Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Jon's America I


Thanks to Betsy’s admirable efforts to recount her life and day-to-day goings on through the medium of a relatively new technology that will one day plunge us all into a social abyss, many of you will have been aware of the epic odyssey we endured to finally be together. Despite mild Ron Swanson-esque personal misgivings about the internet in general, I genuinely have been touched to see the outpouring of goodwill from all of you online, so thank you. 

I’ve been here in the US permanently for around 10 days now, and I couldn’t be happier to finally be with the woman I love. Obviously I have a great deal of feelings about that, and naturally I won’t be sharing many of those feelings online because I'm British and we don't talk about things like that publicly. However, I would like to share with you stray observations that float by me from time to time, as I embark on a new adventure that will likely come to define my adult life (ulp). I’ve read a few expat blogs and (he says, generalizing wildly) they often seem to follow a similar theme – “Customer service sucks/is too in-your-face, why can’t I get good Mexican/ Indian food, I miss things... why can’t everything be just how I want it...”

I could do that if I wanted to, and start focusing relentlessly on what’s different about where I’ve come from to where I am, but frankly I find that tedious. In the time that I’ve spent in the great city of DC, I’ve seen far more that makes me feel that I’m right at home than makes me feel that I’m somewhere new. In London, I was sent off by a wonderful family and a fantastic group of friends that I consider myself lucky to have, but in DC I was greeted by the same. Of course I miss people back at home, and that won’t change, but then again my wife and I spent two years desperately missing each other, and now we get to be together again. However, all that said, allow me to be grossly hypocritical: you need to sort out your tea situation, America. $11 for a box of PG Tips? No. And fancy “breakfast teas” with delusions of grandeur just ain’t gonna cut it. (I'm looking at you, Lipton). That’s my one (probably inaccurate) bitch about this otherwise great land, and I shall cling to it.

And so now I’m here and there’s a lot to do and a lot that’s already been done. We’re currently moving into a new apartment and finally getting to do the things that normal couples do, like argue where the sofa goes and how big our new TV is going to be. And I couldn’t be happier about that.

If she’ll let me, I’m thinking about borrowing Betsy’s excellent blog once a month or so to post updates about what’s going on now that I’m here. I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether that’s a good idea or not – if you feel I should never darken her online doorstep again, be brutally honest! If you’re all willing to let this thing, whatever it is, continue, you’ll hear from me again at the beginning of November.

25 comments:

  1. I LOVE WHENEVER YOU GUEST-POST, JON!
    It's such a clear example of how we all have unique writing voices. Your writing style is so different than Betsy's, but equally endearing. Please post your monthly thoughts! I'd love to read about your adjustment to D.C. and married cohabitation and all that.
    In regards to tea, I know it's not British, but I'm quite obsessed with Celestial Seasonings. (If you're ever in Colorado, take a trip to Boulder to tour their factory!). While you can find some of their teas in stores, and many of their teas in specialty shops, my favorite black tea is only available at their factory and online. It's called Fast Lane, and it has more caffeine than coffee. Aka I drink two 12-ounce mugs of it every morning to get me through my day. But hey, I've cut way back on Diet Coke, so I think that's a win!

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  2. And just shout if you need a Tesco care package...tea is extremely light and cheap to ship!

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  3. Welcome to America Jon! And I'm with you on the tea situation, I drink tea all the time and it's seriously so ridiculous to me the selection and prices of tea in the States.

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  4. I would pay to read your written commentary on the phone book, ... seriously. I LOVE the way you write- and the outside perspective of our culture is so unique! Please do come back. Laughed hard about our "tea" situation.

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  5. "You need to sort out your tea situation America" Brilliant. And true. As an American, the size of the tea sections in English grocery stores was a revelation...

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  6. Would love to hear more of your adventures in Americaland, Jon. Keep writing, my friend. And if you need us to smuggle tea out to you then let us know!

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  7. I definitely want to hear about Jon's updates in/on/about America. I's just so glad that you two are together! x

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  8. Welcome to the US Jon!! I would love to hear from you from time to time.

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  9. Glad you two are together. Welcome to America, Jon :)

    I'm quite a snob about tea and agree with your assessment on the American tea situation. I've had good luck ordering from this company:

    http://culinaryteas.com/

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  10. Welcome! I look forward to your musings in the coming months!!

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  11. I looooove to hear about Jon's thoughts. Keep it going. And like, twice a month would be a good thing. What I'm getting too pushy already?

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  12. Welcome to America! I love the idea of you taking over for a day on the blog!

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  13. Welcome to America Jon! As a fellow Brit I completely agree with you - fully embrace those new surroundings and don't compare them. It's all a big, new adventure, and more to the point you're with your lovely lady now!! As for the tea...a huge box comes in my suitcase once a year - $11 is just ridiculous and I refuse to pay it! Keep taking over the blog - sounds like a fab idea!

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  14. I vote in favor of hearing from Jon every single month! Welcome, great-nephew-in-law in-law!

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  15. Dear Jon,


    1. excellent Ron Swanson reference. Your misgivings about expat blogs are redeemable based on that once sentence alone.
    2. My Englishman-in-America husband finds Teavana teas to be overpriced but acceptable in regards to taste. He also finds some local stuff at the farmer's market nearby. And, when all else fails, he does occasionally resort to the stash of Harrod's that he brought over for me (No 49 is good stuff!)
    3. TWO excellent writers in a single relationship- brace yourselves, America. We have a new blog power couple :)


    From the bottom of my heart, congratulations to you both as you start this new journey together (at last!)

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  16. I LOVE this once a month idea. How great to hear your perspective of being an expat in America. I don't often read those...and I'm with you 100% on the tea situation. When I was living back at home and needed PG Tips (and Marmite, I may add) the prices were outrageous. Can't wait to hear how you find living in DC! x

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  17. Haha I love this! Jon, I feel you. Orange Pekoe, I mean WHAT IS THAT. My year in North America was plagued by sub-standard tea, cheese and chocolate.

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  18. lol I love your snark Jon! Happy to hear you're settling in well. Here's hoping you find your beloved tea!!

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  19. Ha ha!! Jon, I feel your pain on the tea front! It is good to hear from you :) and I am genunely glad that you have been reunited x

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  20. Jon, first, beyond happy that you're on American shores and you and Betsy have put the long years of long distance behind you. Second, very interested in hearing your perspective on our American craziness, so if you do continue to darken Betsy's online doorstep, I'd be interested to hear. Third...it's going to take some time getting used to the maturity of such convoluted syntax from a male of the species {I work for the government, so multisyllabics of any kind are a rarity at best}.

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  21. First of all, I just have to say that your writing style so closely reflects Betsy's, it's amazing! I can really hear your voice coming through. So secondly, YES! Please post once a month. Nick has been thinking of doing the same thing, so he'd love to hear that another "blogger husband" is doing the same.

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  22. Jon, you are welcome here any time. Your writing always kills me! (That's America talk for "I really like it.") Jordan (my husband) would greatly appreciate your Ron Swanson mention, because I think he has a man crush on him.

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  23. A. I read that in a British (or as British as this South Texas girl can get) accent :)
    B. I know Betsy is just trilled y'all are together. Coming from a person in a LDR (although not as long distance as yours) I joint with yalls excitement and hope one day I will get to feel the same!
    C. Yes, once a month please! Tea rants included :)

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  24. Wecome Jon to the U.S. my parents from Hastings,East Sussex. can't wait to hear your opinion of the U.S. the good and the bad.

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  25. Jon, Betsy probably already knows about this, but Rodman's on Connecticut Avenue (between Tenleytown and Chevy Chase - walkable from Tenleytown metro) has PG Tips for a slightly more reasonable price, as well as McVities and an array of other goodies from all over the world (particularly helpful during the holiday season). Harris Teeter in Kalorama also has PG but I can't remember how expensive, and with much less atmos than Rodman's.

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