Happy New Year 2012

Happy 2012!  We arrived back in England early this morning and started the New Year festivities early – we didn’t think we’d make it until midnight.  But now it’s only 3 hours away and we’re still up. 

Big Ben at the stroke of midnight

Fireworks in Paris

Champs Elysees at the Arc de Triumph

What are most people doing to ring in the New Year?  The Brits are heading to the London Eye to watch a firework display, which is triggered by Big Ben at the stroke of midnight.  The Scots go to Edinburgh Castle for the famous Hogmanay; there are bands, festivities, and celebrations that last for 3 days.  The French head to Champs Elysees or the Eiffel Tower, which explodes with color and comes to life.  The Germans ring in the New Year at Brandenburg Gate, otherwise known as the Berlin Wall, where they showcase bands, party tents, food, and entertainment for over a million guests.  

Berlin, Germany

And how do we know all this?  Our first New Year’s in the UK was two years ago.  We had just arrived two days prior, and we sat on the sofa and watched the telly as New Year’s unfolded around the world. 

Here it is two years later and we are doing exactly the same thing.  The New Year’s celebrations remain pretty much unchanged, except now that we’ve visited the Eiffel Tower and Edinburgh Castle, we feel a bit nostalgic. 

London Eye

2010 has been a great year filled with travel, new experiences, and a lot of living.  But it’s also been a year of growth and change.  A new country, new rules, lots of settling in; it was a big adjustment.  But we are comfortable now and England is our home – for 8 more months anyway. 

We wish you all a wonderful 2012.  Wherever you ring in the New Year, may you start off the year right (no resolutions!) and remember to pace yourself – it’s a long haul until the end of 2012.  Here’s to health, happiness, and dreams coming true.  And don’t forget balance.  That may just be the key to it all.

Cheers!

A fun top 10 from a British writer (who’s just 13!)... 

http://hellogiggles.com/my-top-10-british-things-of-2011

'Tis the season

Brendan's in the choir and singing today...

Ring in the Holidays with your friends at AWS December Annual Meeting and Holiday Luncheon tomorrow, Dec. 2.  If you are staying for lunch you are in for a treat!  In addition to a fabulous meal, we will listen to the songs of the season.  The Lower School choir, consisting of 3rd and 4th graders from the ACS International School will entertain us with beautiful songs of the season to put us in the holiday mood.

   
The ACS Cobham International School Lower School Choir is one of several vocal-performing groups at ACS. The Lower School Choir is open to all students, without audition, from grades 3 and 4. They perform in several concerts and assemblies on campus, alone and with groups from Middle and High School, and also engage in community outreach concerts, making trips to care homes and day centres in the Cobham area.
   
Last year, the choir was cited in two newspapers, The Surrey Comet and the Guardian, for their "Royal Wedding Song", an original composition by the choir members, as a tribute to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  The choir is delighted to be invited to sing for the American Woman of Surrey.

 

Thanksgiving in England

As many of you prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, we are finishing up homework and getting ready for another regular day tomorrow.  School is open as usual, work calls, and it's just another Thursday here in England.

The funny thing is it doesn't seem like an ordinary day.  There's a feeling of excitement and anticipation, like before a snow storm when you can feel the moisture in the air.  You know it's coming.  I can almost see the turkey cooking and smell the pumpkin pie sitting on the counter - just waiting to be consumed.

But there's no such thing as Pumpkin Pie in England.  The kids really want me to make Pumpkin Chiffon Pie (a tradition in our family) but there is no cool whip in this country, no graham crackers to make a graham cracker crust, and pumpkin is hard to come by.

And guess what?  So are turkeys.  My friend bought one from a small speciality market; it cost her £103.  That's about $150.  She said she's hoping to find a bar of gold stuffed inside instead of the giblits!  Did I mention the turkey comes with the quills still attached?  At least here they tell you to cook the bird, quills and all.  I heard several families unknowingly added an extra step and spent hours plucking the quills. And you thought dressing the turkey was bad!

Tomorrow dinner will be at the local pub for a traditional Thanksgiving feast with other Americans from the American Women of Surrey (AWS). The president even passed along some of her favorite recipes so they get it right.  "Nothing fancy.  Just stick to the basics," she said.  It should be fun - not Thanksgivingy- but it's the best we can do.  Afterwards, we will go home, sit by the gas fireplace and reminisce about all the things for which we are thankful.  There are so many - family, friends, good health.

Here's to a wonderful Thanksgiving, home or abroad.  Have an extra helping, for us :)

Fall of 2011 ~ Where did the time go?

St. Andrews Golf Course, Scotland

Part I: school, work, life...

School started Aug. 22 and we have just come up for air.  It was a busy three months.  The kids started off the school year without a hitch (we are finally settled in over here).  R is in 7th grade and is only now beginning to adjust to the course load and higher expectations.  Plus, baseball was still going and then football (soccer) and basketball started so he was knee-deep balancing books and balls.  The good news is although his baseball team didn't win in Poland and make it to the Little League World Series in the US, they did sweep Britain and won the British Baseball Federation Championship.  That means they're the best baseball team in Great Britain!

B dove into 3rd grade and has settled in nicely.  He also struggled with the amount of homework (every grade seems to have stepped up a notch) but he is now mastering the routine.  B is singing and dancing, and doing all the creative stuff he loves.  He said he wants to sing for the Queen but settled for the 3rd and 4th grade choir at school; he still takes piano lessons and is trying out for another play - The Jungle Book. His main passion however, is playing goalie for the Oxshott Royals.  He lives, eats and breathes football.  He wears his bright yellow goalie uniform, plays 24/7, and is learning the game quickly.  We are also picking up the British lingo.  "Good boy, William, good boy."  And M's favorite phrase, "Unlucky" when the other team scores a goal.  Does that mean its just plain luck when our ball sails into the opponents net?

T was our only surprise.  He left the Early Childhood cottages and joined the Elementary wing which we thought would be a difficult transition.  He was happy last year but not thrilled about school so we didn't know what to expect.  Well, T could not be happier.  He started first grade and has not looked back.  He LOVES school and is thrilled to be the big man on campus.  He loves that he can buy lunch in the cafetorium.  He loves having computer class, and science class, social studies, and P.E.  He loves "Fun Friday" and is always watching Stanley, the Apple climb up or down the wall in his class, depending on the kids behavior.  He has a fabulous teacher, and he just loves being so grown up.  School coupled with soccer and boy scouts, he couldn't be happier.

M has taken on added responsibility at work on a key project.  He will still commute to London but will travel a bit more and will be pretty busy until the end of the school year when the job is to be completed.  We'll see how the year goes.  It's a good opportunity. He is putting in many long days but we know several people who are in the same boat.  In today's economy you really have to be thankful to be working.  Times are so uncertain you can't take anything for granted.  We are so fortunate, and to be over here and enjoying this experience is an added bonus.  For that we are grateful.

I am over committed at school.  I am the 7th Grade Liaison, the 3rd Grade Home Room Coordinator, the Boy Scout Uniform Coordinator, and the Tiger Den Leader - all of which I know very little about.  September was a blur with back to school coffees and lots of meetings.  October was busy with organizing my jobs and trying to put into action all of my roles. November, I am hoping, will be a time of reprieve.  Sometimes I forget which hat I am wearing, but I do try to contribute something worthwhile. Funny, I am considered "experienced" since I have a whopping two years under my belt.  The newbies are still walking around in a fog, trying to take it all in.

Falkland Palace ~ summer home of Mary Queen of Scots

Part II: All the rest...

Beyond all the school stuff are the perks that keep us going.  I went away on a girls weekend to Nice, which was nice!  Actually, it was lovely.  I've always wanted to see the south of France ~ see what all the buzz was about.  Well, it is pretty nice.  It was sunny and beautiful.  We swam in the Mediterranean and explored nearby towns: Eze; Monaco; Monte Carlo, and Cannes (home of the film festival, and most recently the G20 summit).  Plus, I got to spend a weekend with my friend which was a treat!

Monte Carlo (in Oct.)

We also went to Scotland on our half term break from school. It was a great trip - one that deserves its own blog entry.  We flew to Edinburgh and spent the weekend exploring the city by foot, hiking Arthur's Seat, and learning about Scottish history and Mary Queen of Scots.  By the way, Mary had a tough life.  She was crowned Queen at 9 months, was sent away to France, married three times, witnessed her best friend's execution, was imprisoned and then executed. It's a great story and like the rest of British history, it reads like a soap opera.  Unbelievable.

Edinburgh, Scotland

18th hole ~ St. Andrews Golf Course

We ventured outside of Edinburgh and visited St. Andrews, home of the famous golf course, and Falkland Palace where the oldest indoor tennis court is housed (minus the roof). Earlier we spent the morning at Rosslyn Chapel where the Da Vinci Code was filmed. Another footnote - business is booming at the chapel ever since the movie came out years ago. We didn't make it up to the Highlands but hope to go back and see it as it is one of the highlights of Scotland. There is so much to see in that tiny little country.  I don't think we would have gone; it wasn't on our "must-see" list. However, we had to renew our visas the previous week, and they took our passports so we were forced to stay within the UK.  That was mishap #12 for those who are counting. However, Scotland turned out to be quite a gem!

So here we are in the beginning of November and Christmas has already hit England.  There is no stop-gap holiday like Thanksgiving to hold back the forces.  The stores start to fill up with Christmas goodies at the beginning of October.  They lit the Christmas tree on Regents Street in London this week, and we just finished celebrating Halloween!  Although there wasn't much celebrating over here.  We went trick or treating and we were back in 30 mins. Nobody had their pumpkins out - a sure sign they are celebrating.  No worries though.  The kids say British candy is rubbish.  Thanksgiving is next, but again another American holiday. So what are we doing?  We are going to the only pub that celebrates Thanksgiving to enjoy a traditional meal.  It's all booked; the kids will go to school like any other day and then we'll go out for "tea".  When in Rome do like the Romans, uh, Americans do.  Make the most of  your holiday :)

Life is good but we are walking around with very heavy hearts.  We lost two special people just within a few days of one another.  We flew home for my cousins funeral only to find out a good friend was killed in a car accident. They were both very special and touched many people in the short time they were on this earth.  One lead by example.  He was strong, resilient, and so rooted in his faith - nothing swayed his mission to serve and be true to others.  He taught us life lessons that we will carry with us forever.  The other was a true ambassador and a dear friend to all.  She reached out to so many people and dedicated her time to church, school, and the community.  Nothing stopped her, not even her handicap.  She was known by everyone in our beloved town.

St. Andrews Cathedral 

I am not sure when the tears will dry up.  I do know so many people miss them dearly and it will be a long time before life returns to normal. However, there is a silver lining in the cloud.  Several years ago a friend of ours lost his wife and was utterly torn apart.  We just learned he has come through the dark side and is beginning to get his life back again - a new life.  There is light at the end of the tunnel.  You just have to be patient and believe.  And so I will.

On top of Arthur's Seat

Paris ~ this is for you Em

Sometimes it’s hard to focus on the task at hand.  I sat down to write about the wonderful visits we had with family and friends this summer, but today my thoughts are elsewhere.  My niece is on her way to college, as she embarks on the next chapter of her life: adulthood.  I can’t help but think about her and wonder how she is feeling – unsure, nervous, and tentative?  But also excited, self-assured, and hopeful for what lies ahead.  Actually, I think it’s harder for the rest of us left who are left behind.  Our daily lives go on as usual but without Em. 

So I’ve decided to turn my thoughts elsewhere and write about Paris.  It is her favorite place, after all, and she's learning French.  So, this one’s for you Em!

Paris.  We have been there before but it felt like it was the fist time.  There are so many new and exciting things to see.  My friends came with us, which was such a treat.  We were together in Paris, seeing it through their eyes.  We went to the Arc de Triomphe, but this time climbed to the top.  The views were spectacular, especially of the Eiffel Tower.  

 We spent all day at Chateau de Versailles, which was epic.  Just the ride there was impressive as I rode with a car full of foreigners and the driver narrated in three different languages.  I truly felt like I was abroad and venturing out into the world.  When we arrived at Versailles, I was immediately reminded of when we visited the Vatican – it was jammed packed with tourists.  It is estimated approximately 20,000 people visit Versailles each day compared with 17,000 who visit the Vatican.  Either way, it’s a lot of people.  But our guide pulled a little camera stunt and pushed us right to the front of the line (and saved us a 3 hour wait).  Brilliant.

A painting of Versailles

The real deal (Versailles)

Versailles was grand and picturesque, just as you would imagine.  The thing that is amazing is it was a public palace so anybody could visit.  With that said, Queen Marie Antoinette wanted a quiet, more private place so King Louis the XIV built the Queen’s Hamlet, Petit Trianon.  The Queen’s hamlet consisted of a mini Versailles, a farm house and a beautiful garden.  The house was just as exquisite as Versailles but it was the size of a dollhouse, in comparison, and located just a stone's throw away from Chateau de Versailles.  We walked through the Hamlet and couldn’t help but fall in love with it.  It was so cozy and quaint – the perfect place for a Queen to stow away.

The last day we did what every tourist does (in Paris anyway).  We climbed the Eiffel Tower.  We have done this before, but this time we went to the tippy top and shared a glass of champagne.  What else is there to do at the top of the Eiffel Tower?  It was spectacular – the climb, the views, the champagne.  Just being at the top was a treat.  It’s not the fanciest place on earth.  Actually, you’re surrounded by a lot of steel.  But I know people get engaged up there all the time.  You just get caught up in the excitement, and drinking champagne and popping the question is all part of the moment.

It was a great trip followed by a great visit.  We got to spend time with our friends, and Em and Miss.  How fun to have family and friends over at the same time!  This was Em's big trip before she went off to college.  They did what every teenage girl likes to do.  They went into London as many times as possible and shopped!  They arrived in the midst of the riots so we stayed away from London for a few days.  However, once order was restored we ventured in and the fun began.  They shopped, went sight seeing, shopped, went sight seeing, and shopped some more.  They definitely had the most fun shopping.  They went home with bags full of clothes and gifts for everyone. 

However, I think the highlight for them was seeing a Fulham Football match.  Once we realized there was a game scheduled, we bought tickets and took everyone to the game.  It was great to have us all there together.  Em is passionate about football so she watched intently.  Miss, on the other hand, couldn't care less but it was great fun watching her come to life as she followed the plays and learned the game.  They are converted and will always love football now.  For that it was worth it!

So that was our trip, abroad and home.  We had so much fun in London and Paris.  I will always remember our friends and the smiles on their faces when we toured Paris.  I will also remember Em and Miss, and how happy they were just to be here.  May life always bring you to new places filled with adventure and fun!

Hurricane Irene

Category 1, 50-85+ miles per hour sustained winds, 1 million people without power

It’s 2:38 a.m. in New York right now and the city is bracing for Hurricane Irene to come through.  Most people have evacuated as the city has basically shut down.  Airports are closed.  Public transportation has ceased.  The bridges are out.  They are considering whether to turn off the electricity to all of Lower Manhattan.   

We are struggling to get continuous coverage on this side of the pond.  BBC1 is reporting but only in snippets.  Sky News also is covering the hurricane, but also highlighting other events as well, such as Libya and other world news.  CNN is providing the most coverage but still not continuously.  What can we say?  We’re Americans; we want round-the-clock-coverage.

Here we go.  We’re getting news about North Carolina – the Outer Banks specifically.  “North Carolina Soaked From Irene”, reads the headline.  Coverage is spotty as the reporter is cutting out.  But here’s the message.  “The majority of residents are without power.  The rain has not let up for the last 30 hours and there is widespread damage.  Now flooding is the issue.” 

In the Chesapeake Bay area, the winds are up to 50+ miles per hour, which has triggered 911 to stop responding to emergency calls.  It’s just too dangerous to send out a responder.  They warned the public if they didn’t evacuate this could happen, and since then only about 15 calls have come in.  None have been life threatening but rather reporting of alarms going off.  A team is waiting to evaluate each call and if it is deemed catastrophic then they will make a decision whether to send a responder depending on the current weather conditions.   

It’s 3:00 a.m. and the storm is moving up the coast.  They say it should be through NYC by noon.  The good news is the storm is not as bad as originally projected.  The reporter in Maryland said although there is widespread damage, “Baltimore Gets Pounded” reads the headline; there has not been catastrophic destruction like originally expected.  There is a feeling of camaraderie as people ban together and brace for the worst.  That’s the upside; trying times unite us and heroic stories begin to surface.

“Breaking News – a nuclear reactor in Ocean City has gone offline because of the high winds.  There are two reactors, and apparently one is still working, but the other one shut off.  All personnel are safe and there is no imminent danger at the moment.”  However, we know how this goes.  It’s never good news when a nuclear reactor acts up.  This is one story we will all need to follow.

My kids still don’t understand how so many people are awake and reporting on this storm.  “Why don’t they have to evacuate, and aren’t they tired”?  Another question, “Is this live?”  Good questions.

We are watching and waiting as our friends and family sleep.  May the storm pass over you without too much damage.  For those of you who have already weathered it – we hope you are safe.  For those who are waiting, please know we are praying for the best.  And when this whole thing is over, please send us an email and let us know you are OK!

London Riots

There is a lot of action happening over here right now. London is making headlines for what started as retaliation for the killing of a suspected drug dealer on Friday night.  Since then the situation has escalated each day growing more out of control and widespread.  It started in a section of London, Tottenham, and has spread to more than twelve areas within London and five major cities outside the city, some hours away.  There's no rhyme or reason.  The vandals text each other to meet at a predetermined location at a certain time, and then violence breaks out.  It's like a game of cat and mouse. Vandalism pops up in one area and then erupts in another, and the police chase the mayhem arriving after it's too late.  

Here's a run down of the damage.  High Streets are getting destroyed.  Stores are being vandalized.  Cars are going up in flames.  Businesses are burning down to the ground.  Looting is rampant and there is no end in sight.  The biggest surprise is the ones who are causing all this mayhem are minors - adolescents barely out of puberty.  They caught one kid who was just 11 years old.  The authorities are urging parents to ask their kids where they've been, and if they are involved, keep them home. 

How have the authorities responded?  Well, they've been on vacation.  Seems a bit odd but they all took holiday at the same time.  Granted, no one new this kind of incident would occur nor would it take a life of its own.  It really didn't make the news (non-stop, that is) until Sunday.  Friday was the initial incident.  Saturday was the surprise follow-up, and by Sunday it became apparent a pattern was developing.  David Cameron, the Prime Minister, ended his vacation early in Tuscany and flew home, but not until Monday, which turned out to be the worst day yet.

We had ventured to Croydon to go shopping at Costco yesterday.  It's not close so we don't go often, and when we do go we end up spending the day.  We didn't return home until 6 pm.  Later that evening we turned on the TV only to find out Croydon was ablaze and mayhem abounded.  That's when it really hit home.  The violence was closing in.  

The PM held a conference this morning calling for an end to the violence.  He said we would not tolerate any more disturbances.  If young people are acting like criminals, they will be charged as criminals.  He is bringing in 10,000 more police tonight (we only had 6,000 on duty the past few days which clearly was not enough).  There was talk of calling in the army, shooting rubber bullets as a deterrent, and shutting down Blackberry messenger.  However, nothing has been approved.  

People are scared and are responding accordingly.  Businesses shut down early today.  The town of Kingston closed down this afternoon.  Football matches for the upcoming days have been cancelled.  Electronic stores, jewelers, and other high-end retail shops were boarded up and not open for business. London is in a state of fear and many are praying for rain - anything to deter the violence.  

The good news is so far tonight there seems to be less violence.  The stepped-up police presence seems to be making a difference.  Now Manchester is in the hot seat and there is unrest there right now.  However, overall it does not seem to be as bad.

There's a TV camera crew interviewing a group of kids on the high street right now.  The kids said they are looting because they are angry.  They can't get a job.  Unemployment is high. They need to steal things so they can make money.  They are 18 and they have no future.  Those were their words.    

We're thinking, "Grab 'em.  Throw them in jail." Unfortunately, jail is not an option.  They are so overcrowded the authorities are busing prisoners outside the city.  So much for that solution.  

So we sit, waiting for all the violence to end and hoping it won't come to our little town.  Only time will tell.  Tomorrow we'll read about how tonight really went.  

May the city recover from all the destruction that has happened these past few days.  It's time to heal and move forward, and bring justice to those who caused some much pain.  A couple of lives were lost, so many areas were destroyed, and some people were left with nothing.  But there's always hope.  This morning people were outside sweeping the debris.  Friends came to help neighbors.  One person muttered the famous British motto, "Keep calm and carry on."  We'll get through.  Let's just pray this is the end.

Kutno, Poland

Eight days of baseball.  It was a dream that came true.  Twelve teams from all over Europe came together to compete and become the European representative at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.  We had been waiting for this moment all summer long and it finally came.

Downtown Kutno

Kutno is a small town two hours west of Warsaw.   It's in the sticks, even by Polish standards.  There, on the side of the road about a mile and a half from downtown Kutno, stood the baseball compound.  It housed the centerpiece, the major's stadium.  There were also a few minor league practice fields and an outdoor pavilion that proved to be our safe haven from the rain.  The concession stand housed a single Polish woman who cooked up some of the best Kielbasa and Polish sausage.  Even the chicken nuggets were made fresh daily.  And the dormitory, well I never actually got inside as it was guarded.  Yes, guarded.  The coaches and players were given badges and only those with badges could enter through the gate.  The rest of us were left out in the cold and the rain.

Guarded dormitory

Our team, Great Britain, was comprised of six Americans, four Japanese, and one Australian.  Most of the kids were expats and came from all over London, spanning both British and International schools.  It was quite an eclectic mix.  They had one thing in common - their love of baseball.

Team Great Britain (at the airport)

The first two games went off without a hitch.  We played Kutno, the host of the tournament, and then Germany, the defending champs.  We won against Kutno by a landslide, 16-0.  Unfortunately, Kutno is not as experienced but they were gracious hosts and actually won against Belarus later in the tournament - one win under their belt.

GB warming up

Opening ceremony first night before we played Kutno

Germany, on the other hand, was an exciting game.  Some said it was the best little league game they ever saw.  The kids, on both teams were competitive and well matched. Germany, actually Germany-US, because the team was comprised of Americans stationed on a German air force bases, was the favorite to win the tournament as they had won it the past two years.  We gave it our all - played our best pitchers, presented a solid line-up, and played the best defensive game possible.  No errors.  We played perfect baseball. There were many highlights, with our leftfielder making a diving catch in the gap ending the game 2-1.  But honestly, we were sitting on the edge of our seats the entire time.  We held our breath with each play and exhaled when it went in our favor.  It was truly and amazing game played by both teams.  Unfortunately, Germany got disqualified the next day, due to paperwork errors, and within 24 hours they left and were removed from the system, as if they never came.

Team huddle after we defeated Germany

We faced Netherlands the next day and lost 10-2.   We knew they were good but we thought we'd have a chance, and we were coming off a high from the previous two days. However, we started to unravel a bit.  Our defense was good but our hitting was weak; we had trouble getting on base.  We just couldn't keep up with the Netherlands who had trained together for over a year and came to Poland a week early to bond at a farm nearby.  They were polished and subsequently, won the whole tournament.  They are number one.  They are also very big!  They towered over us.  There were several kids on the Netherlands team that were literally over 6 feet tall.  They're a great team and our kids hung out with them in the dorm and at a restaurant one night.  Not many restaurants could accommodate us so we all ended up at the same place.  The Netherland boys and our kids really bonded.  They even made up a dance together that we have on tape.  Inside Out.  Later we took pictures of the biggest Netherland boy next to our smallest player.  Both are twelve years old.  Unbelievable.

Post game handshake with Netherlands (in green).  

We ended the tournament in 6th place.  It was a memorable event, one that will be etched in our minds and hearts forever.  We'll never forget the passionate, red-haired Italian lady that kept yelling from the sidelines, "B-e-l-l-a Carlos.  B-e-l-l-a!"  We'll never forget the Romanian girls on the side of the road.  Is that legal?  Most importantly, we'll never forget how Kutno welcomed us - the parade with the bagpipers and Polish step dancers, the cannons they shot off in our honor, their hospitality.  The town rallied behind us, accommodating groups of 30-40 at a moments notice.  They served traditional Polish food, perogies and American food as well.  The locals were warm and welcoming, even though we really didn't understand each another.  "Prosze" (please) they would say and then gesture for us to go first.  There is a feeling of hard times and oppression still in the air, but Poland stepped up to the plate, swung, and hit a home run.

Polish step dancers with GB team looking on

"Town Hall" of Kutno

The rest is history as they say.