From Sunshine to Snowflakes: A First in the UK

I’m sure we all have our “firsts”—unless, of course, you’ve been reincarnated and lived the same life twice… or you’re just the type who repeats the same mistake three times (no judgment, we’ve all been there!).

Anyway, I want to share one of my big firsts: my arrival in the UK.

It was February 2021. I was young, dumb, and broke but thrilled! I still can’t believe I actually live here now. I remember being a mix of nervous and excited, literally in disbelief that I was breathing the same oxygen as the British people.

So, picture this: me and my two girlfriends, fresh off the plane at Heathrow Airport… and completely lost. We were supposed to meet someone from our company at Terminal 4. Guess where we were? Terminal 2. 

We had no clue there was a free train inside the airport, so we ended up walking what felt like forever through tunnels, dragging our suitcases, cold, confused, and a little scared

And speaking of cold—oh my gosh. No one warned me it could be that cold. Coming from a tropical country where “winter” isn’t even in the vocabulary, I was in shock. Luckily, my inner girl scout came prepared. I was layered up and tried to look cute at the same time—but let me tell you, fashion dies at 2°C.

Also, can we talk about how fascinating it is when your breath turns into fog? I felt like a dragon every time I spoke. Who needs cigarettes when you can just… breathe?

When we arrived, we had to quarantine (post-COVID life, right?). I stayed in a flat with my own bathroom and a shared kitchen. The food was free—thankfully, since we couldn’t go out shopping.

I was excited to finally try “real British food” like cottage pie and mashed peas… but honestly? It wasn’t as magical as in the movies. Don’t get me wrong—it’s edible! It’s just, well, not that special.

Spring Has Sprung! 🌸

Fast-forward a few months—my first spring!

Finally, no more gloomy skies. Everything turned green, flowers bloomed in every color imaginable, and the trees finally grew their hair back (they were bald all winter).

I went to Brighton with a couple of girlfriends. And yes, Brighton is bright! It’s a stony beach—not sandy—but beautiful in its own quirky way. Just beware of the real locals there: the seagulls. Those thieves will snatch your chips without remorse.

Summer Vibes ☀️

Then came summer, aka “scorching” weather for the Brits, but honestly? For us Asians, it’s just “warm and nice.”

We took a trip to Banstead Lavender Fields. The place was stunning! My yellow shirt popped perfectly against the purple field. If you ask me what lavender smells like… honestly, I’m not sure if I actually smelled it or just imagined I did. 

       Falling for Autumn 🍂

Ah, autumn. My favorite season! The leaves turned yellow, orange, and red before falling gracefully. The sky turned gray, the rain came back, and it was the perfect stay-at-home-with-tea vibe.

I spent this season visiting museums and parks. One thing about the UK—they take architecture seriously. Massive museums, beautiful Victorian and Gothic buildings… it’s like walking through history. Most museums are even free (and if not, super affordable).

But my absolute favorite thing about the UK? The parks.

If you’re from the UK and reading this, I’m sure you’ll agree—they’re magnificent! Clean, relaxing, huge, and honestly, just so beautiful. I could spend hours there doing nothing but breathing in the peace.

Winter Again ❄️

Before I knew it, my first year was over, and winter came back around. At first, I had a love-hate relationship with the cold. Now, five years later, I’ve learned to embrace it.

There’s actually so much to do in winter! I went to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland—and while it was magical, I’ll never forget it because… I lost my engagement ring there.  Still hurts a bit to think about that one.

Looking back!

So many random things have happened since I arrived. I’ve learned to love the unpredictable weather, picked up British slang (and sarcasm!), and even adopted their easygoing work culture—no “Ma’am” or “Sir,” just first names all around.

And somewhere in the middle of all that chaos and charm… I grew up a little.

But that’s a story for another time. Maybe next blog, I’ll tell you how I got married. ❤❤