ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 392

Posted on March 30, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Texas: San Antonio, Gruene and Austin

Before going to the State of Texas, I’m not ashamed to admit that these things sprung to mind:

– Dallas and JR
– Jerry Hall
– Cowboys
– Steak
– Rednecks
– Waco and David Koresh
– More cowboys 😉

Many people I’d spoken to told me Texas was a big state all round. My hope when visiting Texas was to see Texas for myself – not all of it, of course – I was only there for four days, but I wanted to see a city and country mix, and whilst I might not get to visit the young John Ross on Southfork, I was sure I would get a pretty good idea of what Texas had to offer.

Part 1

Flying over Texas as you land at Dallas Airport is pretty spectacular. One minute there are mountains and wilderness and lakes and trees and then, bang, there’s great big tower blocks and it looks all businessy, where the oil-barons-of-the-state unite. And a lot of people have pools in their back gardens, I thought, as I peered down out of the plan window. No wonder, what with the ‘stifling’ summer heat that I had heard about.

Texas landscape

As I went through Dallas airport I couldn’t help but whistle the Dallas theme tune. It probably amused and pissed off several Texans, but who cares! I was in Dallas [airport]! Land of the Ewings! (Yes, I am aware they are not real people, but allow me my fantasy 😉 . )

Me and Larry the Legend

Anyhoo, a brief pit stop in Dallas before heading to San Antonio and straight to the riverwalk. This is my kind of place: eateries and drinkeries on the river in warm sunshine! Sunshine, I cry! How you have eluded me!! In fact we had changed our flights to an earlier time to get to Texas because yet another batch of wretched snow was about to descend upon Maryland. Curse on thee, Mother Nature.

To be honest, I felt that I could have been in an Italian downtown area on the canal – this place was picturesque, historical and charming. There was a real juxtaposition of modern and traditional cultures, art and history, old and new.

To confirm this, Harry danced to a drumming street band outside the Alamo. How cool is that for a six-year-old kid to experience. Amazeballs.

The boy’s got some moves!

And steak. There was a lot of steak. Or brisket. Or steak. Good job I’m not a vegetarian and that young Harry is a devoted carnivore (sorry vegetarian chums!)

As much as there was wealth and ‘tourism’ in abundance, a few blocks past downtown (still not sure exactly how blocks work – American fail!!) there was an entirely more Mexican culture where neighbours and friends sat on each other’s porches, ate homemade Mexican food, where the houses needed repairing, couches sat out on the front yard, and the graffiti adorned the walls of houses and apartments. And this neighbourhood was fascinating. I like heading off the beaten track to see how the real folk live. It makes you understand the reality of things.

The other neighbourhood

The real folk

It reminded me just how close to Mexico we were, and, after stopping in a park where the kids ran about barefoot and enjoyed the last of the evening sunlight, we headed to an authentic Mexican restaurant. This blew all the Mexican food I’d experienced in the States before right out the window. This was real Mexican food – and it was ace!

The best bit was when a two-piece Mexican band came in, adorned with guitars, sombreros, ponchos and gold teeth. When they started playing the manager went and turned up the background music to drown them out. So, for four and a half minutes there were two different types of music blaring out in the restaurant until the Mexican band conceded defeat and made their exit (after passing round the sombreros for cash 😉 ).

The Mariachi!

So, here’s the story of San Antonio in pictures, which tell a thousand words.

By day

The Alamo

San Antonio Riverwalk

Is it…?!

Old and new

Beautiful

Coming up in Part 2 – Gruene, cowboys, music!

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, Blog, Britain, British, cowboys, Culture, Dallas, Ewings, expats, food, Gruene, hocoblogs@@@, Jerry Hall, JR, Larry Hagman, Mariachi band, maryland, Mexican food, Mexico, neighbourhoods, oil barons, rednecks, San Antonio, San Antonio riverwalk, snow, Southfork, steak, sunshine, Texas, The Alamo, Travel, UK, USA, Waco and David Koresh, weather | 5 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 391

Posted on March 30, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Mommy Dearest

My name has changed. There is no longer a ‘u’ in my name, but an ‘o’ instead.

Yes, this does break my British-mummy heart, particularly when I am told he was corrected at school by his peers and teased for writing ‘mummy’ instead of ‘mommy’.

No more ‘u’ in my name 😦

This kind of takes away some of the darling Britishness that makes Harry, but I guess he conforms a little to fit in, and that’s only natural. I still hear the ‘u’ when he talks to me, so there is still the glimmer of that and it makes me smile.

English-speaking lady

A British friend has started helping out in Harry’s school. This has delighted Harry muchly.

He told me this: ‘Molly’s mum came to school today and she speaks ENGLISH’!!’

And very proper English she speaks too!

😉

It’s all about the accent!

Louis Theroux’s America

I’m a big Louis Theroux fan and avidly watched his programmes looking at the Westboro Baptist Church, skinheads and other crazy stuff in America from a few years back on the BBC.

This time he’s back on British telly with ‘Louis Theroux’s LA Stories’ – three new films putting Los Angeles under the microscope. I’m intrigued.

Continuing his diverse exploration of life in America, Louis looks at LA’s problem with neglected and feral dogs; the experiences of patients with life-threatening conditions at the city’s most famous hospital; and examines how California deals with sex offenders after they are released from prison.

Louis in LA

This is what the tall chap with the posh accent says:

“I’ve been living in Los Angeles with my family for the past year or so. It seemed a chance to explore different sides of a single place, by spending longer immersed in stories and going deeper with the subjects. I have a love hate relationship with the city. It embodies the best and worst of America. It combines wealth and glamour with social breakdown and deep neglect. We’ve concentrated on stories that take us into the extremes of life and the extreme parts of one of the world’s great cities.”

I can’t wait to see it, however I might be able to do that without BBC internetwebby access thingmajig, but I will try. These subjects are fascinating and ones that I would love to find out more about. Nice one, Louis – or ‘good job’, as they say here!

Texas!

We just got back from Texas! The next few blog chapters will reveal all my thoughts on the great state, plus pics of cowboys, bands, and all things big and fun! 🙂 And we have some fab guest posts coming up too!

The Rob Gillam Band

Wimberley in Texas

Wimberley ‘Little Bit of Heaven’ 😉

Posted in Travel | Tagged accents, America, American, Americans, bbc, Blog, Britain, British, Britishness, California, Culture, English speaking, expats, hocoblogs@@@, language, lifestyle, Los Angeles, Louis Theroux, mommy, mummy, prison, Texas, Travel, UK, USA, Westboro Baptist Church, Wimberley | 5 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 390

Posted on March 24, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

The Wall at the Mall

When the shooting happened at Columbia Mall in January the news went international. Friends and family in the UK were very aware of it through news coverage in the UK, as it happened and for a few days after.

There is a healing and recovery process taking place in Columbia and Howard County, and if you live here you can visit the Mall and see all the amazing messages for yourself, that people have posted at the location where Brianna and Tyler lost their lives. And you can add your own.

Sometimes when I write this blog about things that have happened I have a generic audience in mind and sometimes I have a specific audience in mind.

So, with a specific audience in mind, I want to explain to other folk who have followed this story, but don’t live in Columbia, what it feels like in the Mall.

To be honest, it feels kind of normal in 90% of it. This is good. Life goes on as it must. And then you get to the second floor above the food court and it kind of hits you. And you can’t quite believe it happened. It’s really quite emotional.

I feel part of my blogging job is to share events and how they feel – and this feels sad and confusing still. I’ve heard some people who live in Baltimore comment about the shootings that happen there “all the time” and that statement is a) horrifying because that presents a sense of complacency about gun crime, and, b) is misleading since the shootings are generally gang related or targeted to specific areas (most of the time).

‘Why is Columbia so special?’ someone else asked. ‘Get over it.’ Well, my first response is to say that shootings are distressing wherever they take place. This kind of thing just is very, very unusual for Columbia. Columbia is well thought of as being very safe and I can confirm that I really do feel very, very safe here.

So this event did shock the community and I think it’s only right to allow people to express their grief and confusion and sadness about this happening to two young kids in the Mall on an ordinary Saturday. Because when something as horrific as this happens, it makes the ordinary extraordinary, and that’s not always easy to deal with.

The expressions and sentiments on the Wall at the Mall today really got me.

I spoke to Harry about it and he wanted to write something.

This is the Wall at the Mall.

The Wall at the Mall for Brianna and Tyler

🙂

Gawd love ‘im.

When I look back on my USA experience, there will be many, many amazing things to remember, but I think living here and this taking place in the community will be something very significant that I will always reflect on.

Cowboys boots packed…

Why? Because I’m only going to flippin’ Texas, that’s why!

I’m ready Texas!

Yeehah!

San Antonio and Austin, I hear you are a-callin’ me!

And the Daisy Dukes are ready, have no fear!

Bring it on! 😉

#hocoblogs #hocomd #hocoevents

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, Austin, Baltimore, Blog, Brianna Benlolo, Britain, British, Columbia, Columbia Mall, Columbia Mall shooting, Culture, Daisy Dukes, grief, gun crime, hocoblogs@@@, Howard County, lifestyle, San Antonio, Shootings, Texas, The Wall at the Mall, Tyler Johnson, USA | 3 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 389

Posted on March 23, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Life in La-La Land

In the summer I am heading out to LA, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I am fascinated by the place, its celebrity culture, weather, lifestyle and differences from where I live. Owing to the fact that it is on the West Coast, I anticipate it being very different from the East Coast. 😉

Doing my research, I stumbled upon Gwen’s blog – she’s an Aussie expat who lives in LA and has embraced it fully. I love reading her blog about all the shenanigans there. It’s much better than reading trashy celeb mags! So here, for your enjoyment, is Gwen’s utterly fascinating Q&A about living in LA – 90210 don’t ya know!!!!

Hanging in the hills!

Gwen John
Bit about you: It’s hard to talk about myself with giving me a label. With that said, I’m married with two kids (a boy and a girl). I was an expat kid dividing my childhood between Australia (Melbourne) and the Philippines. My husband and I moved from Melbourne to Sydney and that’s where we thought we’d stay. We lived in Shanghai, China for a couple of years and now call LA home. I set up my blog (www.itstartedinla.com) as a means of keeping track of the surreal world we found ourselves in and establishing myself so I can fulfil my dream of publishing a book (I wrote a book when we lived in Shanghai but it’s as yet unpublished). If people like what they see I’d love them to sign up or like me on Facebook or follow me on Instagram.
Age: Thirty plus (a number years, possibly adding another 10 plus)
Occupation: Blogger for It Started in LA (previously a Marketing/PR Chick)
Time in the USA: Arrived in LA on August 14, 2013 which means we’ve been here around 7.5 months (not that we’re counting!).
Reason you came to the USA: My husband got offered a job in Hollywood, you can’t pass up that opportunity – not when every other man and his dog busts his gut to get here.

I. AM. NOT. JEALOUS….
That’s only a flippin’ pool in Beverly Hills!!!

1. When you arrived as an Aussie expat, what were your initial impressions of the USA? Has it changed much since you’ve been here?

I first visited LA some 20 years ago. We did the usual tourist attractions — Rodeo Drive, Disneyland, Universal Studios and caught a taping of then-popular sitcom Growing Pains (where we actually met a fresh young Leonardo DiCaprio!). When we were on the plane outward-bound I looked and my then-boyfriend now-husband and said, “Been There Done That Never Coming Back”. Never say never huh?

When I arrived next as an expat my immediate impression was that LA wasn’t so bad and it was actually not as old and rundown as I first thought. I have now learnt to appreciate there is another side to LA. And I love it.

It Started in LA. It always does…. 😉

2. You live in LA! Tell us all about it – the best bits and worst bits!

I know! It’s like a dream come true (even though technically it wasn’t my dream). I love driving around, going to restaurants, shopping and hanging out and what seems to be a 24-hour movie/TV set. It took me ages to see paparazzi and anyone famous but now I do quite often. I still get a buzz about sitting in a restaurant and looking over to see Joan Collins and Bette Midler for example (two separate incidents but both real-life events). Because my kids go to a private school with famous actors I also get a buzz out of sitting in a parent/teacher briefing with highly recognisable A-listers!

The only bad bit about LA living would have to be the threat of earthquakes—especially “the big one”. Two weeks ago LA had its first “big” earthquake for many years. One jolt is fine but when this one didn’t stop it completed freaked me out and scared the crap out of me (can you say crap???). It was only about 10-20 seconds but because the epicentre was so close it was enough to lose a couple of framed-pics off my bookshelf and a (small) vase from my mantelpiece. We didn’t even think about earthquakes when we decided to accept the offer to move here.

Paps waiting outside my favourite celeb-filled restaurant (I keep the venue a secret because it’s managed to stay off the places to go to celeb-spot list and we intend to keep it that way!)

3. What things really highlight the differences between the Aussie and the USA cultures?

In terms of landing in America landing in California is as close as you are going to get to Australia. We’re both laid back and we share the outdoors/beach culture. The main difference I find (day-to-day) is the lack of swearing and the lack of drinking culture. I miss both very much.

4. We Brits and you Aussies often bond over rugby and cricket and senses of humour. Do you feel an affinity with the British expats in the USA?

Absolutely. One of my friends I first met is English. There are actually many English people at our school too and we are immediately drawn to one another (primarily because we “get” each other). We have a famous English rockstar in our school and even though we come from two different worlds having (English) sport in common brings our two worlds together.

It’s sooo good to crack a joke and have someone get it—I’m pretty sure many Americans don’t get me! (Thankfully I’ve met a few that do get me and they love our sense of humour or I don’t think I’d survive).

5. Complete this sentence: LA is……
…completely surreal.

6. What’s your favourite Aussie saying that you keep uttering? And which Americanisms have you adopted?

“Cheers”! It means so many things but Americans often laugh when I say it. It’s second nature to me so I don’t even think about it.

I notice I’ve been using the word “switch” more often (noticeably so). We’d usually say “swap”. I don’t know why I chose to use the “American” word. I usually try to make a point of using the Australian world—mainly to get a rise—like thongs instead of flip-flops. Works every time.

7. Tell me a bit about your work and what you do.

I’m a full-time mum (mom) and was very bored. I did the very LA thing and had a few projects I was working on. I quickly realised that none of those projects would get off the ground until I had a track record so I set up my blog— It Started in LA. This keeps me sane, helps me talk about the many stories I have to share and gives me a reason to go out that’s not shopping and spending money. I’m loving it.

Yes, the Golden Globes red carpet. Oh, Gwen, take ME next time!!!!

8. Tell me 3-5 things you would take back to the Australia from the USA.

1. Valet Parking — once you have it it’s hard to go back
2. Speed limit — there’s a speed limit here but there’s also a law that says you must travel with the traffic so if everyone is driving at 85mph (nearly 140km/hr) then you can!
3. Help — gardeners, housekeepers and people to put your Christmas lights up are freely available here and are relatively inexpensive. It’s cheaper to be on the dole at home then to work so people just don’t. That said I priced a housekeeper and I think to get one in Beverly Hills is more expensive than other areas.
4. Lower sales tax on luxury cars — it would be nice to go home to car prices being the same as they are here.
5. Fireplaces and fire pits — in our locality in Sydney unless they are historic indoor fireplaces are not allowed to be built into new houses. Such a shame.

Fab shop on Melrose Avenue. I want to go shopping!!

9. And 3-5 things you think the USA should have/implement from Oz.

1. The school system — I love our attitude to producing all-rounded children by providing academic, spiritual (in whatever form that takes) and sporting opportunities. Here it feels heavily skewed to the academic and getting into College and I fear my kids are missing out on the “fun” part of school.
2. Gun policy — I’m sorry (and I really don’t want to offend my host country) but I just don’t get the right to bear arms. Statistics show the right to bear arms increases the death rate. End of story.
3. Healthcare — it’s so expensive here and a little out of control. It’s hard for me to have a real opinion on this though because I’m still trying to understand it.
4. More Asian-inspired restaurants — we’re so lucky in Australia to be so close to Asia so have a huge Asian influence in our food. That’s not to mention we have so many excellent Indian, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese and Chinese food. I miss Malaysian food the most because it’s the hardest to get here in Beverly Hills/West Hollywood/Hollywood even though it’s the mecca of amazing restaurants.
5. Attitude to drinking (and swearing) — I’m not quite sure why Americans are so scared to drink too much (or swear). For me any social occasion warrants a wine/cocktail/Champagne/beer … get the picture?
6. Parks. Not for purpose, just because. When the kids were home for too long going stir crazy I’d send them down to the local park. They could kick a footy or just muck around. There’s nowhere around here they can just go to just to muck around.

Gwen’s family at Universal

10. P.S.
I did not want to move to America. It’s probably the one place in the world (bar none) I didn’t want to live. I’m happy here and feel that living here has made me appreciate Americans now that I know them better. They’re lovely, well-meaning and friendly people with a good heart. I think we get the wrong impression of them through the news (shootings and suing people basically) when it’s really not like that. Now if I can just get them drinking and swearing …

Thanks Gwen, I loved it! And I’m looking forward to swearing and drinking with you in LA in the summer (and maybe hitting one of those celeb restaurants…?! 😉 ).

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, Asian food, Australian expat, Bette Midler, Beverly Hills, Blog, booze, British, British rock stars, California, celebrities, Cheers, Culture, Disneyland, driving, east coast, expat, expats, food, Golden Globes, Growing Pains, gun culture, guns, Gwen John, hocoblogs@@@, Hollywood, It Started in LA, Joan Collins, LA, LA earthquake, La-La land, Leonardo di Caprio, lifestyle, Los Angeles, marketing and PR, Melrose Avenue, Oz, paparazzi, right to bear arms, Rodeo Drive, schools, sense of humour, speed limit, swearing, Sydney, Travel, Universal Studios, USA, valet parking, weather, West Coast | 2 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 388

Posted on March 22, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

America-ca-ca

I feel the need to clarify why I call America ‘America-ca-ca’, and it’s not because I think it’s crap or dirty.

You see, Urban Dictionary states that ‘ca-ca’ is a term meaning ‘fecal matter’ used by Hispanics to deter their kids from touching something: ‘Juan, don’t touch that candy that fell on the floor, its caca!’.

The reason I use ‘ca-ca’ is because of the crazy British comedy programme Shooting Stars, where Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer used the catchphrase ‘Ulrika-kakakakakaka’ when referring to Ulrika Jonsson, the Swedish totty who was a member of the panel.

It’s just one of those things that sticks in yer ‘ead.

Just so you know – I’m not being offensive!

Growlers 😉

Yes, I am well aware that a ‘growler’ is a glass or ceramic jug used to transport draft beer.

However, I can’t help but chuckle when I see the word.

As per last night 😉

Come and get it boys!

The President and the Barbie

If this story has not yet been written, I expect it will be soon.

Harry’s class was given a talk about the President of the USA and all that jazz. Then they had to draw a picture about what the President does.

I wonder if they will fall in love….

According to Harry, the President of the USA can do pretty much whatever he likes. That includes loving Barbies.

Yes, that is intentionally Barbies, and not babies. 😉

Get the Kid a Ruby Murry!

You can call Social Services if you like, cos this British mother is guilty of child neglect.

How do I know Harry, age 6, is a little Brit with much American influence in his life? (FYI, that influence is made up Famous Dave’s; The Cheesecake Factory; steakhouses and other such American stuff!).

I know because of this sentence:

‘What’s a curry?’

It really is a practically a criminal offence for me, as a British mother, not to have given him a sampler. Safe to say, this disaster was rectified this weekend, and he is well and truly a lover of (v spicy) curry.

Thumbs up for a a spicy masala!

It’s a bone of contention by Brits in Howard County that it’s hard to find a decent curry (“like the ones back home”). We do like our curries (well, most of us) – they are now part of our culture – and many a Friday night was a spent having a few beers/wine and then a curry. Honestly, I don’t miss them at all. Though if I was offered one I might just partake… 😉

March Madness

Oh, what are my American friends on about I wonder sometimes? ‘Dukey!’ ‘Mercer!’ ‘March Madness!’ they cry.

I am lost.

But here is what they are waffling on about in their infectious American excitement…

‘March Madness is a phenomenon that grips the national sports psyche from the second week of March through the first week of April. March Madness is the moniker that is given to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments. These tournaments determine the national champions of college basketball.’

Yes, mad.

Apparently it’s been pretty ‘awesome‘ so far in 2014 already….

Okay, I’m not sold, but I’ll certainly attempt to muster some interest and enthusiasm on my friends’ behalf. 🙂

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, Barbie, basketball, beer, Blog, Bob Mortimer, Britain, British, ca-ca, Cheesecake Factory, college basketball, crap, Culture, curry, Duke, expat, Famous Dave's, food, growler, Hispanic, hocoblogs@@@, Howard County, language, March Madness, Mercer, President of the USA, Ruby Murray, Ruby Murry, Shooting Stars, UK, Ulrika Jonsson, USA, Vic Reeves | 1 Comment

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 387

Posted on March 21, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

America is…

Today I asked a few folks on my Desperate English in Washington Facebook page to complete this sentence: ‘America is….’

These are some of the responses:

‘Beautiful’

‘Bloody wonderful’ (love that an American used the word ‘bloody’!)

‘Incredibly diverse’

‘Big’

‘A close 2nd to the UK’

‘Just for Christmas’

‘Brillopads (most of the time)’

US of A

I’m interested in how Americans view their country, as well as how other folks who live here see it, or to capture thoughts from those who have visited, and even from those who only see it from TV shows and the news. Each experience and mindset is unique and they often differ vastly.

For me: America is….opportunity.

Carpe Diem

Which leads me on to this.

As a visiting expat I am here to make the most of it, and I wish I could travel more around the USA, but that’s not possible every day, week or month, so I absorb and appreciate America and its people and culture through other avenues – working, volunteering, visiting, talking, listening and getting involved.

My American experience is quite different from the experience of other expats, I’m sure, and certainly some of them would not want to undertake some of the commitments I have. But someone (another expat) today challenged me on why I choose to live at the pace I do and why I make the choices I make. I was taken by surprise, but I knew the response straight away. ‘Because it’s not forever,’ I replied. I don’t want to sit at home day in and day out when there is so much on my doorstep.

This (rather beautiful) sentiment is always behind many of my choices as an expat in America-land.

I don’t want to look back and think ‘Oh I wish I had done that…’, nor do I want to say to myself, ‘Oh I’m sure I had a smashing time sitting on my sofa.’

Carpe Diem. Seize the Day. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. The world is your oyster.

Brilliant.

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, Britain, British, carpe diem, Culture, Dead Poet's Society, expat, expats, experience, gather ye rosebuds while ye may, hocoblogs@@@, lifestyle, maryland, opportunity, the world is your oyster, Travel, UK, USA | 6 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 386

Posted on March 19, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Stop press: the English invented baseball

Really?! Well, apparently so, according to that ever-truthful newspaper that is the Daily Mail. To be fair the info came from Visit England and it says thus:

“Historians believe that the American game of baseball actually originated here [England], in the form of rounders. Long before baseball made its way across the pond, records show that some form of the bat-and-ball game was being played in England by the mid-1700s, some 40 years before it was adopted by the States. There is even a reference in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, written in 1778, where her heroine, Catherine Morland, prefers ‘cricket, base-ball, riding on horseback, and running about the country, to books.’”

English or American 😉

So when I go to the Orioles game this summer, I guess I’ll be annoying all the fans with my chirpy British spiel about this. ‘We invented this game, don’t you know,’ I shall say between the whoops and cheers. How annoying that will be! 😉

Diary of an Expat Guest Post

When it was the 800th snow day of the year so far (only a small exaggeration….) I wrote a frivolous piece for another expat blogger. This is said piece. Here are a couple of snippets…

About me: ‘I am a fitness instructor, actress, blogger, nutritionist, writer, tweeter, exceptionally bad housekeeper and baker, nagger, list maker and secret mojito drinker.’ 😉

What was the biggest culture shock when you first moved? How did you learn to deal with it?
‘The biggest culture shock was the relationship between us Brits and Americans. This is how I see it: we are like cousins who think they know each other because they have lots in common, but when you actually meet you realise you’ve actually grown up in a different way and there’s a lot to catch up, learn about each other, challenges to overcome, and compromises to make, but in the end, you can’t deny there is something special between you and you reach an understanding.

I love Fort Lauderdale!

Enjoy!

Cockney voice recongntion

Let it be known that American computers with American voice recognition do not understand the Cockney accent.

My husband spent a good few minutes asking his iPad various things through the voice recognition. The poor computer was very confused. When he asked about the weather, it offered him a driving route to North Carolina.

How I laughed! At least now we know what he sounds like to our American friends who politely say ‘pardon’ quite a lot to him 😉 .

FYI, he just resorted to typing the info in to Google in the end.

Alwight geezer.

American celebrations

Pi Day. Halloween. St Patrick’s Day. Valentine’s Day. 100 days of school. 50 days of wearing socks and sandals. 8 days of watching Breaking Bad.

What do all these things have in common? (Except the last two – I made those up 😉 .)

They are days of celebration that warrant a wrist band, homemade hat, candy, badge or Bayeux Tapestry type memory board. Sigh. I’m being very grumpy and British and cynical, but ENOUGH WITH ALL THE EFFING CELEBRATIONS AND CRAP THAT GOES WITH IT (that I then have to recycle)!!

Oh, go on then, I’ll let you keep them America, because the kids get a kick out of it. But honestly! Every day’s a holiday out here – I’ve almost forgotten what a ‘normal day’ is.

Oh purlease! 😉

No booze in supermarkets

My British friend, quite rightly, gets v pissed off by the no booze in stores/supermarkets Maryland law.

This is how it worked back in the UK:

Pop to the shops with list – get milk, bread, veges, nappies AND add in two large bottles of wine.

Here you have to go to a liquor store and carry it out surreptitiously in a brown bag.

The law won’t change, but, for the record – it’s a right royal pain the arse!

Miss this!

The War of 1812

I was reminded in no uncertain terms about the long-lasting impact the War of 1812 had on the USA.

Thanks for the reminder!

A 10-year-old girl spoke to me when she realised I – a Brit – would be teaching her Zumba class

Girl to me: We had a war with you English in 1812.
Me to girl: Yes, you did.
Girl to me: You left America.
Me to girl: Well, we’re back.

😉

Posted in Travel | Tagged 100 days of school, accents, alcohol, American, Americans, baseball, Blog, Britain, British, British accents, cockney, Culture, cup of tea, English, English inventions, Halloween, hocoblogs@@@, Jane Austen, language, lifestyle, maryland, mojito, Orioles, Pi Day, rounders, supermarkets, UK, USA, Visit England, War of 1812 | 6 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 385

Posted on March 17, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

I am over winter.

Thank you Uncle Sam, you can keep your snowy East Coast winters.

That is all.

Come on Spring!

The BritChick

Meet the ‘BritChick’ (great name!), aka Bex Saunders. She is a very British girl, living in Canada. I like to speak to Brits in Canada to find out what it’s like in comparison to the USA. The two countries are so close and yet I feel they are so at odds with each other at times.

After 30 odd years living in the same town within a 4 mile radius, Bex, her husband and her two kids, India and Jude, upped sticks and moved 4000 miles to Nova Scotia! After a successful career in banking she now runs BritChick Social Media. She is a lover of all things British and social! I like her already! 🙂

Bex is the same age as me (a blossoming 24, of course!) and arrived in Nova Scotia in 2007. She says: ‘The reason we emigrated was we wanted a better place to bring up our kids and to open up their world to bigger opportunities. They are both doing their entire education in French now, so will graduate as bi-lingual and have dual citizenship. Pretty neat I think!”

Yes, very cool indeed, and the reason why many people choose to be expats. The world is full of opportunity!

Bex’s Q&A

1. When you arrived as an expat, what were your initial impressions of Canada? Has it changed much since you’ve been here?
My first impressions were a little bit scary. At first it felt like stepping back in time compared to the UK. And everyone and everything was so laid back. It took a while to get used to the slower pace of life but now it’s just the norm and we love it!

At the stunning Peggy’s Cove on a beautiful spring day.

2. What kind of fun do you have in Canada?
Absolutely tons of ways to have fun here in Nova Scotia. Winter time there’s skiing, ice skating on the many lakes, snow shoeing down the Trans-Canadian trail, snow ball fights, our hot tub!! Oh, and the polar bear dip! Yes I did jump in the ocean on Boxing Day and it was minus 25C. Best ever hangover cure. Trust me.

Summer time, we have a pool (bit bigger than the blow up paddling pool we had in the UK!). There are loads of lakes to swim in, or we swim in the ocean. The beaches here are GORGEOUS! We can drive to so many cool places, last year we drove to Boston and New York, next time maybe Montreal. It’s opened up a whole new world!

I should also mention that there are more bars downtown than you could shake a stick at!! So that’s pretty fun! Especially in the summer with all the patios and down on the boardwalk.

Bex and friend with some pirates in Durty Nellies Irish bar downtown.

3. What things really highlight the differences between our cultures?
To be honest the main thing is the language. It’s probably what gets talked about most when we are with our Canadian friends. There’s a ton of words that are different. Some I should definitely be careful how I use (ha, ha!). I once asked if I could borrow a rubber…yeah not the same thing here!! That and the food. I find the Canadian diet is very different. You couldn’t find lamb when we first moved here. It was a tragedy!

4. How is your life different from at home? What are the challenges and frustrations you encounter?
It’s so much more relaxed here. The work life balance thing is much better and no-one expects everything yesterday like they did in the UK. It was a challenge at first, but once you learn to go with the flow it’s all good. The biggest frustration is living out-of-town a bit, the city is a 30 minute drive. In England you could just call a cab and be in town for a night out dead easy. It’s different here I guess as everything is much more spread out. The house is huge compared to our old one and it’s sat on a massive piece of land covered in trees. One thing Canada isn’t short of is space and trees!

In Toronto

5. Do you actively seek out a British community?
I don’t really actively seek them out but I’m connected to a lot of Brits through Facebook and Twitter I guess. It’s nice to be in contact with them and I love to help newcomers settle. Where I live there aren’t that many locally but there are quite a few in Nova Scotia. I suppose you’re drawn to them, but I love being integrated with the Canadians and most of our friends here are Canadian. It’s great to be experiencing life the Canadian way even though I’m still very British. My little boy has been here since he was 3 so really he’s all Canadian now!

You know I’m British by my red Mini Cooper which has a Union Jack roof and wing mirrors! I love it! He’s my baby. 🙂

Bex’s pride and joy!

6. Have you made many Canadian friends, and, if so, how did those relationships develop and do you notice many differences between you?
I have lots of Canadian friends, yes. It started through school with some, and my neighbours for example, I just went and knocked on their doors to introduce myself. When I got here I literally didn’t know a soul so it seemed like the most obvious thing to do. The Nova Scotians are such warm and friendly people, it really didn’t take long at all to become great friends. They have done so much to help us in many ways. They would go out of their way to help us settle.

I then made more friends through work once I set up my business.

I suppose the only difference is that I’m so very British and they’re so very Canadian. Other than that, friendship is friendship. It’s funny to think sometimes that we don’t have a long history but that’s true of new friends wherever you are in the world.

A Canadian winter’s day.

7. What’s your favourite British saying that you keep uttering? And which Canadian phrases have you adopted?
Hahaha! There are so many but here’s a few:
Gordon Bennett; bloody hell (a lot); would you Adam and Eve it; are you having a giraffe/laugh?; bloody Nora; chuffing, flipping heck, BRILLIANT!……there’s a lot more!

I finally say liquor store instead of off license and cell instead of mobile because people didn’t have a clue what I was talking about! But when I go home and say those things I get ribbed senseless! It will however always be a boot and a bonnet, Home Depot not ‘deeeepot’ and herb not ‘erb!

8. Tell me a bit about your work and what you do.
BritChick Social Media is a social media management and coaching company. I basically either run people’s Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest profiles for them, posting and working them, or I teach them how to do it effectively themselves. I do one on one coaching or I do workshops. I love educating people on the power of social media and how to get the best out of it. I can work with anyone, anywhere in the world. It’s brilliant! Last week I was coaching a chap on Google hangouts in Prague!

9. Tell me 3-5 things you would take back to the UK from the Canada.
– Absobloodylutely the weather! We have four fabulous seasons, all very beautiful in different ways but all distinct. Canadians get so much out of each season. I am, however, ready for this winter to end now! Bring on the spring.
– The large houses
– The laid back fun-loving attitude
– BBQ’ing all year round, even knee-deep in snow!
– The space
– Table service in pubs because I can’t believe I have to go to the bar for a beer when I go home! (Lazy BritChick)

10. And 3-5 things you think Canada should have/implement from the UK.
– More ‘local’ boozers, preferably British ones haha
– Proper sausages
– A local butcher
– All UK TV (I miss that soooooo much).

From a Desperate Housewife to a BritChick – thank you!

Posted in Travel | Tagged accents, America, American, Americans, bleeding Nora, Bradley Cooper mini, Britain, BritChick, British, British sense of humour, Canada, chuffing, Culture, England, English, expat, expats, French, hocoblogs@@@, lifestyle, Nova Scotia, pubs, snow, social media, spring, swimming, Toronto, Travel, UK, Uncle Sam, USA, weather, winter | 2 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 384

Posted on March 17, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

St Patrick’s Day shenanigans in Baltimore

There is a lot of love for the Irish in Baltimore (and across the USA), in fact so much so that it got me to thinking that with all the ‘Irish’ folk celebrating yesterday, today and officially tomorrow, I think the USA could quite easily qualify for an entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Anyway, the sea of green shamrocks and leprechaun hats swarmed the streets of Charm City and we ran a super fun St Paddy’s Day race. Just before the effing snow came again. Sigh.

I do NOT want to see anyone’s pictures of snow-covered decks this time round. I’m begging ya! Enough is enough! (Especially when I know that Spring has sprung and it’s glorious in Blighty!)

Brits in Baltimore

I met up with some charming Brits and some Americans, who are married to Brits, at the weekend. They had come over to Columbia for a meal and we talked about the usual things – what makes us laugh, what annoys us, language differences, things we say that confuse Americans, things our American friends say, where we live, the weather, the quirks, the culture, and all that expat jazz!

During this event I learned a very important thing about Brits. They like their chips (as in ‘fish and chips’) very hot. Not warm, and definitely not cold, but very, very hot.

One such gentleman requested that his chips be ‘hot’ to the waitress. He was very specific. This is what happened when they arrived….

They came back heated up, but sadly they were still not hot enough. 😦 / 😉

Also, fyi, the fish must not be frozen, but I think it probably was!

American style fish and chips 😉

In addition, wherever they are, British men are always going to wonder what the football score is, and lo, one of the many TV screens in the bar we were meeting was showing the footie. Hoorah for them!

British footie on telly!

Most of these Brits were forever expats, and at my 18 month mark I am still a ‘newbie’, but then again I’m not a forever expat, so I’m also on the ‘home straight’. It’s a weird feeling. I honestly don’t know whether I am coming or going sometimes.

Posted in Travel | Tagged 5K race Shamrock, America, American, Americans, Baltimore, Blighty, Blog, Britain, British, Brits in Baltimore, Charm City, Columbia, Culture, Eurovision Song Contest, expat, expats, fish and chips, football, footie, four leaf clover, hocoblogs@@@, Irish, language, leprechauns, lifestyle, snow, snow day, soccer, spring, St Paddy's Day, St Patrick's Day, telly, Thoughts, UK, USA, weather | 4 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 383

Posted on March 16, 2014 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Everyone’s a Paddy

It’s St Patrick’ Day weekend and in American everyone has a connection to Ireland. Honestly, they do – it’s amazing. 😉

Celebrations hit Baltimore yesterday and folk who didn’t want to drink green beer got out of Baltimore for the calm of Columbia. They will probably return to piles of green vomit on the pavements/sidewalk.

Gross.

Here, even dogs go green for St Patrick’s Day.

Wash that out!

This gives you an idea of what the parade in Baltimore is like.

There’s one happening today, but I’m not getting there for the parade – I’m doing the Shamrock 5K! 🙂

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

American Pie

I attended an American Pie event t’other night. It was actually very clever because it was Pi Day (3.14 in American date terms, so not an event we could celebrate in the UK with our date system) and everyone brought pie to support my chum Tom Coale, who is running to be a super dooper political top banana in Ellicott City.

I had no idea there were so many pie variations, nor that Americans are so very proud of their pie. The Americans who attended this event are also very proud of Tom, who I think represents the American dream, American wholesomeness, American pride, American positivity, the American attitude to hard work, and all that is Americana in a good way.

Tom Coale is ‘teacher recommended’. Coolio.

It’s interesting to see the reaction to this ‘kid’ who is making things happen in the political arena. In the UK, I think we would be cynical and not always positive in our attitudes to someone to take political steps in this way – we would be racked with caution and advice; but here there is a real ‘get up and go’ attitude in the USA and a sense that Tom really can do it, and I’m convinced he will.

Anyhow the pies were pretty amazeballs too – check them out!