In Flight

<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Today our family’s flight path takes a new turn<o:p></o:p></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">as we settle back in the US<o:p></o:p></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibemYpF9_XmwcRGmAUAOgbOiuYPjiuJxCbhpO-QDxbCUN2TTeTC3_22isFxMS5QI9BHd1JfyD1EqEN0HzJaQYK5uKXZbZETC8xiGXvrI8ynkjHSz0PNMIPZIet9H9rNkIIeRf5fmLAIg0R/s1600/DSC00735-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibemYpF9_XmwcRGmAUAOgbOiuYPjiuJxCbhpO-QDxbCUN2TTeTC3_22isFxMS5QI9BHd1JfyD1EqEN0HzJaQYK5uKXZbZETC8xiGXvrI8ynkjHSz0PNMIPZIet9H9rNkIIeRf5fmLAIg0R/s1600/DSC00735-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The literal flight path will take us over Greenland’s icy waters<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">and then deliver us to our summery new hometown<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">which I imagine will feel foreign for a while<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">On the calendar:<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Driver’s license test<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> 4^th of July rodeo<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Summer camp<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Visit family<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Life is filled with transitions<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">and this is just another opportunity to practice our adaptability</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__UQ0hZFijMthIYDptFDuzAvi7ZZ-gXMM3jahDlELVNnE0blc6D8D_zw8shynSczyOkYgHNFb6-rB7GYLaYpnJK4H54MJ3s01wPXYBtLU-u414rQTPGNTiKqyD6r9FUsBOxAYhPAkMx_R/s1600/DSC09914-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__UQ0hZFijMthIYDptFDuzAvi7ZZ-gXMM3jahDlELVNnE0blc6D8D_zw8shynSczyOkYgHNFb6-rB7GYLaYpnJK4H54MJ3s01wPXYBtLU-u414rQTPGNTiKqyD6r9FUsBOxAYhPAkMx_R/s1600/DSC09914-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">See you on the other side<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">:)<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos my own -</span></i></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

In Flight

Today our family’s flight path takes a new turn as we settle back in the US The literal flight path will take us over Greenland’s icy water...

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Reflecting On England

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">What can I say...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so much we have learned </div><div style="text-align: center;">and so much we will miss</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for joining my journey!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdCoKdvWX1MPiz-DF80K0Mu4pKVa4VLmW2yGUximm1ed7Uj6Sorycn6kxqBp1P_x6YFJYqSOuc9znccLGuxYzMZWVKcQmNfkqz9-0RzE-Uao5oZsVx84768M01zmeFqo7S2lMxqV2qHEC/s1600/DSC01507-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdCoKdvWX1MPiz-DF80K0Mu4pKVa4VLmW2yGUximm1ed7Uj6Sorycn6kxqBp1P_x6YFJYqSOuc9znccLGuxYzMZWVKcQmNfkqz9-0RzE-Uao5oZsVx84768M01zmeFqo7S2lMxqV2qHEC/s1600/DSC01507-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so thankful you have read and commented on my blog</div><div style="text-align: center;">which in turn encouraged me to keep documenting our time here in words and images</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I start to look at England from a rear-view mirror perspective,</div><div style="text-align: center;">here's some of my thoughts about this wonderful country<br />we have been lucky to call 'home'...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE WEATHER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enabling green grass and lush landscapes year around,</div><div style="text-align: center;">rain is an important fiber of the English culture<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBVUb2L0VYZIQfRoUQuyHI5_nmewxBkPXgrK6XE4huknxzXBpuRQReQtzj4p5uQMX1G1AqAD7XJNi_1TsDfSOqzIsM-IUijmGL3cSn3_RcJA5gQZooemMfYzbu4BLAkqpLoKLB47WCpje/s1600/photo+5-044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBVUb2L0VYZIQfRoUQuyHI5_nmewxBkPXgrK6XE4huknxzXBpuRQReQtzj4p5uQMX1G1AqAD7XJNi_1TsDfSOqzIsM-IUijmGL3cSn3_RcJA5gQZooemMfYzbu4BLAkqpLoKLB47WCpje/s1600/photo+5-044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Providing not only a conversation starter,</div><div style="text-align: center;">rain has created a hearty crew who holds events rain or shine</div><div style="text-align: center;">and 'just gets on with it'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Molding fashion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you find adorable wellies and umbrellas at the ready for rain</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the sweater-scarf-leggings-boots combo is put to work </div><div style="text-align: center;">at least 9 months of the year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With rain comes rainbows and</div><div style="text-align: center;">the probable cloud cover provides soft lighting for photos</div><div style="text-align: center;">The mild weather is predictable with occasional 'sunny spells'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fog has been infrequent</div><div style="text-align: center;">but always a treat</div><div style="text-align: center;">as it drops a totally different lens to a wintry landscape<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu2f8xsf5VNFD8c9n_BVeNYiucf5rSWpY596xjHlpxuNuiBqL9w0wBKD-BmAxQRzAb9OgmaqKyPfAUPvm6mm19mDr0Fd9RdMZDFmAj-PtBYyEeeugv5_OVWo9AI-d4ToR2deEnMxVxo-0/s1600/photo+4-027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu2f8xsf5VNFD8c9n_BVeNYiucf5rSWpY596xjHlpxuNuiBqL9w0wBKD-BmAxQRzAb9OgmaqKyPfAUPvm6mm19mDr0Fd9RdMZDFmAj-PtBYyEeeugv5_OVWo9AI-d4ToR2deEnMxVxo-0/s1600/photo+4-027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wintertime is short but very dark,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and later we're rewarded by insanely long hours of daylight in summertime</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In general</div><div style="text-align: center;">the clouds and rain are like a cozy blanket</div><div style="text-align: center;">It makes me say, 'Ahhh, that's my England'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE OUTDOORS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With all that rain and mild temperatures,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this island has the most wonderful conditions for growing things<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHnHVJWAfz9bYAFLMKgRnW3606Vb-XPtDcdlB1v5b9LISZW9BW1aRY71dKOR7Wm3vuDlBpjF0-Zvs_9xYGPUMSWRbgUWnvvc0aQFmp_rW3LM1kNILLBVMjjfcyRAN3zrXtnK8Jeuflip2/s1600/DSC01226-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHnHVJWAfz9bYAFLMKgRnW3606Vb-XPtDcdlB1v5b9LISZW9BW1aRY71dKOR7Wm3vuDlBpjF0-Zvs_9xYGPUMSWRbgUWnvvc0aQFmp_rW3LM1kNILLBVMjjfcyRAN3zrXtnK8Jeuflip2/s1600/DSC01226-004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dancing wildflowers are left to grow along the roadside</div><div style="text-align: center;">and walls of greenery guide you down the lanes </div><div style="text-align: center;">in the form of hedgerows and tree tunnels</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture-perfect crop fields are just as beautiful</div><div style="text-align: center;">as the countless public gardens that dot this verdant country</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Garden nurseries sell not only flowers and plants</div><div style="text-align: center;">but pots of tea, lunch and dessert</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With public footpaths zig-zagging the country,</div><div style="text-align: center;">there is no shortage of local hikes</div><div style="text-align: center;">and dogs can frolic off-leash to their waggy-heart's content<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0msRpQikMLfE8utoz2oBqiVbPQak7vgkFNOgZ9Uei0TdPh4aKP4FsLyqitSP6W4Ve3-BeIv_rrYwrj6D5hpaMK_dtiyGMNnwD2PtXTcGD-uQZ76mxhuC43-q1AFRExdSRtC1IJy2Nq-jD/s1600/DSC09680-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0msRpQikMLfE8utoz2oBqiVbPQak7vgkFNOgZ9Uei0TdPh4aKP4FsLyqitSP6W4Ve3-BeIv_rrYwrj6D5hpaMK_dtiyGMNnwD2PtXTcGD-uQZ76mxhuC43-q1AFRExdSRtC1IJy2Nq-jD/s1600/DSC09680-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Without the danger of bears, mountain lions, or poisonous snakes</div><div style="text-align: center;">children can run around more carefree than we are accustomed to</div><div style="text-align: center;">(there are venomous adders, but rare)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, how we will miss... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">being woken up at 5 o'clock by birdsong</div><div style="text-align: center;">old car horn sound of a pheasant call</div><div style="text-align: center;">bike pump sound made by the Great Tit</div><div style="text-align: center;">skinny little legs on the sweet and revered English Robin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">wandering solitary fox</div><div style="text-align: center;">spinning tail of a newborn lamb</div><div style="text-align: center;">gorgeous haze of bluebells in Spring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">shocking acid-yellow rapeseed<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30NYHlasCsRltbc3R088P9a_2pKkB0rNvV2VPi7chKRCaaC34RS27qohUzF_13X0qN2n1xgsM410JOTMYMOwSq6069RFyN7ryUNKAXQWqh-WDC8Zk0mLNgfN1vpkSajVzJsEbC0qCJwRW/s1600/DSC01696-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30NYHlasCsRltbc3R088P9a_2pKkB0rNvV2VPi7chKRCaaC34RS27qohUzF_13X0qN2n1xgsM410JOTMYMOwSq6069RFyN7ryUNKAXQWqh-WDC8Zk0mLNgfN1vpkSajVzJsEbC0qCJwRW/s1600/DSC01696-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">rich blue of a British summer sky</div><div style="text-align: center;">fairytale-like toadstools in autumn</div><div style="text-align: center;">magical hoar frost in winter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like many Americans,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am quite smitten by the English accent</div><div style="text-align: center;">and surprised how it varies greatly</div><div style="text-align: center;">depending on class, education, and location<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj05g5p0jsd3grvy7GXCDL_iKR5Pj8Ots5N5RlDu37_jRn2lHf8WpDXeZ_lmRFpZY2We1VpFpyTMRfd8dwLrYa7-9zrmBjZfRwz0n-AjcxurZy97-uwocmq-zW-ghmChtQGWP0Dzn-i24t/s1600/DSC01270-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj05g5p0jsd3grvy7GXCDL_iKR5Pj8Ots5N5RlDu37_jRn2lHf8WpDXeZ_lmRFpZY2We1VpFpyTMRfd8dwLrYa7-9zrmBjZfRwz0n-AjcxurZy97-uwocmq-zW-ghmChtQGWP0Dzn-i24t/s1600/DSC01270-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've started to notice which type of accent is spoken in radio commercials</div><div style="text-align: center;">which provides a whole different level of information to the listener</div><div style="text-align: center;">as to what the advertiser wants to convey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While the English are not boastful,</div><div style="text-align: center;">they'll remind you of their original ownership of the English language</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And yet<br />they have pronunciation inconsistencies that make me look like a real heel</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as Cliveden - should be Clive-den but is pronounced Cliv'den -</div><div style="text-align: center;">and other pronunciation rule derailments such as Thames and Leicester</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I imagine the English use a larger percentage of their dictionary than Americans</div><div style="text-align: center;">and they have an impressively extensive vocabulary for landscapes such as</div><div style="text-align: center;">moor, tor, fen, fell, dale, vale, copse, lea, common, green, heath, and beck</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is even a wordsmith game show on BBC radio</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love that the public will correct grammatically incorrect signage</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How I wish I had taken a photo of a notice placed in an elevator/lift I saw a few years ago</div><div style="text-align: center;">Someone had used a pen to make about 4 grammatical corrections on the sign</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was taken down that night<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I did get a photo of this one at my local post office...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7es4OMitiWpSmViIQZ9utPYjFswLjz-sBxipNHquA8y-CskiAsiwdAvIh_yDVr3h6juAjpEBjSkCP_mD_yrfWr2pdgkxkDXAR4lKo16s7-snETdfMoH0SBAVoyId2qyFzsx1Cyg05s8p/s1600/photo+1-0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7es4OMitiWpSmViIQZ9utPYjFswLjz-sBxipNHquA8y-CskiAsiwdAvIh_yDVr3h6juAjpEBjSkCP_mD_yrfWr2pdgkxkDXAR4lKo16s7-snETdfMoH0SBAVoyId2qyFzsx1Cyg05s8p/s1600/photo+1-0061.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone attempted to scratch out the 's'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On a side note,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I find it fascinating that the French has an official authority <span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Académie française)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">determining the usages, vocabulary, grammar, and dictionary of the French language</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">FOOD & DRINK</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's cut the the chase:</div><div style="text-align: center;">man, how we will miss our country pubs<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmvYWrqSdqIYRih-IMTYNM-aiCNtAd9beiKqbyMnVzL3gI81ijncdUGQUL6EL2ByuggfQkEOCoHDxmDhj8kz1ur8KgupGmHs5oODGN3RE8IjEMaSlMv9cDOlC4M-Hy5NLy_5JaXzSWEPC/s1600/photo+2-031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmvYWrqSdqIYRih-IMTYNM-aiCNtAd9beiKqbyMnVzL3gI81ijncdUGQUL6EL2ByuggfQkEOCoHDxmDhj8kz1ur8KgupGmHs5oODGN3RE8IjEMaSlMv9cDOlC4M-Hy5NLy_5JaXzSWEPC/s1600/photo+2-031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Imagine a 17th-century pub with a warming fire in the fireplace</div><div style="text-align: center;">and board games stacked nearby just waiting to be played</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perfection!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A warming drink may include </div><div style="text-align: center;">a pot of tea</div><div style="text-align: center;">hot chocolate</div><div style="text-align: center;">(warmish) pint of beer</div><div style="text-align: center;">Winter Pimms</div><div style="text-align: center;">or mulled wine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happiness is sitting outside on a sunny day at a pub</div><div style="text-align: center;">while the kids play on equipment or hide-and-seek</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Quiz Night' is on Fridays</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday Roast each week</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dog and family friendly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pubs are the heartbeat of many villages</div><div style="text-align: center;">and there simply is no equivalent in the US<br />or possibly elsewhere in the world outside the UK/Ireland region</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With so many cool pubs to discover,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you never have to go to the same one twice<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5YW-qAb9rNb7XJGjfNS7ZGFb3WRVsd8gGfmrWqHFMNpeQ7vcHeipMFv-fsFyi2AoiLFGdgJuNtOyCFsk8KHsFA7pYMzuDm7MMjj5JvIi7ryHsZ-C3AKZxtGhmI1sFONilJSlz47KjhdR/s1600/DSC00105-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5YW-qAb9rNb7XJGjfNS7ZGFb3WRVsd8gGfmrWqHFMNpeQ7vcHeipMFv-fsFyi2AoiLFGdgJuNtOyCFsk8KHsFA7pYMzuDm7MMjj5JvIi7ryHsZ-C3AKZxtGhmI1sFONilJSlz47KjhdR/s1600/DSC00105-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While England gets a bad rap for food,</div><div style="text-align: center;">delicious Indian take-away is as common as Chinese take-out in the US</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The London food scene is amazing, delicious and diverse</div><div style="text-align: center;">and is constantly evolving with clever new ideas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From liquid nitrogen ice cream</div><div style="text-align: center;">to Alice In Wonderland tea,</div><div style="text-align: center;">from pay-per-minute cafes<br />to sushi on conveyor belts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">London has it all</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we're spoiled for choice</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our sweet tooth will be missing a lot of British favorites:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">millionaire shortbread bars</div><div style="text-align: center;">lemon drizzle cake</div><div style="text-align: center;">treacle tart</div><div style="text-align: center;">sticky toffee pudding</div><div style="text-align: center;">honeycomb crunch ice cream</div><div style="text-align: center;">first of the season British strawberries</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And those unforgettably named dishes</div><div style="text-align: center;">Toad In The Hole, Bubble & Squeak</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In place of syrup,</div><div style="text-align: center;">who knew squeezing lots of lemon juice and sprinkling sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">all over pancakes would be a new breakfast favorite?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tipped off by a French friend who knows her food, we found another love</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>good local bread</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">- so soft, so light, with lots of holes inside to capture the butter -<br />yummmmm</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aside from rain, tea also is an obvious integral part of England</div><div style="text-align: center;">Offered in homes and schools, by hairdressers, and at medical appointments</div><div style="text-align: center;">'a nice cup of tea' is another emotional cozy blanket in England</div><div style="text-align: center;">to either welcome or soothe<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmTRxsjhnS1EZ_LznKBzzTlLkxZUx2ZUCgBy9YJfXep9891X_50s38Bkw2r4un8haF_MIzCEpX49BNDl0yee8cl-tYv_8M-OPf0MtXhk9-fzY0lTKPNeeKbGD8iWfD4NhvGUtehQBXLWE/s1600/photo+4-049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmTRxsjhnS1EZ_LznKBzzTlLkxZUx2ZUCgBy9YJfXep9891X_50s38Bkw2r4un8haF_MIzCEpX49BNDl0yee8cl-tYv_8M-OPf0MtXhk9-fzY0lTKPNeeKbGD8iWfD4NhvGUtehQBXLWE/s1600/photo+4-049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interestingly</div><div style="text-align: center;">'cream tea' is more regional than I would have expected</div><div style="text-align: center;">with its clotted cream and scones</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I stumble upon one, I bring out my happy dance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE DRIVING</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As intimidating and silly the driving exam seemed at the time,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I actually am thankful I had to go through the process</div><div style="text-align: center;">or shall we call it 'a right of passage', hmm?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I definitely became a much better driver</div><div style="text-align: center;">thanks to the exam, the driving lessons,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and fellow drivers who honked at my missteps<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5D8Z1iHhTX8F8fn1VC3ZHahCBRpp6_anGLg0qKsVXtWnLijwqbk9gNNfgqe0Zw3f9NoDFgPJqxydt-sqUQl83MMo2_Xwd1F9jag8iuQbDmOQBOkd212o_h2vui8PcsanUPx8ya1uuo3k/s1600/DSC09400-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5D8Z1iHhTX8F8fn1VC3ZHahCBRpp6_anGLg0qKsVXtWnLijwqbk9gNNfgqe0Zw3f9NoDFgPJqxydt-sqUQl83MMo2_Xwd1F9jag8iuQbDmOQBOkd212o_h2vui8PcsanUPx8ya1uuo3k/s1600/DSC09400-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the continuous driving enabled by</div><div style="text-align: center;">roundabouts and yields (no stop signs)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I appreciate 'creative parking'</div><div style="text-align: center;">in any direction on sidewalks</div><div style="text-align: center;">made possible by low kerbs/curbs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Speed limits that change on digital signs </div><div style="text-align: center;">are a brilliant idea on the highways/dual carriageways</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You gotta love the single lane roads that call themselves a double lane</div><div style="text-align: center;">- smile if you know what I'm talking about -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I can just hear the crowd go wild</div><div style="text-align: center;">when I totally nail one of those challenging parallel parking spaces</div><div style="text-align: center;">- that is some serious satisfaction, my friends -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">TRAVEL</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While we have the same number of school days as our American counterparts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">our holiday breaks are much longer<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_NSzObmc3_trK9ZfDqLok9DuF8N-Cco50WI09ZnriQtbOlUzAdMCfiDY-Ce3biDcOQarsVQmfowCy5r4kx_QnYcVXuxPTLj2aF9SNQjSgXASbiQlpbPYDek7trqIHQyKIg6_Y0bDOzkj/s1600/photo+3-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_NSzObmc3_trK9ZfDqLok9DuF8N-Cco50WI09ZnriQtbOlUzAdMCfiDY-Ce3biDcOQarsVQmfowCy5r4kx_QnYcVXuxPTLj2aF9SNQjSgXASbiQlpbPYDek7trqIHQyKIg6_Y0bDOzkj/s1600/photo+3-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ireland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the US, it felt like nine months of solid school</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the UK, </div><div style="text-align: center;">it feels like we are on break, just finished a break, or about to have a break</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Consequently, English schools finish the school year in late June or July</div><div style="text-align: center;">making the summer holiday quite short</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And with two magnificent international airports nearby,</div><div style="text-align: center;">many destinations are just a direct flight away</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Due to our location,</div><div style="text-align: center;">many countries are in a nearby timezone</div><div style="text-align: center;">meaning jet lag often is of no concern</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Travel is affordable-ish</div><div style="text-align: center;">with discounted airlines and most hotels open to some bargaining</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We will definitely miss all the mental breaks from school</div><div style="text-align: center;">allowing us quality family time even when we didn't travel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Feels like healthy living</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">MISCELLANEOUS<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few other oddities I will miss:<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoXh3HhVeuJu0pmftLLfyVZWEuUdmGTIk0jbzBrIgOs998eRwAdeFsswLIkBcvsVGSqAxYGWiSIJtdDB8OpJSs41sAamgoDtJuRfSHRnFhUI7S13BiGdlJMOlAI-n33mas-zDPcxVpFH7/s1600/photo+3-021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoXh3HhVeuJu0pmftLLfyVZWEuUdmGTIk0jbzBrIgOs998eRwAdeFsswLIkBcvsVGSqAxYGWiSIJtdDB8OpJSs41sAamgoDtJuRfSHRnFhUI7S13BiGdlJMOlAI-n33mas-zDPcxVpFH7/s1600/photo+3-021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For portable toilets, that slogan is priceless!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* on/off switch on wall outlets</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* Panto season at Christmastime<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* LBC and BBC talk radio - giving me more insight into the English mind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* contest radio winners who respond with a simple 'thank you' or 'I'm. so. happy.' </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* upcoming Scottish independence vote and <span style="background-color: white;">UK General Election</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Refreshingly, voting happens with little fanfare and no endorsements signs</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sorry to miss feeling the pulse!<br /><br />* English synonyms for so many American words<br />My vocabulary has definitely expanded<br /><br />* little things such as the European '7' with a line through it,<br />the date written in a different order,<br />writing in upper case letters almost exclusively,<br />formally beginning emails with 'dear' and ending with 'kind regards'<br /><br />* the density of so much to do, see, learn, and photograph<br />so close to home<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHjDr4YOBdM4sh5TdaNRvr8ieKXnT5KJ5TuadfqYVa1s3-3U9dYalgC1DhvB3hGihT1xFMVnkJbhqWGzsBAVj7OU4fSC9hds9AzqcDGdhYQ8G2D7sfUrvQFJLQcOPpvcl38t7jZwLgzVZ/s1600/photo+1-053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHjDr4YOBdM4sh5TdaNRvr8ieKXnT5KJ5TuadfqYVa1s3-3U9dYalgC1DhvB3hGihT1xFMVnkJbhqWGzsBAVj7OU4fSC9hds9AzqcDGdhYQ8G2D7sfUrvQFJLQcOPpvcl38t7jZwLgzVZ/s1600/photo+1-053.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While the time is right on many fronts for us to leave,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we are returning to the US as new, improved 'us'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm definitely a lot smarter having absorbed English history and culture</div><div style="text-align: center;">and grateful to learn a different way to do life and raise a family</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Would I live in another foreign country again?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Although it has its challenges, yes, definitely yes</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all images my own -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Reflecting On England

What can I say... so much we have learned  and so much we will miss Thank you for joining my journey! I am so thankful you have read and com...

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Living In The Space Between

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Last week the movers packed up the container</div><div style="text-align: center;">and took everything we own to the dock to be shipped out tomorrow</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I admit I was a bit misty-eyed as the truck's doors were locked and secured</div><div style="text-align: center;">with homemade artwork and favorite acquired treasures inside</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So many memories packed into one container!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv4cSO9oEY5OHgjb1pBIzSudSwCg-ZTowr8mSQJXhEHl4ktIRo5AYv4SROwZdC93s-2GSIOuktvi0zOdYnSzwkoTpDAnh4x70GHjLKaO71EGDLn8HM1wq9MoubUpYIEbLfCEXnIMce42O/s1600/photo+4-042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv4cSO9oEY5OHgjb1pBIzSudSwCg-ZTowr8mSQJXhEHl4ktIRo5AYv4SROwZdC93s-2GSIOuktvi0zOdYnSzwkoTpDAnh4x70GHjLKaO71EGDLn8HM1wq9MoubUpYIEbLfCEXnIMce42O/s1600/photo+4-042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Appropriately</div><div style="text-align: center;">the shipment is due to arrive the US port on the 4th of July</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In advance</div><div style="text-align: center;">we had to power wash our bikes to remove all dirt</div><div style="text-align: center;">and rid of items that were raw, untreated wood</div><div style="text-align: center;">in order to pass successfully through US Customs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are hoping for a speedy customs clearance </div><div style="text-align: center;">so we can get our lives unpacked and settled in quickly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With our furniture gone,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we are living like university students once more</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Using moving boxes as night stands</div><div style="text-align: center;">Two twin beds pushed together</div><div style="text-align: center;">Interior design magazines for ideas in our future home :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNK6nzhrbM52MJcNOE77TP-6Gj4vxDmy0eSucqfsuAsODGmNcDJ-vAcLgH2VZ7O4LilpkPnqUBf2TyrOWRM6XyE0VtfGB0DUFxI0ux82vWLMj627koU77X5cd-N0Ts_rJmxTS-uY0k41N/s1600/photo+5-040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNK6nzhrbM52MJcNOE77TP-6Gj4vxDmy0eSucqfsuAsODGmNcDJ-vAcLgH2VZ7O4LilpkPnqUBf2TyrOWRM6XyE0VtfGB0DUFxI0ux82vWLMj627koU77X5cd-N0Ts_rJmxTS-uY0k41N/s1600/photo+5-040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For a few more weeks we'll use rental furniture</div><div style="text-align: center;">- 3 beds, 1 sofa, 1 table with chairs -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We sold all electrical items with UK plugs,<br />got rid of our light bulbs, </div><div style="text-align: center;">purged liquids</div><div style="text-align: center;">(incl nail polish remover, cleaning supplies, liquid medicines),</div><div style="text-align: center;">and soon our cupboards will be bare<br /><br />We'll do some creative cooking with the few ingredients we do have on hand</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has been a monumental clean out</div><div style="text-align: center;">performed previously just 4 years ago</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is exhausting but then somewhat liberating<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKksNr71fCKY0ZaX9V-k8tEo0H-zgTQa6PDwyGDP5urGHMDlDeU3YDtdK_CiS1BwIoCUlUzPCjgnohi_DjiG8ZkT3rPAtlswn6DQQBhJPqN97T9X_fTsUAEvRqzCRayxeM6I5wt2YDNH_5/s1600/2014-05-16+02-17-024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKksNr71fCKY0ZaX9V-k8tEo0H-zgTQa6PDwyGDP5urGHMDlDeU3YDtdK_CiS1BwIoCUlUzPCjgnohi_DjiG8ZkT3rPAtlswn6DQQBhJPqN97T9X_fTsUAEvRqzCRayxeM6I5wt2YDNH_5/s1600/2014-05-16+02-17-024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For our last days in England<br />we will sleep in a hotel, and the pets will be in boarding</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The house gets a required 3-day professional cleaning</div><div style="text-align: center;">before an inspector comes through with her check-list</div><div style="text-align: center;">(always a daunting day when she comes through)<br /><br />Feels so strange...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheese in the frig will expire after I leave</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fliers announce events I cannot attend</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Leaves grow on trees that I won't see fall this autumn<br /><br />I will miss my beloved toadstool and conker season<br />Guy Fawkes Night too<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOGEGcz4V9zzw0cgI66Znv0lYP-eiQ1BDjk-Prupept7F3qwLcWAeQ6jsvBS1a8PMFT9ptBNu9ZSzIQrysRdwkvPTQvO6VoGSZoVMD21WpTzyDAU0oKLrjgBZt4CpKNMFQnfmMtsPfMSp/s1600/DSC01146-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOGEGcz4V9zzw0cgI66Znv0lYP-eiQ1BDjk-Prupept7F3qwLcWAeQ6jsvBS1a8PMFT9ptBNu9ZSzIQrysRdwkvPTQvO6VoGSZoVMD21WpTzyDAU0oKLrjgBZt4CpKNMFQnfmMtsPfMSp/s1600/DSC01146-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Oddly, my calendar is empty from the next month on<br /><br />Once we return to the US</div><div style="text-align: center;">we will attend events we aren't even aware of yet<br />and we'll fill the refrigerator with food once more</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Thanksgiving will be celebrated traditionally once again</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />It's hard to stay in the moment</div><div style="text-align: center;">when the moment feels so unstable</div><div style="text-align: center;">- I'm neither here nor there -<br /><br />Passionately<br />missing my friends and my life here already<br />while excited to be reunited with friends & family back home<br />and set up our new life</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the space between<br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos my own -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Living In The Space Between

Last week the movers packed up the container and took everything we own to the dock to be shipped out tomorrow I admit I was a bit misty-eye...

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Behind The Door

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMneaGEYfYWh0al_49xjslygHJvVhDKXVEw39V7fYvMPB_5c4O4b7bYPd8G0uypEjquakK1cpm33sQRswDlvFUxg9dQTs43UGgk8Rkh4CIo0yOS_99hHNIAnuEyJpdQWXlE9O2kDxyYJ6/s1600/DSC06618-024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMneaGEYfYWh0al_49xjslygHJvVhDKXVEw39V7fYvMPB_5c4O4b7bYPd8G0uypEjquakK1cpm33sQRswDlvFUxg9dQTs43UGgk8Rkh4CIo0yOS_99hHNIAnuEyJpdQWXlE9O2kDxyYJ6/s1600/DSC06618-024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Since we moved here,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have felt that life is filled with mystery doors</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not until the time is right</div><div style="text-align: center;">do you get to see what's on the other side of the door</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER9My6fSCMtYsiJjqEi2WbK-qlBOoq6wMc0J-RctoLCcNnBaJ6aamj0ZrC9xf3jLm0XgN6y_tBU-Z6RNV0NGoxmEpUslb5F1zJSJ78-FopEDMOmgTrGkABbzOnT6RawVhCl2wk0cu44a0/s1600/DSC06624-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER9My6fSCMtYsiJjqEi2WbK-qlBOoq6wMc0J-RctoLCcNnBaJ6aamj0ZrC9xf3jLm0XgN6y_tBU-Z6RNV0NGoxmEpUslb5F1zJSJ78-FopEDMOmgTrGkABbzOnT6RawVhCl2wk0cu44a0/s1600/DSC06624-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For a few months now,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we have be able to look through the keyhole of the door in front of us</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It reveals a move back to the US</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We always knew that door was there,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we just didn't know what was behind it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOTYGpsiEQ9dKm-mbuqYnhATd6jQrw3-j1MX547aitrON62erZn_x999qCS7yQ-fp1oGNVlA_o0KJIDvV9VOTKOh6Hkazrl7efBtyaIgqV6KR0EbRGTqyo8t8DSdaDZ9C6VX3qAmInV9y/s1600/DSC06714-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOTYGpsiEQ9dKm-mbuqYnhATd6jQrw3-j1MX547aitrON62erZn_x999qCS7yQ-fp1oGNVlA_o0KJIDvV9VOTKOh6Hkazrl7efBtyaIgqV6KR0EbRGTqyo8t8DSdaDZ9C6VX3qAmInV9y/s1600/DSC06714-003.JPG" width="572" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the time of year when expat friends tell you what's behind their doors too</div><div style="text-align: center;">- a move to Singapore, Norway, and Kazakhstan -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like seeds in the wind,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the expat community here will disperse to faraway lands in a few months</div><div style="text-align: center;">never to be exactly the same again</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Uj9nr5V76qQItACcc2N0rASnZQicJ6eb6FnPF2PelHGP1_YfPCfNv_smKfSuZlhPmsU1Z22msUFkmnKZfQAgbPrQ6ejF1cofzR4Glw7IYgPzWJfEE9qiM7hAQDcMlXOd4Q4Q6xC6xXNO/s1600/photo+1-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Uj9nr5V76qQItACcc2N0rASnZQicJ6eb6FnPF2PelHGP1_YfPCfNv_smKfSuZlhPmsU1Z22msUFkmnKZfQAgbPrQ6ejF1cofzR4Glw7IYgPzWJfEE9qiM7hAQDcMlXOd4Q4Q6xC6xXNO/s1600/photo+1-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you ever meet lifetime expat families,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you will never meet a more interesting group of people</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They have stories that are stranger than fiction</div><div style="text-align: center;">and have lived in countries you wouldn't dare to even visit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They move their families internationally to countries that don't speak English</div><div style="text-align: center;">with only three week's notice</div><div style="text-align: center;">(that challenge sounds insurmountable to me)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtOPQorIwOyplgfDX8QaATEfxQ53bLDd9HBXITAo4X58GgoMrVc-aZz9rh-B0GE7EP8pO26kqgMl6E-jtRZm0ZPUm3DBPeN3fRmEbC9U3MbNnSocb7b3cWKyzRoPm7oKYekhh_giFpAsJ/s1600/photo+5-005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtOPQorIwOyplgfDX8QaATEfxQ53bLDd9HBXITAo4X58GgoMrVc-aZz9rh-B0GE7EP8pO26kqgMl6E-jtRZm0ZPUm3DBPeN3fRmEbC9U3MbNnSocb7b3cWKyzRoPm7oKYekhh_giFpAsJ/s1600/photo+5-005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lifetime expats are courageous, resourceful,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and have learned to go with the flow</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These have been fantastic traits to observe and try to emulate</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gV3uach5t9rplhv-cJMQKyQLdq_QVf4XGM84BEWXXKlGG2x7nuIHk0XZXF6Uuk95NGATx2GjfPvjqjawVNTu99KLfnc3ujdRurOFtYE0jQK53AOhlUxR3wvJ4gtmRssDYSSfYxYPJ-X2/s1600/photo+3+%25284%2529-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gV3uach5t9rplhv-cJMQKyQLdq_QVf4XGM84BEWXXKlGG2x7nuIHk0XZXF6Uuk95NGATx2GjfPvjqjawVNTu99KLfnc3ujdRurOFtYE0jQK53AOhlUxR3wvJ4gtmRssDYSSfYxYPJ-X2/s1600/photo+3+%25284%2529-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not just international headlines a world away,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I now have friends who have personally been touched by</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ted Bundy kidnappings at her school</div><div style="text-align: center;">9/11 in New York</div><div style="text-align: center;">7/7 bombings in London</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mumbai bombings</div><div style="text-align: center;">tsunami in Japan</div><div style="text-align: center;">recent Newtown tragedy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the brighter side,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have a friend who was in a James Bond film</div><div style="text-align: center;">and another friend whose dad was the voice for </div><div style="text-align: center;">characters on The Flintstones</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I list these as a reminder to myself of the incredible stories I have heard</div><div style="text-align: center;">and amazing people I have met along my journey here</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It makes the world feel smaller and more tangible</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fewer than 7 degrees of separation</div><div style="text-align: center;">with such a diverse group of people here</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fApFmDZyC9geCfDjYpAIUr3Ec4j-oXeSvhrRysCZV0wdooJJLoDY1b2VUWTkgV8ast_lxKqBY5gDeDDWSECemzBBm1cK3oNcz5jQ-GnhR_28pznC6vp0JVXFmHBl6gXG16PxHX9Tp8iw/s1600/DSC00241-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fApFmDZyC9geCfDjYpAIUr3Ec4j-oXeSvhrRysCZV0wdooJJLoDY1b2VUWTkgV8ast_lxKqBY5gDeDDWSECemzBBm1cK3oNcz5jQ-GnhR_28pznC6vp0JVXFmHBl6gXG16PxHX9Tp8iw/s1600/DSC00241-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I feel like I was on my trajectory in the US,</div><div style="text-align: center;">bounced into people and experiences here to grow exponentially,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and now flinging back to the US as a modified person</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Along the way I have collected new lifelong best friends,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we have raised our children in an incredible country</div><div style="text-align: center;">- safe, beautiful, culturally dense -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHrmoSoMwSnP_yEjcYG2KNcDp8d_Au0iNw5gwIlqoQswxwOhumdLlJdD4TAaE_63IIqgevD6ZxLurr-C12FjvOwJ_EduHndvOF7cK_6aZZs6-vWwMDleGobustaWrMIYyM-isWPep43GT/s1600/Photo+4-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHrmoSoMwSnP_yEjcYG2KNcDp8d_Au0iNw5gwIlqoQswxwOhumdLlJdD4TAaE_63IIqgevD6ZxLurr-C12FjvOwJ_EduHndvOF7cK_6aZZs6-vWwMDleGobustaWrMIYyM-isWPep43GT/s1600/Photo+4-004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With a new cat and puppy in tow,</div><div style="text-align: center;">our family has expanded since we left the US</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Returning without car seats</div><div style="text-align: center;">signals our family has aged</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Shipping less home</div><div style="text-align: center;">(fewer toys/kids stuff)</div><div style="text-align: center;">we return a bit lighter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvic6cqah4qo33TatHDNgOLHoHtq4rR9XpivWc2xUUOBLZs9_PTvm7AmcsABinklvU7GwZml8c46UWmb1EmvEXU0Z5xTWy7J7Ek2N7edPIEivkuVNdkCccQTMH5kDwps_rZt9-3i1sYzXq/s1600/photo+3+%25286%2529-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvic6cqah4qo33TatHDNgOLHoHtq4rR9XpivWc2xUUOBLZs9_PTvm7AmcsABinklvU7GwZml8c46UWmb1EmvEXU0Z5xTWy7J7Ek2N7edPIEivkuVNdkCccQTMH5kDwps_rZt9-3i1sYzXq/s1600/photo+3+%25286%2529-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are sad to leave,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but happy to go</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We have a lot to look forward to</div><div style="text-align: center;">behind the door that stands before us</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Behind The Door

Since we moved here, I have felt that life is filled with mystery doors Not until the time is right do you get to see what's on the othe...

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You Know You're In America When...

<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTge1np-Ryt9xIpcn1TLSzFdwyT9bx2or7hEC77HX39y9q-JtofQ-3rQ1sTHAvz9_uvJVyZFazW0niNOU0xaWq0pSDQHQTGCMti70Qh5oHdZRTIIO6OpqaFWh6xOmqru9dWOXU8wMTJ0aM/s1600/Mailboxes+OBR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTge1np-Ryt9xIpcn1TLSzFdwyT9bx2or7hEC77HX39y9q-JtofQ-3rQ1sTHAvz9_uvJVyZFazW0niNOU0xaWq0pSDQHQTGCMti70Qh5oHdZRTIIO6OpqaFWh6xOmqru9dWOXU8wMTJ0aM/s1600/Mailboxes+OBR.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>...you see</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />mailboxes with little flags</div><div style="text-align: center;">American robins</div><div style="text-align: center;">yellow school buses</div><div style="text-align: center;">light switch on the lamp, not the cord</div><div style="text-align: center;">washer & dryer that can do a week's worth of clothes in two loads</div><div style="text-align: center;">free drink refills</div><div style="text-align: center;">a proper glass of iced tea</div><div style="text-align: center;">pellet ice</div><div style="text-align: center;">tax not included in original price<br />cars on the road that are not in good condition</div><div style="text-align: center;">right turning at a red light</div><div style="text-align: center;">high curbs</div><div style="text-align: center;">billboards</div><div style="text-align: center;">drive thrus</div><div style="text-align: center;">24 hour drug & grocery stores<br />abandoned grocery carts in the aisle with owners shopping on other rows<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlzS8LmrS9G24vFx4XgHNE10QDpndGOyMtgjA_fcw2oVqWaH4YTD6XG16jefv4syDghCAi8I4T7WRTCQiCwHS-QoAL6bJNcXZ5OyyKgBZyr__WecTHzJqs6xKPC0bzmoxbrZA1xB23bxV/s1600/IMG_0760-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlzS8LmrS9G24vFx4XgHNE10QDpndGOyMtgjA_fcw2oVqWaH4YTD6XG16jefv4syDghCAi8I4T7WRTCQiCwHS-QoAL6bJNcXZ5OyyKgBZyr__WecTHzJqs6xKPC0bzmoxbrZA1xB23bxV/s1600/IMG_0760-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>...you hear</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">artful small talk as part of good customer service</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Bless You' from a stranger when you sneeze</div><div style="text-align: center;">hairdryers operating in the bathroom</div><div style="text-align: center;">a kitchen disposal<br /><br />Most of these things have an explanation of how it is done differently in the UK<br />It's interesting to see my home country through a different lens,<br />for we only return to the US a few weeks each year<br /><br />Just the other day I couldn't recall the denominations of the US coins<br />- in four years I've forgotten -<br /><br />Although I don't feel British,<br />my worlds have blurred together<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gratitude to</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span id="goog_838508105"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1628765275"></span>Privet and Holly<span id="goog_1628765276"></span></a> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">for </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">the use of her </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">mailbox photo</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Second photo my own</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

You Know You're In America When...

...you see mailboxes with little flags American robins yellow school buses light switch on the lamp, not the cord washer & dryer that ca...

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Creating Another Home

<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">This week you can find me over at <a href="http://themoksihomes.com/2014/03/creating-another-home-by-laura/">The Moksi Homes</a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">answering questions about living in a rental home abroad</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">Here's a little taster - I hope to see you there :)</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://themoksihomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/DSC09619-001.jpg" style="color: #777777; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="DSC09619-001" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-504" height="740" src="http://themoksihomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/DSC09619-001-1024x740.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 6px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="1024" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><b>Maureen: Did you move everything with you from the USA to England? </b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;">Laura: We brought everything with us because we were not sure how long we would be abroad or where we would relocate to next. Our furnishings, artwork, and knickknacks make each house feel familiar and cozy even though location, views, house layout, and neighbors change with each move. Many of our things have a story or memory attached, so I have no regrets about bringing everything with us although it is a bit of a hassle. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">As the kids get older, they have fewer toys. With each relocation, we purge a little more. And in this digital age, we have laptops, e-books, downloaded films, music, and photos. So we are fortunate that we are living in an era when so much of our ‘stuff’ is downsizing anyway. Moving gets easier each time.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;"><b>Maureen: How did you cope with the domestic side of moving?  </b>Read more of the interview <a href="http://themoksihomes.com/2014/03/creating-another-home-by-laura/">here</a>...</div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br /><br />

Creating Another Home

This week you can find me over at The Moksi Homes answering questions about living in a rental home abroad Here's a little taster - I ho...

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An American Perspective: What It Feels Like To Live In England

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">If you've been reading my blog for a while,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you know I LOVE living in this country</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is so beautiful and so interesting</div><div style="text-align: center;">- filled with history and culture galore -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But what does it <i>feel </i>like to live here?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHe5QC_JU0Qkd9dYq9sBmnk8Gl5xq6cYdPzqgplpEZqZJMyecYZEOP70p2Pp-G_burZBO_ALEdA1PcHEaDx6cy_hBV06swFOHuRYOAAsV-v2pNMXp7_6C7wzhvic2vwOTcZPghq6aBWAM/s1600/England+counties-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHe5QC_JU0Qkd9dYq9sBmnk8Gl5xq6cYdPzqgplpEZqZJMyecYZEOP70p2Pp-G_burZBO_ALEdA1PcHEaDx6cy_hBV06swFOHuRYOAAsV-v2pNMXp7_6C7wzhvic2vwOTcZPghq6aBWAM/s1600/England+counties-001.JPG" width="336" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England">Wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has taken a while to get a visceral sense</div><div style="text-align: center;">of the size and population of England</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">England is roughly the size of Louisiana,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and one would need five Englands to fill the state of Texas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1a27gssKr8VaWQlNn6PjjEhlXApoi24tCtudbR4SdSJjtSnmsYrfbTZq81Sg9KAJ7Usjnbc2SliiIEmb66zUmFms2YBJlbrBdxyLTvxVYZwjJt5Ceos9Ajl5HgkfdeGcdzIfq9c9XL3HR/s1600/USA+UK+map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1a27gssKr8VaWQlNn6PjjEhlXApoi24tCtudbR4SdSJjtSnmsYrfbTZq81Sg9KAJ7Usjnbc2SliiIEmb66zUmFms2YBJlbrBdxyLTvxVYZwjJt5Ceos9Ajl5HgkfdeGcdzIfq9c9XL3HR/s1600/USA+UK+map.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shows the whole UK, not just England<br />via <a href="http://www.sarmonster.net/UK.htm">Sarmonster</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It takes appropriately 45 hours to drive the US from coast to coast</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In Europe, you cannot drive 45 hours in a straight line and still be on the same continent</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Starting from the closest European point to England (Calais, France)</div><div style="text-align: center;">you could be in Beirut, Lebanon in 45 driving hours</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Moscow is only a 26 hour drive from Calais</div><div style="text-align: center;">(only 19 more hours to go for the equivalent of the US drive)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPG31OQCetZwVm8XZ6PTS9yfF-qJAe6N4KlwBWmAis6w6DEekWz4dT7tKHMj9mlw-RAU6O4xc_Hg0EpMMwJzoJDiwdVMkYHEMDet8en5VC_b4ssIdlGzvw3yre7hnqhp3MkjpmL56jqjg/s1600/45+hr+driving+map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPG31OQCetZwVm8XZ6PTS9yfF-qJAe6N4KlwBWmAis6w6DEekWz4dT7tKHMj9mlw-RAU6O4xc_Hg0EpMMwJzoJDiwdVMkYHEMDet8en5VC_b4ssIdlGzvw3yre7hnqhp3MkjpmL56jqjg/s1600/45+hr+driving+map.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="https://maps.google.com/">GoogleMaps</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In contrast, I can be almost anywhere in England within 5 or 6 hours<br />(if traffic cooperates)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, you get my point</div><div style="text-align: center;">But not so fast...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fill up Louisiana with all the people in California (the most populated state),</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then fill it with half those people again</div><div style="text-align: center;">You've almost reached the 1,054 person per square mile in England</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This leads to an intricate web of roads to maneuver daily<br />and a large infrastructure in place to serve the population</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Not only is the population more dense in England,<br />but the things to do and see is fantastically dense too<br /><br />So this <i>feels</i> different than America</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQlil_Bllcoku2FMsC5FcNRRADY2obvwRv2e_Dh700Hasp7UTw3t1vsoKLfGXKaTiw8t4SxJ5jRZkPgN9VBIDtQnMQ5R89TLFH3ejxG4cPs6Dy20BSHJJTD-fBtMmYy3yBls6A6zeMi5p/s1600/Countries_by_population_density.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQlil_Bllcoku2FMsC5FcNRRADY2obvwRv2e_Dh700Hasp7UTw3t1vsoKLfGXKaTiw8t4SxJ5jRZkPgN9VBIDtQnMQ5R89TLFH3ejxG4cPs6Dy20BSHJJTD-fBtMmYy3yBls6A6zeMi5p/s1600/Countries_by_population_density.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Population per square kilometer (2006 data) <br />via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_density">Wikipedia</a> </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Generally speaking, the English can visit their families by car or train</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is easier to see childhood friends when they are just a drive away</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In contrast, many Americans fly to visit friends and family</div><div style="text-align: center;">which makes reunions less frequent</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And because we live on an island,<br />every time we fly, we are traveling to a foreign country<br /><br />Flying to a foreign country entails border control lines upon arrival<br />followed by passport, visa, and paperwork checks when we return to the UK</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It can feel like we live on a cultural island from the rest of Europe as well,</div><div style="text-align: center;">as English is the official language only in the UK and Ireland</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mainstream film, television and music<br />generally come from within the country and the US,<br />not from Europe<br /><br />Although the UK is part of the European Union,<br />they retain their own currency<br /><br />So it feels like we live on an island in a number of ways</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE-x-P8-zxjeOLslygTghf3AW5jQfCE_ZQJoOOhdxAb85RZ_6quxsjghiYJhwTYUUypSnO5Q0oytrectGxvtFebrdZVS2nJEb9fMi0jM0Uxkahhu-DXdx3STY6x4YNdKXDevznTfLDQXj/s1600/Rectified_Languages_of_Europe_map+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE-x-P8-zxjeOLslygTghf3AW5jQfCE_ZQJoOOhdxAb85RZ_6quxsjghiYJhwTYUUypSnO5Q0oytrectGxvtFebrdZVS2nJEb9fMi0jM0Uxkahhu-DXdx3STY6x4YNdKXDevznTfLDQXj/s1600/Rectified_Languages_of_Europe_map+(1).png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Languages in Europe<br />via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rectified_Languages_of_Europe_map.png">Wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Stick with me for a few more observations :) ...<br /><br />American news has an equal dose of local and national headlines</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>while English media tends to cover more nationwide stories than local tidbits<br />As a result, I don't feel I really know what's going on in my local community</div><br /><div>And while American epicenters for politics, finance, fashion and entertainment<br />are spread between Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles,<br /><br /></div>London is <i>the</i> heartbeat of the country in all of these industries<br />(making it such an AMAZING city!)<br /><br />And when I say 'country',<br />I may be referring to England or the United Kingdom</div><div style="text-align: center;">(for England is a country within a country)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Another oddity is<br />there are two governing bodies at work here:<br />the United Kingdom <i>and</i> the European Union<br /><br />Living in a country with a constitutional monarchy has been interesting<br />It actually seems quite efficient to share<br />the dance of international relations between the Queen and Prime Minister<br /><br />The Queen is the face of good public relations for the UK;<br />meanwhile, the Prime Minister tackles the hard political issues at home and abroad<br /><br /><div>I can't avoid mentioning that taxes and the cost of living are very high,</div><div>making it harder to save money here than in the US</div><div><br />With higher taxes comes a larger government presence<br />which provides health care for all and generous welfare for many<br /><br />The government design still feels very foreign to me,<br />and I admit I still find it confusing as to how it works legislatively<br /><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhJO5NZXT4omzR4mjFUiy6HhiF0Znrma1nZKefWojEwYnfi5unn9QeKYh8Jw-8CBI4bZeDYtrE91PLRkeskMNJY9J9Y_YLmG_DJYBMbIZHjCvN9AJlaOeQcsN5wEQA8xVhO2fc2x_0WJL/s1600/global+tax.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhJO5NZXT4omzR4mjFUiy6HhiF0Znrma1nZKefWojEwYnfi5unn9QeKYh8Jw-8CBI4bZeDYtrE91PLRkeskMNJY9J9Y_YLmG_DJYBMbIZHjCvN9AJlaOeQcsN5wEQA8xVhO2fc2x_0WJL/s1600/global+tax.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interactive map shows US with 35% marginal tax rate and UK with 50%<br />See more via <a href="https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/General-Tax-Tips/A-Global-Look-at-Personal-Income-Taxes-Interactive-Infographic/INF17032.html">TurboTax</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Of course I knew about England's famous wet weather before we moved here<br />And to be honest, it hasn't been that bad<br />(although this year has been breaking records)<br /><br />There are so many different types of rain to experience<br />that it doesn't get monotonous<br />- fine and misty, scattered showers with 'sunny spells', occasional hard downpour -<br /><br />Thunder and lightening rarely occur<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-6mYA0uvtBXRgdiu8ZEGjGeQnCTkSYZL0Qagg3iv54MMQcNurk0ZhKKpunDKbZkPR5ehobgcWp9OKwF9tc6_JwDx4Gl01UPhYDoO_qo1WhGMg5dRIg1mSmV9z1EhXq9y2466kyioHt2X/s1600/rainfall+uk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-6mYA0uvtBXRgdiu8ZEGjGeQnCTkSYZL0Qagg3iv54MMQcNurk0ZhKKpunDKbZkPR5ehobgcWp9OKwF9tc6_JwDx4Gl01UPhYDoO_qo1WhGMg5dRIg1mSmV9z1EhXq9y2466kyioHt2X/s1600/rainfall+uk.JPG" width="513" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">England averages only 33 inches of annual rainfall<br />while Scotland & Wales receive much more (mostly in blue)<br /> via <a href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/rain/how-much-does-it-rain-in-the-uk">MetOffice</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The English have an expression<br />'Just get on with it'<br />which goes hand in hand with a rainy life<br /><br />Most events carry on, regardless of rain or shine<br />In fact, you plan <i>for</i> rain<br />with a backup plan if it is sunny and warm<br /><br />But it was the winter darkness I had not prepared for mentally<br />Sharing the same latitude with Kiev (Ukraine) and Krakow (Poland),<br />the sun rises late (8:06 am)<br />and sets so early (3:51 pm) in the winter<br /><br />But the reward is very sweet with<br />LLLOOOONNNGGG days of daylight in the summer<br />(over 16.5 hours)<br /><br />And thanks to the Gulf Stream,<br />England is warmer than other countries sitting on the same latitude<br /><br />With warm-ish summers and mild winters,<br />temperatures do not fluctuate a lot between seasons<br />It is almost always sweater weather<br /><br />The mild wet weather creates the perfect recipe<br />for the most glorious gardens and greenery you'll find anywhere<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTOTV9o8tTBbQYaqdTNJUjqfFxGk3x1BCsbbkY5AohU5w7cB7er1I0yy0Pg-vp1f3GraB9ZKWf_MZDUoti-naW697aODcbcWZ75g7orTDOgQtnbsRGrshMxN8mnJGFnAPZSEDblrUxhDu/s1600/gardens+uk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTOTV9o8tTBbQYaqdTNJUjqfFxGk3x1BCsbbkY5AohU5w7cB7er1I0yy0Pg-vp1f3GraB9ZKWf_MZDUoti-naW697aODcbcWZ75g7orTDOgQtnbsRGrshMxN8mnJGFnAPZSEDblrUxhDu/s1600/gardens+uk.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map of public gardens approximately 2 hours from London<br />via <a href="http://www.britainsfinest.co.uk/map_search.cfm/bfcategory/gardens">Britain's Finest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />While the trees lose their leaves in wintertime,<br />the grass and hedges stay green all year<br />which brightens up the dreary days<br /><br />The mild winters bring early springtime,<br />and daffodils are starting to bloom now<br /><br />And that feels <i>very happy</i> :)<br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

An American Perspective: What It Feels Like To Live In England

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I LOVE living in this country It is so beautiful and so interesting - filled with h...

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Meet Me at The Moksi Homes

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGLz5-3pNR2jliKRzyIml9jmzbaJMcpeDa4yKNQz3p6-GydVpgVHFC7LivTdivw8lcsByBzHbj71hu0OBNhuDw-L0z2zXkgVatalFlapqAPe08l6KmVKVWi9yf98ycJkQlxEiTg1-6LUR/s1600/laura-x1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGLz5-3pNR2jliKRzyIml9jmzbaJMcpeDa4yKNQz3p6-GydVpgVHFC7LivTdivw8lcsByBzHbj71hu0OBNhuDw-L0z2zXkgVatalFlapqAPe08l6KmVKVWi9yf98ycJkQlxEiTg1-6LUR/s1600/laura-x1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This week I am writing as a guest blogger</div><div style="text-align: center;">for my friend, Maureen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Her fantastic new blog, The Moksi Homes,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> focuses on experiences and homes of expat women</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maureen and I have been virtual friends since my blogging beginning</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She's a Dutch mom living in Dubai,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the third person I know who was born in Suriname :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">She is such a delight and full of positive energy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa-7X5GrjWJOrZN6MlpMUJNjjLPs0D4xZ4HbXTVTo0m_r3r9Z8it1FLbAHfeoHqlNfYxS4Kjdm_kgGPwwX95iy5X-AiUyqS8hUmstLpCXQbRAm9lgA4yXYAP37UEF8cSEi0i1VxugjlIR/s1600/moksi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa-7X5GrjWJOrZN6MlpMUJNjjLPs0D4xZ4HbXTVTo0m_r3r9Z8it1FLbAHfeoHqlNfYxS4Kjdm_kgGPwwX95iy5X-AiUyqS8hUmstLpCXQbRAm9lgA4yXYAP37UEF8cSEi0i1VxugjlIR/s1600/moksi.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When Maureen asked me to write about </div><div style="text-align: center;">what it was like to make an international move, I jumped on it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't think I've written about it on my blog</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a positive post (you know me), </div><div style="text-align: center;">but I'll tell you, that move was one of my most overwhelming moments</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope to see you over at <a href="http://themoksihomes.com/category/laura/">The Moksi Homes</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a>

Meet Me at The Moksi Homes

This week I am writing as a guest blogger for my friend, Maureen Her fantastic new blog, The Moksi Homes,  focuses on experiences and homes ...

Read more »