom we found a last minute host and they got back and said that they could take me. So I came up with an excuse to get to the train station and told the hosts, which they were very upset about, but no way was I going to be staying there for three weeks. One more day. That’s all.
The next host that my mom and I found was listed on the WorkAway website as a babysitting gig, but then I called the host, Sean, and he gave me more details about the work. He and his family are in Torquay, a coastal southern England town, and they own two backpacker hostels that they need help running, as well as running a tourist attraction pirate ship! So what they do is have volunteers stay at one of the hostels and work at either both of the hostels or on the ship welcoming people, giving tours or working in the little gift shop. I was very excited. With the way the schedule is laid out I don’t work on the ship for the first time until tomorrow.
On the bright side of being at the farm, we got to meet an older guy named Sean (coincidentally), who’s originally from England, now living in South Africa, that got there the day after us that has been doing these farming jobs all over the place for the past 6 months, and he was really friendly and fun to talk to. We all sat around talking about music, other hosts, actors, movies, and other things while making dinner before heading to bed.
Day 5: The three of us made breakfast and started heading out to do our tasks. I spent about 5 hours raking out more leaves and sticks out from under the hedges. Once I finished working I booked a ticket to our next host and a cab to the train station in Crewe.
While the countryside is nice and quiet, it’s a little too out of the way of everything for my liking.
Day 5: The three of us made breakfast and started heading out to do our tasks. I spent about 5 hours raking out more leaves and sticks out from under the hedges. Once I finished working I booked a ticket to our next host and a cab to the train station in Crewe.
While the countryside is nice and quiet, it’s a little too out of the way of everything for my liking.
The next day when we caught the train to Torquay (after a hectic and frustrating morning), all I could think about was how I was really glad that we wouldn’t have to work in mud or horse or chicken poop. Farming is not for me.
Once we arrived in Torquay our host picked us up from the train station and drove us to the hostel. Once we got there he gave us each a key for our room and showed us the work schedule and where we’ll be working. From there we headed up to our room to settle in. Our room is really cool, because one of the walls is covered in Marvel comic book covers!
Once we arrived in Torquay our host picked us up from the train station and drove us to the hostel. Once we got there he gave us each a key for our room and showed us the work schedule and where we’ll be working. From there we headed up to our room to settle in. Our room is really cool, because one of the walls is covered in Marvel comic book covers!
After hanging out in the room for a little while we decided to venture downstairs to make dinner and be with the other volunteers and a few guests. For dinner we had PB & J sandwiches and a little bit of vegan curry and rice that Hazel, who’s from England, had made for herself and had plenty to share. We also got to meet Lukas and Alex from Germany, who is are our current roommates, Elise from Australia, and Lee who is from New York. Also staying here are some people from Spain and France, but they seem to keep to their own respective groups. It was really nice and fun just sitting around eating and talking with the other volunteers. Everyone is really nice and fun to have a conversation with.
Yesterday was a very rainy day so rainy that the ship was closed, so a lot of us stayed in and either did our own things or played games in the dining room. I got to catch up on some journaling and reading and then later played a game of Scrabble and Cards Against Humanity with some of the other volunteers.
Today it has been a little cloudy and windy, but for the most part the sun has been out, so Brent and I tagged along with a few guests, Hazel and Matthew, to go out wandering around town and got some fish and chips for lunch. There’s also going to be a party tonight for the volunteers and guests that are leaving this week! Mexican food and Hazel is planning on making a few vegan dishes that she’s made before that most of the people seem to like.
So yeah! There’s my first week in the UK/England! It’s been a little crazy, but things are starting to settle. I’m really liking staying at the backpackers hostel, just sitting in the dining room, doing my own thing while there’s music on in the background, the sounds and smells of food being made and hearing dishes being washed, and the chatter between Spanish and French people. I’m excited to see what happens next and how my first day on the ship goes! Stay tuned to read next week’s update. Love you all! Cheers! :)
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