lesleyjl21

lol, i figure i gotta be damn good at something. and why the heck not. :))

as an american, i’m gonna learn how to drive stick for the purposes of driving a vehicle out here in england. double the fun! learning stick for the first time AND learning to drive on the left. then i’ll get one of those vintage mini’s and tool around like nobody’s business. I ROCK. definitely a goal within my three years here.

I was born and raised in sunny Southern California, but I live in Nottingham now. Nottingham’s about two and a half hours or so north of London.

This move is one of those things I didn’t know I wanted to do until I did. Someone special said I should move here once and I couldn’t because a) I didn’t know how, b) I had my life and responsibilities pretty set in the U.S., and c) I was terrified out of my mind to even seriously consider it. I’m still kinda freaked out, ‘cause I don’t know hardly anyone here. Top it off, this person and I fell apart some time back and I still had it in my mind I was coming here.

Well on January 1st of this year, it was set in stone. I didn’t know how, but it was going to happen. I decided to apply to university, got accepted, was granted a three year visa, applied for loans (a LOT of loans, lol), and here I am. It was by no means easy, but I did it.

I don’t always like standing out for my accent when I shop or ask directions or something. I feel like many of these people have never heard an American with the exception of on television watching “Friends” or something stupid. It’s a novelty. Occasionally it’s a reason for them to laugh at the way I say things or use phrases they don’t. It annoys me now and again, but whatever.

The hardest part is when I really want something from home and I can’t find it here or when things take forever (nope, no instantaneous check deposits in a bank branch for immediate withdrawal/spending; minimum two to three weeks waiting for internet/phone and that’s IF you’re lucky). I’ll admit sometimes I get really depressed and/or frustrated and want to run home screaming, especially when I expect something “straight away” and can’t have it. I guess I’m determined to stick it out best I can.

I’ve never lived anywhere else before and for the most part, I would advise anyone to at least try it once in their lives. Just to say you did.