Happy 4th July

It seems apt that my final blog post here in the USA on this blog happens on the eve of 4th July. You know, the day before the day back in history when the Brits got walloped and booted out of America 😉 .  Rather fitting, don’t you think?!

We are getting booted out, in a manner of speaking. Our visas run out and we’ll be back to the UK in seven weeks. And that is that.

So I will don my UK Desperate Housewife USA outfit for final time for my last 4th of July parade. Cowboy hat, Daisy Dukes, cowboy boots. And the T-shirt, cos I do love ya USA.

My ‘Exit Interview’

And thus the journey ends. I just had to write something to end it all on a high and so I wrote my ‘Farewell to the USA’ post for Global Living Magazine and here it is in all its glory. I’m rather chuffed to bits with it, as we Brits say.

My editor, Alison, had this to say about my three year stint: ”If you’ve kept up with Claire’s writings, you’ll know she’s hardly a wallflower and, during her time living in Columbia, Maryland as an expat, she has boldly put two feet, a bright smile (and her trademark peace sign) into nearly every corner of her community…’ I thank Alison for allowing me to unload my stream of consciousness on a global audience.

And so I am now in the land of to do lists, packing, and checking the British weather with an odd intensity.

Three years ago…..

I wrote this:

‘I’m your UK Desperate Housewife in the USA and this is my blog. It’s all about me, how I feel about moving to and living in the USA, and what life is like out here.

It’s a little bit adventure, little bit stream of consciousness, little bit Bill Bryson.

I’m an ‘expat’ who is pretty much seizing every opportunity I can in this strange and wonderful country (whilst also being a mother, wife and rather rubbish housewife.)

I’ll be debunking myths and probably confirming some cliches that we Brits have about America and Americans. After all, what we know, or think we know, is generally from movies and TV series….. Throughout the blog I’ll share the things that amuse, confuse and bemuse me – and lots of stuff does!

‘

Three years later….

I write this:

July 2015 – And so, my expat journey in the USA draws to a close. I will be signing off on this blog from July 2015 – Chapter 630 is my last. (Not bad, hey?! And Chapter 629 was my highest ranking blog EVER! How folks love a bit of British piss-taking – actually, the Americans not so much, but such is life! 😉 )

Writing and promoting my blog been a joy and a burden, but it’s also been a dream fulfilled to sit and write practically every day and with such passion for something. Thank you muchly to all you readers, supporters, sharers of my posts, those who have written guest posts, and those who have invited me to write guest posts for them. It’s all this and interactions with these folk that I will miss greatly. I shall look back on these expat and blogging communities and my time as part of them with great fondness and affection. You’re all #awesomeballs and #brillopads (had to get those in one last time!).

Barnes and Noble Discovery Friday

My expat life 🙂

Don’t worry, I will find my other leg and put some shoes on before I run! 🙂

One of my very fun, positive experiences as an expat 🙂

This is me practicing my ‘who has been murdered and where is the murderer and where is the muder weapon’ look 😉

Keeping it real, Desperate English Housewife stylie 😉

Halloween!

Life on the streets

Look, I even signed it!

Hee, hee: lifestyle expert

Such fun, as always!

Life in the USA

Happy to be in NYC!

Harry is British at heart

In the press room – yeehah!

Cos everyone drinks wine in the bath in California!

Anyone for cricket?!

That’s me!

Thanks for the memories, Uncle Sam!

Keep on following my adventures back in the UK

My new blog is From America to England and it charts my bittersweet return to the UK. Please sign up to follow it!

Rest assured, I will be sharing all sorts of tales from the Green and Pleasant Land. I’m not sure the transition is going to an easy one, and no doubt my life will seem topsy-turvy for a while, but I feel that my new-found passion for adventure stands me in good stead to bring on another rich and vibrant experience with new and fervent eyes (I bloody well hope so!). No cynicism from this Brit!

I’ll see y’all at the other blog! Cheers chaps!

x

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