Being a Passenger in England - Please Pass the Alcohol!

Ok, so driving in the UK is challenging for an Ex-Pat, we all know that.

You don't know what most of the traffic signs mean...roundabouts are stressful and using your left hand to shift gears takes some getting used to.

But being a passenger? ummmm....wow!

My honey finally arrived in England this month and she started picking up some of the driving responsibilities. If you think your perspective is odd while you are driving on the right side of the car, it's WAY worse when you are a passenger on the left side.

Alex is an excellent driver and she did most of the driving in the US. And I like to think that I am a very good passenger (defined as "limited"to "no" backseat driving). However, when I arrived to work one day this week, my colleague asked me if I was ok...she said I looked really bothered. The truth was that I was so tense that I needed a yoga class, a massage, a large glass of wine or all of the above. I'm bordering on an anxiety attack just thinking about it now.

So each day she drives...I try...I REALLY try to keep calm. I know I'm annoying....I know I'm not helping matters...I want to be supportive, but it's SO hard!

Any suggestions from my loyal followers?

Driving to Work and Being Thankful

It's the little things in life...that's what I always say.

I had a good reminder of this upon arriving to the office this morning...feeling all proud of myself, because I drove to work all by myself. Big deal, right? "Wow, Melissa...you were able to get in a car like most people do and drive to work." But for me, this is a reminder of how strong I am. Not only did I drive myself to work, but I flew myself to England, moved myself into a new house, bought myself a new car, got myself insurance and then drove on the "wrong side of the road" in the "wrong side of the car" to the office. So yes, I am proud of myself and thankful that I have the opportunity to do all of this. 

Here are some other things I am thankful for today:

1. Visitors from America (present company and future visitors!)
2. Hazlenut coffee (it's not easy to find in the grocery stores here...but we've got it at work for free!)
3. My health
4. My family
5. Train times iPhone app. This app was a game changer for me...gave me the confidence to hop on trains like I knew exactly where I was going! (because I did) 
6. The weather in England
7. Kindness of strangers

An Update on the Driving Experience...

All I have to say is "Oh Shit!"

I have a new found respect for driving instructors everywhere.

Trying This Driving Thing...

Today marks the beginning of another brand new experience...driving in the UK!

We've signed up for an all day driving course called "Driving and Surviving" and we have to provide our own car for this course! Strange, right?

So today, we are renting a car in preparation for the big day.

There are a couple of issues here:
1. We've got to rent a car and DRIVE the car this weekend without any lessons.
2. Not only do we have to drive the car a few miles this weekend, but we have to drive it on a highway on Monday to a place we've never been before so someone can teach us how to drive. Seems silly and a bit dangerous, don't you think?

Thankfully, my honey is more brave than I am and will drive us, pre-lesson. I think I'll bring a blindfold and gag to avoid being a "left side seat driver"

More to come...