Random thoughts

Aside from the fact that we are stressed out and busy right now, I am still looking forward to our adventure. I find myself getting very excited about spending a weekend in London or Paris or driving around Scotland, which is only a few hours away by car. It is fun to look at a map of Europe and say –I want to go here on a vacation, or a school break, and know that we will really do it. My husband has been living in England since the beginning of January and this weekend when he was home, was telling us of some of the things we will need to get used to(aside from the obvious things, like driving). I have a feeling I take the groceries that are available to us (and the FDA) for granted. Eggs are pulled right out of farms, and not refrigerated. It is apparently not uncommon to open the cartons and find feathers. Not to mention, they are impossibly hard to crack. Not sure what the scientific reason is for this, but I have read about this on other expat blogs and hubby confirmed –they are next to impossible to crack open. Someone probably knows the answer as to why this is so different and I would really like to know why. Beef smells different over there –but I have read this is the difference between grass fed and corn fed cattle. Bread has none of the same preservatives that ours has – so a loaf of bread is huge and goes bad within a few days, if not refrigerated or eaten right away. Also, in our salad dressing aisle, there are probably 50 types of salad dressings. My husband saw three at the grocery store where he was shopping. Salad Cream, Vinaigrette and Balsamic Vinaigrette. I have a feeling that the first time I go grocery shopping, which will be the day we arrive, will be quite the experience. On another note, we have an interview with the Head Master of Bean’s (hopefully) new school on the day we arrive. She will be jetlagged, and tired from being on the plane all night, but it was important to get her in asap –as they have only one spot in Reception (Kindergarten) at the school we have chosen. This is the closest school to us, has a really good rating and some other expat’s that we know have their children in that school. If you want to read more about the school system over there and the differences, please see my past blog on Schools (on the right side under archives, November 2009). The school systems in England are NOTHING like ours in the United States. Also took Bean to the doctor today and she has a double ear infection, so praying the antibiotics work and her ears are clear before our flight – that would not be good to be on a plane that long, with infected ears. Tomorrow we need to do a dry run with our suitcases to see how much we can fit in them, so that the air freight movers can take the other important things that we can’t fit in the suitcases. Good thing the guest room is now empty of furniture after this past weekend, as it currently has about 10 suitcases scattered around waiting to be filled. I am really worried that I am going to forget something important that we need with us, I am making lists and trying to stay organized. Now I have to see how many Ranch Dressings I can fit in one suitcase.....