On London Time: 1-2-3-4-5 Senses!

Mmm...Something Tastes Delicious!

I don’t think enough time is spent soaking in the moment. No matter where you are, what you are doing, or who you are with, there is something to be enjoyed. In the classic book Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter, the main character, Pollyanna, plays the “Glad Game.” The “Glad Game” is focused around finding joy in the moment. For me, I purposely take a pinch of time to soak in my surroundings. It’s the little things really: my last class of my undergrad, sitting on a park bench watching my little cousins, going for a walk with my brother, skiing with my dad, having hot cocoa with my mom, or listening to a lively story told by a child…these are just a glimpse at the memories I had embedded in my mind from taking time to soak in the moment. In England, I thought that I would soak in the moment (in a very large-scale view) to share with you what it is like being here. To begin, let’s start with one of my favorite senses: taste!

Aw, yes. Cheese. I love cheese. When I first arrived though, it seemed like I couldn’t get away from it! Four cheese blocks to eat, macaroni and cheese for suppers, cheese omlet, cheese, cheese, cheese! Ugh! Although I do so enjoy it, I was definitely on cheese overload. (And yes, I still have 3 cheese blocks that I have to eat in the frig)

A trip to the supermarket has helped. It was tricky to find things though, because everything is so different! However, I was able to find some goodies to fill my little, temporary cupboard until I move into my permanent residence here. (I move in next week.)

HAHA! Ok, is this not the stereotypical college student idea of healthy? :D

Actually, this was a little treat. It is incredibly easy to eat healthy here. Everything is organic! I went to the supermarket in search of Mayo. I wanted the really unhealthy, full of fat and salt Mayo! Oooo….it sounded delicious. And I found a jar! However, it was half the size of the light and extra light Mayo AND it was more expensive. Turns out, it is cheaper to eat organic, healthy-for-you foods. I bought the light mayo.

If I told you that you were going to have a traditional English snack, what would you think you were being served?

If you said English tea and crumpets, you are like most American I know. J Including myself. Now, what if I asked you to describe a crumpet…. Could you do it? What IS a crumpet?

To answer this question, I went on a little trip with a new friend of mine. Krista is a Canadian who moved to England some years ago to work as a teacher. She introduced me to tea and crumpets! If you take half of a fluffy English muffin, lightly toast it, and soak it in butter, that would taste like a crumpet. Unlike all of the healthy foods I’ve had, these crumpets were soaked in butter. I had butter running down my arm! (I loved it! J) I wish I could say more for the tea….Yes, how horrible. I live in England and don’t care for tea. At least I can say I’ve tried it!