America, America...

After a trans-continental flight, I find myself in day 4 of American living.  I have lived in America, but well not in the last 4 and a half years or so and I've established a few things...

1.  I looove target.  

It's true.  No Northern Irish supermarket quite compares.  Target is a one stop shop (with cute clothes and nice makeup, I might add) It feels, kind of like Tesco and Primark mixed together, only a little classier.  

2.  Sunglasses are more than a fashion statement.  

I was expecting heat.  What I wasn't prepared for was the light intensity that comes with it.  It hurts.  For the first time in a long time I've actually had use for them.  I can look people in the eye, behind tinted shades and nobody will find it suspicious.  Jealous?

3.  All tea is better with tapioca balls in it.  

Boba tea?  It's a thing. Well not really in Northern Ireland... I mean there is one place that sells it in Dublin which I haven't had the pleasure of visiting but as I said, not in Northern Ireland.  Here, it's kind of a different story.  Seriously though (as a pretty committed tea enthusiast myself, I'm rethinking how I drink tea)

4.  NEVER buy a large drink.

A couple days ago I was at In-n-out (They're burgers are divine) and I asked my Dad for an iced tea.  (I do, have a bit of a weakness for good old iced tea)  When my Dad handed my drink to me I was a little surprised.  Expecting a smallish paper cup, I found my hands cupped around a, well, not-so-smallish drink.  I  guessed my Dad must have gotten me a large but when I asked him about the matter, he confirmed that it was indeed a medium.  Not only was this "medium" iced tea rather too big for my liking, it was refillable for no extra cost, with any fountain drink of my choosing.  (I have to admit, I did take advantage of that perk.)  After this experience I'm a little frightened of what larges and extra larges look like.  I have also resolved not to even go there.

5.  McDonald's is not really THAT good.

Ok, so I like healthy food.  Let's get that straight from the get-go.  I always have.  This having been said, I've always had a weakness for perfectly salted fries and processed bits of chicken that come with a toy.  McDonalds had me hook, line and sinker from a young age.  I am now having second thoughts.  After experiencing In-n-out for the first time (in a long time), I must admit, McDonalds, has some pretty tough competitors.  Something tells me my McChicken sandwich days are over, or at least may have greatly reduced.  It's on to greener pastures.

So those are just a few things I've established over the past few days.  Re-adjusting and re-learning the American culture may take a while but it's very, very exciting.

Lot's of, See you, laters

Photo Creds: The lovely Andrea Africa ;)  And thanks for offering your tea, for a photo opp, Meera Kattakayam

I'm moving later on this month.  Not quite down the street or to a new cul-de-sac.  Not even to a town a couple hours away.  I'm moving to another country.  Not a neighbouring country.  You see, there's this little thing called the Atlantic Ocean and the country I'm moving to is on the other side of it.  America.  I've moved country, before of course, when I was little I moved from America to Northern Ireland (my current location).  I was thrilled. Not that I didn't love my homeland or wouldn't miss my friends, I was just caught up in the novelty of going somewhere new.  New, new, new.  I've always loved going new places, seeing new things and meeting new people.

The trouble is as you get older, it's harder to leave people.  Although, I'm still thrilled at the possibility of change, I'm devastated to be leaving friends.  I've come to realise, that it is inevitable that we face change in large and small portions, at all points in our lives and it's best to embrace it, taking each day as we're given it.

Needless to say, although the Atlantic is a bit of an obstacle, I won't lose the friendships I have here.  Thank goodness for Skype!  Good ol' 'Norn Iron' will always have a place in my heart.  Now that I'm moving, I've got a pretty good excuse to come visit!  

With less than two weeks until I depart this beautiful country, I'm intent on savouring every last moment.  Even the rainy days, which each and every local seems to detest so intensely.  I think I may always miss Punjanna tea, Primark and the lovely people that live here but hopefully I'll find things I love about America as well.  These past few years of my life have been seriously lacking in Redvines, Root beer (A non alcoholic fizzy drink.  It's like Coke, only much, much better) and sun.  However, I have appreciated rainy days spent inside eating scones and sipping tea by the fire.

As, the title, suggests these past few days, weeks and months have been full of "See you Later!"s.  Goodbye, sounds a little too finite at the moment.  After all, I'm determined that this place hasn't seen the last of me!

Today was spent drinking iced tea, eating pastries, chilling at the park and being idiots with some of my best friends.  It's days like today that I will miss, which is why it's a little bit extra hard to say "See you Later" but it's only a "See you later."  Not a goodbye!  Here's to many more days like today, hopefully on both sides of that little ocean.

(Bye the way, I highly reccomend Tazo's 'Passion' iced tea, as pictured above.  It's delish, and my favourite colour.)

 -Madsyroo xx