It's been a great day for understanding and change, and in total, I've gained really good insight into how my life in the UK is developing, so let's lie back and think of England, nixing that sayings sexual undertones, of course.
It's been about two months since I arrived here, beginning my sixth attempt at settling down in Blighty. Blighty...really? To be honest, I don't feel I'll ever be comfortable saying all of the Britishisms, but for the sake of a future Commonwealth readership, I'll at least acknowledge their existence.
To me, offering detailed anecdotes about being a Yankee expatriate in the UK is about as interesting as watching paint dry, and I'm sure Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Bill Hicks (who intended to relocate here) and Sylvia Plath did a better job in their day and way. With that said, what can original statements can be offered?
Hand on heart, I can say that I have a loving affection for Britain. I feel far more comfortable being here than I ever was in America, which seems odd, considering how the US isn't exactly a developing backwater failed state and I really don't have any problems with Americans or the idea of America. Living there just isn't my cup of tea. Europe made me do it.
Nixing comparisons of his fame, talent or youthful pretension, Scott Walker's explanation for living here offers reasons that I share.
In 2004, I had the chance to visit Greece. I was floored by beauty of the country. Nothing else was necessary. Flying back to America, to New Jersey, with its car-clogged superhighway arteries, cookie cutter homes and tasteless chain stores, and then realizing that this was the romping ground of many a NYC commuter got me sufficiently motivated to get out as quickly as I could. I took great advice and transferred colleges, boarded a plane and came on over.
Funnily enough, the UK was not my first choice. Germany was. My character gravitates towards the austerity that many Germans demonstrate, so I figured, why not? Well, I'll tell you what happened to that idea. I lasted about a year and half before I began to miss speaking English full time and all of the cultural facets of the Anglosphere. I wanted to live in Europe without the hassle of being endlessly reminded of cultural and language barriers; a pathetic problem to have, but an honest one just the same...so I moved to the UK.
How rude! Are you honestly trying to say that you moved to the UK because of language and culture? Well, hopefully not. Britain is also very conducive to my idea of a good life. People here are witty, curious about the outside world, and ethnically diverse. It's as if the Empire lead to an improved America: one without the reactionary extremities of individualism or the anti-intellectualism of its political class. That's perdy cool to me.
Of course, a lot of hot air can be released about Britain's greatness, and I don't want to sound like I'm reading from a poorly edited script. The history of this country is as bloody as it is fascinating. Just the same, at least we Americans are well versed in rapacious and violent pastimes, too. But I digress...
The UK is also a great based from which to travel around the world. Literally. From Auckland to Alberta, you can catch a plane to London, and its something I admire tremendously.
In the end, maybe it just comes down to that airport.
(Will finish the post tomorrow - exhausted!)
That's some dysfunctional family.
It's been about two months since I arrived here, beginning my sixth attempt at settling down in Blighty. Blighty...really? To be honest, I don't feel I'll ever be comfortable saying all of the Britishisms, but for the sake of a future Commonwealth readership, I'll at least acknowledge their existence.
To me, offering detailed anecdotes about being a Yankee expatriate in the UK is about as interesting as watching paint dry, and I'm sure Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Bill Hicks (who intended to relocate here) and Sylvia Plath did a better job in their day and way. With that said, what can original statements can be offered?
Hand on heart, I can say that I have a loving affection for Britain. I feel far more comfortable being here than I ever was in America, which seems odd, considering how the US isn't exactly a developing backwater failed state and I really don't have any problems with Americans or the idea of America. Living there just isn't my cup of tea. Europe made me do it.
Nixing comparisons of his fame, talent or youthful pretension, Scott Walker's explanation for living here offers reasons that I share.
In 2004, I had the chance to visit Greece. I was floored by beauty of the country. Nothing else was necessary. Flying back to America, to New Jersey, with its car-clogged superhighway arteries, cookie cutter homes and tasteless chain stores, and then realizing that this was the romping ground of many a NYC commuter got me sufficiently motivated to get out as quickly as I could. I took great advice and transferred colleges, boarded a plane and came on over.
Funnily enough, the UK was not my first choice. Germany was. My character gravitates towards the austerity that many Germans demonstrate, so I figured, why not? Well, I'll tell you what happened to that idea. I lasted about a year and half before I began to miss speaking English full time and all of the cultural facets of the Anglosphere. I wanted to live in Europe without the hassle of being endlessly reminded of cultural and language barriers; a pathetic problem to have, but an honest one just the same...so I moved to the UK.
How rude! Are you honestly trying to say that you moved to the UK because of language and culture? Well, hopefully not. Britain is also very conducive to my idea of a good life. People here are witty, curious about the outside world, and ethnically diverse. It's as if the Empire lead to an improved America: one without the reactionary extremities of individualism or the anti-intellectualism of its political class. That's perdy cool to me.
Of course, a lot of hot air can be released about Britain's greatness, and I don't want to sound like I'm reading from a poorly edited script. The history of this country is as bloody as it is fascinating. Just the same, at least we Americans are well versed in rapacious and violent pastimes, too. But I digress...
The UK is also a great based from which to travel around the world. Literally. From Auckland to Alberta, you can catch a plane to London, and its something I admire tremendously.
In the end, maybe it just comes down to that airport.
(Will finish the post tomorrow - exhausted!)
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