Week 10: 21 - 24 June

We all know that travel broadens the mind, right? So people, here is what I have learned: 

• Never, EVER purchase in the UK a netbook with an inherent Mother of all Boards fault, which develops in the US. Trust me, you will end up slightly demented in trying to get a warranty claim honoured!
• Listen carefully and ask for a repeat of any words spoken in Uhmerican accent if not entirely sure. Saves a lot of time. Specifically my time in painstakingly sorting out the paper recycling (a lot, for ten people) every week to ensure nothing is in there which is "coded". You'd be surprised how MANY things are bar-coded and how well disguised on the packaging some of them are. Of course that's a much more complicated proposition than the actual instruction which is not to recycle anything which is "coated" ie orange juice (Tetra) packs. Doh! Reminds me of when first moved to Austin, the weeks I spent scouring newspapers and websites for a snazzy Miada as recommended by A. Which through lack of even a single model for sale, I eventually worked out was actually a MiaTa (MX5).
• All Vermont cats have not been waiting for me to land in their lives to give them love and attention - no matter how desperate I am to hug a furry, must restrain self from following cats into peoples' gardens in a vain attempt at cat-interaction. It's apparently not perceived by the homeowners as sane or credible behaviour in anyone over 5 years old (what's a zero between friends with such a "special" relationship, say I? :)
• Pizza is not zero calories just because you didn't cook it, buy it or eat it from a plate.

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More on pizza... big food. I have now actually seen the ultimate. The Cheeseburger Pizza. Yes, really.

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Your faithful reporter in the field has not been slacking on other BIG fronts - how do you like these for big vehicles?

There's just something about the size and shape of them - every time I see one (or more usually, nearly get wiped out by one - haven't quite adjusted my Green Cross Code yet, so I STILL look the wrong way when crossing), I feel like I'm in a film. Ironic really, I haven't yet seen an ambulance!  Did you know that the little mail van (top left) is the only legal right-hand drive vehicle in the USA?

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Had fun this week on a "fund-raiser" activity. 4800 letters to be folded, stuffed, sealed and stamped.

Local ladies who live in an "assisted living homestead" help with this effort every year - as long as they are fed on-tap coffee and doughnuts.

I think "the girls" enjoyed a breath of British air - and I enjoyed being "the youngster"!

10-21 June

The sun rises, the sun sets, summer starts today and all is well with Burlington Bianca!

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Last Sunday my hosts were kind enough to invite me to join them at the annual fundraiser for the sister house in Rutland. It was just shy of a 300KM round trip. It was somewhat overcast and driving through the relatively mountainous region it was obvious why the state is called Vermont (pensez en francais!). Beautiful, calm and of course GREEN. Feels like it should be similar to the Lake District (if only I had been there to make the comparison!)

The fundraiser took the form of a dinner auction attended by a lot of local peeps - 300+. I resisted the "urge to splurge" - already I suspect I have acquired enough "stuff" to feed, shoe and entertain a small Ethiopian village. On Sept departure, I may yet bring new meaning to "elasticated sides" (suitcases, not trousers - although that too, we wait and see!). The most interesting part of the evening was a speaker who is a current house resident. He had never spoken in public before, so this was "trial by fire". He spoke eloquently and with emotion, and for me personified why I chose to support this organisation - it really makes a difference to people's lives, big time.

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This Sunday it was K's Mum's 75th birthday and I was delighted to be invited (along with a fellow resident) to help out with the logistics of keeping 75 peeps fed and watered, so to enable K, her Mum and family to fully enjoy their guests.

The party took place at K's home - a really lovely old/new house (long story!) in the most stunning location with a brook running between the back garden and paddock (she's horsey :O). We enjoyed wall-to-wall sunshine - if you ignore the 15 minutes of torrential rain! Our aprons (specially created for us by another artistically talented resident) were a big hit and a good time was had by all!

Week 8 - TODAY!

WOW! Been here eight weeks today - and all is well on the Western Front.

Finally someone turned up the thermostat! So for the last couple of days it's been STEAMING hot, although as I write the mother of all storms is unleashing Thor's worst! It's absolutely PELTING DOGS! (No cats - obviously... see previous posting!)

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Joined the Y(MCA) this week, literally around the corner and has two lovely pools (indoor).  Signed up to weekly aquarobics class. Most entertaining, (nearly) all ladies and about 20 years older than me, but very friendly and welcoming. We discuss grand-children and bunions in the main - of which of course I have neither :O), but I'm good at "uhming and ahing" in the right places!

Have made a "special friend" or at least I think he would like our special US/UK relationship to become more "significant" than is my intention! He "woos" me with tales of his life in the UK, oh how we reminisce! A little challenging to maintain a cool distance when trying to do the "leapfrog" manoeuvre, keep a "noodle" under my arms, a costume over my boobs AND marshall my thoughts on the Cuban missile crisis. Ah yes, you've spotted the fatal flaw that will prevent our happy future - he was building his international engineering career (uhm, in Swindon?) while I was in diapers. Oh and there's his wife - who patiently treads water next to him and with whom I share the occasional "eyes to the skies" smile! And of course this is a "family" BLOG, so no piccies of me in bathers :O)

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The house is right in the heart of "student-ville" and this time of year is graduation time. Cue a massive increase in partying (think late, think loud - very late and VERY loud) and - man-oh-man - do they LOVE to party! Also the massive "clear up and clean out" of the rented houses, prior to all the students disappearing home for the summer. What to do with all those things that don't fit in the car, or the U-Haul truck? Put them on the kerb of course...  Local bargain hunters will soon do your "recycling" for you!

 
 

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Tasted much better than this looks!

K kindly procured from her Dad (thank you, Mr K!) some proper homegrown rhubarb.  I had huge fun in decorating it with a crumble and even more pleasure in eating.

Missed the Bird's custard though!

Must dash - got a kerb to crawl!

Week 6: 18 - 29 May 2011

I'm reading a captivating book, Return to laughter, written by American anthropologist Laura Bohannan (originally published under nom de plume; Elenore Smith Bowen) who lived among a tribe in Nigeria in the early 50s.

The autobiographical book is is written in a non-academic style and chronicles Ms B's adventures and challenges in trying to "learn" and understand a - completely alien to her - people and their culture. It is incredible how "of the moment" it feels to me, or rather how communication technological leaps notwithstanding, there are still some very basic, common emotions you feel, when landed among a culture different to that with which you are familiar.  It comes down not to the big things, but the tiniest subtleties of (your) accepted conventions. Among many aspects, the US life-styles, etiquette, accent and beliefs are so interesting to me, an opportunity for understanding and learning and clearly there are many similarities between the US and UK cultures.  Yet there are differences seemingly so insignificant, but ingrained, which in sum will leave you feeling that something is "off kilter", but you can't quite put your finger on it.  Over 50 years ago, Ms B wrote words which sometimes - just sometimes - strike home with me:

"But above all else, it was only in the privacy of my hut that I could be my real self. Publicly, I lived in the midst of a noisy and alien life. If I wanted conversation in my own language, I had to hold it with myself. I could escape my cultural isolation only by being alone for awhile every day with my books and my thoughts. It was the one means of hanging on to myself, of regaining my balance, of keeping my purpose in being out here before me, and of retaining my own values."

That may only make sense to those who have been in a similar position - when you're outside you only see the similarities, but when you're inside you feel the differences. That said, I am so fortunate to have this opportunity, to have kind and generous hosts and to be enjoying a multitude of new and unique experiences - and the washing facilities are infinitely superior to those with which Ms B had to live! I am grateful that I don't have to make use of a "canvas bath in the bush" - which has to be "quick and careful" - before the water leaks out, or before you dent the side and the water sloshes away over the top. But what a bath-time view that would be! 

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 Sat 21 May was a gloriously sunny day and saw our home hosting the wedding of an ex-resident to his childhood sweetheart. The staff and residents all worked incredibly hard to make this a very special event for the happy couple, cleaning, decorating and producing lots of delicious food.  Oh and hand-made "favors" courtesy of the "Dismas Dames" :O). The wedding and reception took place in the garden and barring a few last minute neighbourhood dashes to quell noisy lawn-mowing, and a bottle of apple "champagne" left too long in the freezer (oops!) everything went off seamlessly.

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In celebration of the sun (don't get excited - it's disappeared again) I took my toes for a bit of a "Spring Spruce". All a very restful and relaxing experience, till it came to pay. Cue embarrassment and minor outrage (me) and no doubt - incomprehension (Pedicura).  Total bill $60 - luckily I had $66.  Aha - you think I got caught out by forgetting the sales tax? Not so, canny reader. As I handed over the cash, Pedicura said "We can put that on your credit card", to which I responded "No, we can't, I prefer to pay in cash and luckily I have sufficient". Response: "How will you be paying the gratuity - (handing me a printed page) here's a convenient calculation at 20%, we can put that on your credit card". The credit card stayed firmly in the wallet and I handed over all the cash!  Now what was that about cultural mis-understanding?  Unspoken thoughts indeed...

Me

                

Pedicura

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My week ended with a delightful day in Canada, more specifically a visit to Parc Safari with staff member M, Mr M (J) and toddler M. It rained (obviously) but I had a fabulous time!

I still remember well shortly after we moved to the UK, driving through a rain-sodden Windsor Safari Park (remember those crazy chimpanzees who could liberate both wind-screen wipers in 0 seconds flat?). Sunday's experience was similar, although it was a joy to discover that the ubiquitous "Elf and Safety" Nazis haven't as yet reached the outposts of Canada. Which meant we actually drove through the park sitting in the back of J's pick-up truck. Until the rain drove us inside, but still all windows down (until the dribbles and smells became too overwhelming, and yes - that was the animals, not the peeps!). However as you can see, the natives - far from being revolting - were absolutely enchanting!



Thanks Cam, that's the best joke I've heard today!



"You lot sure do look funny squashed in that metal box on wheels!

Mine hosts: J, M and M

 

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Returning to the USA was a repeat of the painful experience I had in April. On leaving, practically begged the officer to take my I94 - that's the card that we (Europeans) are always being urged to ensure is removed from your passport when you depart the country. We had a slightly frustrating verbal tussle during which she was insistent that I needed to keep the I94 "because you will be entering the country in the future".   No dice, I and my I94 left the country together.

Need I tell you that when I returned, her colleague told me that not only should I not have an I94, but in any case I had the wrong kind of entry stamp. Which advice he then revised to I should have retained the I94, because it should only be surrendered for a "significant" departure - no explanation for quite what that is. But I did still have the wrong kind of stamp. LOL.

So, in the UK we have the wrong kind of leaves (on the railway) and in the US we have the wrong kind of leave (on the border).

Leaving you now.

Correctly.