Hi there! I've been gone a bit longer than planned, so sorry for going quiet. I'm just getting settled back in after spending time back in the US visiting family and friends. It was so nice to be close to people I usually only get to speak to over video. I haven't experienced homesickness much this year, but there will always be a part of my heart that lives in America. American Things That Don't Exist in the UK Any time I go back to the US, my friends ask me what food I've missed and what...
27 days ago • 2 min read
The Housing Culture Shock It's hard to believe it's been nearly three years since I moved my family to the UK (for the second time). In spite of how long we've been here, and having now experienced several different rental houses, we are still sometimes surprised by what's normal in homes here compared to the US. From living in a rainy country with no clothes dryer to tiptoeing up steep staircases, we've definitely had to adapt. I recently updated my blog article 30 Big Differences Between...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Spring Break - British Style Hey there! My daughter is currently on her second week of term break from school. It's a bit like a second Christmas break in the spring, or maybe a longer spring break. Before we moved to the UK, I had no idea how schools scheduled coursework across this year. It was one of the bigger culture shocks we experienced to shift from our American expectations into British schooling. Now that we've been here a while, I still regularly have local parent friends ask us...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Eurostar Travel Tips I usually talk about travel inside the UK, but I've recently been helping family plan a trip to visit the UK and Paris, France. They're spending half of their time with me in and around London, with a few days in the middle off exploring Paris. They'll be traveling under the sea on the Eurostar train to get there and back. I've taken the Eurostar train service a few times myself, but wanted to share a few tips in case this type of trip is on your bucket list too. If...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Smart money moves that helped me move abroad When my family decided to move to the UK, I knew we had to get our finances in order. This would be my second time moving from the US to the UK, and I knew firsthand how quickly the costs could add up. That meant making sure we could afford this new adventure without making money mistakes along the way. We had some money set aside, but also needed to resolve some debts and figure out how to help our savings grow after we moved. I needed a plan that...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Shakespeare Outside of the Globe I recently went into central London with my daughter to see a production of Richard II starring Jonathan Bailey. It was very fun to see Fiyero do Shakespeare, but the whole cast was incredible. The location was also an interesting twist. Bridge Theatre is one of the newest theatre venues in London, located just a mile down the river from Shakespeare's Globe. The Bridge doesn't only run Shakespeare plays, but the flexible space was set up for a similar "show in...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Spring Hits! Daffodils are everywhere right now We are only a few days from the official First Day of Spring! Time to shake off the winter blahs and embrace the signs of new life. My favorite sign of the season is now popping up everywhere. From home gardens to roadsides, there are happy yellow daffodils all over the place. Spring Events Around the UK Here are some upcoming events to embrace the season! March 12-30. Glasgow brings the laughs hosting the Glasgow International Comedy Festival....
3 months ago • 1 min read
Shhh! Are There Quiet Spots in London? The first time I visited London, I didn't enjoy it that much. We came in the middle of summer holidays and wanted to see all the big tourist stuff. Unfortunately, lots of other people were doing the same thing. If you're also not a huge fan of crowds, but don't want to miss out on London's excellent sights, I have some suggestions for you. Duck into one of these relaxing places near the top sights. Near Big Ben and Westminster Abbey The area between...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Happy February Friend! Where are you wandering these days? I'm heading into my daughter's half-term school break, and looking forward to some extra adventures with her during her time off. We aren't traveling for the whole week, which is different for us, but do have some day trips planned in and around London. What's going on this month? We may still be in winter times, but February brings out some nighttime magic in the UK. Several national parks here are dark sky reserves. This makes them...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read