1460

The number of days gone since I landed on the shores of this small island called England. It was the day after the worst political debacle of my lifetime (so far). I remember rocking up to the pub that night and being accosted straight away for being a septic piece of shit. All I did was order a pint, so I was appropriately taken aback at all of the hostility and pent up anger of a nation being unleashed on me. Also I had no idea what septic meant. Fast forward 4 years and I have somehow managed to win over the Brits. Well, not all of them, but enough. I now also speak more cockney then I would like (and more then CB would like for that matter) and I can throw down with the best of them. I coward away from the bar 4 years ago and slinked back to my table of colleagues. I didn't even relay the story for fear that something I had done had immediately zeroed me out. Ahh hindsight is 20/20. I now know that the only thing I did wrong was open my mouth. I spent the next year wondering what I had done and why I was in this rainy miserable country. The following year I tallied up the number of countries I had been to in 1 year, the friends from all over the world that I had made and the incredible fun to be had. That was the year I learned to love this rainy miserable country. The third year I went to Australia for holiday and never wanted to come back. I again asked myself what I was doing in this rainy miserable country. But I did come back and I met CB and I changed jobs and was never more grateful for the rainy miserable country I called home. That was nearly 2 years ago now. Embarking on my 5th year in London feels like an accomplishment, I am still alive and still have my original liver. Result! I have only been robbed 3x, had my bank account cloned 3x and had my identity nicked once. Oh and there was that brawl in the pub. Never mind. I think that's a stellar record for four years as a London Lass.

I woke up early this morning in anticipation that America had got it right this time and I could once again stand up as a proud American girl. While in the shower (I was too excited to turn the news on first) I thought of how much I have changed in the last 4 years. Some bad (I HATE when my commute is interrupted because someone has flung themselves in front of the Tube-On your own time people!) but mostly good. I love London and I love my life here, but for the first time in a long time I love that I am American too. We finally got it right.