I can't believe it's already February! We've been here for about a month now, so I thought I'd do an update on how I'm dealing after my first month as an expat.
Where else would we start but with... THE WEATHER. I've lived "up North," so I know a little about cold weather. The weather here has been decent this month. Mostly blue skies, there has been a little mist and fog. It has turned very cold recently, but shivers-cold, not crunchy-nostrils-cold (if you've lived "up North" then you get this). I understand that it's been an unseasonably mild January and snow is in the forecast. But, so far, so good.
Next... the food. The food hasn't been too big of an issue. As I'm currently living in an English household, we do have potatoes every day. But, you'll never hear me complain about that. The eating out options are varied. I do miss the comfort of going to a chain restaurant and knowing exactly what's on the menu. Each time we go out I have to spend 20 minutes actually reading the menu.
I can feel myself getting closer to Phase 2 as I'm starting to really miss certain things. I've managed to come up with a short list, just a few things off the top of my head.
- My daughter. This a constant ache that I can't really write about. I'm sure most of you know the feeling of not being able to touch someone that you desperately long to touch. Thank God for FaceTime!!!
- My wonderful, crazy family. I miss being with people that really know me, get me and love me anyway.
- My friends. I desperately need a girls night out complete with wine, gossiping, bitching, wine, trying on shoes, wine and laughter.
- Wendy's Apple Pecan Chicken Salad. I had this for lunch every day for two years and I'm suffering from withdrawal.
- Iced Tea. I think my in-laws would disown me if I made iced tea in their kitchen.
- Accounting. Yes, that makes me a geek, but I really, really miss my job!! I've even stopped dreaming in debits and credits! I have got to get back to work... soon!
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. There are lots of chocolate options here, but milk chocolate tastes funny. Not quite sure why.
- Kitty purrs and doggie kisses. I've tried snuggling with my stuffed hippo, but it's just not the same.
- Wearing flip-flops
- My garden tub
- Tex-Mex with proper chips & salsa
- A decent Cosmo. I don't really like beer and while G&T's are wonderful... I miss a good Cosmo. I will have to add a Cosmo Quest to the Queso Quest.
- American TV. I've missed the new Bachelor. Pout! And I'm missing the new Glee episodes!! I think it's on here somewhere, but I haven't found it yet.
- My car. I miss driving. Public transport is great, but I can't handle not driving. I'm going to go ahead and take some lessons. Locals, beware.
- Cooking. No snickering, I'm serious. I miss having a kitchen and cooking.
- Proper Mani & Pedi. I went to a salon and it was a'ight, but the fill didn't involve any power tools, which is just wrong. And the pedi involved me putting my feet in a English girls lap, which was even more wrong. I need to find someplace with power tools and massage chairs. Another quest!
I also miss feeling comfortable in my own skin. We are staying in the home Matt grew up in. His parents have been wonderful! But, I am certainly odd man out. At moments it feels like I'm "American" before anything else. Everything I say and do is filtered through a British worldview and an inordinate amount of our family conversations involve what I've got all wrong. However, I don't care if you call tinfoil "ah-loo-MIN-yoo-um", I will continue to say "ah-LOO-min-um!" And, by the way, that does not make me wrong (stomping foot).
Lastly, I miss having my own space. We've been living out of suitcases for a month now and as you can tell from the pouting and foot stomping, it's starting to wear on my charming, cheerful, Texas personality, ya'll. And quite honestly, some days I would be very happy with my old, cozy comfort zone. But, time to "quit the whinging." Hopefully, things will be more settled by my 2-month well baby expat check up.
Now, where's my princess bandaid and lollipop!
