I fell in love with England in a couple of months

I am about to celebrate six months in this new country. My life has become a roller coaster of emotions, challenges and illusions. But I have fallen in love with England in the last few months.

Every day I catch myself learning new words (that only the English understand), trying new dishes and products from the supermarket, and going new ways. I am surprised at how little I knew about the UK and its culture. I thought I was prepared and knew exactly where I was going and what I would find, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

The famous "slang" of young people in England has been a new challenge for me. Not only to go from understanding that what I would call "pants" here are "trousers" (pants are underwear, so you can imagine the pains I have gone through). You say "rubbish" instead of "trash" or that people have this particular way of saying "cheers", "mate", or "lovely".

I am incredibly fortunate to look back and discover that I know new words from a new culture.

Ah! "Posh" is elegant and "Fancy" is a costume...?!

Many people laugh at me. I keep laughing at myself. I keep learning. But I'm happy and feel lucky to have the opportunity to do it.

I fell in love with food. My immersion has been completed in the last few months, although I am willing to keep exploring. I am fascinated with the ability of all the Pubs to transform their menu on Sundays to serve the famous Sunday Roast. Among the locals, going out on Sunday for a Roast is almost necessary.

The curious fact between English vocabulary and food: for me, a "Pudding" would be like a creamy and gelatinous dessert, right?

Here, Pudding is, in fact, the standard way of saying "Dessert" (as if it was the dessert at home - not Posh), but then Pudding is also this baked bread served with the Sunday Roast.

Fact: Pubs come from Public House, where everyone is welcome. I thought it was similar to a bar, but it is a house (that looks like a house and should feel like home) where people seek to share among friends. My favourites are the ones that stay original and serve you food next to a fireplace.

The sound of wood and fire, a cider and some cards to play, will undoubtedly be one of the cosiest memories of my time in England.

Discovering that “pancakes” here are what I call “crepe” was a before and after for me. But I want to confess that: the morning of National Pancake Day has been one of the happiest. Again, I fell in love with England. Seeing how they loved to “flip” the pancake in the pan, and eat it with sugar and lemon, makes me feel nostalgic. But as a good Colombian, I also put dulce de leche/arequipe.

I want to confess: the morning of National Pancake Day has been one of the happiest of the last few months <3

Crumpet is something that will become a part of my market list. This is the perfect invention between bread, pancake and something else. If you have yet to try it, my definition would be: it is an American pancake with bubbles inside. Since it has holes in its dough, any sauce you put on it goes in, and the crumpet is perfectly permeated. If I put arequipe in it, it melts and is perfect. Here they eat it only with butter (quite a lot).

Something that will not return to my kitchen is the "Marmite". Its taste and smell are strong (based on yeast). But as someone said: you hate it or love it.

* I have yet to try Full English.

I am also proud to say that I have learned to appreciate English tea. I have always been to drink tea with floral or fruit essences. I like it with honey and lemon. But I needed to understand what English tea was all about. To me, it was just run-of-the-mill black tea.

I recently found out that the secret formula is in the following:

1. Put the tea bag in the glass.

2. Put the boiling water on top.

3. Let rest for 3 minutes.

4. Put the necessary amount of milk until it has a caramel colour (it goes well with oat milk).

5. A spoonful of sugar.
   

** You need scones, jam and cream to have a proper Afternoon Tea.

The ease of transportation here is fascinating. In one day, you can return from an adventure in different places. And if my English experience has still captivated you enough to read this far, I want to tell you about the new paths I have travelled.

So far, I have had the opportunity to visit: Edinburgh (Scotland), Swansea and Cardiff (Wales), London (the largest city), Birmingham (the second largest city and the headquarters of the Cadbury chocolate factory), Canterbury, Cambridge and Brighton.

But, in addition, I have discovered how beautiful the English countryside is, with its typical Cottage Houses, or the weekend plan to find the old houses that have been preserved (thanks to the National Trust).

I can discover many small cities from Brighton, which I have been falling in love with little by little: Lewes, Newhaven, Eastbourne, Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing, and Worthing. Each one is so close to the other that you don't notice when you change cities, but at the same time, each one is different and unique.

Today more than ever, I want to continue falling in love with this country.

I have been happy in recent months, although I have also felt moments of nostalgia and the desire to return. Today, more than ever, I want to continue falling in love with this country. Because of the people I have met and the ones I will meet, for those who have accompanied me in discovering this new culture, but above all, for my dreams and my great desire to help others to walk this path.

Because falling in love is the willingness and openness to the unknown, and this new country, culture, and language are the perfectly unknown path to continue loving myself as a woman and loving my vocation of dedication and service to others.

Spring is coming soon, and the Daffodils are beginning to bloom.

Daffodils symbolize rebirth because they are the first flower to bloom at the end of winter. They signify the end of the dark days and resilience, announcing a new beginning.

This is a new beginning.