the move to england...

There are a few things I would’ve liked to know about the British people, or should I say needed to know, before moving to the UK. For starters, everything is smaller, much, much smaller. As an American, never having been out of the country, I was under the assumption that most people live the way we live, sans third world countries. Yes, I now know, I am ignorant. The cars, the houses, the refrigerators, the roads, EVERYthing is so… tiny.

Secondly, there is no regard for personal space here. Maybe, this is an indirect result of the former statement. Or maybe the former is a result of the latter. Who knows?! I do know that when I am in the grocery store and I am looking at say, the tomatoes, I always expect people to wait their turn to make their pick. Nope, not here. They will stand directly in front of me and spend the next half hour picking out that one perfect tomato. I have a certain theory that either they somehow know I’m an American and they just do it to tick me off or I am somewhat invisible. In any case, it is annoying and it will probably take me more time to get used to this than anything else.

Last, but the greatest thing of all, the food seems fresher. I’m not sure if this is true but the vegetables taste better. The chicken tastes better. I may be a complete idiot but I love how everything, and I do mean everything, has an expiration date. Unlike the United States, where most things seems to last a reeeeally long time, here in England, things seem to actually go bad quicker. Which in my mind, I have chalked this up to less junk in and on the food.

All in all, this move has been tough, long, and a blessing. It has taught me to live with less. To enjoy things at face value. To walk more. Drive less, and by less, I mean not at all. To spend more time enjoying my family than sitting in front of the computer. And, sigh, I can not believe I am about to say this… but all of those shoes that I just knew I needed? I don’t. I brought 5 pair with me. Okay, okay, six. And I have only worn two.