Pleasant Surprises

As you may have gathered from my last post I have experienced a few… let’s say… adjustment issues following my move to England. I mean, when a supermarket shelf full of pasta can reduce you to tears, something is wrong!

Over the past few weeks, however, I have taken some time to reflect upon my new surroundings. I’ve been in England for over a month now and I must admit that I had quite a number of preconceived ideas about this place that have turned out to be untrue.

First rule of travel: Don’t take people’s word for it. Go with a blank canvas and an open mind. See for yourself.

FALLACY #1: NO-ONE WILL BE NICE TO YOU IN LONDON

Ever since I can remember, I’ve heard people saying how unfriendly people are in this big, impersonal city; how the tube (underground train network) is the headquarters of rudeness and that no one in this town would even tip out the dregs of their Evian on you if you were on fire. Well. I’m sure that like everywhere on Earth, London has its rude and boorish types, but my experience to date has been quite the opposite of what I was told to expect. Let me tell you some heart-warming public transport stories!!

The Suitcase

As always I was carting around the big suitcase filled with all my worldly possessions. Hey when you're away from home for a year and a suitcase is all you've got - it's big ok! While Paddington Bear was one of my childhood heroes, it is not my goal in life to emulate him. The suitcase is more like a thorn in my side than a romantic travel icon.

So I was training it from St. Alban’s to Kent with a change at London Bridge. I got off at platform 5 and lugged the heavy suitcase UP a flight of stairs, and then down again to platform 1. Well I took too long doing that because just as I stepped onto the platform, the doors shut and my train departed… of course. So I asked a lady standing on the platform a couple of futile questions in the hopes that she knew the information I would need to go back upstairs to find out. “I’ll go have a check for you,” she said, dashing up the steps. She returned moments later and sympathetically informed me that the next train was leaving from platform 5. I’D JUST COME FROM THERE!! RRRRR!!

I was psyching myself up for another round of weight-lifting when a concerned older woman approached me: “You’re not going back up the stairs are you?”

“Yes I’m afraid I have to.”

“But you know, if you walk to the other end of the platform, there’s a ramp!”

“Oh thank you soooooooooo much!!!”

Wasn’t that nice of both of them?

Two points to England! However, I do have to score Italy highly in this area also because, over there, my suitcase and I have never approached a flight of stairs without some nice Italian man offering to carry it for me. That doesn’t happen here. I don’t think it’s because people aren’t as helpful; I think that there is a fear of intruding or giving the impression that they are a swindler hoping to take off with your stuff. The English are nothing if not exceedingly POLITE. Also, the litigation culture here is ca-razy and perhaps there is an unwritten rule that no-one risks putting out their back and consequently no-one risks being sued!

The Gentlemen

England was the birthplace of the Gentleman and from time to time this history manifests itself in even the most unlikely of places. It’s so refreshing to get on a train while some nice man stands aside to let you step in first. I’ve also noticed that English gentlemen do no walk through a door before a lady even if the door is already open and they happen to reach it first. They stand aside and wait till the lady has gone through. It’s so lovely! There are many other little examples, but suffice to say, chivalry is not dead!

FALLACY #2: THE ENGLISH ARE AS WARM AS THEIR WINTERS

I think it’s fair to say that there is a stereotype out there that British culture is lacking somewhat in emotion and warmth. The Italians had no qualms about pitying me as I left their vivacious, passionate, hospitable culture for "colder climes"!

English culture can be quite polite, reserved and subdued in the way people relate to each other… however I don’t believe that that equates to a lack of feeling. You know what I think? If affection, passion and ardour do not bubble over, they don’t disappear; they simply bore down into the depths of the heart. I haven’t been here very long, but I can already see that the English character has many qualities I admire very much. Adjectives like noble, decent, courteous and respectful are not often hailed as the height of adulation, but I think these virtues are indicators of an underlying substance of great worth. I look forward to finding out what is actually underneath the surface.

I mean what makes a man say this:

“God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.” (William Wilberforce, abolitionist, politician, author and all-round amazing human being).

Now Wilberforce is one of my heroes, but I think this statement is hilarious! Only an Englishman would say such a thing! But I love it. I love it and I’m determined to find out what makes this culture tick.

Autumn Leaves on Skinny Trees

Yes, it’s true, I have been in the U.K. for a couple of weeks now and I have not told you guys anything about it. There are a number of contributing factors to this: busyness, laziness and the logistics of moving to a new place being among them. However, if I’m honest, I guess the primary reason for my silence is that I’ve just been missing Italy too much to concentrate effectively on my new surroundings.

I never expected it would be so hard to leave Siena. I guess I need to cut myself some slack though; I did live there for five months, make some amazing friends, and have the best summer of my life! It was difficult to leave it all behind. Moreover, I don’t yet have a place to really settle into here. The instability makes it easy to look back in the direction of Tuscany where I was comfortable and happy.

Anyway… once I put gothic edifices and fields of poppies and sunflowers out of my head, I was able to see the new type of beauty around me. England’s landscape is rather unique and, I might add, quite beautiful. Since I arrived I’ve been staying in Kent, which is affectionately known as “the garden of England” – and with good reason too. It’s gorgeous.

Little winding laneways enclosed by skinny, tall trees. Vibrant deciduous leaves contrasted against vast green lawns. Tudor and Victorian style houses sprinkled throughout the old streets. Little country churches. Pretty, pruned gardens. Stacks of history.

That’s Kent.

I’ve been staying with some distant relations: a retired couple who are just the best! They have been so good to me and I couldn’t have asked for a better starting point. They have helped to make the settling-in process a little smoother; though I must admit it has been more emotionally draining than I anticipated. There are also SO MANY things to organise to get yourself set up in a new country. I tip my hat – or perhaps it’s more accurate to say, beanie – to anyone who has ever immigrated!!

The other day a friend asked me if I was working yet, or still living “the life”. I said that I planned on living the life until January! Why not! I worked darn hard to save the funds for this period and, I also must mention the generosity of my family and the Australian Taxation Office whose gifts have bolstered the funds!! It’s my birthday tomorrow and my family have definitely given me the best present they could: their support for this little dream of mine. I have wanted to do this European thing since I was thirteen! So, yeah, I guess you can say I’m living the life I want to live. I’ll be sure to be grateful for that every time I see the autumn leaves on the skinny trees.