The Raich's Big Adventure

I can't believe that we have less then three months left. It seems like just yesterday that we were planning on moving here permanently. Now here we are packing up all our stuff, yet once again, and moving back home. The upside of this move is that we have less stuff. We really are excited, but now we are packing everything into a much shorter time. Things like exploring London.

To this end, we decided that what we really like most about travel is the food. So we decided to make our way across London through food. We've seen enough of the historic places. Really, places like Big Ben or Westminster Abbey have been the same way for a thousand years. We've seen them now. My guess is that they will not change by the next time we see them. So we are seeking out food (and to anyone who knows me, this will not be a surprise). This picture is of Mia eating a real sausage (I hope you're proud of your little meat eater, Papa).




We did stop to take a picture of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's plays were performed (although we happened upon this and really was just on the way to a different place to eat). It is a picture in front.


We did take a time-out at the Tate, a modern art gallery. The building looks like an old, converted industrial building, witha big smoke-stack on the top. Mia had fun as she got to a play a game where she had to find different objects in the paintings. This was a brilliant idea to keep her interest.



We went for a picnic with food from Harrod's and played in the park afterwards.







The other day Andrea went to Stratford upon Avon for the 400th birthday of Shakespeare. I guess he wasn't there, but Andrea said she had fun anyway. She said that that part of the country is just beautiful and picturesque. It sounded quite lovely. Mia and I stayed in Brighton and went to the beach and had a picnic, which was lovely, but we missed Andrea. Here are some pictures.



The garden is growing well. I haven't been planting too much as we are leaving soon. But what is in the ground is growing. We have lettuce, spinach, parsley, raspberries, blueberries, broad beans, and beetroot coming up. Not too bad.

When we started our adventure back in July 2005, we certainly didn't know what we were in for. Sure we did the research, but having never been here, we really had no idea what England would be like, let alone what our life would entale. Its funny, but I thought that the only real problem would be learning to drive on the other side of the street, something that was in fact a problem for me! As it turned out, things were different, but also the same.

For instance, the politics were really the same. While England is part of Europe and the EU, it is much more aligned with America in its policy. This was something of a surprise. Another surprise was the state of the schooling system. I figured that since England is home to Oxford and Cambridge, that the educational system would be excellent. This is not the case. The reality is that the educational system is total rubbish. Sure there are good schools and smart children. But overall, the schools do not fare well as compared to those in the states.

But whatever our misconceptions were, it has certainly been a wonderful experience. We have had the opportunity to travel in Europe and England, have been able to make good friends who we will hopefully be able to keep in contact with over time, and have had the opportunity to grow vegetables all year (well, perhaps attempt to grow vegetables would be more accurate).

But in light of all the pluses and minuses, what we realize is that we miss America - our friends, our family, Bread and Chocolate! We miss what we know. Really, what we miss is our little corner of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Mia has certainly stated that she misses her family. As a result, we have decided to come home. As is the case with Andrea and I, this has become an ever changing affair as well.

When we first started to entertain the idea we thought that we would stay for another two years, then it became one year. We had all these reasons and rationalized our way to this decision. We said that this was it, that it would not change... it did! Then we said December was the perfect time. Then it was November. And now it is 28 July. This seems like a good date and I think we are sticking with it, for the time being anyway.

So, that's it then. In three months we will be back and starting all over, once again for the umpteenth time. Sure we're sad and hope that we don't come to feel that we have failed, but I think on a much deeper level we feel that we succeeded in something that perhaps was rather brave. And really what we got out the experience was and is far greater then had we not made the move at all. For me, there is a small part of me who will always say that this was a very, very expensive move (considering that we lost everything but six suitcases of stuff), but really, what I gained, and hopefully the whole family gained, was a once in a life-time opportunity to see and experience something a bit different.

And since you have sat and read all this without any break, here are couple of pictures for your effort!

First, however, an update on my garden. Things are going pretty well. I have managed to stave off my mortal enemy, the slug/snail. They have been kept at bay by what force I am not sure. But if I ever find out, I will be sure to bottle it and sell it. My new problem is the compost pile. Because we do not have a lawn to speak of, I do not have enough stuff, nitrogen, to put into the pile. What we do have plenty of, however, are food scraps... remember we are vegetarians so there are lots of fruit peelings. So in addition to these food scraps, I now have plenty of flies. Actually, what there is is a colony the size of Luxembourg in our backyard. This is truly annoying.

On the plus side, we have beans, peas, garlic, carrot all coming up. Lettuce, spinach and parsley will be staring to sprout, too. The raspberries are growing, but the blueberries and strawberries did not make the winter.

Okay, now to Italy. Like Andrea said earlier, Italy was amazing. Here are a few more pictures.

Pigeons in San Marco Square: These pigeons eat whatever is on offer, which in this case was a full size person.

These streets aren't paved with gold, they aren't even paved.

Our personal gondola driver.

Mia actually took this picture!

A Tuscan butcher... cute! The shop isn't bad either.

A view of Tuscany.

Our audience with the Pope!

Not Italy, but awfully cute!!!

Can you say gorgeous!

We are back from Italy and finally getting around to posting a few pictures. I don't know what to say about Italy other than that it was amazing and incredible and wonderful!! Venice was our favourite city by far, but Siena and Rome were just lovely. I would love to go back and explore some more. One week was in no way enough time.