Things are heating up here in London. More people are flying in and driving up for our Christmas gathering. Apart from the Carter family from Chichester and the Mark and Hannah Stoney family, originally from Sheffield, everyone else here is American. Most of my family, as you know, are Americans. Teresa Kwon arrived from Kansas City this morning. Jess Stricker from Austin is here. Shannon Hopkins from Austin is not only here but we are all meeting AND MANY OF US ARE STAYING in her crowded one bedroom apartment. Daniel and Sommer Passerelli and their kids are turning up to today to help with cooking. They are from from Penn. State but are now living and working in funky Camden Town, London.
Not easy being American in England. Prejudism abounds. My wife and the small group of ladies out last night at the historic Prospect of Whitby pub were snobbed and snubbed all the way until one minute past eleven, which meant they missed out on drinks. As they walked out, the lady behind the bar was heard to say “Why should I serve them?” That sucked! But still, most people are friendly towards Americans. Its easier for us in Scotland, where people have less problems with Americans than they do with the English
Speaking of Camden Town, a church that Dan is connected with in that area got a positive mention in last week’s Time Out London which had an article on religion and fashion in London and how funkily dressed are some of London’s people of faith. Like Lizzy Houston (below) who attends a really good church called Glorious Undead that I have talked about before. Tom Cole from GU attended our roundtable in Germany last year.
From on exiled Englishman I’d like to wish all you guys a very happy Christmas together. Enjoy ‘your church, Andrew & Debbie.
From on exiled Englishman I’d like to wish all you guys a very happy Christmas together. Enjoy ‘your church, Andrew & Debbie.
From an Englishman living in the US a very Merry Christmas.
I’m sorry to hear about your negative experience in London. Once a year my Wife (American) and I go and visit family she is always treated well. Still we Londoners are a strange lot.
On behalf of all true Londoners I apoligize.
As an American (I have enough of a Southern accent that it’s obvious I’m from the US), the only time I encountered real nastiness during my last trek to the UK and Ireland was in Belfast. I spoke to several Anglican priests about this and they reported similar experiences..
I had a much better reception in UK Anglican circles than the cold shoulder I get via US Emergent Church (TM) world but that’s another post entirely
I found that we were treated well up in the middle country and rural areas. Do you think that your experience is unique to London or does it occur elsewhere in England?
still wishing i was there – (hi TK!). wondering if i will be up and over for a visit in ’08, as am sensing it is time to get a renewed passport … hmmm. maybe i will get to be your monk on a bunk for a month sometime in the near future …
Hey Andrew and family! Great to be with you guys today. Our girls love you all now and were sad to have to leave. Thanks for the amazing beef and the good fun of new friends. Give yourselves a hug from us.
Hey dude!!! Good to speak the other day…
Crap i hate that happened to the female gang…. I really didn’t experience that while i was there… but then again i had Mark and Han covering me. I’ve been a Northern (dam Yankee) in the south for years- so got good at ignoring that crap….
Plus well that night in London with Shannon – you… Tam… Kerstin… Mark & Han just rocked my socks! So i’m cleaning my house and gonna do a tad of running around today… and get ready for DnA-
Give the tribe a over the pond smooch… and Big Derek PINCH for good measure. (i wanted to sneak in TK’s luggage)- but hey there is next year…!!
One of these days this wacky tribe needs to go to Israel for Christmas!
Love and shalom,
Cathryn