reverse culture shock

So, yes, there is such a thing as reverse culture shock. And I wanted to document the little funny things that have had us a little backwards since we have been back home.

- For the first couple weeks while being back every time I would go into the bathroom I would touch the wall right before going into the bathroom only to find my hand trying to flip a non-existent switch. (The light switches in the UK are on the outside of the room.) In one single morning I think I did it 7 times.

-TVs. (We didn't have one for 2 years. Can you tell?)

-When Elaine picked us up from LAX we all piled into her car and Tim suddenly said out loud, "Ok, everyone buckled up?" Both girls looked up at him blankly as if he were speaking another language. They had no idea what he was talking about. Buckle up? Car seats? Huh?

-The girls are having a hard time adjusting to being strapped into a car seat in the car. Without fail every time we are in the car they both say, "It's choking me!" "I'm avout to have a fro-up!" (Car rides do really actually make them sick and to get out of riding in a car now they blame it on the seat belt.)

-In continuation with the car adjustment the girls always ask us, "Why don't we walk anywhere??"

-The first time we washed our cars you should have seen the faces on the girls! Especially Natalie's! An all new experience for them!

-In America, when crossing the street, we all wait until the white walking man light signals it is safe to walk. Not in London. You go when you can! No time for waiting. Tim said while in LA he was about to keep walking regardless of the light signal when he realized that everyone was waiting on either side. He felt a little frustrated as he decided to stand and wait along with everyone else, even though no cars were coming in either direction as this point. haha

-I was nervous driving for the first time after 2 years. I wouldn't even wear my sunglasses in the car because I wanted to make sure I saw everything correctly. Going 65-ish mph on the highway had me a little tense. To think I used to go 80 mph no question! I'm normal again now.

-I only drove once on the left side in London, yet, one time while driving here my heart skipped a huge beat for one second as I thought I was driving on the wrong side!

-I've been having Marisa work on workbooks during the summer to keep her mind a tad sharp until school starts and she had one page ask, "Circle each picture that shows something from the present. Draw an X on each picture that shows something from the past." Marisa was stumped by one of the pictures.

When I asked her what she thought she replied, "Well, the Queen lives in a castle." I had to explain that the book most likely was referring to the past. But smart girl you are Marisa. The Queen does live in a castle...and a palace.

-When scheduling an appointment over the phone I had to close my eyes and think really hard when giving out our birth dates.
Month, Day, and Year. Not the Day, Month, and Year anymore.
I think I even spoke slowly as I tried to spit out the dates. I was totally laughing once I hung up. I must have sounded so lame.

-The first time we ate out at a restaurant I was seriously so disgusted and completely floored at the amount of food on my plate. I kept saying, "This could feed me for a week!" "I can't believe how much food they gave me!" I was in serious shock people. And the fact that they offered to box my food up to take home!! Don't even get me started! Bleh!


I'm sure they are more little things but these stuck out the most. Pretty funny.

LA Zoo

More LA exploring today! This time with Grandma and the kiddos!

When I asked the girls upon entering the zoo what they wanted to see the most, they said the lions and the hippo. And the zoo had neither. #Fail haha But it was still a fun outing.

The orangutans were the most entertaining to the girls. We stayed in that exhibit for awhile as we watched up close against the glass a family play together. They were obsessed with watching the baby orangutan. The baby was pretty cute but the adult orangutans... in the words I overheard from a couple of men behind me, "Tan feos." Agree.

Natalie's favorite part was the petting area. It was right up her alley as she is obsessed with grooming and make-up herself. She spent the entire time brushing, Peaches, the goat. It was sweet to see her very thorough in her brushing. She would gently grab each ear and ever so delicately brush them.

Marisa liked all the babies at the zoo. "Baby monkey, baby giraffee, and baby zebra." Oh yeah, she also liked the gift shop. She kept reminding me every 5 minutes, "Where is the gift shop?" "Can we go to the gift shop yet?" 

Santa Monica Pier

I've heard people in London say, "I've lived in London my whole life and have never been on the London Eye."
Really? Weird.
But I guess I understand. I have lived in CA for 4 years now and I have never been to Santa Monica! It was fun to explore a part of LA. We crave our old city exploring adventures. And it is always nice to have a "date night" with the hubs.

We ate lunch at True Foods Kitchen and split between us a Bison Burger and Breakfast Burrito with sweet potato hash.
It was dee-lishhh.
I should have captured it on my camera...

After lunch we walked around Santa Monica Place and 3rd st promenade. We found some legit chocolate shops that reminded us of our European delicacies. I should have captured that on my camera too...

check-up catch-up

According to UK standards Marisa was up to date on her immunisations so lucky girl never got any shots while we were there. But...not here. To get her prepared to start school in America we had to go to the doctor's and basically catch up on her 4, 5, and 6 year old check-ups all at the same time and get those darn Kindergarten shots too. Marisa was pretty brave thanks to Georgie once again! What would we do without that monkey of hers??!


Marisa at 6 years old...

Weight: 38 lbs 10 percentile

Height: 42 3/4" 10 percentile

She's a mini me. Literally!

Mother's Day 2013

This year I got spoiled with two Mother's Day. My sweet husband and kiddos made my American Mother's Day just as special as my English Mother's Day. I'm one lucky lady. See!

Tim asked the girls some questions regarding their mother and wrote down their responses. It was funny and I wanted to share.

What do you love the most about Mommy?

M: "She is kind."

N: "Because she gotted married at the temple."

What is your favorite food mommy makes?

M: "Spaghetti."

N: "Cookie dough chip."

What does mommy help you with?

M: "She helps me reach things."

N: "To get something that is high and is pretty to wear."

What makes mommy the best?

M: "I love her."

N: "That she is being nice to me."

4 month check-up

Weight: 13 lbs 14 1/2 ounces 20 percentile

Height: 24 3/4 inches 25 percentile

Head: 16 3/4 75 percentile

There is that Hart head slowly peeking again...

the expat life

It has started... My heart physically hurts for London. All day yesterday I have been missing my expat life.


I can't really pinpoint what triggered it or how the feelings became suddenly overwhelming. I just remember sitting on the couch, looking around a room in a house that is not mine, and facing Tim to say, "I miss London."
"Me too," was his reply.
"Like, a lot," I said back.

Before moving back to the states I started reading, "The Art of Coming Home" by Craig Storti, a book that KPMG gave us weeks prior to our move. It is recommended that even family members read it.

It was very interesting to say the least. Can you believe they have books on this? I was informed ahead of time by my expert expat friends about the roller coaster of emotions an expat goes through while living abroad. I didn't fully understand it, but I took their word for it. And sure enough, throughout the two years I would catch myself at those various high and low and twirly points along the ride.
Mid-coaster ride I had been prepped a bit about "reverse culture shock". Yes, there is such a thing. Again, I didn't understand, but I believed it.

So to finally sit down and read about this, so called "reverse culture shock", was eye opening for me. I wish I had the book with me so I can share some excerpts with you, but it is currently packed in a box on a boat sailing the deep blue sea toward LA.

I was very curious upon reading when reverse culture shock would hit me. Every expat has a different experience. How long will it take for me? How severe will it be? How long will it last? Will I ever be the same? Can "home" truly not feel like "home"? Where is "home"? And do I need therapy???

Ok, the last one is kinda a joke, but really, I did think it!


Fast forward exactly one month later from our departure date and I am finding myself throughout the whole day looking at old instagram pictures of London, seeing pictures of our old flat, and so desperately wanting to go back. I even had moments where I would close my eyes and envision myself there, looking out at our amazing view....

Maybe, it was the fact, that as my dear friend puts it, "...when the dust began to settle from the rush and excitement of being 'home'," that triggered this awkwardness of being stuck between two worlds. We bought  our cars, settled our bank accounts, ran a bazillion errands, met up with old friends, went on a family vacay... and now the chaos and enjoyment of all the re-introductions of American luxuries has come to an end.


I know this sounds crazy. I don't expect you to understand. But I know my fellow expats totally understand and that's comfort for me to know, I'm not crazy.

So, yes, I cried at night in bed last night. Also laughing because the emotions were all so bizarre! Tim and I stayed up discussing our feelings about our experiences. After all he is the only one that can truly understand. He is having a hard time too and in different ways.


Today I'm better. But I don't know what tomorrow will be like. So if you ever talk to me and I seem out of it, I'm sorry. I guess I will have normal days and not so normal days as I try to figure out my "normal". So be nice to me, please. :)