1. England starts celebrating Christmas in October. As someone who adores the holiday season, I find this just a bit too early. They skip over Halloween and Thanksgiving {I get it...} but to see Christmas decorations, gifts, and parties being planned this far in advance seems absolutely crazy. I'd like to live in the moment, but they seem intent on doing otherwise.
2. Speaking of holidays, Halloween is no fun here. There is no trick-or-treating, which means there is no candy to eat. There are barely any fall decorations. I feel like I've been entirely robbed of one season and one holiday {well two, if you count Thanksgiving!}...
3. Speaking of seasons, fall is not in their vocabulary. It's autumn {insert eye roll here}.
4. "Autumn" weather started in September. While America was enjoying an Indian summer, London was full-on fall with blanket scarves, heavy coats, and cold rain.
5. And one more note about fall, the leaves are changing here... yes; however, they are not changing as much and the colors aren't as vibrant as they are at home {just look at the gorgeous picture I took on a run through my hometown!}. I am guessing this has something to do with the mild temperatures, but I don't see as many leaves changing colors and as many leaves falling.
6. I {kind of ;)} LOVE London {I know, right?}. The one reason why I love London: The Ladies of London. On a quick trip home, I watched half of this mindless series and found myself proudly boasting, "I know that place!" "They live right by me!" "I've been there!" AND {the coolest part} "SHE'S MY YOGA INSTRUCTOR!!!!" {I mean, we're practically bffs...err we will be one day!}. Ok, so it may be a bit absurd to say I looooove London because of this reality show, but hey, everyone has their reasons, right?
7. I've just finished a half term of teaching. While I'm in an international school {meaning, I am not teaching the English curriculum}, I've noticed that these students are extremely more mature than some students I've taught in the past {this is not meant to be a judgement on any student I'm currently teaching or have taught}. I think it's because they have to be independent, despite their young age, to take public transportation on their own, understand and accept other cultures, and adapt to changing situations, since some have moved around the world frequently.
8. While teachers at home are being trained on lockdown procedures, in the event of an intruder, teachers in the UK are being trained on preventing extremism.
9. Being in a school located in England, the computers and printers are hard to get used to. The keyboard isn't the same and the paper is a larger size. I can't locate the "@" sign on my school desktop or certain symbols. So I just stick with my own laptop ;).
10. We've been here for almost 10 months now. I still am missing home {yes, I know, this will contradict what I just said in number 6 but every day, I wake up with a new feeling, and often times they are contradictions of one another, which often times, leaves me confused} and I am still not completely sold on this new life here {insert other people's eye rolling, as they think I'm just being a big ol' baby, but you know what, #sorryimnotsorry}.