Traditions, whether cultural, religious, or familial are passed from generation to generation. They connect us to the people around us and help us to define who we are. So, when we move to a place with new traditions, a different culture or a different majority religion, we can find things difficult. But being in a new place does not have to mean we lose anything, it might just mean we need to change our traditions slightly.
The first time I visited Los Angeles was with my husband 15 years ago and I hated it…We now love LA. For us, it’s a great family destination that has something for everyone, from its chilled-out beaches and parks, to world-famous shopping, to an over-abundance of museums and attractions.
We’re counting down now. Less than a week until we make the epic journey back to the UK, going home to visit my husband’s family for Christmas. I should be overjoyed to be going back. I lived there for 10 years, and it will be wonderful to see family, old friends, new babies, and visit some favorite places, I am, however, filled with dread rather than joy…
Like many Bay Area expats we’re taking our baby home this Christmas and I’m already prepping for the long journey back to the UK. We’ve done one other long-haul flight with him and several shorter ones. This is what we’ve learned so far:
Thanksgiving, which is held the fourth Thursday of each November, is my favorite holiday; the one I missed most while I was living abroad in the United Kingdom. I describe Thanksgiving (to my non-American friends) as Christmas, without the presents. Growing up, my mom always hosted Thanksgiving. She would spend all morning cooking and several days before doing all the prep work. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins arrived around noon, and the chaos began. There were usually 15 of us crowded around a couple of tables, stuffing our faces until we were too full to move. As everyone in my […]
We arrived in the US in August, so the first major American holiday we experienced, and one of the most exciting for the kids, was Halloween. We’d all seen enough American TV shows to know that Halloween was a big deal here, not at all like at home in the UK, and when piles of pumpkins and giant inflatable decorations started appearing in the stores in September (not to mention pumpkin-flavored everything in Trader Joe’s) the kids were overjoyed. From low-key to all out In the UK, Halloween is pretty low-key. Not many people decorate their house and kids only […]
When lawyer Kate Dowing announced that she would move out of Silicon Valley due to the exorbitant housing prices, the story went viral. It emphasized what many Bay Area residents know all too well: If you come to this affluent area for other reasons than working for a major tech company, life will be very expensive. Here are some ideas to save money and make it work nevertheless.
When you paddle deeper and deeper into Labyrinth Canyon, you will face new adventures and new weather around every bend. But be prepared: This surreal place with its towering red walls and unmusical birds will cast its spell on you.
