Sadness!

:'(  Tonight is our last night in our cozy little bungalow in Minneapolis.  I have loved this house!  It's the first home we've owned and we've put a lot of blood, sweat & tears into it, to make it our little dream bungalow. Very Art & Crafts style, 1922 vintage.

Anyway,  we move into a hotel tomorrow.  The packers come to pack up for the international shipment early Monday morning.  We leave Thursday evening.  Today was a beautiful fall day in Minnesota -- the leaves are just starting to turn color -- next weekend will probably be the peak, but we'll be gone and miss it.

We're very well prepared, as well as one can be, I think.  I have had a really tough day, though.  I am used to knowing where things are, or at least knowing where to find things.  Put me in any US city and I'll find my way around, and find the goods and services I need, just fine.  I feel like I am going to be totally at a loss in England.  Probably just anxiety, but I just hope I won't be thought of as a "stupid American" and just dismissed out of hand because I'm not the one with the fab new job, etc.

UGH, I just wish it was next week and we were there!  Not that I have a clue as to what I'll be doing a week from now, but at least I'd have the moving done with and be starting the new life.

I think I'll drown my sorrows with Sam Adams now, and have myself a good cry.  Maybe that will help me feel better.

Stephanie

Hang in there Stephanie.  You'll be fine. Really.     Feel free to ask me anything.  Guildford is my specialist subject.

hang in there, stephanie!!!

try to look at it as a new adventure!  

when i left the sunny, warm tropics i was really sad, but my family and friends reminded me that some of them would happily trade places with me to live in england for a few years.  when they do cometo visit, they are so impressed that i can drive (ok, automatic and on my american license), can navigate the underground and trains, and know the different foods and where to shop.

they are also jealous that it's very easy to travel around europe, and since we're looking to go to egypt and africa, how cheap (relatively) it would be for us.

as for the autumn colors, i know nothing beats home, but there are some places here that absolutely take my breath away.  remind yourself that in summer you can drive 90 minutes to the beach.

i'm also not that far from guildford, and you can always count on us as a support group!

*

I send many wish to you and your family Stephanie...  Good luck and hang in there...  you will be fine.

michele

Best wishes for a smooth move, Stephanie.  I'm sure I'll be as nervous and have mixed emotions when my time comes to make the move.   Here's a big hug and have a safe and pleasant journey!!!  

Hi, Stephanie. Islandgirl was right: Try to look at moving here as a new adventure. You'll no doubt feel homesick now and then (I think everyone here has), and have some legitimate gripes, but in a way, you're very lucky: You (and the rest of us) are a very small percentage of Americans who have the courage to, and are lucky enough, to experience living in a different culture. There are many things here you'll like. Also, for what it's worth, it's not as if living here for the rest of your life is written in stone (nothing is). If you can avoid thinking that way, you won't feel as apprehensive and sad. Anyway, just some thoughts... You'll be fine.

Oh honey. I know you're already gone by now... but I want to still give you a hug anyway. As exciting as it can be to move across the ocean, there's always a sense of sadness about it too jsut because you're losing a lot of familiarity... but this is one of the hardest parts and it really does get better. HUGE hugs to you - hope you can check in with us while the move is going on, and can't wait to hear how it all went. ((hug))

Thanks so much for the kind words and hugs, everyone.  It really does help me feel better.  I actually ended up having a pretty nice last evening at home.  After Cole was in bed we had a glass of wine and watched "Trading Spaces" and "While You Were Out" -- and compared them to "Changing Rooms", "Ground Force", and "House Invaders", LOL!  We'd gotten a chance to watch BBC America up at the lake earlier this summer and loved those shows!

We're all packed up and at the hotel for the next few days.  The packers are coming at 8 am!  They should be able to packout fairly quickly -- we're anticipating them to be done by Tuesday evening.  Only 4 more days -- I can't believe it!

Stephanie