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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

When In Rome

When the military gave my husband the assignment to the UK, I was absolutely thrilled. It was a chance to change our life and live outside our comfort zones, experience another culture and give our kids the experience of living abroad on the governments dime. Unfortunately I didn't realize there isn't a manual for moving oversea provided by the government. Basically, they buy the airline tickets, take care of your visas and passports, provide you lodging until you can sort out your housing situation, tell you some interesting places to visit and send you on your way. Helpful, but it all leaves you with your head spinning, feeling like you have landed on an alien planet with no sense of direction.

Last year, my first experiences with English customs were interesting to say the least. On Pancake Day last year I thought LaLa was yanking my chain when she told me she needed to bring a pancake and a frying pan to school (about 15 minutes before we were due to leave for school). What the heck does she need a pancake for? Pancake races, that's what! Of course she also ended up with an American pancake as opposed to what is considered a pancake here. I call the type of pancakes they make here crepes. Live and learn.

I though after that experience that my learning of English traditions was down pat. So wrong. I forgot to let LaLa wear her princess dress to school on St. George's day. Prompting me to run home and find it and bring it back up to the school, with my daughter in tears. The piece de resistance though was when we were required to make an Easter bonnet. I really didn't know how seriously some of the parents at my daughter's school took their Easter bonnets. LaLa ended up at school with a gaudily decorated paper plate on her head. It was ridiculous. Thankfully as a backup I had thought to bring a cute pink, blue and yellow spring hat. However that did not manage to make me feel like any less of a failure when it came to the customs of my host country.

This year though, I am prepared. Yesterday was Pancake Day. This gives me roughly 40 days to come up with an Easter bonnet. When in Rome (or England) do what the natives do, buy a bonnet pattern on eBay.

Comments (20)

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:-D well said, Kat. That's how I would have gone about it too, since I am completely hopeless at crafts!
Wow, I had no idea. I need to get out more :)
LOL! At least you speak the language though! This is our 3rd time in Germany and I'm pretty good at knowing most stuff, but I still get confused on occasion. I would give my eye teeth for dh to get stationed in England. And I would learn from your blog, all the stuff I'm supposed to do and not do. :)
Oh my!! I would have never thought about these kinds of things?!! Horrors!! Poor LaLa! Poor you! Well, as you say, this year you are prepared! woohoo!!!
Hugs
SueAnn
yay for ebay! Good luck with the bonnet making :)
Oh God we never had to make easter bonnets in Essex, but there's been other crazy things. you're right live and learn. And use eBay. :)
Everything you could need can be found on the interwebs. Yay!

If there is ever a Drink A Pint Day, I am all set!
We use to get a new Easter bonnet every year as a kid. They fell out of favor in the U.S. when I hit about 10, so around 1960. That is something I'd like to see come back into fashion. Because, I love hats.
Young Mummy's avatar

Young Mummy · 789 weeks ago

I remember an easter bonnet competition at school when I was about 6 years old. Everyone else had pretty bonnets, and my mum decided to be more 'creative' and covered a hat in fake green grass (like the stuff under the veg at the greengrocers), covered it with daffodils and attached a toy bunny rabbit!! She was most put-out that I didn't win, and still complains about it today...
It's tough one but at least you know now. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Good luck with the bonnet.
Bonnets! How delightful! Sorry you had to figure this out the hard way, but I can't WAIT to hear about what you come up with with your ebay pattern! Good luck!
Good luck pattern hunting. I like the bonnet in Mc calls 4547 it's easy to make, but still cute. If I still had it I would send it to you.
At least you're in a an English speaking country! When my brother-in-law was in the Army, they lived in Germany, Panama, El Salvador (they came home with a really cute 3 year old girl from that assignment!). Then he retired and they moved to Abu Dhabi and now he's in Columbia (don't ask). Seems to me, just as you really get the hang of English living, you'll be assigned to another place.
lol!! pancake day sounds a little odd.
I would have expected the teacher to realize you aren't English and might not know about certain things at least. But you're learning, and you go with the flow, so things haven't turned out as tragic is they could for her.
A pancake is a pancake and a crepe is a crepe. Who do these people think they are?
I am so glad that I don't have to worry about that stuff! It would so get on my nerves.
As you said - you live and learn and I'm sure LaLa will always find something to 'spring' on you at the last minute; it's how you deal with it that counts. For everything else theres...no mastercard, just eBay and a crap load of Googling!
You'd think Marks & Spencers or whoever would have displays to give a person a hint!
I'm writing this as you commented over on Xbox4NappyRashes site congratulating him on the birth of his daughter.

I am writing it here because this post is down the page a bit and i don't want him to see it :)

A while ago, before Martin's (xbox4nappyrash) wife got pregnant I promised I would post a youtube video of me singing "Yes" by Mcalomont & Butler whilst accompanying myself on the ukulele to celebrate the birth of their child.

This will not be a pretty sight as I can neither sing, nor really play the ukulele (this isn't false modesty - I really can't).

However what I thought might make it really cool would be instead of just a straight video I put together a montage of videos shot by readers of his blog all celebrating - i.e. dancing, sticking thumbs up, cheering, holding up signs, that sort of thing. It would have to be something that would work without sound as I would put my (awful) soundtrack over the top of it.

It would be great if you could participate. If you send me a short 5-15 second video clip (or at a push a photo, but a video would be much better) along with your name and blog then I'll put it together with other submissions and get something ready for the end of the week. I think it would be a really nice thing to do for martin to show him and E how pleased we are for him. and Martin has been incredibly supportive of me and my various projects in the past.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. My email address is dghughes28@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks again.

Dan.

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