New Car

Clifton and I bought a car for me this weekend and it was definitely an experience completely opposite of the states for us. First off, car dealerships are not attentive to your needs at all. You are not greeted in the lot and if you have a difficult situation like ours, they really don't care to spend their precious time helping you work through it. For example, the situation Clifton and I are in is that I do not have a UK drivers license, we can not be financed because we have to live here for two years before we can get credit and I only drive automatic cars. In the UK about 1 in 30 cars are automatic. So we had a very low price range because we figured out we would have to pay cash, we didn't want to buy a hideous car and it had to be automatic which is extremely rare. We ended up having to drive almost to Edinburgh to buy me a car. We found a couple cars in Dunfermline that would be perfect for me so I called yesterday to make sure the car was on the first lot we were going to and it was. Since we were having to make the drive we decided to take the scenic route which we thought would be so amazing. It was an absolutely beautiful drive but we did not take into account my motion sickness. The roads were very windy, tons of roundabouts to stop at and up and down hills. Needless to say I did not feel well so when we finally arrived at the first dealership we walked in to find out the car I really wanted was sold a half hour before we got there. Immediately they took us to see the one other automatic they had on the lot and as I am looking at it I look at Clifton and say I am going to be sick. He thought I was kidding. Nope I wasn't. I threw up right next to the car in front of the car salesman. So embarrassing! Then he asked Clifton if I needed a glass of water and of course Clifton said yes. Seriously I think the guy gave me sugar water. I tasted it and he must have dumped a packet of sweet and low in it. I was disgusted and thought I was going to get sick again. Then he walked to the car and put the keys in the last automatic left and said take a look on the inside and come and get me if you need anything else. I don't think he was happy about me getting sick on his lot. Clifton and I decided to leave and go to the next place and I was telling Clifton how embarrassed I was that I got sick on that lot and my amazing husband says they deserved it because they sold your car before we even had a chance and they knew you were driving up from Aberdeen to see it. Ha! That is when you know you have a good man because even though it was probably embarrassing for him as well he acts like the dealership deserves my throw up on their lot. Gotta love it!

I was feeling much better by the time we got the next lot and they had a perfect car for me and it was a better price. The owner of the car dealership was amazing too and so helpful which has been very hard to find. We took it for a test drive and I think I gave the guy and Clifton a heart attack when I decided to pull out on the wrong side of the road. They both start saying wrong side, wrong side!! Clifton about died of embarrassment and the car salesman was definitely on edge after that but we made it back in one piece and bought the car. We pick it up next Saturday because there was some minor body work that needed to be done to make the car look beautiful. I love my new car and I can't wait to drive it. It is a Citroen C2 and yes it is super teeny but perfect for driving here. Here are some pics!

Other than just buying a car this week in Aberdeen has been gorgeous. The weather has been around 12-15 degrees Celsius. For you Fahrenheit folks that is around 55-60 degrees which is warm for here. The sun has been out almost every day and Clifton and I have taken full advantage of this weather by running or walking through the town. Today we sat on a patio and ate lunch outside for the first time this year. It was beautiful.

I finally start my teaching job tomorrow and I can't wait to be over a class again. I am very nervous since I have not taught Math and Science before but I am sure I will get along fine. I am just ready to have a place to go every day and be needed again in a workforce.