Texan in London

 I just joined this week and have been making a few posts- it takes time to go from "lurker" to actual poster- but I hope to be more active.

My name is Mary.  I moved to London with my husband 2 years ago so he could attend the Royal Academy of Music to pursue a PhD in Music Composition.  We brought our son with us- he was 7 when we moved here- now he's 9.  I was an RN back home so I have been working in NHS as a nurse.  That has been quite an interesting experience observing first hand the differences in health care practice here!!  Last April I decided to give the NHS a real personal test- I had a baby.  Shes now 5 months.   Maybe I've been having a bit of baby blues lately- but its been really hard.  I miss home/family/Comforts & Conveniences of USA- I miss alot of things.  I'd really like to share the joy of my little girl with family and friends.  But- its been difficult- I really only have good acquaintances- not any real friendships here.  My loneliness was what really prompted me to join this site.

So far I am enjoying reading old posts- lots of great advice/info in these forums and on this whole site!!

I am very interested in making real connections with people here in this forum.  I am not giving up on "integrating" into British society- there are lots of things I truly enjoy here and I will keep making the best of it.  But- I have to confess that right now I desperatley need to connect with others who are/have gone thru these same feelings as I.

We are definetly here another year and perhaps more if job offers pan out- I'd like to make the best of my family's experience here and appreciate support/advice/anything you got to offer!!

In return I can offer a peronalized guided tour of Ally Pally in North London!!
Mary

Welcome to the site!!! It is a great place to be and you will meet lots of new friends on here! We are a friendly bunch!!

Friendly bunch???  Speak for yourself! There's a reason my avatar is a devil
Welcome to the boards Texan...I'm sure your recent blues are only temporary and you'll soon be enjoying all the fun and stress of having a newborn all over again.  I'm here in Virginia until late October, but there are many people here who can give you great ideas about making your stay fun again.  Best of luck to you!

Welcome to UKY Mary  
Where in Texas are you from? I'm here in Hell [smiley=sweatdrop.gif] [smiley=sunny.gif]..oops I meant Houston..it's easy to mistake the two.

No no no no Atlanta is right up there with Houston!  

Regardless....welcome to the site Mary!  I am not there either but as I am to be amongst the PhD lot I wanted to say hi and offer a hand in friendship!

Wow.  Can I ever relate to that!  Welcome to the group, Mary.    I think you'll find a lot of us are in very similar situations with getting to know people here.  Hope you make some good friends soon, either thru this site or otherwise.  I know from experience that it makes all the difference in feeling 'at home' here.

Thanks to all for the "encouragin' words" !!

Melissa we are from Beaumont- 87 miles east of Houston.   Yes- I must agree Houston can be Hellish- but there are a few nice things like the Zoo, Museum of Fine Art and the Museum of Natural History.  And theres always ice skating at the Galleria rink!

If you are getting quite sick of loud /dirty/stinky Houston- give Kemah a try- it is a really cool place njust SE of Houston on the river/port of Houston.  It has lots of restaurants and clubs and a wonderful boulevard atmoshpere- very unlike Houston.  At night there are lighted fountains that spring up out of the ground like geysers(spelling?).

And Vnpeeps- thanks but please dont bother sending any mosquitoes!!  and glad to hear there are others out there crazy enough to come all this way just for a lousy PhD!!  

Mary

Melissa we are from Beaumont- 87 miles east of Houston.

Oh wow! I'm actually in Baytown...not that far from Beaumont!

Yes- I must agree Houston can be Hellish- but there are a few nice things like the Zoo, Museum of Fine Art and the Museum of Natural History.  And theres always ice skating at the Galleria rink!

Yes you're right...I agree we do have some nice things here. I enjoy going to the zoo or the museums every now and then.

If you are getting quite sick of loud /dirty/stinky Houston- give Kemah a try- it is a really cool place njust SE of Houston on the river/port of Houston.  It has lots of restaurants and clubs and a wonderful boulevard atmoshpere- very unlike Houston.  At night there are lighted fountains that spring up out of the ground like geysers(spelling?).

I like going down to the Kemah boardwalk sometimes. It's nice in the evenings to sit out on one of the decks of the restaurants overlooking the water and have a drink.

Welcome Mary!  I lived in Texas for 9 years and had both of my babies there...we lived in Spring and then Huffman (near Humble and Atascocita).  We then moved from there to Atlanta so I went from hotter to almost as hot...sorry Peeps, I didn't find Atlanta to be as hellish as the Houston area but it had it's moments!!

I've only lived here in England for a couple of months but really do love it so far.  Everyone keeps reminding me though that this heat wave is NOT typical of an English summer...they think that disappoints me but it doesn't...I don't like HOT!!

Anyway, welcome here and hope to see you on the boards a lot!

-Sandy

Hi Mary, glad to meet you.  I'm glad you joined us.  I think this will help you in so many ways.  I've said it before  - the friendships here make the most difference.  You've started that here in this posting.  

Congratulations on your daughter as well.  How exciting.  What did your son think of the new addition?

Thanks Sandy and Kismet for your greetings!

Sandy- I get the same remarks from my neighbors about the heat--they all think we'll just love it because we are from Texas- but we are/were used to air conditioning-- the heat wave we had a couple of months ago was just terrible for us- I much prefer the crisp autumn weather we'll get here in the next month!!  Hope you are settling in ok.

Kismet- thanks for the congrats- my baby is 5 months old now and she keeps me really busy- she is lots of fun too!  my son is nuts about her- he seems really proud of her to all his friends- he helps out a lot too= even changed a few nappies!
see ya'll(Texas speak)

Heyla nursemeh, just wanted to add my welcome to the others'.  

Btw, a certain wishstar is organising some sort of UK-yankee picnic thingie in London on um the 28th?  (don't quote me!)  Why don't you come on down?  I'll make brownies!  

Heck, I found cornmeal the other day, I might make cornbread!  
wench

Hey, I was gonna make cornbread!    Guess I could be talked into doing those tortilla pinwheel thingies instead tho!

Nuresemeh is on the list already, wench.  She is all signed up.  (I've been hounding all the newbies, as I'm wont to do now and again.  At least this time I've had a good reason!)  

Looking forward to seeing you both the 28th!

 

Lol yeah, I spotted that later in the day.    Mebbe I should find a good cornbread recipe before plotting to make it...

wench

welcome Nursmeh! hey you others, is home baking compuslory for sunday? can i bring something from tescoes?!