You know what they always say…it takes a year to adjust.
Whoever they were, they were pretty right on.
I remember gazing out the window one Sunday afternoon thinking about how this all feels so normal to me.
You know, all this Englishness…the accent, the chimney’s, even the mingin’ coffee and pureed soup. Normal.
I’m home. This is my home.
Well, at least for the time being.
I want to take this time to thank you all for your funny (and reassuring) emails, entertaining comments, and for allowing me to share this experience with you. It's been a great year!
4.10.08
England. I’m finally here.
I don’t know where this adventure is going to take me, but I do hope it brings plenty of joy, creativity, and growth (both personally and professionally). There’s something here for me…I just hope I’m able to see it clearly.
4.12.08
Getting your feet on the ground in a foreign country is an interesting task.
Discovering the local hotspots (in Shipley, I have to say, there’s not many), buying groceries at Asda and not Albertson’s, walking…freaking everywhere, setting up a bank account. Everything is brand new to me. I feel comfortable here, although, not so much when I’m crossing the streets.
4.24.08
Life is magical. The sights, the sounds, the people, the desires that you intend to bring to life and then life bringing it all together for you…somehow.
Just like magic.
4.28.08
I love the boys here.
7.11.08
English boys are weird.
Someone told me that guys will flirt and hint if they fancy you and that usually the girls are the one's that make the first move. Timeout. Who says fancy? I think he may have said that to make me feel better about my lack of European lovin’…
11.15.08
Yeah…I’m going to have to give England a big, fat zero for the day.
11.27.08
Nothing inspires me more than to walk around a new city photographing it.
Looking for beautiful scenery and then waiting for life ∼ movement ∼ to fill it.
I’m so fortunate to be here.
11 comments:
Congratulations, my dear. You've done great... and just think, I've seen you TWICE in that year. How lucky am I??
Who knows what the next year will have in store for you?? :)
Congrats!!!! Your stories are so inspiring and I enjoy reading them everyday...I don't like that you take breaks on weekends and Wednesdays from your blog ;(
ha!
Happy Anniversary, Mary Beth!
I always find these kind of days important, when you hit a particular point in the road and can see both the miles behind and the miles ahead with an equal kind of clarity.
You'll always be from the ole USA, but you might have to start referring to yourself as a "Shipleyan (Shipleian? Shipler?)" now!
Good job for being so positive; I think my one year in England anniversary was about my lowest point. Until now (2.5 years). It's still a bit of a roller-coaster on my end; you seem much more "up"--tell me how you do it!
WOW! It's been a whole year?!
So are you denouncing your American citizenship now?
ha. i prefer 'shipley-ite'...and boy, don't you know i'm a texan, yo! ;)
ellie, get on over here girl. you're angie's replacement come december.
Girl! I can't believe it's been a whole year! I love that I get to keep up with your antics through the bloggie, so thank YOU for that. I miss you though and hope I get a chance to see you soon. p.s. I knew you'd come to love it over there. Simply because you can make friends anywhere and people will always love you no matter where you are. Sniff.
amanda, i love you.
Oh, yes, TEXAS, of course, I should have remembered that. My mother is from Texas. I usually tell people I'm *half* Texan. (Maybe that further explains both our mothers' similar approaches to parenting?)
So, maybe it's "Shiplexan"? A "Texpleyite"?
(Yeah, I think i'm done here. Walking away, walking away...) ;)
gti it's me, not you. (one of my favorite lines)
sorry for throwing out the texas pride. where does that come from anyway? i was born in ohio.
Congrats on surviving your 1st year! I'm sure it feels wonderful to finally feel at home. Best of luck in year 2!
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