addicted...
So there is nothing like leaving the comfort zone of home to make you realize to what types of things you are addicted. Now, those of you who know me well will know that without question, I miss my chips and salsa. No shock to anyone there. But there are other things I miss, and I didn't realize how much I depended on these comfort items until I got away from them. Here are a few things I miss:
1.) microwave popcorn and m&m's
2.) shoes (i brought 2 pair and have already bought 2 pair)
3.) sweater/jacket (it's so freakin' cold here and i didn't bring enough warm clothes because it was 95+ degrees in TX!
4.) my car (i love using public transport -- but it takes quite a chunk of time out of one's day... how spoiled am i??)
5.) dryers (for hair and clothes... but I can get ready to go in a much shorter time here, even if my clothes are a bit crispy..)
6.) cooking my own food ("WHAT??" some of you exclaim -- "you don't cook at all anyway!" But I DO make food at my house and am quite tired of eating out or eating sandwiches all the time).
7.) free refills on sodas.
8.) limitless computer access and wireless access (that's why my posts are so few and far between -- i often don't have access to a computer..)
9.) being warm
10.) town lake/baby a's margaritas & chips/salsa
Now all the things above are totally unneccesary things, and I've survived perfectly well here without them. It's just been interesting to note how much I take for granted and how spoiled I am. It's been an eye-opening experience.
But there are also things I love about being in London and that I will miss when I come back to Austin:
1.) Riding the tube (it's ALWAYS an adventure of some sort..)
2.) walking EVERYWHERE (i have eaten more ice cream and cookies here than I EVER eat at home and actually have lost a couple of pounds simply because we walk so much)
3.) international influences (soooooo many people here from so many countries -- over 300 languages spoken here and i think i've heard at least 20 in the last few weeks... Also, the food choices are endless)
4.) cool looking, colorful money with pictures of folks like Elgar, and Darwin on it (and I love the sound of the change clinking together -- it sounds different from our money)
5.) fashion (I have seen so many interesting fashions here...)
6.) English game shows (many games around vocabulary and word-smithing)
7.) news programs that give a world-perspective (how much have those in the states heard about all the EU stuff?? It's a huge thing and here we hear about lots of countries -- not just England.)
8.) packed parks (on sunny days EVERYONE comes and sits in a square nearby... it's like a community even though folks often keep to themselves.
9.) Waterstone's Bookshop. (oh my gosh i love this shop)
10.) being out of my comfort zone (i learn things and think about things i'd never noticed before, simply because i'm out of my comfort zone).
So we've a few more weeks here and around Europe, and I will enjoy them. But it will be both a joy and a sadness to come home.
1.) microwave popcorn and m&m's
2.) shoes (i brought 2 pair and have already bought 2 pair)
3.) sweater/jacket (it's so freakin' cold here and i didn't bring enough warm clothes because it was 95+ degrees in TX!
4.) my car (i love using public transport -- but it takes quite a chunk of time out of one's day... how spoiled am i??)
5.) dryers (for hair and clothes... but I can get ready to go in a much shorter time here, even if my clothes are a bit crispy..)
6.) cooking my own food ("WHAT??" some of you exclaim -- "you don't cook at all anyway!" But I DO make food at my house and am quite tired of eating out or eating sandwiches all the time).
7.) free refills on sodas.
8.) limitless computer access and wireless access (that's why my posts are so few and far between -- i often don't have access to a computer..)
9.) being warm
10.) town lake/baby a's margaritas & chips/salsa
Now all the things above are totally unneccesary things, and I've survived perfectly well here without them. It's just been interesting to note how much I take for granted and how spoiled I am. It's been an eye-opening experience.
But there are also things I love about being in London and that I will miss when I come back to Austin:
1.) Riding the tube (it's ALWAYS an adventure of some sort..)
2.) walking EVERYWHERE (i have eaten more ice cream and cookies here than I EVER eat at home and actually have lost a couple of pounds simply because we walk so much)
3.) international influences (soooooo many people here from so many countries -- over 300 languages spoken here and i think i've heard at least 20 in the last few weeks... Also, the food choices are endless)
4.) cool looking, colorful money with pictures of folks like Elgar, and Darwin on it (and I love the sound of the change clinking together -- it sounds different from our money)
5.) fashion (I have seen so many interesting fashions here...)
6.) English game shows (many games around vocabulary and word-smithing)
7.) news programs that give a world-perspective (how much have those in the states heard about all the EU stuff?? It's a huge thing and here we hear about lots of countries -- not just England.)
8.) packed parks (on sunny days EVERYONE comes and sits in a square nearby... it's like a community even though folks often keep to themselves.
9.) Waterstone's Bookshop. (oh my gosh i love this shop)
10.) being out of my comfort zone (i learn things and think about things i'd never noticed before, simply because i'm out of my comfort zone).
So we've a few more weeks here and around Europe, and I will enjoy them. But it will be both a joy and a sadness to come home.