It's still been fun living life in a new culture. It's similar enough to our regular lifestyle in the U.S. that we don't feel too bewildered, but different enough to keep life interesting.
We got used to driving on the other side of the road. That only took about a week to feel totally comfortable, even in roundabouts.
We love that biking is such a big part of the culture here! D bikes to the train station each morning, takes his bike on the train, and then bikes to work on the other end. The kids and I bike to playgrounds, to the local library, to the grocery stores, on the Thames path, even to pubs... we'll miss the easy bike access when we get back to Princeton.
Biking home from the pub. I have learned:
one and a half pints makes it easy
to take a selfie while biking.
We've also become avid bus riders. There's no way to park a car in Oxford city center, and the bike ride would be a bit stressful for A. Now we know the local routes, and even know how to time it to catch a double decker bus (which is of course the only way to ride).
Waiting for a bus on the High Street
Enjoying the view from up top
We've taken the kids to a lot of playgrounds. The playground equipment is much more adventurous here than in the U.S. Zip lines, spinning things, super high climbing walls... these are pretty routine here.
Zip line
We also have library cards to the Oxford system, which has been great! My boy was getting antsy without an endless supply of new reading material. It's fun seeing different authors and writing styles.
Wildlife. I'm still waiting to see a wild hedgehog. Badgers are also apparently here and there. The pigeons are massive... chicken-size. The snails are also enormous. And we love seeing sheep dot the hillsides!
Wildlife. I'm still waiting to see a wild hedgehog. Badgers are also apparently here and there. The pigeons are massive... chicken-size. The snails are also enormous. And we love seeing sheep dot the hillsides!
Massive pigeon with a robin-sized bird for perspective
Friendly (large) snail
Architecture. Let me just say it's fascinating, and I still get excited when we drive around a curve and see a stone cottage or a thatched-roof cottage prettily perched on the roadside.
Saw this beauty on an evening bike ride
Just your average house!
Food. The produce here is very fresh and tasty. As a comparison, in the U.S., it is quite likely to buy a hard-as-a-rock-peach that never ripens into something you'd enjoy eating. ALL of the peaches here have been excellent; same goes for tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries... even the broccoli tastes better here. Corn on the cob is the only thing that isn't as good.
And, well... the coffee situation is less-than-ideal. Many of the homes we've stayed in haven't had a drip coffee maker, which is really a requirement when you consume as much coffee as I do. So we bought my very own British drip coffee maker.
I have enjoyed the tea here, though. There really is something fantastic about tea time on a dreary day. We've been taking our tea at Waitrose... they give me a free pot if I buy baked goods to sugar up my kids!
Tea time at Waitrose
And clotted cream! It's absolutely luscious on a scone (and my morning toast).
Yorkshire pudding.... you can buy it in the store here! For me, Yorkshire pudding has always been a magical once-per-year treat at Christmas when Dad cooks a roast. Here they have a whole refrigerator section, and a whole freezer section, devoted to Yorkshire pudding! (Disclaimer: the packaged variety is not as tasty as Dad's.)
We love the pubs, of course - good food, casual service. Most of them have good kids' menus, which is a big plus.
Ah, and the Pimms. It didn't take me long at all to fall in love with a good Pimms cup.
My DIY Pimms cups
Someone asked us the other day what I miss most about life in the U.S. Aside from our home and friends and family, we honestly couldn't think of much that we miss!
Our trip is 7 weeks down, 4 to go... here's to making the most of our last month of living life in England!
Love it!
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