"There’s no better time to try new things then when you’re surrounded by nothing but difference. "
About a month and a half ago I began driving on the opposite side of the street, steering wheel on the opposite side of the car, and, of course, seatbelt coming from the right, not the left, no matter how many times I grab for air. I first began venturing toward the post office; a short 5 minute drive down the narrow, crowded by hedges lanes that connect Commonwood to civilization. And then I slowly started to drive further and further away from the pub: Sainsbury’s for grocery shopping, Oscar’s for pizza, Watford for bowling. But today, I took the biggest leap any foreigner to British driving could ever imagine. I attempted the “Magic Roundabout” (pictured above). Roundabouts themselves are confusing enough. Where do I look? Which lane to I need to get into? Why is that guy honking at me and flipping me off? But the easy thing about a roundabout is that you stay toward the left. There’s no oncoming traffic, it’s strictly one way. That was what I though of all roundabouts…until I met one of two Magic Roundabouts in the entire world. Hemel’s Magic Roundabout is the connection to Hemel High Street, a.k.a. the movie theater, the mall, restaurants, and basically anything you’d enjoy on a day away from work. So, I attempted it. Being scared out of my mind while grabbing the keys to the Fiesta, I was pretty sure I’d chicken out and just stay in my room downloading episodes of “Gossip Girl” and “How I Met Your Mother”, but no, a day off means a day away from everything. And I really wanted a day off. After driving about 10 minutes, I had talked myself into it, I’m going shopping in Hemel and I’m going to make it through the Magic Roundabout, no problem. As I approached the unusual, circular mass of cars round and round and round (about), I realized the cars were going in both directions…around a roundabout. I turned down the radio, took a deep breath, and scooted closer and closer to the steering wheel. I stopped at the “Give Way” sign, let a few cars go by, and put the pedal to the metal…so to speak. I had just entered the Magic Roundabout. It’s tough to explain when roundabouts are so abnormal to the States, but basically, it’s a two-way roundabout with no rules. But I played it safe and creeped around the turns, playing packman on the middle lines, just in case I needed to take a sudden exit due to hyper-anxiety. But within 45 seconds, it was all over and I’d come to my exit and found the parking garage, and began my day off of shopping. I rewarded myself by spending half a paycheck on new clothes.
Yes, today I tried the Magic Roundabout and survived. And I also tried something else and lived to tell. I, Jill Garrett, ate a fajita from Casa Amigos filled with…peppers and tomatoes. That’s right. The pickiest eater in the world, the girl who had sworn off tomatoes and veggies (except carrots) ate something so out of character. And what’s crazier is that I enjoyed it. I actually just finished eating the remainder of the jalapenos that came in the small plastic cup. Who knew I was so daring? To put my taste buds at risk like that. But now for something my mouth will truly enjoy, a nice cold pint…of Ben and Jerry’s. (I had already had a pint of San Miquel’s with my Mexican food.)
Something that's not new to me, but new to Londoners, SNOW STORMS. It's unbelievably funny to listen to the Brits talk about the snow we had last week. It's all melted away now, but here are some photos.
And to be funny: I took this photo right outside the Hemel shopping center. If only it were missing that first "I". (I really can't get away from that town!)
More updates soon! xo's, jill
