My New Normal (Jan + Feb)
- Kiersten Houseman
- Mar 20, 2017
- 4 min read
Hello everyone! I apologize for the delay in posting my first blog. I’ve decided to lump January and February together because these first two months have really been a time of getting my feet on the ground, and adjusting to life across the pond. Time is flying, folks!
Moving + Settling in
To start with the basics, my move and the transition to this new adventure have been significantly easier than I anticipated. I attribute the ease of this transition to my upbringing (looking at you Joanne—whenever I tell someone we had a British nanny, I think they imagine that I had a super posh upbringing). Although I feel slightly terrified when I cross the road still, I have felt at home here from the start. The IJM staff quickly made me feel like family, and the other two interns scooped me up like sisters. I live with a family with four children aged 8-18, and I absolutely love it. Something exciting is always going on, and I love sitting down for Sunday Roast with them. They have made me feel incredibly welcome and at home since day one. I assumed moving would be a difficult transition, but I was wrong--and what a wonderful thing to be wrong about. England does feel a little bit like home already.
When I studied abroad in Brazil and when I worked at the Olympics, I had very specific moments of pure terror when I sat down on the airplane. Moments where I suddenly realized I was going to a foreign place, and there was no way I truly wanted the huge change that was waiting for me when I stepped off the plane. This trip was different. While I waited for my flight to take off on the Delta runway in ATL, I felt calm, and I felt ready. For that I am thankful.
And here I am, two months later—slowly but surely finding a new rhythm to life in a new place, with new people. I am growing so much right now, that even though I miss my big princess bed, friends, family, and sweet Georgia sunshine, I cannot deny that I am meant to be right here.
Interning at IJM UK
I am absolutely loving my job. Working with IJM is truly a privilege, and I am very much so in my niche. My official role is the “Student and Volunteer Relations Assistant,” and that basically sums up my job. I help volunteers get plugged into IJM, and coordinate with students to plan an event called “Stand for Freedom.” After a season of having very little structure in my life, I have been way too excited to work at a desk from 9-5. One of the coolest parts of working at IJM is that from 9-9:30 AM the entire office has personal time for “stillness”, where everyone individually spends time in prayer and reflection. Then again at 2 PM, we gather together for 30 minutes of corporate prayer, where we pray over IJM global casework, as well as the tasks happening in our office. This practice is integral to who IJM is as an organization, and the work they are doing.
On a funny note, I am responsible for answering the main phone at IJM… This is particularly difficult, because as it turns out, it is so difficult to understand accents on the phone here. On day 3 of answering the phones, I transferred someone to our CEO, only to tell him that I had asked for the person's name 5 times, and could not understand. Once someone called with a thick southern accent, and I was also truly confused by that.
Life in General
Outside of work, I am seeing my life transform in some really cool ways. I made the decision before I arrived not to take ADHD medicine for the first month or so (due to the complications of having to find a doctor in the UK), and see how I adjusted. Being off medicine has meant working very intentionally to become more organized, responsible, and self-disciplined. After leaving my keys to the office at home one day, I quickly learned the importance in keeping things in the same spot, and making a habit of double checking for my keys and other essentials. I have been working out in the mornings to help wake me up, and burn off a bit of energy in the mornings, and I truly notice the difference in my concentration on the days that I don't. I am having to be much more intentional about actively not interrupting others, recognizing impulses, and being overall more organized. Although I will likely take medicine again once I return to the States, I feel that this season is teaching me to accept myself as I am, give myself grace when I do become distracted, and also take responsibility for my actions. Here’s to growing up a bit more, and learning to be more disciplined.
The little things:
I have spent most weekends in London, and am absolutely in love with the city. I love how international the city is.
I have become obsessed with Cadbury Crème eggs (as any sane human being naturally does).
After a day of feeling homesick, I spent 45 minutes wandering around an Anthropologie in London.
I’m tired of having people associate me, as an American, with Donald Trump—when strangers bring him up, I’ve taken to quickly blurting out that I voted for Clinton, to avoid the lecture, and declare that I am not responsible.
When I’m overwhelmed in large crowds, my knee jerk reaction is to speak in Portuguese. Doesn't get me very far.
English breakfast tea is delicious.
I’ve purchased tickets to a 1975 concert at a CASTLE in Ireland—I am way too excited about this.
The weather can be truly dreary at times, but lucky for me, Brits love to complain about the weather, so I am not alone. I think I’m holding up pretty well.
Overalls are called dungarees here--how great is that?!
I’m going to try to learn a bit of French in the next few months.
To everyone who has supported me in this journey, whether through prayer or finances, please know that I am incredibly grateful. I do not have words to adequately express how much I am growing right now, and the significant role you have played in that.
Cheers friends!
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