Some things I will miss about England
on Mischa in Cameroon (Cameroon), 04/Sep/2010 16:57, 34 days ago
As I get ready to go back to Cameroon tomorrow, a few things I will miss about England...I'm planning on being back next June, but in the meantime keep in touch!(1) The English weatherVery wet WalesThis definitely tops my list. After ten months of forty five degree heat every day of English drizzle was incredibly exciting although I had to go camping in Wales for an opportunity to wear a woolly hat. People in Maga find my stories of the UK weather incredible. One teacher informed his headmaster that“in Mischa’s country the weather is sometimes under zero degrees.” The headmaster gave him a scornful look and told him that this was impossible. I then tried to explain the concept of iceskating, but didn’t really get beyond the bit where people strap knives to their feet.(2) All the nice people in England.It was lovely to see them!(3) My Mum’s cookingIt was a close call between whether I will miss (2) or (3) more.  Eating food that wasn’t made exclusively out of onions, rice, eggs and tomato paste, and having things that came out of the oven was amazing. Not having to politely turn down dishes of stewed leave with bits of fish intestine in slimy gumbo wasn’t too bad either.(4) SupermarketsI love supermarkets! Especially Marks and Spencers. You can buy so many things in them! And even after two and half months I haven’t quite got over the novelty value. And there aren’t crises such as when the whole province runs out of Laughing Cow cheese for a month (one of the few dairy products that doesn’t go off whatever you do to it).(5) The absence of insects/other scary wildlife in my houseNo cockroaches, no mosquitoes, no tarantulas, no snakes, no poisonous biting ants.(6) No marriage proposalsThis was a bit weird at first, but very restful. For the next month in Cameroon I plan to forestall them by offering my sister up instead. Not only does she look like me and have equal prospects of getting an English visa for her husband, but she also eats meat! It’s like me, but better.