Monthly Archives: June 2013

Expat to Expat Q&A: Food

This is the second installment of Expat to Expat

with Hemborg Wife and Found Love Now What

on the Q&A: Food

1. What is your favorite food tradition in your new country?

The ‘Sunday Roast’ of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roasted or mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and sometimes stuffing. It like a less grand version of Christmas dinner and my favourite thing to eat at the pub on a Sunday with my family.

2. Where have you traveled to that you thought had the best food to offer?

Italy. Honestly I will nicely kick and scream before I have to eat Italian food in the USA because it 99.9% fails in comparison. What I love about the food in Italy is that it is as diverse as its dialects so for example pizzas in Florence are like a cracker crust, pizzas in the birth place of Naples practically melt in your mouth. Most of the food I have eaten in Italy (away from the touristy trap restaurants of course. Stay away from these as you will not only be over charged but it less quality) is made of simple but great ingredients. Italian food in the US always seems to have to have something crazy with it like giant meatballs or chicken, crazy cream sauces, or covered in cheeses. To be fair the best food and house wine I have had in many places in Italy has been in small hole in the wall restaurants or places where the locals frequent. Plus any country that boasts gelaterias that carry a multitude of gelato flavours is great in my book!

3. What is the typical breakfast where you currently live and would you eat it back home?

For my kids it is porridge made from porridge oats and with a little honey and cinnamon typically. I actually grew up on this breakfast staple as well. Here in England the typical breakfast is the traditional ‘Full English’ or a ‘Full Monty’. This includes back bacon, poached or fried eggs, fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread or toast with butter, sausages, baked beans, and a mug of tea. If you are extra lucky your breakfast will include my favourite black pudding, which is a blood sausage, or bubble and squeak. Bubble and squeak is made by mixing mashed potatoes with any left over vegetables and fried. I have to add that the bacon in England is not like the bacon you get back in the US. In the US it is thin strips and sometimes if it is on your plate it is more of a taste factor and less of a ‘fill you up’ factor. Here the cut of bacon is thick like a slice of ham at Easter and the taste puts American bacon to shame.

4. What type of restaurant, either style or type of food, do you think is lacking in your new home?

Mexican. By mexican, I mean the type of mexican food that can be found in San Diego, California where the taco shells do not resemble the ‘El Paso’ store bought brand but the home made round tortillas. Also boasting very spicy options. Mexican restaurants are very few here and the one we went too looked like it was catering to Americans who needed a break from only ordering fish and chips at every meal.

5. Do you think your home expat home has a food everyone should try?

Not a particular food, but that you must go to a curry house, a typical Indian/Bangladeshi restaurant or takeway. Their menus can be quite extensive, so feel free to try something new every time. They are to England what mexican restaurants are to the USA. It was actually one of the things I was most looking forward too before we moved to England. Perfect for those nights that you do not want to cook.

Actually now that I think of it I think everyone should try Cassava, it is a large white root and large source of carbohydrates. If not cooked and eaten it is highly toxic. If cooked it tastes amazing and is a perfect alternative to a white potato. It is one of my favourites!

6. What is your favorite dish to prepare that you would never have made back home?

Being that I have always moved and have not had a ‘home’ per se I do not know how to quite answer this question as an expat normally would. However from an eating stand point, blood sausage is something both my husband and I thought was initially gross. I remember seeing this before and in other countries, like Germany, growing up in Europe. However we have both had it here and have cooked it here for our breakfast at home and we love it. Referred here as Black pudding, it is a type of sausage made by cooking blood or dried blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal when cooled. It sounds revolting to me, however the way it looks prepared and the way it tastes, I would never had known thats what I was eating. It is so tasty and a favourite with my sons as well.

Also I have always loved ‘Beans on Toast’ which is not like american baked beans, but the English Heinz beans. It is a favourite dish that is hard to prepare in the US because I have to find an British shop of imports. Here it is a great staple especially for my boys’ tea.

7. What is the oddest food in your new country?

In the neighbouring country of Scotland of the UK, I still find haggis to be quite odd. Then again I have never tried it. Marmite is quite odd, but it is loved at home house on buttered crumpets or toast.

8. If you could have a crate of one type of food sent to you from your home country, what would it be?

Hawaii and the food from the shrimp truck up in North Shore.

9. What three foods remind you of summer?

Since we lived in Hawaii, which was like summer year round, these are the three foods that remind me of Summer:

Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup. Though a soup, we ate this sometimes twice a week in Hawaii. It was also perfect cure all.
Fro Yo. These were all over Hawaii and still popping up new chains while we were on the island. I loved ordering the plain yogurt flavour and topping it with fruit, granola, and some mini chocolate chips.
Shaved Ice. Especially the kind found in Hawaii that is not icy at all, but almost like eating finally grained snow. You can get it there over beans and covered in condensed milk.

10. What food from your new country are you surprised to enjoy?

Meat. In California and Hawaii where my husband and I lived before we ate a lot of vegetarian or vegan options. I liked meat, but was not crazy about it. When you read about how food is processed in the US, it really does not make you want to eat that much of it. When we moved to England my husband, who already loves to cook, was really enjoying the ingredients he could find just at our grocery store or local butchers. We now eat mainly paleo which is mostly protein/meat and vegetables. I’ve probably eaten more meat in the two years we have lived in England than any two years in the last ten years I lived in the US. That surprises me and I’m still surprised how much I enjoy the way the meat here tastes. Theres something to say about the ingredients you can get and how it can make or break a meal.

Bonus: Where was your favorite place you ever took a summer vacation to?

I did a vacation with my parents where we toured all over Europe using the trains. One of our many destinations was Oslo, Norway and it still stick out in my mind as one of the most amazing and beautiful places I have ever been too in my life. I remember getting of the train and stopping at a scenic restaurant outside to enjoy strawberries and sparkling water and loving our destination. I really look forward to returning there soon with my husband and sons.

Read the First Installment: ‘Weather‘

Culture Shock and Duck Dynasty

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The video I am about to share with you is connected to a part of my life from 2001 – 2004 when I lived in the south of the USA. Culture shock was inevitable. Having a guy move from behind me to quickly open a door in front of me so I could go through was a new example in chivalry to me. I remember being confused and shocked the first few times doors were opened for me. Still it seems to be something that I have not quite experienced as much else where in the world. On base in Hawaii I was leaving a building a step ahead of Andy from the Bachelor (remember the Navy officer?). I was struggling with a door while carrying my baby and my shopping bag and thought he might help me with the door, instead of waiting for me to figure it out on my own. Still to this day I just assume he was really stressed out that day or trying to not run into crazed bachelor fans as a reason for his monetary aloofness. It is just another facet of my life where its interesting to see how cultures differ and what is expected in one country may not be so in another.

WILLIE ROBERTSON AT HARDING UNIVERSITY

A friend shared this video of Willie Robertson, from Duck Dynasty, talking last year during chapel at Harding University. This is the school that I went to after high school graduation to pursue a major in theatre with a minor in missions. It is located in small town of Searcy, outside Little Rock, Arkansas. This is a town where I met my husband, where we got married, and where I gave birth to our first son.

To be fair I do not usually mention Arkansas as one of the places I have lived in the US. No offense to any of my readers from ‘the Natural State’ because my Uni campus was like a whole other world inside. It is referred to as the ‘Harding Bubble’. A private christian university in a dry county (forbids the sale of alcohol) it was not the same college experience by those who may have gone to a state school for their college years. Instead of fraternities or sororities we had social clubs, which were essentially the same thing without extreme hazing, drinking, or dancing. My favourite thing about this school was its focus on missions as I grew up in small missionary based churches in europe. Thanks to Harding I was able to do an overseas summer mission to Australia and through its connections to Let’s Start Talking, my husband and I went to Thailand.

I am a believer in fate and it is why I know my husband and I were meant to meet each other during my freshman year. I had found out about this university initially from other Harding alum as they visited my church in Italy, or stayed at our house, while spending a semester at one of the Harding’s overseas campuses. They have one in Florence and one in Greece and there always seemed to be someone sporting a Harding t-shirt or ball cap through out my time in Europe. It is how I found out about the summer camp, near the university, that I attended during my high school years.

To bring this back to the video above, I have not yet watched the show Duck Dynasty. The whole world of the south, the love of hunting, wearing camo to any occasion aside from military life, and sporting any clothing or head pieces that bare the American flag have always seemed a bit foreign to me. To the fact that the last time I was in the south at a Walmart I counted how many people were wearing camo as a game to pass the time. To be honest if someone were to tell me they were taking me hunting my mind would be first to envision men wearing an outfit that included tweed plus fours, a waist coast, jacket and cap. Plus dogs would be acquired as well on the walk through the country. Then again I lived in England twice as a small girl and grew up having photos of the royal family on my dresser.

source

When my friend posted the video I felt inclined more to watch it because of my connection to Harding and I was interested to see why Willie Robertson had been asked to speak in chapel. As I listened I found out he had attended Harding too and from there I was intrigued to hear his story. I have to say it was his words, his heart, and his personality in the chapel presentation that has made me want to watch Duck Dynasty now. Or at least to see a few episodes to see if the man I saw speaking at my university is portrayed the same in the show. From the words he spoke about being true to yourself, I would assume my presumption would be correct. From talking to my mum, who likes the show, and thinking ‘ehhh, thats not really my cup of tea‘ to being surprised has made enough of an impression on me to write a blog post about it.

Q: Have you seen this show and did you like or dislike it? Why? Or share with me a moment you were surprised in another culture, from your former preconceived notions.

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A GIVEAWAY!

1. Baby Bound started off as a blog dedicated to one couples’ journey to start a family while living as missionaries in a third world country. Now, over two years later, this blog has shifted gears into documenting the happenings of a young family and their mission to find beauty and bliss in all the little things in life while taking pictures along the way.

2. Biziness is Casual is authored by a punk rock mama named Dani. She lives in Southern California with her fiance and baby girl. Her blog is a mash up of mom stuff, family adventures, fashion, music, art, tattoos, lifestyle, design, and more.

3. A Compass Rose is a blog about a Third Culture Kid (TCK) living the Expat life in England with her family. She works as a photographer and owns a blog, A Compass Rose. She writes about growing up nomadic lifestyle as a TCK, about being an Expat, about life in England, and her travels across the world.

4. Life of TOI is authored by TOI. The blog captures the beauty in the ordinary things that make her and her family happy. On the blog you can find her opinion on race, style, travel and the meaning of motherhood.

5. Lost in Travels is a blog about a nomadic couple. After Chelsea and Jeremy got hitched two years ago they started getting cold sweats every time they thought about ‘settling down’ in their hometown. So what did they do instead? Sold all of their belongings that wouldn’t fit in two 50-pound bags and took the first flight to South Korea to teach. Chelsea’s blog highlights their lives as expats in the land of kimchi as well as documents their world travels.

6. Momista Beginings is a mommy/baby blog that was conceived shortly after conception of baby Mia (now a year old) to parents, Mama Misty and Daddy Dom. Misty is an art teacher for pre-K through the 2nd grade who loves to create, DIY, bake, cook, and take pictures. Dom is self employed in the landscape biz and loves his 2 dogs, the outdoors, hiking, camping, cooking, gardening and tending to their 21 chickens! A few features of the blog include weekly updates throughout Mama Misty’s pregnancy, a detailed and photo filled birth story, DIY ideas and tutorials, tried and true recipes, Misty’s art projects for kids, product reviews, occasional giveaways and plenty of photos of Mia, their family and their average adventures. As summer approaches, nerves are high over the idea of Misty staying at home with the baby instead of working. As their new lives as parents constantly changes, so does their blog along with them. Look out for Misty’s up and coming launch of her Etsy store, followed by more details of a hopeful photography business start-up to help this family stay afloat, in order to stay home with the baby. Things are about to get real interesting and they welcome all new blogworms to join in on the fun.

7. Ms. Nancy Pants has her head in the clouds most days dreaming of the day she will finally take the jump and become a nomad traveling to the unknown. Since she is stuck in her cubicle for now, you can find her discovering a different kind of beauty in the dry state of AZ. She is doing her best to become ~~domesticated~~ a good home maker and attempt new recipes, crafts, taking pictures of the world around her or attending a local musical festival on the weekends. Her mission is to develop a radical self love for herself and share that with others who are on the same journey.

8. Tales of a Young Mama is written by Darlene, a young (ish) mamma of two. Love of all things Swedish, photography, fashion, iced coffee, traveling the world and babies. She blogs about their every day life in Denver, Colorado, raising two bilingual babies (okay one is no longer a baby!) with some (mostly) healthy recipes and fashion posts thrown in.

9. To the Sea is a blog by an attorey-at-mom, Tejana, former kama’aina, and expat living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She writes about fitness, parenting, travel, and life overseas.

And now for the givewaway! The winner will receive once month of free ad space on each blog listed above. The more entries you complete, the better chance you have at winning. Remember that the winner will be verifed.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monkton Farleigh Manor – Fete

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Yesterday we returned to Monkton Farleigh to go to the Summer Fete at the Monkton Farleigh Manor. You may remember our beautiful country walk in Browns Folly and Monkton Farleigh last weekend. It was another gorgeous day with lovely warm sun and gentle english breezes to accompany the day.

Maddox had the ‘class pet’ home for the weekend. So Mikey, the monkey, got to come along on our country walk to Monkton Farleigh. He even got to enjoy swinging on some trees in the forest of Browns Folly and was gracious enough to let me photograph the moment for Maddox.

For it would not be odd at all to see a monkey swinging from the vines in a forest in Somerset, no?

This was actually a photograph on our walk back at the end of the day out, retracing our journey to return back home. I want to say it is about an hour walk from our home outside Bath into Monkton Farleigh. While it could have taken much less by car, we really enjoy our country walks through the villages, countryside of sheep, woodland forest, and colourful fields. So much we would miss if we had a car.

We were greeted by music when we arrived at the Monkton Farleigh Manor which gave my experience of this fete as very posh. The manor house alone with the gardens and fountains would be a dream location to live in my books. Many people showed up, but it was not so overly crowded that it made in unenjoyable. The boys even ran into several classmates from their school.

The lush purple lavender hugging a sundial and the on looking gardens from the manor. This was the view Ryan and I shared while we sat and enjoyed our cream tea and cakes on the lawn. Lush indeed! There were lots of stalls set up with either things to sell, like the five books for a £1 that I partook in, and things to eat. We enjoyed cream tea and cakes not once but twice, ate hot dogs, and almost had ice cream but they ran out by the time we managed to get around to that stall. All in all it was a perfect day and a perfect location for a summer fete.

What summer event in England would be complete without Pims? They actually ran out and the long que of us waiting for our Pims stood patiently until they were able to replenish their stock. It then sold out again in no time flat. I am certainly not surprised.

They boys were each given a few quid to spend where they liked. Maddox of course went straight for a hot dog and some ice cream before partaking in the waterballoons.

Ronan surprised me with how well he did in this ‘break the plates’ activity. He was spot on with every single throw and broke something on every ball except one, which instead of shattering china bounced off. He and his classmates then all had water balloons and were chasing each other through out the gardens. When their ballons all broke they resorted to cups being filled by the fountain and dumping them on each other. It was about that time we decided to walk home. Stop while you’re ahead, yeah?

My favourite part, aside from enjoying this wonderful afternoon with my family, was seeing the horses. There were two in the field in front of the manor and they kept running together around the field. They were so beautiful and I only wish I could go and ride with them.

Of course I made Ronan take our photo in front of the gardens before we left. It was a beautiful day and I wanted to remember every moment of it.

Q: Have you attended a Summer Fete in England or else where in the world this year yet?

Blog Friends/1

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We had a week of warm sunny days here in England only to have friday be cold and rainy. As we had planned a bbq on the lawns behind the Royal Crescent, I was quite sad to see the rain clouds. My smile has returned this morning with seeing the beautiful sunshine has returned for the weekend. It looks like we will be returning to Monkton Farleigh for our first fete in England as expats. I look forward to showing you photos and a recap from our adventures on our country walk today.

Do not forget you are Invited to a Tea Party Giveaway! Check out the link to yesterday’s post to find out how you can score the perfect gifts for a Tea Party from bloggers all around the world!

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I have some pretty amazing sponsors on A Compass Rose. This month especially and I would like to take today to introduce you to a few of these ladies. So without further adieu I please meet:

Hi, everyone! I’m Rachel and I write over at Postcards from Rachel, a lifestyle blog. I’m a former expat who loves to post about my family’s travels, recipes, DIY, my two dogs and everyday life. I’d love for you to stop by and say hello!

Bloglovin': http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/3836840

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PostcardsRachel

Instagram: http://instagram.com/postcardsfromrachel/

Hi everyone! My name is Tara and I am the sole person behind Starletta Designs, a handmade jewelry design business. I strive to make affordable jewelry using high quality materials like gemstones, sterling silver and 14kt gold fill. The pieces I create are always limited edition or one of a kind, as I am always creating new designs! I also write a blog; shockingly called Starletta Designs as well. The blog is a mix of personal and business topics.

My Etsy shop: http://starletta.etsy.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/StarlettaDesign
Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5132755/starletta-designs

Hi there, I’m Rachel, the blogger behind With Love, Rachel. I write about all of the things that make life wonderful, from adventures in traveling to fabulous shoes. I drink more wine than I probably should, I consider bargain shopping one of my talents, and I often think out my plan for how to survive the zombie apocalypse. I’m also training for my first ever marathon and sharing the challenges that come with it.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelMurphree

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachelmurphree

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rachelmurphree

The Hi-Life & Love blog is a lifestyle blog about a Hawaiian girl currently living the mainland adventure with her island Marine. She is a mom, a wife, a Tahitian dancer, and model. Bella posts about fitness, aspergers, beauty, shopping, cooking, and all things Hawaii. Guest posts from her teenage daughter and preteen son also are featured on the blog. She is a military wife that has lived longer outside the mainland US in both Japan and and Hawaii.

Bloglovin': http://www.bloglovin.com/sunkissedmermaid808

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HiLifeLoveBlog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilifeloveblog

The Nectar Collective documents my life as a California girl living and growing in Tokyo, Japan.

I recently got a dog named Monja, who has a fetish for worn socks and is basically the sidekick to my silly and happy life. I write all about positivity, travel, love, dogs, DIY projects, and how we can each spread our unique nectar to the rest of the world. Come say hi, and have a bright day!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NectarCollect

Bloglovin': http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4905821

Thank you to these lovely ladies! If you are interested in joining them on my side bar:

Sponsor – A Compass Rose

You’re Invited to a Tea Party

1 Reply

This month I sponsored Living in Another Language. Amanda is a teacher living the expat life with her husband in South, Korea. I am very excited to not only sponsor her expat blog, but to co-host in a a very international giveaway. Each blogger was selected from a different country to make this a special themed giveaway from all around the world. It is like having a penpal when we were little, except that if you win you get packages from several different bloggers with different postages. Special thank you to all the ladies who accepted to be apart of this giveaway. It means so much to me that you wanted to join in and participate with us. Of course a big thank you to Amanda for making this all possible and putting together such a creative giveaway for our readers. I hope you guys love this giveaway as much as I do and will have fun participating! Thank you for your continual comments, love, and support. If you have just found me today through the giveaway, thank you for coming over and I look forward to getting to know you better.

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We were all little girls once. We all played tea party with our stuffed animals, dolls, siblings, and parents. But let’s face it…we STILL love tea parties! That’s why I’ve teamed up with a group of awesome girls to send everything you could possibly need for a tea party delivered to your home.

1. Bonnie @ A Compass Rose // 2. Amanda @ Living in Another Language // 3. Casey @ We Took The Road Less Traveled// 4. Erica @ Expatria, Baby // 5. Patricia @ Kisses and Croissants // 6. Erica @ To the Sea // 7. Melyssa @ The Nectar Collective

Now on to the part you’ve been waiting for…

1.$10 Gift Card to Jess Vartanian’s Etsy Shop // 2. $10 Gift Card to Sephora // 3. Nail design kit: french mani guides, glitter, nail art paintbrushes, dot pen and more // 4. Polish pottery mug // 5.Beautiful silkscreened tea towel from independent Indonesian designer Tulisan // 6. Domo cup (for tea/coffee!), matcha chocolate, green tea face mask, & ice cream notebook // 7. Tea & a custom made hair fascinator (you choose the color)

RULES1// Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY 2// Winner will be notified via email on Wednesday 6/19/13 or Thursday 6/20/13. You have two days (48 hours) to respond to winner notification email. If you do not, a new winner will be chosen.3// Winner will be verified.4// View the Terms & Conditions listed on the Rafflecopter below5//Enter away! The more entries you fill out, the more likely you are to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Expat: Schools UK vs USA

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In the early nineties I attended a local primary school in England in lieu of attending the American school on base. For two years I got to experience the British school system before going back to the American DODDS schools. There are particular differences that I remember now between both education systems. Having moved back to England in 2011 and putting my sons in the education system here I have realized there are way more differences than my expectations had led me to believe. Especially as my sons get older and into the higher levels of schooling it gets a little more complicated. To be fair I have had the school system in Britain explained to me many times and I still have questions about it.

The break down by years (UK/USA)

The school systems are not exact to be compared year by year. For example children attend nursery and Reception before starting Year 1 which is the equivalent of Kindergarden in regards to age. The US high school years differ in the way the education is set up in the UK. While students in the USA start Grade 11, students in the UK no longer have compulsory education. They have the option at sixteen to continue their education into college for what would be Grade 11 and 12. After those two years they would go on to attend university.

Preschool = Nursery School

Primary School = Elementary School

Secondary School = Jr. High and High School

6th Form College = High School

Broken down in Key Stages for the UK education system

Key Stage 1 = 5-7 yrs in Year 1-2 (1st-2nd form infants)

Key Stage 2 = 7-11 yrs in Year 3-6 (1st-4th form juniors)

Key Stage 3 = 11-14 yrs in Year 7-9 (1st-3rd form secondary)

Key Stage 4 = 14-16 yrs in Year 10-11 (4th-5th form secondary)

Key Stage 5 = 16-18 yrs in Year 12-13 (6th form secondary, also known as College)

Comparing UK vs USA Education by Year

3-4 yrs = Nursery / Preschool

4-5 yrs = Reception / Preshool

5-6 yrs = Year 1 / Kindergarten

6-7 yrs = Year 2 (end of Key Stage 1) / 1st Grade

7-8 yrs = Year 3 (start of Key Stage 2) / 2nd Grade

8-9 yrs = Year 4 / 3rd Grade

9-10 yrs = Year 5 / 4th Grade

10-11 yrs = Year 6 (end of Key Stage 2 and final year of primary school) / 5th Grade

11-12 yrs = Year 7 (first year of secondary school, start of Key Stage 3) / 6th Grade

12-13 yrs = Year 8 / 7th Grade

13-14 yrs = Year 9 / 8th Grade

14-15 yrs = Year 10 / 9th Grade Freshman Year

15-16 yrs = Year 11 (last year of compulsory schooling in UK) / 10th Grade Sophomore Year

16-17 yrs = Year 12 (first year of 6th Form College) / 11th Grade Junior Year

17-18 yrs = Year 13 (end of Key Stage 5 and final year of College) / 12th Grade Senior Year

School Testing

Students in the UK start studying in Year 10 for their GSCE exams which they take in various subjects at the end of Year 11. GCSEs stand for General Certificate of Secondary Education. After a successful completion of GCSE courses, students go on to take their A-Levels, which stand for Advanced Level, at college. A-Levels are generally a two-year course, with AS levels begin obtained within the first year. Basically students can choose whether they continue their education after turning sixteen years of age by taking their A levels at 6th Form College, also known as a technical college.

Final Exams for Key Stage 4 are GCSEs
Final Exams for Key Stage 5 are A-Levels, AS-Levels, NVQs, and National Diplomas

NVQS

National Vocational Qualifications are work based awards in the UK that are achieved through assessment and training. I have become more familiar with these having trained and licensed as a Cosmetologist in Hawaii and wanting to transfer that to be able to work in England. In the USA your training and license is determined by the state where you work and each has its own regulations. In England there is not an equivalent governing and licensing board for cosmetology. You train and take exams for different NVQ levels depending on the field of study. My cosmology license in Hawaii is roughly a NVQ level III in Hairdressing and a NVQ level III in Beauty Therapy with one exception. Beauty Therapists in this NVQ level would also be trained in body massage which in the USA would require going to massage school and getting a separate license. So although I have most of the skills required of a NVQ level III I can only get a job who will except a Beauty Therapist with a NVQ level II until I obtain the massage training. I have explained all that to further explain the difference in education from country to country.

The School Calendar

The school year calendar varies between country in the UK but contain around 39 weeks of education with 13 weeks of break. The breaks include two weeks at Christmas, two weeks at Easter, six weeks in the Summer, and then 3 one week half-term holidays. The school year in England is broken into three terms. September to New Years holidays, January to Easter holidays, and Easter holidays to July.

University Requirements

Every school may have its own requirements but there are general requirements that are looked at for admission into Universities in the UK. For the Universities I have looked into they expect applicants to have completed three A-Level exams in one sitting. If applicants re-sit or retake A Levels they may still be considered unless they are in the Medicine or Veterinary Medicine field. Since many degree programs expect you to have studied specific subjects at GSCEs and A-Levels, students need to know early on which field they want to study. In highly competitive subject areas this means the number of As achieved in GCSEs will be taken into account. That means a 16 year old in the UK will need to already be focused to what job they will want to have as an adult, especially if they want to be in the field of medicine. While in the US there are students in their twenties taking general education courses without a chosen major.

What Expat parents should know about schools in England

These are the top three things we have experienced with having children in schools in the UK that I feel other expats would benefit from knowing before they move to the UK.

1. Which School?

The school your child/ren will attend is based off of many factors and can vary due to circumstances. You can put them in the state schools (free), prep and public schools (cost fees and require entrance exams), or you can home educate. To clarify public schools in England are what private schools are in the US. If you choose the free education, which school your child will go to is determined by the catchment area. The closer you live to a school the better chances of getting into that school. There are many different types of schools in this category which can be church schools, single sex or mixed schools. However, the schools will have cap sizes on how many students they let in for certain years. We live right next to the school in our town, but due to class sizes they were both accepted into different schools. I have one son in a school in the next town over and my other son in a school much further away. There are no school buses like there are in the USA. As we do not have a car the school system was able to set up taxi services to get both my boys to their appointed schools and put them on waiting lists for the closer schools in the area. You should also know that you have the right to appeal the school selection process.

2. Uniforms.

As far as I am aware, all schools have some sort of uniform required. Depending on if you choose the state school or the prep school will determine how extensive their uniform needs will be per school. Typically for both schools there will be a Autumn/Winter uniform for the colder months and a Spring/Summer uniform for the warmer months. For boys this may mean the difference of trousers and shorts and sleeve lengths in shirts. For girls many schools require a summer dress that is usually in a gingham fabric. The prep school my sons attended required specific hats for both seasons that were required to be worn to and from school along with their school blazer. Extra items like these that may have only been worn for mere minutes before and after school ended up bringing the cost up when looking at the total items needed to stay in uniform regulations. They also required a sports kit for physical activities and sports, a book bag with the school crest, and specific items to which ‘house’ they belonged too. If you are familiar with the Harry Potter series, this is equivalent to being sorted into a house and the same colours of red, blue, yellow, and green are normally used. I will say that despite the cost I love uniforms. It makes getting my kids ready for school in the morning that much easier and that it takes off the importance of what clothes a child wears to school in regard to their peers.

3. Classwork and Homework.

I have experienced three different schools in the US with my boys and two different schools in the UK. While my sons are still in primary school, I can say that so far the differences have really varied between schools and not so much between the USA and the UK. My sons did extensive daily homework that included accelerated maths with their charter school in the US, nightly homework at their prep school in the UK, and weekly homework at their state school in the UK. As far as I can tell so far there are minor differences like math in the US is called maths in the UK. While you learn cursive in the USA, you learn joined up writing in the UK. While it is similar, the two forms of writing are not exactly the same. Of course while in the US your students will learn the pledge of allegiance an US History, in the UK they will learn the words to ‘God Save the Queen’ and the history of the United Kingdom. I think the quality of the education can be found varying by school and by how involved the parents are with their children. The schools seem more competitive in regard to class system in the UK especially as students get into the secondary stage of their education.

I know that I have a lot more to research and understand when it comes to the education of my sons. If anything I am now more stressed out by my research than I was when I was ignorant to the complicated nature of education in England. I hope this look into the education system in England is helpful and can help other parents when planing a move with their family to the UK.

This is a link up with Rachel & Chelsea

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