"Monday."

Today is Monday, that day stereotypically loathed by people and orange cats alike. This Monday happens to mark one week since we moved.

When we first announced we would move to London, we had about 10 weeks before the move. That prompted several pairs of skeptical, raised eyebrows, which admittedly was kind of fun. ("You don't think we can sell all of our things and pack up our lives in 10 weeks? Watch me!")

I noticed another reaction though, once we were under the one-week mark. Once we weren't explaining in numbers of days or weeks, but just answering, "Monday." One word, not several, to describe when our life would change in a big, big way. The physical reaction of the questioner now included the eyes and mouth, sometimes a whole-head movement. Not just the eyebrows anymore!

The same is somewhat true when asked when we had arrived in London. A simple, "Tuesday" (you land a day later traveling from the US to UK) carries a sense of very-recent-ness, versus tomorrow when we can say, "a week ago" or next week when it'll be two weeks. The excitement immediately before and after Aug. 10-11 is something I hope we can recall later. It all did go very quickly, but in hindsight what we accomplished, especially in the week leading up to our departure (with the help of so many people) really was impressive. And unique.

And all of this excitement and amazement around our new digs will eventually dissipate and we'll be left to live typical lives in London. In the coming months we'll slowly realize we've become curmudgeon-y about tube wait times, tired of all the rain and I'm sure some other thing that Londoners complain about.

Until then I'm happy to be amazed and hope to find patience — and to remember that this IS a unique moment in time —while I repeatedly get lost, choose the wrong tube line, and probably get lost a second time.

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.