Living Abroad vs Vacationing Abroad

Post date: 04-Aug-2009 22:29:34

Today, the reality sunk in that we're not really on vacation, but we're actually living in London. We've been here for over a week and this past weekend we had a regular weekend. Well except that we acted more like we would have on a Sunday at home instead of a Saturday. We spent most of the day catching up on emails, blogging, and pictures. We also cleaned and did our room and washed our clothes. We ate all our meals at home too except for our Sunday date night, but I'll get to that later.

We've hosted a few couchsurfers at our house this year, but this is our first time doing a homestay. We're living with complete strangers. It feels like a cross between being a flat mate and living with a step mom from Cinderella (okay maybe I am exaggerating a bit). I know it's odd that I say step parents, but my parent's nor Colin's parents have as many house rules and regulations as our homestay people do, so it wouldn't be honest to say just parents.

It reminds me of having a roommate because everyone is always being so careful not to step on each other's toes. “Is that alright if I cook my food on the bottom rack of the oven while you cook yours on the top?” Really we are thinking: Okay, it's 9:00 PM and you've been in the kitchen for 2 hours. We're going to barge in and try to cook our food as the same time as 3 other people because we're starving. “Let's work together to try to fit our food in the fridge and freezer that are the same size as our bar fridge and freezer at home. You can have the upper shelf and we'll use the bottom shelf. However, since our hosts have been gracious enough to let us stay with them for much cheaper than the cost of a hotel, we also must abide by their rules. Clean up immediately after yourself (dry the shower, wash your dishes by hand dishes-no dishwasher, etc). Oh, and this also includes removing your laundry the second it's done. I think this is a great rule since at home my clothes or towels etc are usually still in a heap in the dryer by the time Colin is ready to put his clothes in the dryer. However, there is no dryer in this household so it makes it easy to remember to immediately hang up your clothes.

I know I may sound like I am complaining, but I really am enjoying the different experience while at the same time appreciating what I have at home. As Colin keeps saying half joking half serious after everything he says "6 months of this. 6 months of this." While you're traveling you can't help but compare things to what you know or what you do at home. One last comparison, I swear. We use a sponge that is older than I am to wash our dishes everyday (there is nothing else available) and I swear it contains more bacteria than any living organism. I think after living, boarding and rooming in the same room, in separate rooms, in the same house, or even in the same rail car with people from all over the world we'll have a new appreciation for other cultures and lifestyles and of our own.

All 7 of us are in a beautiful 1930 row house with 1 toilet, 1 sink, and a kitchen that can fit 3 people in it at one time. From left to right starting with the back row: Serena, Helen, Rocio, Joe, Colin, Elisa, and Denis.

On Sunday night, we went on a date-not as tourists but as locals. We left the cameras, the backpacks and the Tevas at home. We dressed up and went to see Helen at the Shakespeare Globe Theater. It was a brilliant 90 minutes. The woman who played Helen was an excellent actress. The emotions of the plot, the humor and wonderful Greek dresses and gladiator sandals were riveting.

After the show, we went to the Southwark Tavern for a pint and some appies. We finished our pints in the true London style-standing outside the door of the bar. We even left our glasses precariously on the edge of the building when we left. This bar did not have a patio or any outdoor seating. I guess this is just part of the style.