Well actually it's nearly 7 months!
7 months of living as Stacy... I wasn't actually counting, but someone in the office asked me a few weeks ago and I was surprised that it had been so long...
So how's life been treating me for those months? Well so far so good!
My colleagues have been amazing over the that time. From my team when I told them what was happening, to the department when my boss told everyone, to the company as a whole when they were told by their bosses.
There were only a couple of people who didn't quite know how to deal with me, but neither one of them was a problem. One of them told me outright, 'Sorry, I don't know who I should speak to you any more; so I am just going to treat your normally OK?' I liked that one! How else could you treat someone? The other person just remained civil, but didn't speak that much - just said hello in the corridor. It was a shame as we used to talk more, but at least he wasn't making an issue out of it.
And working for an internet insurance company really helps, it was a nightmare trying to get the life insurance organised for the new mortgage, it would have been much worse if I didn't have colleagues who could sort everything for me.
Outside of work my friends have all been amazing, both those left in the UK and those that I know in Holland. The people I was expecting to be the biggest have been fine, shocked yes, but the have been fine :) The next trip to the UK is going to be interesting though - I have to start the whole stress process of meeting people for the first time again, I was hoping that I was going to be over that by now!
The biggest complaint so far has come from my French colleague who keeps on asking if I have to wear heels as I was tall enough compared to him before I transitioned. I tell no, I don't have to wear them. I just like them :) I just think he needs to get taller ;p
Due to personal circumstances I did not start hormone treatment before I transitioned - this has led to quite some delays in documentation. Being an ex-pat really does not help here, I have to fulfil the laws of the UK, as well as the laws of the Nederland. And... They are different... Ergo I only sent off for my passport a couple of weeks ago. Who knows when it's going to turn up! And most of my documentation in Holland (driving license, residency permit, bank account, tax records etc) can't be changed until I get it back. I see a day off of work to organise everything once it arrives!
And, lastly, one of the biggest surprises that I have had. Living as me made the world of difference. I had two trips where I still needed to be him in December. That was only weeks after I transitioned at work but even then I felt more uncomfortable going out in my suit than I did the first time I went out as Stace!
About 14 weeks ago I started on blockers for the medical study I am taking part in. Apart from a bit of tiredness and a few hot flushes I didn't feel that different. Then about 6 weeks ago I started in hormone patches and again... I've not noticed that much. The difference between living as him and living as Stace had a much more profound impact on me than the hormones have had so far!
Here's to the future
That EU has really made our lives so much easier hasn't it?
ReplyDeleteSure that those patches will start to show some real effect soon, especially now that you have the blockers too...
To be honest I can't blame the EU here, the problem is more the ridiculousness of the UK passport agency. They won't give any information about what is needed - You must send us the right documentation, no we can't tell you what that is but if you don't send it we will take the 200 euros anyway and just return your application.
DeleteThe Dutch doctors are loathe to give you the letter saying that the transition is permanent unless you have started on hormones - and as I had to wait that was a problem for me.
I'll get there, just more stress than I was expecting.
7 months. Time has really flown !
ReplyDeleteGlad that things are going well. I remember the first few weeks of HRT ~ nothing and then things really started changing. Happy times !
Hope things continue to progress well
Becca
The weird thing is that it feels like yesterday, but it also feels like a lifetime.
DeleteI have heard others say that they could not remember what it was like before, and even after this amount of time I have to say it's getting hazy.
It's good to hear that life is treating you good this past 6 months. Yay! My partner Diana also found her work group to be amazing and supportive as well. Good luck with all your paperwork. Don't let it overwhelm you and you will get through it all. May you have continued joy!
ReplyDeleteI was speaking to one of the founders of the company before I went full time about why he started it. He was quite high in banking and had something of a breakdown due to the way that the bank was treating both the staff and customers and decided that he wanted to start a company where people only had to worry about being themselves and doing a good job (for the customer and the company).
DeleteI guess he managed it :)
I think that once I have my passport the rest should fall into place. The only one that I can see being a problem is the HSBC (their processes are terrible, and really insulting) and to be honest if they insist on being as useless as they have been over the last few years (both for my transition and other issues) I'll just close the account, I am not sure I need a UK account any more anyway!
Wow. Six months. Time goes so quickly. Glad to read it's all going well though. Yay for good news. L x
ReplyDeleteThanks! Let's hope it continues!
DeleteSo glad that the last 6 months have gone really well. Just realised that I hit my 6 month mark tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHeels are fabulous. I wore some to a work's meal the other week and was chatting to one of the guys that I've worked with for over a decade. He's about the same height as me but suddenly I was towering over him.
Hope that the next 6 months go just as well. Here's to the 12 month mark.
It's a wonderful surprise isn't it when it creeps up on you?
DeleteI am quite lucky living in Holland (I'm about average for a Dutch woman, both in height and shoe size etc). In fact after being measured at the hospital for the research it seems that I'm 1cm shorter than Mrs Stace.
But I also have an amount of international colleagues (Isreli, Frech, Indian and South African) and I was a little taller before the heels. A lot with.
I have realised just how tall a couple of my Dutch male colleagues are though. Even in 8cm heels (putting me at 182cm) I am shorter than most of them!
Nice to hear that it's all working for you, Stace. I'm also glad that your family life is good.
ReplyDeleteCalie xxx
Thanks Calie - long may it continue!
DeleteStace