British-ism and Other Things

Walking on the sidewalks here is like how they played Chicken with Tractors in the movie "Footloose". There is no stand to right or left, it's just pick your line and take down anyone in it unless they move out of the way. This wouldn't be a bad thing except that one person coming toward you is to your left then the very next person is to your right. It makes it hard sometimes to walk anywhere without getting seriously agitated.

There are some very annoying, sometimes even unbelievable, practices here in the UK. Some things are annoying because, generally, we Americans are too impatient. But some of it makes you just want to scream "Are you kidding me??".

Some examples:

• Go to a Burrito place (i.e. Moe's) where you watch them add items down the line. You ask for everything you want but then decide you want sour cream. You ask them to add sour cream after they have folded over the tortilla one time... but they have not rolled it up yet... and they say No. You ask what do you mean, no? They say "It's already closed". You say "No, it's just folded over. Can't you just open it up and put a little sour cream?". They say "No, it's closed". Realizing you are not going to win this argument the burrito moves to the next person who opens it to readjust for rolling up as burrito. Now it is truly closed... with No sour cream! There is no such thing as the customer is always right here!!!
• I have heard several people say "You've been UK". I finally asked what that meant. It means when your cell phone has a problem, you take it to the cell phone store. They tell you they can't help you because the phone service is in your husband's name... even though all you are asking is for them to help you figure out why it won't turn on. You call the cell phone company to change the name on the account which you can't do because it's not in your name. Your husband calls the phone company to change the name, they tell him they will TRY to do it... it's been 5 years and the name is still the same. Things like this happen so much, they decided to give it a name.
• My name is still not listed on our checking account. Why you might ask? Because apparently I can't give enough proof that I am who I say I am and live where I say I live... even though Tony already has the account open and he does actually claim me as his wife. We've tried adding me to the utility bills to prove I live here, however, see bullet point above!!! So for now, Tony is my sugar daddy who gives me an allowance every week!
• We had a leaky faucet in our shower. Our landlord had a plumber come over to check it out. He goes into the bathroom and comes out to ask me where the problem is. I tell him the water dripping down when the shower is off is the problem. He asks, what do you mean by drip? Huh!!! Seriously you are a plumber and you are asking me what a drip is?

Overall, I think I have adjusted to life here. I don't feel frustrated as often as I used to. I'm still not a fan of the food but I'm not shrivelling up either.

Isabelle continues to do well in school and enjoys life here. She recently took Irish Dance lessons. She would "practice" a lot and looked like Michael Flatley as she danced down the sidewalk.

Logan just finished up his first "football" (aka soccer) clinic. He apparently has watched some with his Dad because he made a goal and started running around the field switching between pumping fists in the air and trying to take his shirt off. Hilarious!!