Things I will miss about England

The time is fast approaching: in less than three weeks, I’ll be picking up my life in Oxford and moving back to the New World. After all my agony and misery and kvetching about life in England at the outset, I’ve quietly come to love it. People often ask me what I’ll miss about England, with that special wry English undertone that seems to smirkingly say, ‘if anything.’ Well England, there are a lot of things I’ll miss and none of them particularly more than others. Today, on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, I’ll celebrate this charming country by listing a few of the things that I won’t be able to replace when I return to my own glorious land.

Things I will miss about Oxford:

• The talented classical violinist who plays outside the Bodleian Library’s Radcliffe Camera every evening starting at 5:00, even in the dead of winter
• Hunting for flowers, notably snowdrops, bluebells and wisteria
• Riding my bicycle up Turl Street
• Church bell practice on Tuesday nights at St. Andrew’s Church in Old Headington, appreciated whilst walking to the White Hart for a pub quiz
• The pub quiz
• Laughing at erstwhile punters in Christchurch Meadow
• The automated posh lady’s voice at Boots that says, “Cashier number eight, please”
• A field of poppies en route to exams in Wheatley village
• The curvy little main road in Forest Hill
• North Parade, particularly the Rose and Crown pub (most enjoyed sitting next to their fireplace on a snowy evening)
• The winter sunset from the Music Room in Headington Hill Hall
• Bells that ring the hour, particularly at night
• Peeking through the entrances of Oxford colleges

Things I will miss about England:

• Using “Y’all right?” as a greeting (so confusing for my first month - “Yes, everything is fine! Did something happen? SHOULD I be all right??")
• Thatch roofed houses, and houses with colourfully painted doors and shutters
• Rolling fields that bloom bright yellow in May and June
• Canal boats painted bright colours, with potted gardens on the roofs
• Hedgerows and old stone farmhouses
• Afternoon tea/Sunday roast
• Setting up a boozy picnic and baring all flesh at the first hint of sunshine
• Melodious birds
• Fruit trees along every public path and train track in late summer
• Legally walking through people’s private fields on ancient Public Byways
• People’s fondness for the Queen - in the spirit of today, Long May She Reign!

There you have it, my dear English friends. I’ve fallen in love with your funny little island and I will be heartbroken to leave. It’s been a lovely visit - thanks for having me!