Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
Jan 28th 2009, 2:29 am
#31
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
Feb 1st 2009, 7:21 am
#32
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
Sorry, I'm hijacking your thread a bit here, Sally, but this is a bit relevant (I think!).
Just this "aside" on Bournville illustrates for me part of why people feel a tug for the UK ("home") in a way that might be good/rational, but also may be part of the whole rose-tint phenomenon.
When I read the personal account of working at Cadbury's (the link I included in the earlier post), it really tugged at something that I used to feel when I visited home during my years overseas. This was part of my motivation to come back, eventually - the idea that no-one in the US knew my history, or would be able to identify with stories about Cadbury's/Bournville swimming baths, walking back to school in December after swim class with your hair turning to icicles, going to the ABC Minor's Club at the Stirchley Cinema at 10 a.m. every Saturday morning (except the day Churchill was buried, when the cinema was closed for the day), riiding the top deck of the bus home from school, where the big kids would be smoking their cigarettes and asking "What are you looking at?", living in a council flat, etc., etc., etc. You all know the drill - you've all got your own experiences.
So what's this got to do with Sally's post? The fact that it can be easy during your visits home to think "Yes, this is where I belong, this is where I am from", to be able to scratch that itch that can't be scratched in the US. I think the response can be so visceral that it's easy to view that response as being absolute confirmation that the UK is where you should be. For some people, that can turn out to be correct. But in my own experience, I have found that I am no more able to relate my "history" to peple living in the 21st century UK than I was able to relate it to people in the US.
Och, shite, I'm waffling but hopefully you kow what I'm getting at - just be careful about making huge decisions based on a visit to the UK tugging at your heartstrings ... hope that makes sense.
Just this "aside" on Bournville illustrates for me part of why people feel a tug for the UK ("home") in a way that might be good/rational, but also may be part of the whole rose-tint phenomenon.
When I read the personal account of working at Cadbury's (the link I included in the earlier post), it really tugged at something that I used to feel when I visited home during my years overseas. This was part of my motivation to come back, eventually - the idea that no-one in the US knew my history, or would be able to identify with stories about Cadbury's/Bournville swimming baths, walking back to school in December after swim class with your hair turning to icicles, going to the ABC Minor's Club at the Stirchley Cinema at 10 a.m. every Saturday morning (except the day Churchill was buried, when the cinema was closed for the day), riiding the top deck of the bus home from school, where the big kids would be smoking their cigarettes and asking "What are you looking at?", living in a council flat, etc., etc., etc. You all know the drill - you've all got your own experiences.
So what's this got to do with Sally's post? The fact that it can be easy during your visits home to think "Yes, this is where I belong, this is where I am from", to be able to scratch that itch that can't be scratched in the US. I think the response can be so visceral that it's easy to view that response as being absolute confirmation that the UK is where you should be. For some people, that can turn out to be correct. But in my own experience, I have found that I am no more able to relate my "history" to peple living in the 21st century UK than I was able to relate it to people in the US.
Och, shite, I'm waffling but hopefully you kow what I'm getting at - just be careful about making huge decisions based on a visit to the UK tugging at your heartstrings ... hope that makes sense.
Feb 2nd 2009, 12:52 pm
#33
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
My Mum may come over for a visit soon so that will be a nice compromise 
Feb 2nd 2009, 2:09 pm
#34
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
I suggest try and get out of LA for a few days at a time- you probably know the good spots but here are a few: Cambria, San Luis Obispo, Monterey Peninsula. Even try the snow this time of year up in Lake Arrowhead area. I think there is nothing nicer than driving to the snow in shorts and Tshirt - skiing or want ever your want is in the cold and being back in the afternoon to shorts and T shirt.
Feb 2nd 2009, 2:30 pm
#35
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
We went home for a visit in the summer of 2007 for my brothers wedding.
I was underwhelmed (by Manchester airport) then totally overwhelmed by the Cheshire countryside we drove through. So green, So lush, So pretty,So quaint, So interesting,,,,,,,,,,,and to be honest, that was the point I knew we'd be coming home eventually
I was underwhelmed (by Manchester airport) then totally overwhelmed by the Cheshire countryside we drove through. So green, So lush, So pretty,So quaint, So interesting,,,,,,,,,,,and to be honest, that was the point I knew we'd be coming home eventually
Feb 2nd 2009, 3:06 pm
#37
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Feb 2nd 2009, 3:09 pm
#38
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
Feb 2nd 2009, 3:16 pm
#39
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
, Rising Sun I dream of having a really nice meal from there, its great
Feb 2nd 2009, 3:21 pm
#40
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
I said I'd travelled 3,500 miles for my Peppered Pork to be told they'd run out!!! Got my eye on a little house just off the Main Street...well within walking distance of the Rising Sun.
Feb 2nd 2009, 3:30 pm
#41
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
Peppered Pork is my fave. When I was there just before Christmas...they'd run out. I said I'd travelled 3,500 miles for my Peppered Pork to be told they'd run out!!!
Got my eye on a little house just off the Main Street...well within walking distance of the Rising Sun.
I said I'd travelled 3,500 miles for my Peppered Pork to be told they'd run out!!! Got my eye on a little house just off the Main Street...well within walking distance of the Rising Sun.
Feb 3rd 2009, 1:12 am
#43
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
Only for 12 days but that's better than not getting back at all.
Last edited by englishinfl; Feb 3rd 2009 at 1:15 am.
Feb 3rd 2009, 11:53 am
#44
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
I was slowly coming to terms with living in LA until I went to England in the summer, since then I've been absolutely awful with homesickness. I could probably juggle childcare and get over there for a short trip soon, but I wonder if people think it would make me feel better or worse?
Good luck and whatever the remedy may be for you I wish you all the best
Feb 3rd 2009, 12:24 pm
#45
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Re: Will trip 'home' help or hinder?
That's definately a booster for me, I love it when I have my parents or family over. Not quite as good as going back for a couple of weeks, but a definate "up" time!
