American Expat

It finally came, my Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa, and I am now officially an American Expat.  It does feel weird that now it is unlikely that the Home Office will invade my home and send me back to the U.S.  Now I can skive off the government just like everyone else, but at the moment this seems unlikely as....

...I got a new job.  Well it isn't really new.  I have moved Costa stores.  I will now be working at the Shipley Costa Coffee, the difference is that this Costa is a franchise cafe, so I had to apply and be put on a test run like everyone else.  I have been told that working for a franchise isn't that much different from the corporation.  The main difference are, we don't get the perks of the Whitbread empire (the people who own Costa), the franchise can (and will) pay more, and the franchise can cut some corners (ie, not put as much syrup into your Vanilla Latte).  The franchise is expected to uphold the Costa Standard (except for the syrup thing, can you tell I am mad about that?) and therefore puts their baristas on the same courses as a Whitbread barista. 

I decided to move because they are able to give me more hours and as I am the only one, besides my manager, who has worked at a Costa I will be involved in the training of the other Team Members. They are able to give me the promotions in a short period of time because the store is brand new, and it is only a 15 min walk away from my house.  Oh yeah, and after 3 months I get a pay raise. 

So hurrah, I guess.