Learning

So far, we have learned:

1. "First Floor Apartment" is code for "three flights of stairs".
2. Ellen is not sure where she packed her deodorant.
3. When making small talk, lead with the state, then city. ("Oh, you're from Kansas!" "No.")
4. Not even Starbucks makes a good iced latte. 
5. Always carry an umbrella.
6. Don't wear mesh running/tennis shoes.
7. The light fixture in our "receiving room" will blow a fuse if you leave it on too long.
8. In a tiny apartment, tidy habits go a long way for your sanity. 
9. If the dishwasher detergent states, "do not unwrap" the tablet, it is lying.

Acclimating - Part One

I just ate a meat pie while drinking Earl Grey (hot) while staring out the window at a rainy London day.

Londoner Level 1: Unlocked.

We're heeeerrrre!

"We're heeere!"

We have arrived in London! Which means I will never again have a better opportunity to blog using only Love Actually memes.

Our trip here included:

200- total pounds of checked baggage (plus four hefty carry-ons)

1- partially leaky water bottle

1- successful sub-15-minute connection in Detroit
(we didn't have to run, but I did consider it...)

4- empty seats across the airplane aisle from us. We took them. 

Only a few quick tears

(not nearly as sad as Emma Thompson in this scene, but just as discreet.)

And now -- we LIVE in LONDON!

These are the weirdest good-byes.

They've started.

The real good-byes.

The No-Really-I'm-Not-Going-Hug-You-Again-for-a-Long-Time good-byes.

Which is true.

But it's also SO. EASY. to communicate these days. Video chat is a real thing, and it's not just for naked people anymore. Though my nephew is already known for arriving at home and taking off his pants...

At this point, I connect with almost all of my friends via social media, which has grown to be a way for the world to communicate. That ease makes distances seem a lot smaller. And reaching out just doesn't seem like that big of a hurdle anymore. And frankly, for several friends, this move will change very little about how we communicate.

Just on Tuesday I was video conferencing with an author who lives in Colorado, surrounded by a room full of Kansas City Library book club people. I used FaceTime to show my sister-in-law which bed sheets we were giving away. Britton and I got to be choosey about which (free) app we used to call each other while he was in Liverpool earlier this year. If you can't connect with someone, somehow — you really aren't trying.

I'm sad to say these good-byes, and will hug all of my people so tight if and when I see them before I leave. But I'm consoled — and really excited — to know that there are so many easy ways to still see my favorite awesome faces.

You thought I hated dishes before?

Motivation to empty the dishwasher: Zero.

I have decided that the way to completely empty my house is to first empty every cabinet, every drawer, every nook and cranny and put the contents where they are visible. So putting a dish on a shelf is now very literally a waste of my time.

Who wants a souvenir pint glass??

I'm about an inch closer to even considering to start packing the things that we will take. I even stood in front of my scarf collection and thought about the action of folding them. Then I wrote a blog post about thinking about folding scarves.

I have two days left at the office.

We leave in 12 days.

Commence hyperventilating in three... twooooooo...