Welcome to the UK!

Today almost started in disaster! Despite getting up at 4am to drop off our car and arrive 2 hours before our flight, we were pretty close to missing it because tiny Keflavik aiport had 15 flights leaving from 7am to 8am and the checkin line was insane. We got through and on board for a relatively short 3 hour flight to Gatwick.

First glimpse of the UK

We were expecting a minor interrogation at passport/immigration control, especially given all of the reams of paperwork that was due over the last few months, but there were three questions - is Justin here for school, what is his program, will I be working? We were fingerprinted (again) and on our way. We rented a car (we've both already gone to the wrong side at least 3 times today) and Justin drove up to Loughborough, about 2 hours. The driving from the right side, shifting with the left hand, passing on the left side, roundabouts to the left stuff will take time to get used to! What is more difficult to get used to are the completely different and bewildering street and highway signs, lack of speed signs (even though there are speed cameras, no joke, about every 5 minutes along the highway leading away from Gatwick) and the tiny narrow streets.

We met our lovely AirBNB host for some tea and advice, got our pay-as-you-go SIM cards (as the banks were already closed - we'll start that process tomorrow - you can't get a post-paid contract without any UK financial history) and had our first dinner at a UK pub. Fish and chips with mushy peas (better than I had expected!) and sweet potato/chickpea/pepper curry.

Tomorrow we're going to try walking around the town to better orient ourselves, set up housing, and all that fun stuff! This weekend we have to head back down to London for more paperwork for my license transfer as well - Justin is really looking forward to the drive! (We chose only one driver as $20 CAD per day for a secondary driver seemed silly). We do need to bundle up tonight - as we had previously heard, these old houses are pretty drafty and chilly! Good thing I got my Icelandic wool sweater before arriving!