A Real-Time Post

Hello all!

Most of you will be aware that I'm currently stationed in England. I have been posting updates (written before departure) over the last few weeks. But, I have yet to create a real-time post. A post that I have written while in foreign territory. Today's my first 'do nothing' day, and what better way to spend it than re-entering the blogging world.

So, how is the Land of E treating me?
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Very well, thank you. I love England. I may be a North American girl through and through, but I do have a *big* soft spot for Europe. However, there are some glaring differences between my home and native land to the Big E.

1. Let's start out simple. I've had the hardest time getting used to driving on the other side of the road. Cars coming at me from the right? Its just weird. I'm ever-so-glad that I have E to remind me what way to look for oncoming cars while crossing the road... otherwise, I may turn into a mess.

2. Chips. My gosh, England's chips are good. North American chips (ie - French fries) are nothing in comparison to the goodness of these chips.

3. Tea and cake shops. These so beat Starbucks. Teas and coffees and delicious cakes.... yumm.

4. What's with the naked ladies? As a feminist, I can only cringe when I open a newspaper and see naked women (and only naked women) in the front of the newspapers. Where are the naked men? Where is equality? Where is respect?

5. Canada was formally established in 1867... Yesterday, I was in a building erected during the 1300s.

6. Book stores in England are pretty similar to Barnes and Nobles or Chapters... but they are located in gorgeous older buildings full of character.

7. Speaking of book stores, there seems to be a variety of different books available in England. I have stumbled upon quite a few books that sound wonderful and are unavailable on the North American side of the pond (as for now).

8. House keys. I have spent a lifetime seeing the same sized keys on my key chain. Here, the English have key chains full of character if not only because their house keys are big, bulky, and antique-ish.

9. Oatcakes. I love this Stoke-on-Trent speciality. After going five years without, I had the hugest craving for oatcakes upon my arrival. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when E's mum made some up for dinner. They were so good I couldn't stop myself from grinning ear to ear.

10. In Canada, it's impossible to sit on E's furniture... in England, I can lie on it while blogging to you all and talking to him in the flesh, too! Goodbye Skype!


As you can put together, I'm having a great time in the Land of E. Amid all of my travels, including some time in Poland, I have also been reading. Stay tuned for my next real-time post on the book I devoured during the 9.5 hour flight here.