I have put off this particular blog for a long time. It has been roiling around in my head for ages, but I haven't felt necessarily authoritative on the subject until now. And seriously, who, ever, is completely authoritative on a particular topic, EVER?
This is mostly subjective, please keep that in mind. And because of my particular personality (I can't remember, Megan - I'm not an INTJ anymore - I don't remember - but it affects my outlook and perspective on things), I probably have a funny view of what it's like to move country.
The reason I feel somewhat ready to write this blog is because yesterday, Patrick and I spent the day at his office being briefed on multiple topics and to-do lists regarding our move back to the United States. All of a sudden I am realizing our time here is coming to an end. I am realizing that we have been here nearly three years, and we have to start preparing to move home. Back home.
The thing is, I have never felt quite "at home" here in England. We moved into this house, which is, to be fair - very comfortable and spacious by English standards. The garden is amazing - it has been a saving grace for our family. The actual house itself, well, let me leave it at this - as blessed as we have been, we are really looking forward to getting back to our home in Maryland.
Moving here was more shocking than I thought it would be. I think because people in England speak English, we tend to think that they are "American." But it is far from "American" here. It was seriously a HUGE culture shock for all of us. The language, even though it's English, is different. For the first year of our time here, I recall saying, "Pardon, me?" about a million times because I did not understand a phrase, a word, or an inflection. This still happens, but I don't say "Pardon, me?" anymore. I just pretend. It gets tiring explaining that I don't understand that word or phrase, and it's easier to pretend. Even yesterday, an English friend e-mailed and I had to write back and say, Sorry, I don't know that word - what are you talking about???
I don't fit in. I never have, never will. I wear my emotions on my sleeve, which is uncomfortable for most English people. That particular fact has actually served me well when things like Aidan's surgery last year happened. The surgeon (and nurses) were so appalled and speechless at my emo-ness that they usually gave me whatever information or demands I was requesting when he was in hospital. I think I stunned them into submission - ha. I am also certain there are notes on Aidan's file - if we ever have to go in again - "Crazy, emotional mother. Refer to psych." Ha.
The most comfortable I have felt in-country is when we visited Ireland. They are much more "American" there!
All this said, I want to address my wonderful friends and family who have remained so faithful during this time. When we moved here, times were tough. I know I have grown in many different ways since we arrived. But my faithful friends and family who continued to keep in touch via e-mail, FB, and phone calls have been my saving grace. And for those of you who have visited, well, you are in a category all your own!!!
When Tricia visited during our first few months it was like a breath of fresh air. It was a link from home to our new life. I will cherish that visit forever. There is nothing like having family and friends from your "old" life come and be a part of your "new" life. Unless you have lived in a different country, you can't possibly understand this. Patrick's parents arrived even before Tricia did, Blythe and Aaron, and several members of Patrick's family - we have LOVED having visitors. Thank you all so, SO much.
I really, really, REALLY want to clarify something, too: VISITING a foreign country does not compare, AT ALL, to the reality of actually LIVING in the foreign country. I don't care what country it is, I don't care for how long you are visiting, the actual visit is not the same thing as learning the language (English included), doing the grocery shopping, figuring out the phone service, banking services, bill-paying,laundry-machine using, etc. Anyone who has visited a foreign country and thinks, "OH! I'd LOVE to live there!" - well, I beg to differ. You haven't experienced it until you have lived it.
I do not feel "myself" here, even though I KNOW I AM myself, that God is alive in me and working in me. I also know that when we go home there is not going to be a magical moment that makes me feel "at home" again. There will be culture shock going the opposite direction, unfortunately. Regardless, I am who I am, and all these experiences have worked toward who I am in Christ now.
There are plenty of things I am going to miss from England. I am preparing that list now - my what I love/hate about England blog-post. To be shared sometime in the future!
I am a foreigner here, myself.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Spain Pics
Joshua in the infinity pool
What a great trip. I can't believe it's over. We had looked forward to it for so long. We got spoiled spending all that wonderful time with my sister, Caitlin, and her family. What great memories we will have!
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Spain
Okay, so we left our camera sitting in the back window of our car in the long-term parking lot at Heathrow. BUM. MER. Fortunately, Joshua remembered to bring his camera! What a star! We borrowed it for the first day. Until Patrick dropped it in the ocean accidentally. I did manage to rescue the photos off his memory stick, so I have a few. I will post those soon although they aren't very exciting. I did get some videos on my iPod. Who knew my new iPod had a video camera? Very exciting. Not great quality and no zoom feature, but here you have it:
Friday, 5 February 2010
Thursday, 4 February 2010
More Random Stuff
Okay, so after my last blog I decided to investigate the iPod dock remote more thoroughly. It turns out I was wrong about not being able to flip through songs. So I heartily apologize for my whiny ruminations. It IS the most awesome iPod dock and I LOVE it.
Patrick wanted me to blog about the water bill. To me, this is typical English stuff, but it annoyed him enough that I will include it in this random post. When we get bills to pay our household utilities, usually they give us about THREE days to pay the bill. Unlike in America where you get like three weeks. This isn't a problem for some of our bills which are debited out of our sterling pound account. But the water bill came last week. On Thursday. And it was due on Tuesday. So, no time to write a check. It might not make it in time. (Mind you, we only get a water bill once every six months, so it's a doozy.) I went on-line to try and pay the bill via credit or debit card. No such luck as we don't have a chip and pin (have I blogged about the chip and pin before? I think I have), and they do not accept credit card payments. So, our only option was to pay cash at the post office. Yes, you can go to the post office and pay cash to pay your water bill. Okay, let's do that. They don't take checks - sorry, cheques - at the post office. So on Monday, Patrick went to the ATM - sorry, cash machine - and withdrew 300 GBP. He then went to the post office to pay our water bill in cash, at which point he was informed there was was a 2.50 GBP fee to pay our water bill. In cash. At the post office. Oh England, how we love thee.
Hmmm. What else. Things that are funny to me that I haven't mentioned (I don't think) before.
1. The recycling bins you set out in front of your house every week have lids. I think this is for two reasons. One, because the English are tidy. And two, because then nobody can see how much wine you've had to drink that week.
2. Very polite English people, when they come into your home, will never just sit down. They must be invited to sit.
3. Broth - as in soup - is not what we consider broth. When you see a can of soup in the grocery store that says "Broth," it is a soup full of chunky things like meat and vegetables. I don't know why. This was a huge struggle until I learned to make my own.
4. I miss Mexican food. I've learned to make some killer enchiladas since we moved here. But I miss Mexican food, nonetheless.
5. When we talk about moving back to America, Aidan doesn't have a clue. He has lived here longer than he lived in America, and he doesn't remember our house at all. That will be weird when we go back.
I guess that's all my random stuff for now. I am currently compiling a "Things I LOVE and Things I Don't" about England to post closer to our return date. There is a lot I will miss. Especially my sister and her fam. But we're not even thinking about that, yet. Instead, we're focusing on our trip together to Spain next week! More to come.
Patrick wanted me to blog about the water bill. To me, this is typical English stuff, but it annoyed him enough that I will include it in this random post. When we get bills to pay our household utilities, usually they give us about THREE days to pay the bill. Unlike in America where you get like three weeks. This isn't a problem for some of our bills which are debited out of our sterling pound account. But the water bill came last week. On Thursday. And it was due on Tuesday. So, no time to write a check. It might not make it in time. (Mind you, we only get a water bill once every six months, so it's a doozy.) I went on-line to try and pay the bill via credit or debit card. No such luck as we don't have a chip and pin (have I blogged about the chip and pin before? I think I have), and they do not accept credit card payments. So, our only option was to pay cash at the post office. Yes, you can go to the post office and pay cash to pay your water bill. Okay, let's do that. They don't take checks - sorry, cheques - at the post office. So on Monday, Patrick went to the ATM - sorry, cash machine - and withdrew 300 GBP. He then went to the post office to pay our water bill in cash, at which point he was informed there was was a 2.50 GBP fee to pay our water bill. In cash. At the post office. Oh England, how we love thee.
Hmmm. What else. Things that are funny to me that I haven't mentioned (I don't think) before.
1. The recycling bins you set out in front of your house every week have lids. I think this is for two reasons. One, because the English are tidy. And two, because then nobody can see how much wine you've had to drink that week.
2. Very polite English people, when they come into your home, will never just sit down. They must be invited to sit.
3. Broth - as in soup - is not what we consider broth. When you see a can of soup in the grocery store that says "Broth," it is a soup full of chunky things like meat and vegetables. I don't know why. This was a huge struggle until I learned to make my own.
4. I miss Mexican food. I've learned to make some killer enchiladas since we moved here. But I miss Mexican food, nonetheless.
5. When we talk about moving back to America, Aidan doesn't have a clue. He has lived here longer than he lived in America, and he doesn't remember our house at all. That will be weird when we go back.
I guess that's all my random stuff for now. I am currently compiling a "Things I LOVE and Things I Don't" about England to post closer to our return date. There is a lot I will miss. Especially my sister and her fam. But we're not even thinking about that, yet. Instead, we're focusing on our trip together to Spain next week! More to come.
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