Mormon Mentality - Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People » Moving Across The Pond

By Devyn S.

Oct. 31st, 2011 at 4:33 am

We moved from the US to England six weeks ago for my work. It has been an interesting experience as we have adjusted to the differences in culture between the two countries. I will admit one of my trepidations was in having to go to Church here. I was unsure what to expect. However, I will say that we have felt more welcome in this ward that in our previous ward in the US when we moved in. The wards are about the same size from an active member perspective, but the UK ward has a mix of Brits, Yankees, and other nationalities. It is a lot of fun to get to know the different folks. The other pleasant surprise has been the classes. I have previously avoided going to HP Group in the US given it is usually a bunch of old farts pontificating about their version of the Church that existed in the 1950s or Sunday School lessons that ask the silly questions from the manuals. Both HP Group and SS have been wonderful – I actually feel like I am learning things. So all in all, a huge positive on the move from a Church perspective! I forgot how wonderful it is to be in a classroom where you are learning as opposed to counting the minutes until you can exit.

1. Ben Park

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 10:50am

What part of the UK did to move to? We need to do a UK bloggersnacker.

I’ve been out here for three years for school, first in Scotland and now England. Both wards were fantastic, if for different reasons.

2. Craig

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 11:11am

Devyn, we are not all pontificating old farts in my HP group. I teach once a month and believe me, I push the envelope. We have great discussions.

Have fun in the UK. That is something I always wanted to do.

3. living in zion

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 11:32am

Devyn, we expect photos. Lots of them. For many of us (me) who have never been outside the US, people like you are our only outlet for finding out what its really like in other places. You have a responsibility to fulfill here.
First round of important questions: 1. Since your ward has several nationalities, do you need foreign language interpreters? 2. (this is for annegb) Do women give the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting? 3. I’ve been told the bread there is nothing like the US grocery store crap. Is that true? 4. How do they make SS and HP lessons more alive in the UK? Don’t they use the same manuals we do here?
That’s enough for my questions. I have to leave time for others to pry.

4. NewlyHousewife

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 12:35pm

Are there bidets in the bathrooms?

5. Diane

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 12:58pm

Ben

Where did you live in Scotland, my brother lives in Ayrshire>(I think I spelled it wrong)

6. living in zion

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 2:25pm

Yes! Bidets seem so chic and refined. Please do tell.

7. Devyn S.

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 4:51pm

1. Ben Park – we are in Cambridge. What about you? I did not know there were too many ‘nacle partakers here.

2. Craig – good to hear your HP group is good. My n of 5 wards has not been so positive – maybe being 30 years younger than some of them makes a difference…

3. living in zion – I will work on taking some good castle photos! answers below:

1. Since your ward has several nationalities, do you need foreign language interpreters? nope, everyone speaks English to my knowledge – most of the the non-Brits, non-Americans are Europeans who speak English
2. (this is for annegb) Do women give the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting? I have not noticed – will check it out
3. I’ve been told the bread there is nothing like the US grocery store crap. Is that true? The bread is amazing here – we eat like 4 loaves a week. My kids love to dip a baguette in olive oil…
4. How do they make SS and HP lessons more alive in the UK? Don’t they use the same manuals we do here? Of course they have the same manuals, but they don’t seem to use them which makes it much more interesting. I have had similar experiences in US wards too I should note.

4. NewlyHousewife – Are there bidets in the bathrooms? un no – not anywhere I have seen. France does…

8. Ben Park

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 5:32pm

Diane: we were in Edinburgh, which was absolutely fantastic.

Devyn: well…this is awkward…but we are in Cambridge too. Perhaps we’ve met? I’m horrible with names, and we’ve only been to church twice since arriving back in town a few weeks ago. (you can get my email off here and we can get further acquainted.)

Long live the small ‘nacle world!

9. Ben Park

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 5:36pm

Also, I should note that Cambridge Ward is quite stronger than most UK wards/branches I’ve visted–we’ve even got our token emeritus 70!

10. living in zion

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 6:25pm

Ben, You will recognized Devyn as that rude guy who snored through Sacrament meeting.

11. Diane

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 @ 8:26pm

Devyn

I don’t think the manuals would be the same. My SIL says that they don’t even encourage scouting there the way they do in the States

12. Devyn S.

Tue, Nov 1, 2011 @ 4:06am

Ben – not at all – we have only been to Church twice so far

LIZ – wow, you know me well…

13. annegb

Tue, Nov 1, 2011 @ 12:19pm

Thanks for the chuckle, Devyn. I’m so glad you are enjoying your ward. I truly wonder what would happen if I went to church in the “mission field.”

14. Peter

Tue, Nov 1, 2011 @ 2:20pm

Thanks for such an informative and worth reading post, I would like to say a thanks for sharing an amazing post. Am specially impressed with your writing skills. Its really a nice article.

15. jks

Tue, Nov 1, 2011 @ 4:34pm

I grew up as an American in England (from 1st to 6th grade and again for 10th & 11th grade) in Surrey. It was a wonderful experience.

16. jks

Tue, Nov 1, 2011 @ 4:43pm

To clarify, not only was in a wonderful experience, but it was a wonderful ward and church experience. It wasn’t a perfect ward or anything, but I think it gave me a great foundation.

17. Devyn S

Tue, Nov 1, 2011 @ 5:07pm

Diane – I am pretty sure they are – in HP they were using the Gospel Principles manual.

13. annegb – you would be great in the “mission field”

15. jks – did you pick up an accent? My 6 year old already has a bit of an accent

18. ESO

Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @ 9:54am

Devyn–I think the accent has a lot to do with the schools your kids attend. I lived in Surrey, too, in elementary school, but since we went to an international school, we just learned to fake a British accent. The only American kids I knew who developed an accent went to British schools. Well, my brother who started talking there and left just before kindergarten developed the British ‘r’ which convinced his American school he needed speech therapy, but that was it.

Have fun! It was a wonderful experience for my family.

19. Tim

Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @ 11:24am

ESO–I was the same way. I attended a Swiss school between 5 and 7, and developed the German ‘r’; once we moved back to the states, my American school put me in speech therapy. I definitely picked up on the language and the accent there, to the detriment of my American accent.

20. Devyn S

Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @ 4:38pm

18. ESO – My kids are going to a local elementary school so surrounded by British kids… What were you doing in Surrey? Military family?

21. ESO

Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @ 10:32pm

Nope–my dad just worked for (still does) an international company and he worked in the London office. I wish my parents had placed me in the local elementary–what a great cultural experience–but I know they made what they thought would be the best decision for us. It was a good experience, too, just not the British school experience.

22. TStevens

Tue, Nov 22, 2011 @ 12:19pm

All you former Surrey kids – when were you there? I grew up all around England and served my mission there too. I lived my teenage years in High Wycombe in the Staines Stake. Did you attend TASSIS or ASL? I graduated HS (London Central) in 87.

23. JA Benson

Fri, Nov 25, 2011 @ 7:13pm

Ok this is a question for all the US citizens now/formerly living in Great Britain: how do you get your brain to convert to driving on the “other” side of the road? I have often wondered just how difficult it would be.