ACK!

I was having a really nice week until yesterday. I had an interview yesterday, didn't mention anything on here in case I didn't get it but as it goes down as one of the worst interviews in history, I felt you may all want to revel in the pain with me.

First off when I sent in my original application, they emailed back with a brush off. Then, out of nowhere, I get an email the next day looking to set up an interview for yesterday. They wanted to interview me at 5:30 but the website I've been using to find my way around said that it would take at least 40 minutes to get there and I finish work at 5 so I asked them if we could do it for 6:15 instead. They said yes and it was set. I figured if I got to the area at 5:40 or so then I would still have 20 minutes to find the place and then be on time (to me, 15 minutes early is on time for an interview only, in the rest of life, arriving about 5 minutes late is on time). Wednesday I got all prepared, printed out my portfolio pieces, put them with my reference letters, chose my outfit with the help of my temp coworker's advice. I started quizzing myself on what they might ask me. I also printed out my map of how to get there.

Now it's Thursday, I'm done work, I've changed and I'm off! I have my map, my portfolio, my beautiful purple pumps to put on right before I get there (they match my bag) and the girl at work gushed that I looked 'so smart' so I was feeling good. Sun was shining, birds singing...little did I know...(that's called foreshadowing people). I get on the tube, do the sardine can thing cause it's rush hour, transfer, do the sardine can again. Get out of the tube and follow my handy little map to where the office should be. As I arrive, I realize that I've only got the post code because that's what what I normally use on the website to find directions. Ah well, it's fine, I figure, I've got 20 minutes and it's got to be one of the little side streets off this one block.

15 minutes later and it's not in the block and no one appears to have even heard of it. Alright, I think, maybe it's on the other side of the square, so I try over there. 10 minutes later and I'm freaking out. I've just realized I FORGOT TO BRING THEIR NUMBER. Ok, I'll just check my email on my phone and get it from there. But my brand new phone that has never had a problem decides now is the time to freeze. HAHA (panicked, deranged laugh), alright, I'll phone information. I ask a woman passing by and she gives me the number for directory assistance but it doesn't work. I approach two ladies having a smoke and they tell me the number like I'm an idiot for not knowing it. I say thanks in spite of their rudeness (I actually wanted to kick them each in the shin). It's now 6:15 and I am starting to lose my shit. I phone directory assistance and the girl is not the shiniest button in the drawer and tells me there is no listing in London for the company. And then my phone cuts off the call because I'm apparently out of credit. Lovely.

I am now beyond frustrated. I do the round of the block again quickly. A security/receptionist man at one building takes pity on me and asks me what street I'm looking for. I tell him but he doesn't know it (I find out later it's because I was pronouncing it wrong). I ask him if he has a computer I can use and he says he just shut down his laptop. My bottom lip starts to quiver and he quickly says he'll turn it back on and take a look. I want to hug him but I think he senses it and hurries away behind to the desk to get his laptop. I wait for what feels like forever as he loads it up and waits for EVERY SINGLE START UP PROGRAM to finish loading before closing them. A good 2 minutes go by. It's now about 6:25. I want to tell the man that he needs to go into the control panel and select which programs should run at start up but I just don't have the time. We Google the company and I phone the number. It goes to voicemail and I leave a panicked fumbling message cause I don't know my new mobile number cause I just got it on Monday so I have to find the card in my wallet and *sigh* it just was not a good message.

While I'm leaving the message the receptionist security guard man has Googled the address as opposed to the post code. It's a ten minute walk from where my stupid map told me to go!! He gives me directions and off I go. I wander around, asking people for the landmarks the receptionist security guard man told me to look out for but which are actually unrecognizable if you don't know the city. I FINALLY find it by fluke after going the wrong way and doubling back only to realize if I'd wasted 5 more minutes cause it was right behind me. I walk in and the security guard for the building phones upstairs but it goes to voicemail like it did for me. We have to wait until another security guard comes down to watch the desk and he takes me up to the 4th floor. There he realizes he doesn't have his swipe card and can't get past the main lobby area on that floor. At this point I was resigned. I knew there was no way I would get the job being over 30 minutes late for the interview, I just didn't want to be a no show. Better late than never, right? Barely, but right.

Just as the security guard is waiting for the elevator to go get his swipe card, a girl comes down one of the halls and opens the door. 'Delly?' I wanted to cry. Finally, SOMETHING had gone right (and I'd put on my pumps in the elevator just in case so I was ready. The security guard seemed uncomfortable with this elevator wardrobe change but he was the least of my worries). She was very sweet and understanding because she was American and had gotten lost in London a lot as well. But she wasn't the person interviewing me so I was still worried.

I'm not going to go into the interview in detail here as I still haven't heard back and it's not the kind of thing you should send off into cyberspace. Sorry.

I'm still so upset with myself and everything that went wrong but ah well, what will be will be, right? No point in rehashing and stressing. Typing this out was my therapy. Woooooossaaaaa. Moving on.

PS. More pictures this weekend, promise. Tho the internet is being a bit wonky so it may be Monday. But it will be soon! And I'll try to make them good.