Transitions...

So I've spent the last 6 months kissing my husband goodbye as he goes off to work and go, well... no where really. Ok thats not entirely true, the first six weeks was all about wedding planning and I spent most of the time in the car with my new mother in law going to Southall for wedding related things. There were drives to the venue, meetings with the caterers, and all the little bit and bobs that wedding planning entails.  After the wedding was our 3 days mini moon in Bath, which was lovely! After that, Sudheer went back to work and I had to figure out what do to with myself. I spent a lot of the time going out on day trips to London visiting various museums. British Museum, V&A, Natural History Museum, etc.  I also spent time working on my video editing skills, watching tutorials and practicing. I also did a lot of reading and anxiously waiting for my husband to come home.  Then came the visa application, that took up time as my father in law and I worked on the seemingly endless application.  The day of the interview finally arrived and it was success! Britain is letting me stay until December 2019.  The day of the interview we had a celebration with a British lunch consisting of scotch eggs, quiche, victoria sponge and everything else my brother in law could find in the gluten free section of M&S that was British. It was a lovely surprise and an afternoon I will forever cherish.  He also sent me upstairs to my room to "find" his phone he had left upstairs.  What I found instead was loads of red and blue balloons, a mug, umbrella, and a wonderful card welcoming me into the family and as a resident of Britain. Needless to say I cried, I just found it so touching that they would go to so much trouble for me.
After a lovely lunch, I went straight upstairs to begin my search for a job.  55 applications and about 30 days later and I finally got an interview.  Part time maternity cover for a collections position at the Horniman.  I was a nervous wreck the morning of the interview and the travel didn't go nearly as smooth as hoped or planned.  The train was delayed, and google lied the night before and instead of only a 10 minute walk it was a 20 minute walk to the office.  Lucky for me my super planner husband had timed for me to get there extra early, which worked in the end to be right on time.  With blisters on my toes and heels and butterflies in my tummy I got through the interview and made my way back to Croydon via WHSmith for plasters.  I felt the interview had gone well enough but didn't really have any hopes of actually getting the job.
Imagine my surprise when I got a call just over a week ago offering me the position! Me? They wanted me? And while I am excited to finally be working and earning my keep, I have to wonder will I be good enough? I've been out of the work force for 6 months now, how will I transition back in? What is the commute going to be like? I've never had to commute further than a few miles for a job before. This is going to be clear across London! I have to take the train and a tube.  Both which still feel quite foreign to me.  I look at it as an adventure and another step in my transition to British life.

28 miles in 24 hours

I know I always write about the differences between Idaho and London when I post. I suppose it has to do with the fact that in transition from American life to British life in still in that phase of seeing everything that is different.

My post this time is about finding something that is universal. Cancer... not the happiest of topics, but think about it is there anyone in this big wide world that hasn't been affected by cancer? Whether its first hand experience, watching a loved one battle the disease, friends, neighbours, everyone has been touched by one way or another by this awful disease. 

Every year I have participated in Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research in the hopes that one day we could live in a world where cancer doesn't exist. I've sold popcorn, baked cookies, hosted film nights, and walked countless hours raising awareness and money for cancer research. I feared last year was my last year as I was moving to the UK in early 2017. Something that had been such a big part if my life wasn't going to be anymore.

Imagine my surprise when my new cousin Amit approached me at a family gathering and asked me to join his Relay for Life team. Finally something that was familiar to me! Raising money to kick cancers butt and staying awake walking for 24 hours because cancer never sleeps. 

So I joined the team of family (Amit, Maanik, Aseem, Rishi, and Jen) I didn't really know at all and set out to raise money. It wasn't easy and I didn't raise a ton (only £370) but I was doing what was familiar. 

The day of the event arrived and I was extremely nervous. I didn't know anyone very well and my husband was only going to be there a few hours before having to leave me on my own. I cried when a box of fairy cakes were dropped, panicked when trying to pack everything I would need, and shed tears when I had to say goodbye to my husband, I very nearly didn't stay at the event. I felt like such an outsider in the team and didn't have anyone I really knew and my anxiety was playing up something fierce. But I knew I would forever regret not staying and fighting for a caused I believe in. I got back to our canopy with tears still in my eyes and a very kind and wonderful Aseem auntie gave me a hug and told me everything would be ok because I was there with family. And you know what it was ok! It was just like any other relay I had done. We walked in pairs talking to pass the time, I got to know my new family even better, and I raised money for cancer research. There were themed laps that were so much fun to do, we honoured survivors, we remembered those that lost their battles, and united to fight cancer. The track lined with luminaria bags was just as beautiful and moving here as it was in Pocatello.  The lap of silence was just as emotional as that same lap I did in Idaho each year. Cancer is everywhere, it affects everyone. No matter what continent I live on I will continue to relay and raise money in the hopes that one day cancer will be curable.  It's a fight, but I'll keep going. One step at a time.

For the Love of Mexican Food!

Okay so I said in my last post that I missed the stars more than anything, and that still holds true however in a close second place at the moment is Mexican food. Tacos (and I mean the good ones in a soft corn tortilla with pork and a little salsa), posole like my Uncle Agustin used to make, tamales, the list can go on but its making my stomach growl so I will stop there.
The Brits get a lot of things right, but unfortunately Mexican food isn't one of them.  Let me tell you about my first experience with British tacos (pronounced with a hard A like in apple), they were comprised of soft flour tortillas (ok, but come on corn is best - the soft not that crunchy American ones) ground turkey (which is fine, it works in a pinch), British cheddar (again ok), tomatoes (we're good), and rotini pasta.  Hold up wait rotini pasta? In a taco? Yep that's were it all went wrong. Now I'm not saying it wasn't tasty because surprisingly it was ok.  I wouldn't call it Mexican, maybe British tacos?
Second Mexican meal in the UK, Wahaca.  This was pretty good I have to say, they had soft corn tortillas and slow cooked pork. I think they have adjusted the recipes for a British palate though, it just didn't have the same flavours I have grown up with.  But while not as good as homemade I did enjoy it. Cocktails weren't bad either.
Third Mexican meal, Chilangos, this is very similar to the chains in America like Costa Vida and Chipotle. Again not authentic, but very tasty.  They have a slow cooked pork belly that is to die for and the guacamole is pretty tasty.  The only downfall they don't do street tacos which was go to at Costa Vida.  I can however get a tasty burrito bowl (minus the flour tortilla wrap) that satiates my craving for Mexican flavours in a pinch.
The short of this post? I'm craving good authentic Mexican food like my aunt and uncle used to make.  Those slow cooked beans, fresh tortillas, sopas, posole, the list goes on.  At the very least if I could just get my hands on some corn tortillas I might just survive....

The Stars at Night?!?!

If your in North America you play Clue, but if you live in the UK you play Cluedo.  Whats with the name difference its the same bloody game isn't it? Colonel Mustard did it with the pipe in the conservatory right?  Apparently its a mash up of the word clue and the Latin word ludo meaning I play.

I find so many difference living in the UK and I'm not going to lie I'm experiencing a bit of culture shock.  Culture shock can happen moving from one side of America to the other, so of course moving from one English speaking country to another its going to happen.  Of course there is the change in vocabulary, its not a zucchini its a courgette, an egg plant is an aubergine, and sidewalks are referred to as pavement.  Houses don't have air conditioning, and the back yard is a garden.  Sometimes I find it so frustrating, other times I find it amusing.  I guess its all part of adjusting to my new home.

I moved from the small city of Pocatello with a population of roughly 54,000 give or take, the population of Idaho as a state about 1.6 million. The population of London is almost 9 million!   That's like 6 Idahos???  The diversity is amazing though, name the food and you can probably get it here in London. I've had Lebanese, Indian, Caribbean, and South African just to name a few, and I've seen countless others. Walking along the pavement in London I can hear at least half a dozen different languages being spoken.  Transportation runs 24/7, there are so many places to go and things to do, and the history of this city, it is all just amazing!

So with all this diversity and excitement is there anything I can possibly miss about little Pocatello?  The top of the list is the stars.  Looking up into the night sky in London I often wonder, "are there still stars out there? We aren't living in this episode of Doctor Who where the stars go out are we? And if we are, where is the Doctor???"  I think that's one of the biggest adjustments to living in London.  Its never truly dark.  The city always has this light illuminating the horizon.  Standing on my bed in the loft I can see the city skyline and the constant light it emits. It does have a beauty all its own don't get me wrong, but I miss laying on my back and looking up at the millions of twinkling lights above me, looking for constellations and passing satellites.  I could always find the big and little dipper, Cassiopeia, Orion, and Draco.

I've been told all I have to do is go to Scotland or Wales to see mountains and I'm sure I could see stars as well.  They won't be my mountains or stars and perhaps I can borrow them for awhile, but will they be anything like this???

Yankee Doodle Dandy

I'm a yankee doodle dandy.... we all know the song at least we Americans do. And as the holiday draws near and I find myself once again in the UK (this time permanently), I have to wonder, do I still celebrate Independence Day? On the 4th of July millions of Americans will gather together to grill hamburgers/hotdogs and light fireworks.
As a child I remember being terrified of fireworks and I remember one particular year standing inside my grandparents kitchen crying with my ears covered while my family was outside watching roman candles light up the sky.  As I got older and my fear dissipated I always looked forward to three things on the 4th of July.  The parade, my grandmothers macaroni salad, and fireworks.
I never thought of the day as a celebration of America's independence from England (maybe this is in part of my mum's Native American heritage or we were just bad Americans), it was more of a celebration of family and the blessings we had been given. Yes we gave thanks that we lived in the land of the free and the home of the brave; and a nod was always given to the military for their service past, present, and future.  I remember every year standing with my hand over my heart as the flag went past at the beginning of the parade, the national guard walking in perfect unison; men taking off their hats in respect, and the absolute silence.  Those that had served in the military standing just a bit taller with pride and with a glimmer of a tear in the their eyes.  Perhaps because they had fought for the freedom that we so easily took for granted.
I'm not ashamed to be American even with the political exploits of our new president, but I have to wonder how does an American celebrate Independence day in the UK? The country from which they gained independence from all those many years ago?  Do I wear my Old Navy American flag t-shirt and head to the local park to grill a hotdog? Can I light fireworks in my own back garden? Or is it simply now just another day of the week?  I don't know.  Either way I will most assuredly miss "the biggest show in Idaho" and its mesmerizing display of lights in the starry sky while patriotic music plays in the back ground.
For me, the 4th of July will forever remind me of the smell of burgers grilling on a summers day, the sound of a marching band playing the Star Spangled Banner, and the beautiful sight of fireworks illuminating the night sky.

Wedding Bells

13 March 2017, Sudheer and I tied the knot! I wish I could give you every little detail about the day but it was a whirlwind of emotion and time absolutely flew by.  Can't you give me any detail you might ask? I can tell you this, I couldn't stop smiling!

The morning started bright and early I was overjoyed that the sun was shining as the day before had been a dismal and rainy day. I feared the worse and woke up pleasantly surprised that the sun was shining down (thank you again to the Gods).  Hair and make up started promptly at 8am and by 10:55 I was dressed and ready to go.  Time gets a bit fuzzy here, before I know it I'm standing at the top of the stairs waiting for the wedding coordinator to tell me its my turn to walk down the stairs.  As I'm heading down the staircase I have two things going through my mind 1. don't trip. 2. don't look down. Well in order to not trip I need to look down, so you can imagine what I looked like walking down the stairs.... its all I can do not to race down the stairs to my about to be husband. The rest of the ceremony is a blur and after a few photos are taken then I'm back upstairs changing clothes, makeup and hair for the Indian ceremony.  

Again the ceremony is a blur, I remember coming into the hall with the sound of the dhol. Amazing doesn't even begin to describe the feeling.  After the ceremony we are whisked away for more photos and then off to change clothes one last time.  My final outfit is a blend of the two.  Civil ceremony dress with Indian jewelry. I feel beautiful and am looking forward to spending some time with my new husband. We get a few moments of time to ourselves before we are announced as Mr and Mrs for  the reception and we dance the night away.  It still feels a bit surreal and at times I wonder did it really happen. Then I look down at my hands and see the wedding band on my left hand and choora adorning my wrists and know it wasn't a dream...

Outsider Looking In

Its not that I expected to fit right in the moment I arrived, I didn't however expect to feel like such an outsider. Everyone is very kind do not get me wrong. However, I feel like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. E.I. the American trying to fit in with an Indian/British family.  While I am the newest member the household, I'm not the only "transplant" my husband's older brother married a year and a half ago and has settled in and become one of the family.  Fitting in, sharing family jokes, and from the outside looking like she has always been a part of the family. Sitting on the sofa, the five of them look like the perfect happy family.

Enter the white, American..... that's me by the way.  I should also mention I have a hint of ginger in my hair that I usually keep covered with Garnier hot chocolate hair colour.

With the wedding quickly approaching I keep wondering, will I eventually fit in? Or will I always be the outsider looking in?