Differences

Although we have lived in the UK before, we are noticing some new differences this time around with school-aged kids. I love bullet points so here I go:

• There is really no such thing as a "school zone" and drivers make little effort to be careful around schools. I can't believe the speeds that people drive during the time that our school road is flooded with kids. They have very few school buses here (most people are on their own for transport). When school starts and ends, the place is flooded with parents and siblings, way more so than an American school where many kids are bused in so there is less traffic overall. There are no crossings, no crossing guards... it is like a "fend for yourself" situation. It is pretty frustrating. 
• On a positive note, I have been to British doctor two times now and it was very easy to get an appointment, NO PAPERWORK!!! :) :), NO BILL!!! :) :) and no waiting in the actual exam room. It is the doctor that comes and fetches you from the waiting area, so you are seen right away (or "straight away" as they say.) Additionally, Adam came down with pink eye this week, and instead of making a doctor appt, I just had to walk into the local pharmacy and they gave me antibiotic eye drops right there! Yippee! When we were in ABQ with John as an baby and he got pink eye, I had a $187 bill for taking him to Urgent Care for it. I much prefer this.
• Mandatory schooling begins here at 4 years old. It is called "Reception", and then you go to Year 1, Year 2, etc. All the Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 get free school lunches everyday. That is nice.
• Adam is a bit behind because his Reception class is already reading. So we are having to do phonics work with him. Which wouldn't be such a big deal except he goes to school from 8:45-3:15 and has a bit of homework too. It is a bit much.
• Trash pick up is only every other week, and the bins are a lot smaller than American ones. It has made me really be intentional about what goes in the trash bin and what goes in the recycle one!

This sign is in front of our school... I think the punctuation at the end is funny. I wish more drivers would take note of the signage!

A portion of the international section at our local British grocery store. Instead of calling it just "American" I think they should call it, "American junk food."

Cheers