Firstly, I would like to apologise for not updating the blog often enough over the past few days. I really have been very busy recently, and this was coupled with a trip I had to the UK over the past few days - life has been hectic.
I will focus on my trip to England, which was my first business trip since the implant. I actually had to condense two business trips into one, as I didn't relish travelling to the UK twice in a week and I had to visit two sites. I instantly noticed an improvement over the last time I travelled 4 weeks ago, as the announcements turned out to be much clearer than the previous time I went. Still relatively unintelligible but I got enough to get along. Anyway, on boarding the plane - another bonus - I could actually understand the captain's commentary (where he stated cruise altitude, ground speed, etc - as an aviation geek this was fascinating to me). I could even understand the (recorded) safety instructions - verbatim. That was really cool.
Upon landing, we departed with a taxi. I could understand the GPS instructions quite clearly (in fact I was quite confused thinking it was the taxi driver speaking to me!) Much hilarity erupted when, enroute, on a motorway, the GPS went barmy and started telling the driver to make a U turn (slightly difficult) or to turn left immediately (which would have driven us off what was signposted as the highest motorway in the UK, wherever that is!). I felt elation that I finally could participate in such humorous events. I checked in, and the lady had a very thick, particular accent that I actually could decipher. Up in the lift. "Lift Going Up. Doors Opening - Third Floor" - lifts seem to speak in capital letters. I spent a very nervous night wondering how I would perform next day. in the meetings. I needn't have bothered - I was understanding everything. Wonderful! The people didn't even notice my implant. I then made a relatively convoluted journey by train to the other customers. I was fascinated to listen to the announcer explaining the different stations coming up. Didn't have to peer frantically out of the window to see if the station we're at was mine. I went to my second hotel, and checked in. I could hear workmen through double glazed windows, working eight floors below and about 30 metres away, changing the floor slabs. Every day, I spoke to Mandy on the phone- even my dad called, which was quite funny actually, as Rina pretended to be the reception telling me I had a call, there I was saying "this voice is familiar" and then my dad coming on and everything sinking in.
Then, on Wednesday - fantastic, I can honestly say that this was the best day I've had, hearing wise, since I had my implant. I spent over 5 hours straight talking to clients, explaining the design of the system we'd made for them. I was totally immersed in the conversation, I was being peppered with (very technical) questions left and right. No problem. I came out elated. I had really done it. Normally something like that would have left me stressed as hell and exhausted beyond all measure, but I was just tired. Fantastic!
The ride down to London was a long one, but it was fantastic being able to talk to my colleague, even in pitch dark, and understand everything. I got on the tube on the Piccadilly Line in the North East (elated to be back in London which is my spiritual home, I would say) extreme end, and had to literally cross London. I was fascinated listening in to conversations people were having (I know it's wrong but couldn't help it!) the tick-tick-tick-tick of the wheels on the track was familiar and comforting if anything.. the whooshing of the wind when we entered a tunnel was not - this was new to me. The warning bleeps of the doors was also new. "This train is the Piccadilly Line Train to Northfields. Next Station is Leicester Square. Please mind the gap". Actually hearing the recorded announcer speaking out the stations with names that are like long lost friends for me (hadn't been to London for two years) was almost comforting. Finally, I got to my destination, London Heathrow Terminal 4. I got into a cab, gave the cabby my address. I actually found a cab driver who didn't know a particular street in London (this is amazing for anyone who knows taxi drivers in London with their prodigious memory for addresses). He repeatedly asked me for tips - address, hotel name, postcode, street name, as he couldn't figure out where he had to go. Remember, he's looking ahead, it's dark, in a taxi. I was understanding every word. Had a chat with him even - fantastic, I never had a chat with a taxi driver before.
Next day - similar, my driver asked me where I was going - I told him back home to Malta. he said he'd never been but had been to Cyprus a few years back. We chatted about the low-cost fares, we agreed that you pay the fare for low cost in other ways like through transport or hotels. Gave him a tip. Got told "thanks, guv" and was aware of it for the first time. Fun!
Immersed in the sea of humanity at Heathrow, I had a chat with the checkin clerk (normally I would just sit there and stare) I bought Mandy some perfume and shook off the rather insistent sales lady (who was Polish I think, based upon my newly developed skill of accent determination!) who wanted to sell me something else. I then bought her some eye cream (why is it called eye cream when you put it on your cheek bones) and the Spanish (or Spanish language speaking at least) lady gave me instructions to tell Mandy not to put it on eyelids but on the top of the cheekbones as "eyelid skin is 50% thinner than the cheeks and you get puffy eyes".
All in all,a total success. How the hell did I manage to stumble along before?!
