she's back

Well it's been well and truly a long time since I updated this thing. I've moved house across continents; been on a wonderful trip to the Philippines, and tried to start settling into, and making a new life in SW England- not an easy feat esp the latter, which i'm now discovering.

I thought I'd note down some reverse culture shock findings otherwise I'll never remember them all. In reverse chronological (ish) order :

• finding change in my purse for a carton of milk in the shop. Nearly giving the guy a couple of 2 pence pieces, thinking they were worth 10p due to their likeness in colour and shape to the 10 yen piece!


• having to wait in LONG queues nearly all the time it seems


• Whilst queuing at the local post office, wondering why it isn't divided into different sections so that the counter for complicated jobs closes at 4pm


• being thankful and surprised that ATMs are open at any time, and I can use any bank to withdraw money from


• no more nomihodais


• Having to ask the waiter for a bill- ie no going to the till to pay at restaurants. With no 'betsu betsu onegaishimasu', splitting the bill with friends can be a complicated process...


• being not supposed to put your basket on the counter/ conveyor belt at the supermarket, but rather empty out your items onto the belt withough putting basket on it


• the unprofessional - sounding receptionists who I hear chatting at the dentists


• riding a bicycle on the road; having more than 3 gears; wearing a helmet again whilst riding; & chaining the bike up to something when i park, rather than using the nifty inbuilt rear wheel lock


• the weather- it's cold!


• [fitting in/ not being stared at & being able to buy clothes that fit become a normality again- yeah!]