Reflection

I was washing dishes listening to music as our wedding song came on.  Ant just happened to walk in and we danced/hugged to the song.  I can't help but to reflect on the last ten months since I left Saint Louis.  Last December, I left Saint Louis in tears.  I was so scared of the unknown.  I never once doubted that I loved my husband, but moving across the world and leaving everything I know behind was extremely scary.

In the past ten months, I can officially say life is good.  People ask me constantly if I am homesick.  That is such a complicated question.  Yes, I do miss my family and friends.  I miss you all a lot.  I really miss just bumming around town on Saturdays with my mom.  However, that being said Peterborough is home now.  I don't get sad to often from being homesick.  Sure, I miss people, place and things but I don't look back on my decision to move here. 

The hardest things for me is when family is all together, and I don't get to be a part.  I love that my mom makes the effort to Facetime me, so I can say hello to everybody.  But...it just isn't the same.  It also hit me extremely hard when we lost my Grandma, and I was so far away.  Thankfully, we got to come home for the funeral, but I would be lying if I said I never get sad about losing her still.  Knowing that when we come home at Thanksgiving and she won't be there is still hard. 

I get sad knowing that there will be incidents like that in the future, that I most likely won't be able to get home for.  I just try not to dwell on it.

I would say that in the past ten months I have really adapted to life here.  I have tried to immerse myself into the culture (you wouldn't think it was much different but it is) as I possibly can.  I was extremely lucky to get a job right off the bat, and then find a better job shortly after.  I know a lot of people struggle getting work here as an American.  I am learning to drive (Finally), I no longer feel like a lost puppy when I go shopping alone, and I would like to say I am making friends.  It is hard not having any really close friends here.  Sometimes, a girl just needs a gal pal.  I know it will come in time,but sometimes I wish it would come right now. 

My relationship with my husband is amazing.  I feel like people say marriage is hard work, and I am not saying we never have moments, but so far it is nothing short of amazing.  We work together as a team in every aspect from money to taking care of Lilly.  Anthony takes such good care of me, and I would like to say I do the same for him.  I feared when I first moved, that it would be hard to adjust to living together when we never had (much less lived in the same country).  However, my fears were wrong. The hardest part is getting him to eat my cooking! ;)  I know that God guided me to my life partner, and any issues we have God guides us through them.  We work together as a team, and know that communication is truly key.  We laugh together, cry together, and occasionally get angry together.  But the most important thing is we never stop loving each other.  It is truly incredible. 

We travel home in 29 days and I am really looking forward to it.  I can't wait to see family and hopefully our friends.  I can't wait to sink my teeth into some dill pickles and Mexican food.  Not to mention Thanksgiving dinner!

Until next time
XX  Erica

Driving in the UK

Hello there!

I finally took the plunge, and started driving. Well, learning that is. Let me tell you I was petrified. I put it off for so long, first it was because money (lessons are fifty pounds each, your permit is twenty five or so,the written exam is like thirty, and the driving exam is  sixty two), then it got crazy with going home unexpectedly and starting a new job. So, September came around and I decided now more excuses. While, I love my husband and he's so good at taking me places..I just what that independence back. I could ride the bus, but sometimes it means switching lines just to get to one place. 

My first lesson was after work one day. My instructor, is a nice friendly guy took me to a country road because there's nobody ever there. Let me just tell you this was bologna! The road was filled with cyclist and other cars that night, I think it even surprised him. The good news is, I picked up manual really quick. It was so much easier than I expected. However, I may have drove in the grass a few times. English roads are so much smaller, country roads often time since have no lanes. Whenever a car comes at you, you literally feel like you will collide. 

My next lesson was much better. Instead of just driving up and down a road, I actually took a journey through the country. I also drove on dual carriageways (2 lane highways speed is 70 mph).  This was exhilarating, to be able to actually drive again. Not on same back road going 30 mph, but really drive.    Then it came to one of the bloody roundabouts England love as much, and I put it into wrong gear. Great way to end my lesson, huh? 😜

Overall, my instructor said I picked it up even faster then he could have imagined. He said he's taught Americans before with driving experience, but I've picked it up better than they did. Hopefully, I'll pass my test in December!

Driving rules are pretty similar here as the states, but they use roundabouts to control traffic much more than traffic lights. It works, but man they are scary.