July 4, 2010
GOODBYE to ENGLAND that I truly love. Well we don't have an official date yet but it looks to be around August 12.
It's funny, I look back at how I felt like a fish out of water when I first came over here- everything was so difficult. But now the things from the US that I felt I couldn't live without... I can't even remember them! I remember landing and being so fearful of driving, shopping and doing things wrong but now it seems so natural so NORMAL. So comfortable. But comfort in life is not stationary and unfortunately it is our time to go back to the USA.
Every time I think of leaving I get that quivering sadness and I know I am close to erupting in uncontrollable tears. We have had SUCH a good experience over here in England... and in Europe... and even in the Middle East!
But set aside all of the wonderful destinations and cool travel experiences on the doorstep of the U.K., there are many simple things about the country that I will miss.
I will miss....
- The weather. I love not being miserably hot like it gets in the Midwest. I also love not being frostbite-cold in the winter! The humidity here has been wonderful for my sinuses! And our time over here has enabled me to discover a solution for my allergies (that I didn't know I had!) So, even though I definitely react to molds both in the US and here in the UK- I now can be symptom free both places with Singulair! Hoorah!
- The School Uniforms- I even think that the kids will miss them too!
- The Quaint Villages- The charming villages, stone houses, thatched roofs, and footpaths through the countryside. I feel like I'm living in a Tolkien novel of middle-earth (my all time favorite book!)
- And the Village Names- I love their village names. US names like Detroit, Clinton, Champaign, Monticello etc... just don't have the surprise and charm that Witham-on-the-hill, Biggleswade, Stratford-on-Avon or make you laugh like (and these are true village names!) Bishops Itchington, Blubberhouses, Bummers Hill, Burpham, Buttocks Booth, Fattahead, Fingringhoe, Great Snoring, Horsey Windpump, Lickey End, Nether Wallop, Piddlehinton, Plucks Gutter, Slaggyford, Tumby Woodside and Wookey Hole. I will miss driving along and being surprised by the name of the next town or even be challenged to pronounce it!
- Named Houses- I also love the quaintness of having a home with a name. Paddock View. I will miss that. I also will miss our charming castle of a home. We have been so spoiled here having a gorgeous house with a massive stone entryhall, a library and a 3rd floor (with a view) entertainment area.
- No barging and cutting in lines- The british people are usually so proper and predictable. Waiting in lines (or queues) is something they are very familiar with. But line jumping isn't something that they do often. I will miss that when I start being pushed around in America.
- Hedges and tended gardens- This entire country seems to be manicured. Even along country roads you will find flowers and trimmed hedges. In their back gardens fences and proper shrubs... everything just so. That makes everywhere you go seem like a walk in a park, or a drive down a gardeners lane... I will miss that.
- Baby sheep and horses- In the spring time the baby sheep arrive. They are so absolutely adorable! It is fun to drive through the countryside and watch the frollicking young sheep. I will miss that. I also will miss hearing the clop of horses walking past the gate to our house.
- The manor homes and castles- There are so many ancient palaces and castles full of history and heritage. Families trace their royalty for ages into the past! And many of the manor homes have opened portions of their grand estates to the public (for a fee). When a sunny weekend comes around in spring or summer I will miss visiting and enjoying a corner of grandeur in another of the many estates in the UK. Even the gardens trimmed like a kings palace- it is so pleasant to walk through... I will really miss having Burghley House and Grimsthorpe Castle nearby.
- The local grocery store- I will miss being greeted by cash registers at Sainsbury and their familiar "Hi-ya". I also will miss the Sainsbury workers who when you ask a question of where something is- that they will personally walk you across the store and make sure you are satisfied by their answer before leaving you "is there anything else that I can help you with?".
- Our Church- I will miss the church family at Bourne Baptist. They have found a new pastor now. And we are thrilled for them, but it is a new chapter for us. We first met them after they freshly lost their long time and well loved pastor died suddenly. We saw first hand their grief and struggles... but we have really enjoyed their sincerity of faith and care for the community. We will really miss their true faith that is lived in everything they do. We will miss them... a lot.
- Grapevine- I so wanted to be able to attend this years Grapevine in Lincoln. What a time of worship and learning! I wish...
- ISE friends- We all will really miss our friends in the ISE community. What a wonderful group of individuals! Each person is unique and has left a special stamp on our hearts and lives... and truly they all contribute to the good in the world. I have been privileged to have participated in so many creative activities with an amazing group of women. Thank you for being my friend and showing care and being so welcoming to both myself and my family.
- Broadband internet and unlimited free calls to the US- How is it possible that our phone bills are less here in the UK (and all our calls back to the US) than they were when we lived in Illinois. That is crazy! We also had never experienced anything other than dial-up internet connection- what a technological blessing! We will never be the same.
- Satellite / Cable TV- Okay, before we moved to the UK we were in the stone age of farmland living. We only had intermittent aerial reception of broadcast television... no Cartoon Network, no History channel, no Discovery channels, no Top Gear, no Fox News. I think my brain will shrivel to a raisin if I can't have Fox News... perhaps it isn't a luxury anymore...it's a necessity.
- Royal Mail- Their service is so inexpensive and FAST! I love internet ordering and often getting things the next day!
- London Theatre- Being able to catch a train to London to see a musical was such a treat! In one hour we could be in the heart of London. Ahh, such convenience to such an international city. I will definitely miss that...
- Living in a place where people want to come and visit- Somehow central Illinois doesn't have the draw that England has. It has been a treat to be able to host in such an unforgettable location.
- Cheap airlines- We have really enjoyed travel over here in Europe. Most of it would not have been financially possible if it hadn't been for the amazingly low airfares of Ryan Air and Easyjet. Flights for under $30 each- it just isn't happening in the US! I will also miss the quirky bugle celebration toot when they land on time. So corny it's funny!
BUT what I absolutely will NOT miss is...
- Toilets that don't flush...
- and that are impossible to clean (who designed such things?)
- Sinks with two faucets- either burn your hands or freeze them!
- Loyalty to "rules" rather than trying to solve the problem. (Solution: try to call back again and again until you get a different answer)
- Carpets that don't have padding.
- London traffic
- Wall paint that easily rubs off (why isn't there any satin or semi-gloss?).
- Having to weave around parked cars in the middle of the road on a curve. There is a curve in Thurlby that I drive daily that is always scary to drive!
- My Mercedes van that has been a money pit.
- Having to pay for parking everywhere you go.
- The automated phone calls wanting us to refinance our debt or install a new kitchen. (okay that happens in the US too...)
- Volcanoes that make travel a bit unpredictable.
- The sun setting at 4pm in the winter months.
This list is MUCH shorter than my "I will miss" list. But I suppose even though I am sad- I must look forward to something...
Big parking spaces and drive thru anythings. Yes, I can look forward to that. I also look forward to reuniting with good friends back home...
To my good friends that I am leaving behind... I will miss you all enormously! I will miss our interesting bible studies- the diversity of backgrounds have made for such interesting conversations! It has left me many things to ponder for long periods of time... Thank you! I will also sincerely miss the book club. Okay, not all books have been my cup of tea... but there were quite a few surprises!
Good memories.
Thank you dear friends.
