Love the Life You Lead

Hey ya'll! 

In this post I am supposed to reflect on my pre-departure thoughts that I published back in December/January.

As I’ve said in probably every other post, I love England. I think a big part of why I love it so much here is because I am a history major and everything here is surrounded by history. Unfortunately, it is a history that I’ve not really learned much about and one that I still don’t know a lot about, but I’m getting there slowly.

I’ve learned that the impressions that I've accumulated regarding the English pre-visit are mostly false. I figured that everyone would love the Queen and the royal family, but I guess that would be the same thing, as assuming that everyone in the US loves President Obama. I know they are not exactly the same thing because one is a political figure and one is more of a figurehead, a symbol of England and of the Commonwealth, but the idea is the same. I think a part of my reasoning about everyone loving the Queen was because I love the Queen so much. I’m not sure if I actually like her or what she symbolizes, or rather it is the appeal of everything that she has experienced in her lifetime. She is rather an extraordinary person Queen or not. 

As for imagining that most English people are posh and intellectual, I was right, well from the outward appearance I was right. "All" of the men dress so lovely here and it definitely makes the hour commute to work everyday a little bit easier on the eyes. 

Honestly, I haven’t met a lot of English people since arriving here. My boss and the other intern at my job are Irish and Japanese. My teachers are mostly English and Irish, but they aren’t very approachable, which makes it hard to get to know them, let alone their culture. The only real “English” person that I’ve been able to learn about English culture from has been my chiropractor, Philip. He is very English and he loves hearing about Ohio and how different life there is from life here in the city. I enjoy very much talking to him and listening to him try to imitate my accent. It’s simply hilarious.

I said in my earlier post that I imagined England to be similar to the US, but better. I’m not really sure if I was serious or if that is true. I do rather enjoy living in the city here and that is why it is hard for me to judge whether or not one is better than another. I would like to say that life is better here, but being here means that I am left without my family, friends, and puppies. While I love so many other things about being here, those are the things that are missing. I’ve never really lived in the “city” before so I don’t think that I can accurately grant one country better than another, plus there are so many other things that separate them and make them unique.

I believe that I have rambled quite a bit above, but that is how I am feeling right now. I am in the moment and loving every minute of life here. A little less than two months left here and I shall enjoy every minute and second that I have left with the wonderful friends that I have accumulated along the way.