Saturday, 20 September 2008
Culture shock
So I just got back from shopping at Asda- it's a Walmart spinoff here in the UK that has a store near where we were looking for other stuff. So we thought we'd just go in and pick some stuff up. They have very interesting international foods and I saw loads of Muslim women there, and people of all nationalities- it was a refreshing change from the very British white screaming children Tesco experience that I normally have. :) I think I'll try to shop there more often, because it's just less stressful in general. Anyway Asda didn't have the type of laundry detergent that I normally get, and I wanted to try to price compare on the powder versus the liquid....talk about setting your head spinning. It turns out that they're basically all the same price per load. So as I'm standing there sniffing the various powder boxes to see if I like the smell this Sting song comes on their internal radio. Now I was already feeling a little culture stress from the stupid detergent, but I happened to buy the CD that this song is on in a market in Cambodia in 2002, and I listened to that CD a lot that summer, especially one week that I stayed in the guest house and babysat it while the workers were away somewhere. Anyway the combination of the song and the stress from the powder hit me like a brick, and I had a total Cambodia flashback, as if I was right there, listening to this song in the guest house and feeling the warm evening breeze from the window....it was like I was right there. I could smell the guest house and see the furniture so clearly...I could almost feel the bed I was sitting on. It was more like a train wreck really- for just that moment there I was in Cambodia, a place that I love dearly, and then bamn- here I am standing in the detergent aisle at Asda in the UK. This isn't the first time I've had that happen, but it still catches me off guard. I still feel a little numb actually- some part of me just doesn't want to believe that I'm here in the UK in reality. I last left Cambodia 6 years ago, but it's still so real, and the fact is that I really miss it still. If you've never had culture shock, and you see a foreign person standing in an aisle at Meijer or Kroger or where ever with a very glazed look and possibly tears welling up, cut them some slack- it's probably just culture shock, and who knows what far away place that is dear to their heart is so real in their mind's eye in that moment. If you've had one of these moments yourself then you know what I'm talking about- it's the price we pay for giving our lives to a culture for a season, how ever long, and although it is SO worth it, it comes with a price of leaving some part of yourself there. I know I'll be ok in a day or 2, but until then I'll stay away from Asda and Tesco and be especially lifting up Cambodia and all my friends there.
September 20, 2008
It's always hard to get back into a routine when the new semester starts. Here they call them terms, and they're only 10 weeks long, but it's the same idea. Both of our iBASE studies so far have gone really well- please pr for a new girl named Marits who came from Holland and is asking some very good questions. She comes from a culturally believing home but isn't a believer herself. Also please lift up Gosia who is from Poland and is deciding which ch she wants to commit to.
The ladies international group has had 2 great studies as well, and we have several new ladies. There are also 4 Chinese ladies who are interested in having a study- one of them is a believer but the others are not. Very exciting to be starting off the term with so much interest! Please lift up the non-moms in our ladies' group, as we've been getting into some serious details about child birth which are troubling to the 2 other ladies who aren't moms yet. It doesn't bother me in the least to talk about all those things, but the other 2 ladies are quite sheltered in that regard and they are feeling a bit, well, just plain old grossed out by it all. Birth is quite a process, and some women don't have a good idea what it's like- we don't want these 2 ladies to be worried about birth.
I went to the Camera Club meeting this week- in fact Thursday night. I fully expected no one to talk to me (that's what happened last time) but was pleasantly surprised by several people recognizing me as having come in July (although they didn't talk to me then) and I had some good chats about the weather, Swavesey, and the state of the roads. :) Those are all good starting topics here, and although none of them introduced themselves at least we're off to a good start. The club has some internal photo competitions which I think I'm going to enter as a way to get to know people, and for them to get to know me. I don't care one way or another about competing in anything- I've never had a competitive spirit, I'm happy for others to win and for everyone to have a good time. But these competitions should help me make connections there at least. The speaker on Thursday was a very famous fashion photographer who among other things had done several nudes. Can I just say that I don't understand what is so beautiful about photographs of emaciated women? These poor women looked malnourished and sickly to me, and as he was going on about the beauty of the female form I was looking at those pictures and thinking how sad that that is what is considered beautiful- something that is not beautiful at all. Anyway I'm thankful to be healthy and not malnourished.
We've had a run of sunny weather here which is supposed to go on for several days, thankfully. We could use it. :)
The ladies international group has had 2 great studies as well, and we have several new ladies. There are also 4 Chinese ladies who are interested in having a study- one of them is a believer but the others are not. Very exciting to be starting off the term with so much interest! Please lift up the non-moms in our ladies' group, as we've been getting into some serious details about child birth which are troubling to the 2 other ladies who aren't moms yet. It doesn't bother me in the least to talk about all those things, but the other 2 ladies are quite sheltered in that regard and they are feeling a bit, well, just plain old grossed out by it all. Birth is quite a process, and some women don't have a good idea what it's like- we don't want these 2 ladies to be worried about birth.
I went to the Camera Club meeting this week- in fact Thursday night. I fully expected no one to talk to me (that's what happened last time) but was pleasantly surprised by several people recognizing me as having come in July (although they didn't talk to me then) and I had some good chats about the weather, Swavesey, and the state of the roads. :) Those are all good starting topics here, and although none of them introduced themselves at least we're off to a good start. The club has some internal photo competitions which I think I'm going to enter as a way to get to know people, and for them to get to know me. I don't care one way or another about competing in anything- I've never had a competitive spirit, I'm happy for others to win and for everyone to have a good time. But these competitions should help me make connections there at least. The speaker on Thursday was a very famous fashion photographer who among other things had done several nudes. Can I just say that I don't understand what is so beautiful about photographs of emaciated women? These poor women looked malnourished and sickly to me, and as he was going on about the beauty of the female form I was looking at those pictures and thinking how sad that that is what is considered beautiful- something that is not beautiful at all. Anyway I'm thankful to be healthy and not malnourished.
We've had a run of sunny weather here which is supposed to go on for several days, thankfully. We could use it. :)
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
September 16, 2008
Us on the roof of Ely Cathedral
I haven't posted a blog in awhile not because there haven't been interesting events- just you wait. :) But a friend of ours through the group we train students with in Kansas every May has been living in North Africa for 9 months and came to visit us on one of her mandatory 3 month visa runs. We were so blessed to just spend time with her, to hear about the work she's doing there, and all about her team, and what it's like to live in her country. It was great to speak English with an American and catch up on life. It's always a bit sad sending people off back home, but today was a good day of catching up on random things I'd left undone, and getting photos up and that sort of thing.
Of note this week was an experience that poor Nelly went through- fortunately she hasn't been too scarred I think, since she too has had stress innoculation. :) On Saturday (or maybe it was Sunday) we were gone all day, and we got back in the evening and heard this piteous meowing coming from the bedroom. Somehow the wind had caught the bedroom door and shut it, trapping Nelly in the bedroom. Now having read enough about cats and stress I was pretty sure that Nelly would have expressed her anxiety in the typical cat way- peeing or pooping on the bed. Cats do that when they are stressed, although sometimes they choose another piece of furniture. Anyway I was right- apparently Nelly connected being shut in with G, since she went on his side, and left a big poo right near his pillow. :) It all turned out fine in the end because we just flushed the misplaced poo and took the duvet off the bed, and nothing had gone beyond the duvet (we changed the sheets for good measure) so it was all good. Poor Nelly was very upset, and also very very hungry, and she stuck to us like glue for a few hours after that. She's still been a bit hoarse yesterday and today. Fortunately we had just ordered a new duvet (a wool one) and it arrived today, so we can just toss the peed on duvet- we'd wash it if our washer was big enough, but it's not and there are no laundromats here. Go figure. :)
I caught some sort of nasty bug that kept me in bed last week Sunday to Wednesday, then our friend S came on Thursday, and she just returned back to North Africa today. While she was here we went out to Ely and Wimpole, and Anglesey, and just enjoyed being outside in the nice autumn weather and sun, and enjoyed the beauty that is England on a sunny day. Honestly, the paintings just don't do it justice. We also tried some new places to eat including a Mexican place (it was really good.) I took some photos for our WWII veteran friends at Ely Cathedral- I know that in America we don't do such a good job of remembering our veterans, but I want you to know that you are VERY well remembered here in the UK for the service you provide to your country and to theirs. Every chapel, church, village, city etc has a memorial to those who served, and at Ely they have stained glass windows representing the bomber pilots who fought in the war. Here are a few photos:
This one represents those who flew the skies over Ely during the war.
Flying at night over the waters of the channel.
The search lights looking for them on their safe return home.
One of our favorite things to do at Ely is take the Octogon Tower tour, which takes you up to the top of the tower, and you can see how the tower was made and hear the history of it. At the very top is this small door that you'd have to be teeny to fit through, and the guide opens the door up so you can look out. I happened to look at the keys on the door, and thought it funny to see normal keys on a keyring with this massive skeleton key!
Here they are! :)
The day before S came to visit I went to another little village called Haslingfield, which had their Scarecrow Festival this week. I took some photos of the scarecrows, many of which were very clever indeed!
Trimming the hedges!
The emblem of the village- it's Queen Elizabeth I on her visit here in 1530ish.
Many old cottages border on the cemetery in this village.
A sea serpent scarecrow.
My personal favorite, the stork bringing babies.iBASE (that's our international group for 18-25s who are language students and nannies or other workers) went very well last Tuesday- it was our first meeting of the term, and G prepared a great study for us. We were small in number but are expecting more to come tonight. We've changed venues and are now meeting at the ch because there aren't any homes for us to meet in this term. But we're trying something new out tonight- the leaders are going to meet to have dinner together and pr for the study over sandwiches. Nothing glamorous but it'll be nice for us as a mini team to do that together.
Now that autumn is definitely upon us it's getting cooler at night, and I've started hanging up our curtains in the doorways and on the stairs to stop the drafts. We've also pulled out the space heaters, which are faster and warmer than our central heating radiators (not to mention cheaper.) The days are getting shorter, the trees are turning brown (that's what they do here- they just turn brown and then the leaves fall off), and the march of the Giant House Spider has begun as they wander around looking for mates. We're finding them about every 3 or 4 days now, which compared to last year's once a day is quite a good thing- putting them outside has helped reduce our numbers. But we still find massive ones. I found some spider legs on the floor the other day (yuck!) and can only assume that Nelly ate the rest of it, which I'm ok with. :) We also found a newt who had wandered in on his own- maybe he was after some bugs too?
Our teeny little newt who wandered in.
Now that autumn is definitely upon us it's getting cooler at night, and I've started hanging up our curtains in the doorways and on the stairs to stop the drafts. We've also pulled out the space heaters, which are faster and warmer than our central heating radiators (not to mention cheaper.) The days are getting shorter, the trees are turning brown (that's what they do here- they just turn brown and then the leaves fall off), and the march of the Giant House Spider has begun as they wander around looking for mates. We're finding them about every 3 or 4 days now, which compared to last year's once a day is quite a good thing- putting them outside has helped reduce our numbers. But we still find massive ones. I found some spider legs on the floor the other day (yuck!) and can only assume that Nelly ate the rest of it, which I'm ok with. :) We also found a newt who had wandered in on his own- maybe he was after some bugs too?
Our teeny little newt who wandered in.I hope that you are enjoying the fall colors and the relatively warm days- it's hard to believe this is our second fall in the UK!
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
September 9, 2008 Did you know?
I decided to make today's blog a Did You Know of the UK. I hope you find it interesting. :) It's not exhaustive, but just a few random facts.
Did you know....
There are NO electrical outlets in bathrooms here! Also no light switches! Switches have to be outside the room, or you can have a pull string one.
Did you know...
Schools operate on a term system here, with roughly 10 week terms, and a month break in between. School started last week, but ends July 15th with 3 terms in that time frame.
Did you know...
You are not allowed to take your children out of school during term time- no family vacations, no excused absences.
Did you know...
There's no Bill of Rights for the UK, so there is no right to bear arms, no right to free speech...
Did you know...
Britain as a country views the US as a young, adventuresome, risk taking, and insulated nation, which is forward thinking and not bound to tradition, but also a bit headstrong and individualistic.
Did you know...
You can get a flight from the UK to many places in Europe for $10 or less if you choose your time right and don't wait till the week before to purchase.
Did you know...
It doesn't really matter which direction your car is facing when you park on the side of the road in the UK. In fact you can block half the road even and that's still fine.
Did you know...
There isn't a dramatic color change in the fall here- leaves just turn sort of yellowish brown and drop off.
Did you know...
If you order a package through the mail here it's likely to arrive in 2 days, no matter where in the UK it came from.
Did you know...
British people really do drink a lot of tea. The first thing a host will say when welcoming a guest is "Would you like some tea?" The expected answer is "Yes, please" so if you say no they pause a second to be sure they heard you properly. :)
Did you know...
What we call English muffins in the US vaguely resemble crumpets, a famous British tea time food.
Did you know...
There are a lot of designated "traveller camps" for nomadic people like the Roma (aka Gypsies) to use. Many of them have large pastures for their horses as well, and you can often see horses grazing along the highways near the traveller camps.
Did you know...
Private rooms in hospitals have to be paid extra for. Once you've had your procedure or delivered your baby or whatever, they put you into a big ward with curtains between you and the other people there. There simply aren't large maternity sections of hospitals all with private rooms. It cost an extra $160/night to have a private room in the hospital. (I found this out through friends, not because I've had to go to a hospital myself thankfully.)
Did you know...
Most children of middle or upper class families take a year off between high school and college, called a Gap year, and many of them travel around the world for several months during that year. Our landlord's son is spending several months travelling across Asia right now.
Did you know...
There is national health care here, and many people complain that doctors don't want to treat them because of the cost. If you go to a doctor you're likely to be told to just go home and eat "more fruit and veg."
Did you know...
All children wear school uniforms here. Each school has a set of colors, and the children all have matching sweaters, skirts/pants, and white shirts. It's like Harry Potter, but every school in the UK is like that.
Did you know...
The official name of the country we are in is United Kingdom. It is also called Great Britain. Within the United Kingdom there are the regions called England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. There is also a Commonwealth composed of former British territories including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa. But not the US. :)
Did you know...
You are required to use the emergency brake whenever you stop at an intersection.
Did you know....
There are NO electrical outlets in bathrooms here! Also no light switches! Switches have to be outside the room, or you can have a pull string one.
Did you know...
Schools operate on a term system here, with roughly 10 week terms, and a month break in between. School started last week, but ends July 15th with 3 terms in that time frame.
Did you know...
You are not allowed to take your children out of school during term time- no family vacations, no excused absences.
Did you know...
There's no Bill of Rights for the UK, so there is no right to bear arms, no right to free speech...
Did you know...
Britain as a country views the US as a young, adventuresome, risk taking, and insulated nation, which is forward thinking and not bound to tradition, but also a bit headstrong and individualistic.
Did you know...
You can get a flight from the UK to many places in Europe for $10 or less if you choose your time right and don't wait till the week before to purchase.
Did you know...
It doesn't really matter which direction your car is facing when you park on the side of the road in the UK. In fact you can block half the road even and that's still fine.
Did you know...
There isn't a dramatic color change in the fall here- leaves just turn sort of yellowish brown and drop off.
Did you know...
If you order a package through the mail here it's likely to arrive in 2 days, no matter where in the UK it came from.
Did you know...
British people really do drink a lot of tea. The first thing a host will say when welcoming a guest is "Would you like some tea?" The expected answer is "Yes, please" so if you say no they pause a second to be sure they heard you properly. :)
Did you know...
What we call English muffins in the US vaguely resemble crumpets, a famous British tea time food.
Did you know...
There are a lot of designated "traveller camps" for nomadic people like the Roma (aka Gypsies) to use. Many of them have large pastures for their horses as well, and you can often see horses grazing along the highways near the traveller camps.
Did you know...
Private rooms in hospitals have to be paid extra for. Once you've had your procedure or delivered your baby or whatever, they put you into a big ward with curtains between you and the other people there. There simply aren't large maternity sections of hospitals all with private rooms. It cost an extra $160/night to have a private room in the hospital. (I found this out through friends, not because I've had to go to a hospital myself thankfully.)
Did you know...
Most children of middle or upper class families take a year off between high school and college, called a Gap year, and many of them travel around the world for several months during that year. Our landlord's son is spending several months travelling across Asia right now.
Did you know...
There is national health care here, and many people complain that doctors don't want to treat them because of the cost. If you go to a doctor you're likely to be told to just go home and eat "more fruit and veg."
Did you know...
All children wear school uniforms here. Each school has a set of colors, and the children all have matching sweaters, skirts/pants, and white shirts. It's like Harry Potter, but every school in the UK is like that.
Did you know...
The official name of the country we are in is United Kingdom. It is also called Great Britain. Within the United Kingdom there are the regions called England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. There is also a Commonwealth composed of former British territories including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa. But not the US. :)
Did you know...
You are required to use the emergency brake whenever you stop at an intersection.
Saturday, 6 September 2008
September 6, 2008
Well the school year has officially started, and with it our various activities. This year as a new thing we've formed an official International Team, with 3 mini teams for iHUB (that's post grads), iBase (18-25 yr old language students and au pairs) and iFamilies (ladies' morning group and family outreaches). Our first team meeting, a sort of orientation, was today. It was great to meet others whom we'll be closely working with in our teams, and also getting to know those in the other 2 groups. I'm a bit of an exception because I will be helping G with iBase, but I am also leading the ladies' morning group. The time together to plan and pr was really good. We're excited about the year and about helping to train some internationals who are working alongside us.
Living Proof friends I was thinking of you all particularly today, and feeling so thankful for the ways that you've shared your lives with us! We really miss you, and we're pring for you all. Did you know that there are some folks in rural China who are using quilting as an outreach activity and to help teach women who were on the streets and things a trade? I am so grateful for your patiently teaching me about quilting, and about being newly married, through our quilting group! I was just thinking the other day of the wise words you shared with me regarding my concern that G was so forgetful- I'll never forget the way you all laughed, and someone said, "Oh honey, they're all like that!" :D I felt so encouraged by that! Anyway you all have a large share in the work that we're doing here because of the way you taught us through your lives and normal activities. We miss you tons!
Maybe with it being fall now I've been a bit more thoughtful- when it's rainy and cool outside I tend to stay inside and think more. Anyway I'm very thankful for all my friends in MI, and my family, and I miss you guys a lot! Missing the summer activities with my friends in MI has been hard this year, and I'm thinking of you all as the leaves start to fall and new work begins here and there.
Living Proof friends I was thinking of you all particularly today, and feeling so thankful for the ways that you've shared your lives with us! We really miss you, and we're pring for you all. Did you know that there are some folks in rural China who are using quilting as an outreach activity and to help teach women who were on the streets and things a trade? I am so grateful for your patiently teaching me about quilting, and about being newly married, through our quilting group! I was just thinking the other day of the wise words you shared with me regarding my concern that G was so forgetful- I'll never forget the way you all laughed, and someone said, "Oh honey, they're all like that!" :D I felt so encouraged by that! Anyway you all have a large share in the work that we're doing here because of the way you taught us through your lives and normal activities. We miss you tons!
Maybe with it being fall now I've been a bit more thoughtful- when it's rainy and cool outside I tend to stay inside and think more. Anyway I'm very thankful for all my friends in MI, and my family, and I miss you guys a lot! Missing the summer activities with my friends in MI has been hard this year, and I'm thinking of you all as the leaves start to fall and new work begins here and there.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
September 4, 2008
Wow, what a week! It has been hard work for me this week, getting that promotional card done to give to ladies at the luncheon, working on the website, cleaning the house (thoroughly) for some people who were coming to visit, and the laundry, and dinner with friends....very full socially. First, the update on the luncheon.
Rejoice with me- the luncheon went great! I feel like a real businesswoman now! Seriously, this was a huge step for me to take, to actually go out looking for business and generate it via networking. But I felt like now that we're settled in here it's a good time to get after it. I enjoy volunteering my services, but I'd like to really learn about the business ropes of things here, so that when we get overseas I'll have some experience with it. I'm not afraid of reasonable risk, so I made the promo cards, I dressed like a UK business woman, and I signed up for this luncheon. Can I just say that it was really refreshing to meet other women who are in business for themselves, and just chat with them? I felt like I made some very good connections, not just business wise, but also for potential friendships. But on the business side, several women recommended to me that I ask the woman who plans these events about offering a quick portrait session at one of the luncheons, because that's a service that a lot of women would like, and they don't have the time to do a special session with a photographer. So I asked her, and it looks like we're going to set it up for November! So now I have a whole new set of things to prepare- I would like to have some demo books for people to browse, of my work, while they wait for their portrait slot, which means making like 4 or 5 books. Just that one day, even if I just charge like 10 pounds, that's like 300 pounds in one day!! Whoa. Well now I know an accountant who can help me do my taxes- I met one at the luncheon. :)
Besides the portraits, I'm also meeting with a woman who makes purses out of old banners, and she needs some photos of her products. And one of the women I met wants me to photograph her childrens' birthday parties in March. So this is all good news for me. :) I felt like this luncheon was an experiment, a 15 pound investment, and if it didn't pay off I'd just not go again. But I will definitely but these in my schedule and go every month from now on. Honestly I think photography for women business owners is an untapped market- most photographers are men, and most only want to do weddings and events.
Well enough about the luncheon. :) Here are my promo cards- I didn't put photos on them because I didn't want to be type cast into a certain photographer role. Which turned out to be the best idea, because many women liked the list of what I do, and recent projects.
This is the front of the "postcard." They're postcard sized, but meant to use as hand outs. I created these myself in Photoshop.
Rejoice with me- the luncheon went great! I feel like a real businesswoman now! Seriously, this was a huge step for me to take, to actually go out looking for business and generate it via networking. But I felt like now that we're settled in here it's a good time to get after it. I enjoy volunteering my services, but I'd like to really learn about the business ropes of things here, so that when we get overseas I'll have some experience with it. I'm not afraid of reasonable risk, so I made the promo cards, I dressed like a UK business woman, and I signed up for this luncheon. Can I just say that it was really refreshing to meet other women who are in business for themselves, and just chat with them? I felt like I made some very good connections, not just business wise, but also for potential friendships. But on the business side, several women recommended to me that I ask the woman who plans these events about offering a quick portrait session at one of the luncheons, because that's a service that a lot of women would like, and they don't have the time to do a special session with a photographer. So I asked her, and it looks like we're going to set it up for November! So now I have a whole new set of things to prepare- I would like to have some demo books for people to browse, of my work, while they wait for their portrait slot, which means making like 4 or 5 books. Just that one day, even if I just charge like 10 pounds, that's like 300 pounds in one day!! Whoa. Well now I know an accountant who can help me do my taxes- I met one at the luncheon. :)
Besides the portraits, I'm also meeting with a woman who makes purses out of old banners, and she needs some photos of her products. And one of the women I met wants me to photograph her childrens' birthday parties in March. So this is all good news for me. :) I felt like this luncheon was an experiment, a 15 pound investment, and if it didn't pay off I'd just not go again. But I will definitely but these in my schedule and go every month from now on. Honestly I think photography for women business owners is an untapped market- most photographers are men, and most only want to do weddings and events.
Well enough about the luncheon. :) Here are my promo cards- I didn't put photos on them because I didn't want to be type cast into a certain photographer role. Which turned out to be the best idea, because many women liked the list of what I do, and recent projects.
This is the front of the "postcard." They're postcard sized, but meant to use as hand outs. I created these myself in Photoshop.
Here is the back. On the left I listed the types of things that I do (there's a strong stereotype here that photographers only do weddings, and I needed to make it clear what I am offering) and on the right I listed recent projects that I've done, to give them an idea. I put more weight on small business sort of projects, and things that appeal to women, like photo retouching and birthday parties for their kids.
If you want one let me know and I'll send it- these aren't very high res images because they'd take too long to upload. :)
It's Fall here now- which Brits call Autumn. If I say Fall, they have no idea what I mean. :) Anyway the leaves are turning and falling, and it's getting cold outside. All new chances for interesting photography. This Saturday our International Team is meeting for some training and planning, and next week the ladies' study will start, and our iBASE (that's 18-24's who are nannies or language students) will start as well. Bounce A Round, the group for moms of preschoolers, will start also, and I will be going to that to try to meet international moms. It should be interesting I think. But I hope to be less busy so I can do more photography projects this year. We're also in the midst of planning 2 trips- one at the end of the month to southern France, and one in November to Tromso, which is north of the Arctic Circle, to see the Aurora Borealis at the best time of year to view (and photograph) it. Since we don't intend to be in the UK forever we're trying to squeeze in lots of trips and things while we can. :)
I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend- we don't have Labor Day here, so it was a pretty plain weekend. I miss the long weekend and warm summers in Michigan! It's still cold here. :)
It's Fall here now- which Brits call Autumn. If I say Fall, they have no idea what I mean. :) Anyway the leaves are turning and falling, and it's getting cold outside. All new chances for interesting photography. This Saturday our International Team is meeting for some training and planning, and next week the ladies' study will start, and our iBASE (that's 18-24's who are nannies or language students) will start as well. Bounce A Round, the group for moms of preschoolers, will start also, and I will be going to that to try to meet international moms. It should be interesting I think. But I hope to be less busy so I can do more photography projects this year. We're also in the midst of planning 2 trips- one at the end of the month to southern France, and one in November to Tromso, which is north of the Arctic Circle, to see the Aurora Borealis at the best time of year to view (and photograph) it. Since we don't intend to be in the UK forever we're trying to squeeze in lots of trips and things while we can. :)
I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend- we don't have Labor Day here, so it was a pretty plain weekend. I miss the long weekend and warm summers in Michigan! It's still cold here. :)
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