Settling in

The settling in process has started. We moved into our new home about two weeks ago, and it is pretty much all in order. I think there are only about 3 cardboard boxes remaining to be sorted out. Everything else is tidied up. Well-done me (and hubby, of course, especially as his bit of the closet was tidied a lot faster than mine. he's got less stuff though).

The weather has been yo-yoing quite a lot. One day it's 27 and you eat outside thinking it's summer, and the next it's pouring down. That's winter in Houston. Warm enough on most days for M to play outside with water, which is something she hardly ever got to do in Scotland.

On an American note, my lovely cupcake maker (curtesy of my MIL) has arrived and is going to be tried this very afternoon. Looking forward to that.

And of course it's the superbowl this weekend. We are not into it at all (should probably try to I guess)... Apparently we are supposed to sit on the couch and eat wings whilst watching an advert with David Beckham in it. Should be interesting.

Sunshine, cookies, and a garden (ooops I meant backyard). Pretty good so far.

First impressions

We made it to Houston a few days ago. The search is on for a house and a second car (we managed to lease one already) whilst we stay at a furnished apartment and then at a friend's house next week. Our container should be delivered in about a week, as it is now clearing customs at the port.

Time to share those "first" impressions after 14 months away...

-Houston still smells of Houston. There are places with a particular smell (or, more likely, all places have a smell) and this is one of them. H reckons it is the smell of humidity in the air. Quite possibly. I like the smell of pine trees you get in some areas here.
-Everything is still very familiar, including driving an automatic. I can still find my way!
-The sunshine we were after is here indeed. Our daughter has been playing outside in the park, in a beautiful warm sunshine. We even had lunch outdoors on Tuesday.
-Country music on the radio!! Yay!
-I'm waking up very early and I don't even seem to mind too much. For those who know me that's a huge thing.

Maylis
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It all seems so familiar. In fact it IS almost as if we haven't been away. Settling back has been helped a lot by knowing the way around - where the major routes are, the supermarkets, where things are in the supermarkets, what the brands are, even little things like the times of news and weather on the local TV stations.

There don't seem to be many differences from the last time we were here. The most noticeable things is the trees - I'd read about the drought and how it had affected them, and there do seem to be a fair number of dead-looking trees around. It probably won't be until spring that this really becomes obvious, when those perished will be missing new green foliage.

Hugh

New year

Tomorrow, we are emigrating.

Suitcases filled, online check-in done, outfits for tomorrow ready.
Many feelings gone through, and probably many more tomorrow morning.
Excitement, hopes, dreams, some anxiety and nervousness too.

It's a special new year for us, the start of the next chapter in our lives.
We wish everyone something new and positive in their lives too.

The what and the why

"On 30 October last year we left Houston. The plan was to live in Scotland for a while, and then hopefully get the opportunity to try out another country in the future.

In a week and a half, on 2 January 2012, we are moving back to Texas, on a long-term basis.

It is difficult to explain what happened in our heads between these two dates, but one thing is for sure: we really liked our life in Houston and we want it back.

Do not get me wrong, Scotland is an extraordinary place, with landscapes beyond belief, magnificent winter light and a capital city which has to be one of the most attractive places in the world. It is also very cold, very expensive, and a terribly depressing place on a dark winter day. There was no summer this year, and most weekends seemed to be too rainy/cold/snowy (delete as appropriate) to be able to do anything. So yes, the Houston sunny skies appealed. A lot.

Then there were many other factors at play, amongst which the education of our daughter, the general quality of life, the international communities, opportunities at work, the price of real estate, etc... Oh, and the fact that we simply, really, like America. Maybe it is as simple as that. Living in a place you like and is good for you.

Of course it will be very hard for our families; we understand completely that they will miss us a lot. But we have decided to open a new chapter, live our lives the best we can, build something that belongs to us. We can only hope that they, along with our friends, will support us. The big long roads of Texas beckon, the big long road of our life awaits, come along for the ride."

Maylis
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"So here starts Texas take 2. After just over one year of interlude, where we did a lot of soul searching on what we wanted from where we chose to live, this is where we've decided we'd like to settle for the foreseeable future.

Edinburgh is a special city, but our views and perceptions changed while we were away. We changed - we went back as 3 instead of 2 for a start. Things that didn't bother us before now did - difficult parking, damp cold weather, grey landscapes and expensive living space amongst them.

And then the question of if not Edinburgh, then where? Stay in the UK? Try somewhere new? Where? Far East? Australia? At the end of the day, Houston seemed to come out on top. Sure, there will be things that annoy - having to drive everywhere, oppressive summers, superficiality, poor TV. But on balance it's somewhere we know we can settle that will provide a good quality of life. And it seems right to find somewhere like that to settle now. I realised just recently that in the 20 years since I moved away from my parents, I've lived at 15 different addresses.

So now back to Houston. Somehow it seems like we never even left."

Hugh