whatchooo got against yankees?
grrrrrr...
Nothing really, my mother is from Connecticut.
Here in Dallas we have tons...TONS...of people moving here from other places, and it seems to be the Californians and Yankees who gripe the most that it's "not like home". My response to that is usually something along the lines of "If LA/SD/San Fran/Boston/New Jersey/etc. is so great, why'd you leave? Why not move back?" They usually retort that it's "not that easy." I win the argument with, "Well, I lived in
England for six years and moved back to Texas last year. I know moving is hard...try moving from one
country to another...twice...in the space of six years. Think you feel like a fish out of water here? Try being an
immigrant sometime."
Honestly, Britain wasn't a good fit for me; I never felt settled, welcome, or at home there. There were some things I liked about it and some things I miss, but overall I don't regret leaving. I also
don't regret moving there in the first place, because being an immigrant taught me the kind of patience and tolerance that you simply cannot learn on your own. Moving to another country, even one where they speak English, is freaking
scary.
If I can handle that and succeed, then losing weight should be a freaking snap.
The biggest mistake American immigrants in the UK make (and I made the same mistake) is to assume that the British are like us. They're not, and that assumption will come back to bite you in the ass every time! I lived in North Yorkshire, where people can be alarmingly blunt. That bluntness combined with the natural British reserve can be difficult to handle when you're used to living among Americans who, compared to the British, have severe bouts of emotional diarrhea and will strike up a conversation with random strangers, and who will tell white lies to keep from hurting your feelings. I like people to be honest with me, but it's tough to hear someone say "yes" when you ask them if your pants make your butt look big.
I do keep in touch with my friends from over there and I'll go back for a visit someday. I'm looking forward to bacon butties, fish and chips, and fan-freaking-tastic Indian food. It'll always have a special place in my heart, but it was not ever "home" for me and never will be. I wouldn't trade the experience though!
She's incredibly slim and while I bet it's mostly genetic, she eats a very healthy diet so I was interested in what she eats at home just to try something different and keep it interesting.
