Expat Mums Blog

Homesick

Mami has something called homesick.

Symptoms:

• Sad eyes
• Sudden outbursts of crying
• Staring off into a distance
• Long telephone conversations with abuelita
• Repetitive speech " I want to go home" "I wish we could go home" "Can't we go home?"

(Between you and me, I don't get that last one, isn't her home here with papi and me?)

I've heard this illness is very common and everyone has it at least once. I must have been vaccinated against it, because so far, I haven't had this homesickness mami talks about.

Why doesn't she just go to the GP like when I'm sick? Silly mami, I think she want to ride it out.

From what I can see, there are more serious cases and sometimes you just get a small virus. She says "this time of year is the worst for homesickness".

And I hope it's not contagious because I don't want to catch homesick too. Come to think of it, papi doesn't seem to have caught it, so I should be safe. Phewwwww!

Here's what I recommend

• Take Calpol before bed and take every 4 hours as needed. Always works for me!
• Lots of kisses and hugs from papi and I
• A long nap. I always feel a little better after a good sleep
• Have a bottle of warm milk or coffee, I know how much you like drinking that
• Keep the special picture I made for you with glitter close by. I know how much you like sparkly stuff!

This post was written by Maria, a US expat living in the UK. She blogs at Mummy's Busy World.
 

US vs. UK Christmas

As our fair Josie at Sleep is for the Weak is taking a holiday sabatical from the Writing Workshop, we here at Cafe Bebe are struggling for inspiration.  I’ve gone to Josie for a personal prompt and it’s a good one!  Her advice, US vs UK Christmases?  Which one is better?  What’s different??  Are you ready for a bit of Christmas cheer??

Here is what my Christmases were like in the US…it should be noted that I DO NOT SPEAK FOR ALL AMERICANS!

• The official Christmas shopping season begins the day after Thanksgiving. Every shop in the land is open at 5 or 6am with “Door Buster” sales and all sorts of incentives to get silly shoppers out of the house at ridiculous o’clock. Thanksgiving is usually the 4th Thursday in November- this past year it was the 26th of November so “Black Friday” was 27 November.

Missing the Christmas spirit

I've had Christmases abroad but until we moved to Bosnia I had never spent a Christmas in a country which doesn't really celebrate Christmas*. Christmas Day is a normal working day here and I am finding it odd. I hadn't realised how ingrained into my psyche Christmas is and to be somewhere where Christmas doesn't really feature is unsettling. There aren't really any cheesy Christmas movies on TV. That special sort of Christmas smell, the gingery, cinammony, fir tree smell is lacking. I'm missing Christmas carols - hell, I'm even missing Slade and Band Aid.

I'm finding this most difficult around the boys. We may live in Bosnia, but they are English and Christmas is a huge part of their culture. They need to grow up learning about the nativity, getting excited about presents, enjoying the build up, the parties, the preparation and the anticipation of it all. There are no Christmas activities at their nursery, no nativity play, no shepherd's in tea towels, no Mary forgetting her lines and dropping Baby Jesus.

Thanksgiving in the UK

Thanksgiving is one of the hardest holidays as an American-born expat. I’d say it is harder than the Fourth of July – it is getting close to winter and the daylight hours are waning, often pitch dark not long after school pickup.

It is that awkward time of year when the temperatures haven’t dipped low enough for Jack Frost to cast a shimmering spell over the rooftops, it is just cold and grey and gloomy.

Every year I make an effort to preserve the Thanksgiving tradition. When I was working fulltime, I would take the day off and spend it in the kitchen.

My childhood at Sand Lake

 

It's nearly the 4th of July...a time I think all expats have a bit of difficulty.  The 4th of July, Thanksgiving and probably Christmas, for me, are the hardest to be away from the US.  Our uniquely American holidays of the 4th and Thanksgiving are times for family, friends, parties, booze, hot dogs and brats and parades and fireworks (not so much on Thanksgiving really...the Native American's didn't share that with us!).  I have been living permanently in the UK since 2005 and have a wonderful, happy life with my hubby and amazing Little Miss.  I don't miss the US, really, but on certain occasions, like the 4th of July, I do.  Shall I wax nostalgic for the days of my youth?? 

Post Christmas analysis

Well, it's over. Again.

Phew!

Here are my Christmas 2008 highs and lows:

Top Ten Highs:

1. My six year old's glee on Christmas Eve when our friends arrived for a drink. It signified for her the start of the actual festivities.

2. Our Christmas goose. I love goose and there is nothing better for Christmas dinner. Nothing.

3. Making homemade mince pies a la Nigella. It took me three days to actually complete the mission but I did it. Yippee!

Tracking Santa on Christmas Eve

Finally, Christmas Eve arrives and to encourage children to go to bed there is a website that tracks Santa's journey.  Noradsanta.org tracks Santa's journey with video clips featuring Mount Fuji, Sydney Australia and Egyption pyramids. 

 

There is an official time and very official sounding newsclips with some NASA styled commentary with beeps that give weight to its credibility.  Perfect for the doubters.  Apparently, the tracking of Santa has gone on for over 50 years and started by accident.  

 

It's very fun to prove that Santa is on his way.

On a less official website, emailsanta.com there is a naughty and nice list.  Answering a few questions helps the elves to determine what list you may be on for Christmas.  Lighthearted fun but the kiddies have taken to it and are quite concerned where they are listed.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

This post written by Charlene, an Expat Mums Blog founding contributor.

Going Christmas crackers...

Roxi experienced an English "Christmas Dinner" at school yesterday.

Roast Turkey

• Mashed Potatoes

• Bacon wrapped sausages (yikes!)

• Stuffing

• Mince pies*

• Lollipops

• and Christmas Crackers

Since I have never seen an open Christmas cracker, I bought a box of 12 for us to open (pop?) during our little "Christmas morning" here before we leave.

Ten things to do in Oxford with Children this Christmas

Wondering what to do with the kids this Christmas?

Oxford is a great place to take the kids. You just need to know where to go and what to do.

Check out these insider tips by Kelli Terrington, an Oxford mum and founder of Ox and Cross Publishing, publisher of the Oxford Colouring Book, where all proceeds go to charities that help children.

1. The Botanic Garden near Magdalen Bridge has an inspiring Christmas tree decorated with things found in the garden.  If you are worried about being out in the cold, there are several glasshouses where you can keep warm and admire many interesting plants despite the outside temperatures.

More thoughts on Thanksgiving in the UK

Thanksgiving as an American in the UK can be a trying affair.  Apart from the fact that only fellow Americans will understand the importance of the event, it’s often difficult to get your ingredients. For the meat dish, try searching the Christmas inventory in stores and web sites, as many will offer both turkey and hams, or “gammon” as it’s often called in the UK.

Marks and Spencer are doing a lovely sugar-glazed ham this year, which is as close as you’ll get to a traditional Thanksgiving ham. For a more up-market affair, check out the Fortnum and Mason web site. Beware – the Colonial Larder refers to the old British colonies (ie. India) and not Colonial America. You can also buy Libby’s canned pumpkin at various grocery stores. If the pie recipe isn’t right there on the label, just go to www.verybestbaking.com/products/libbys.

Dear Santer ...

Dear Santer (my six-year-old's creative spelling interpretation), Santa, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or whatever you want to call yourself,

This year is going to be different. Just you wait.

I will keep accurate lists of what I've bought for whom and where that stash may be hiding in my house. I will not forget relatives and God children. Not even the ones that live far away. Or are babies. And especially babies that live far away. I will cross reference lists with other relatives and God children's parents just to make sure there is no repetition. As God as my witness...

Thanksgiving in the UK

Thanksgiving is one of the hardest holidays as an American-born expat. I’d say it is harder than the Fourth of July – it is getting close to winter and the daylight hours are waning, often pitch dark not long after school pickup.

It is that awkward time of year when the temperatures haven’t dipped low enough for Jack Frost to cast a shimmering spell over the rooftops, it is just cold and grey and gloomy.

Every year I make an effort to preserve the Thanksgiving tradition. When I was working fulltime, I would take the day off and spend it in the kitchen.