Wooly Socks And Flip-Flops
3 days ago
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Disoriented
It was a strange feeling to be back in the UK after so long (over 4 years) away. It didn't exactly feel like home any more but it wasn't exactly foreign either. It was more like coming home to your own house to find that someone had redecorated and changed some of the furniture while you were away.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
It is a strange feeling. Although I try to get back to the UK once or twice a year, I still have that feeling...it's just not "home" anymore.
I know how you feel - it used to be like that for me whenever we returned from Germany. It probably shows you are becoming more American than British now and have a more critical eye. Though I think the UK and its people has changed a lot from what it used to be (sigh).
It still feels like home to me,but you're right too. This year it was the lack of chip and pin in my Visa card that tripped me up.
I was also very careful about complaining about the weather because for some reason, I'm not allowed to do that any more. (Everyone else around me is, but if I join in, everyone gets defensive.)
I got caught out by the chip and pin on my card too. I told them to type in the numbers and got glared at. pfffft.
Unfortunately I have only been back once in 7 years but I loved it. Planning a trip next year. I know each trip back will feel less like home, and I'll start to feel homeless.
I've been very careful to keep my British bank account, so I have a debit card with chip and pin. I dropped my British credit card many years ago though, even though it was convenient to be able to use it in the US and have the bill go to my parents. Barclaycard started wanting an annual fee, and it just wasn't worth it for the one or two transactions a year I used it for.
I can understand what you are feeling right now. I had passed through the same feeling. I was gone for the job outside for 7 years and when came back to home town, everything was just changed and I was feeling pretty weird initially but then everything became normal.
It is a strange feeling. Must be hard after 4 years. I'd only ever been away 2 before a visit.
Hope you have a good time.
I remember being lectured about Cats Eyes too, about their inventor, about a cat saving his life on a dark road, and how he eventually went barmy.
I think it's one of those things that you don't think about when you grown up in the UK, like 'sleeping policeman' 'belisha beacons' etc.
Wow, the more I think about it the more crazy we sound.
After only a few months away I find it strange to return so 4 years must be difficult.
Post a Comment