December 2010

Ok, I need to revise my last blog slightly (which I knew would happen). This post is not strictly about Californians, but about the melting pot factor that shapes this State. And it’s about the English. Well, first things first. I explained how nice it was to be surrounded by people who were laid back Read more

Even though I miss Europe and its diversity a lot, I’m starting to really appreciate the Californian attitude to life. And I’m saying Californian rather than American, because I’m under no illusion that it might be very different in other parts of this vast country. In my (admittedly limited) experience, Californians are generally very laid Read more

Nine months in, and I’ve lost it. Culturally, I’m in No-Man’s-Land. I still haven’t got a clue who people in this country are, which hasn’t bothered me much, but which I might have to do something about if I want to integrate myself more. It feels kind of liberating though, to be all detached. I Read more

Ah, Christmas. We had a few days of snow up in Tahoe, which was beautiful. The trees looked like they had a thick layer of icing sugar on, and we expected Santa and his sleigh round every corner. But now we’re back home, and it was way too warm to feel the spirit. But hey-ho, Read more

So today, the earth finally shook for me. Quite disconcerting, really, although it was a minor quake (3.1), but it certainly hinted at how a bigger one could feel. No damage done, a quick surveying the scene resulted in one Christmas ornament that had fallen off the tree (undamaged). I could hear this loud rumbling Read more

I’m trying to organise a night out with the mums from E’s class. As the classes here are mixed up every year, there’s not the same bond between the parents that have been through it all together for years and years, and I think that’s why there’s not much going on socially. And of course Read more

We have received 3 Christmas cards so far. I know it’s still 2 weeks until Christmas, but last year at this time we had at least 20 already! I diligently went out in mid November, purchasing packs of cards, and started sending off a few to arrive in Europe in good time for Christmas. And Read more

The 2nd of advent has been and gone, the tree is up, we’ve been making German Christmas cookies, and still – it doesn’t really feel like the big day’s only just over 2 weeks away. F has been making a couple of xmas things at pre-school, but it’s all been very underwhelming – especially compared Read more

A little note about manners. I mentioned earlier how impressed I was with Elise’s friends at her party, how polite they all were. Well. Generally, manners as we know them in, say, the UK or Germany, are not necessarily known in the same way in this country. What I mean by that is that the Read more