TV in America

A DVR box is your friend when living in America, unless you want to sit through countless adverts while trying to find a decent show to watch.  With 500 channels you will still find yourself hunting for a English program to watch even if it is old repeats of Benny Hill or Are you being served!!!!

At least now we have BBC America but even still you will find Gordon Ramsey repeated over and over again...

The Americans are trying to re-produce some of the English shows like Top Gear but they are all pretty crap.

So our advice for the day is to either stream good quality English shows from the computer or come to love reality T.V., or watch as many Period drama's as you want on the local KQED channel.

On the up-side you don't need a T.V. license.

This the advise today from your friendly Brits.

One Ronnie BBC Christmas Show Part 1 - The One Ronnie With Ronnie Corbet...

Preschool Education

There are several types of playschools (preschool) available here is the U.S.A.  You can't send your kids until they are 4 and are toilet trained.


Stratford and Challenger are non religious private schools with a pre school and if you are only here for a couple of years, will keep you on track academically.

Religious affiliation schools like First Discoveries Christian Preschool and St. Paul Lutheran Child Development Centre. Most of the religious preschools have a large emphasis on their religion and vary academically. 

Co-op preschools like Explorer is like a nursery in the church halls in England. Their philosophy is to encourage learning through play. Also a great way to meet new people.  You have to work voluntary hours.

There are also preschools like Peppertree and Precious that are main stream preschools were they have planned activities during the session including for example the letter or number of the week.

Preschools are a very personal choice but I hope the information about the different types helps you in your decision.

Please look at the link below for more information

www.bayareakidfun.com/pages/preschoolssouthbay.html

It has been known for parents to camp out the night before to get into the preschool they desire, this is not necessary as there are many options.

From both our experiences it doesn't seem to make a difference which type of preschool you choose they still thrive when they enter Kindergarten.  You will get many opinions from fellow Americans on this issue but we have found it really doesn't make a difference either way, it's all a load of Bollocks!!

Shopping for Electronics and Appliances

Finding all the appliances you will need can be a headache when you don't know where to go or what brand to buy.  You will notice that everything is super-sized!!  Also, don't expect your appliances to last more than 2-3 years max.  The most difficult thing to find is an electric kettle that will boil your water quicker than if you put a kettle on the hob, you can boil it quicker in the sun!!

Electronics and Appliances

Bestbuy, Sears, Home Depot, Walmart, Western Appliances, Target, Lowes, Airport Home Appliance, Radio Shack, Frys and Costco.

Costco is a great place for everything, they will take it back without a receipt, but you do need a yearly membership.  You can also get a year's supply of bog roll in one shop!!

Target and Walmart are also great places to buy everything, you can also buy food there at reasonable prices.

Lowes and Home Depot are good for all your DIY needs, gardening supplies etc.

Radio Shack is the place for all the adaptors you will need and are very helpful.

Concluding thought of the day, be prepared for the super attentive sales assistant that will hound you and follow you around the store until you commit to buy something!! (Don't forget to remember their name, as they could ask you who helped you when you check out).

Your friendly Brits

Blog for the Day

We both recall the first time we entered a grocery shop here in the Bay Area and how overwhelming and time consuming it was.  After spending hours wandering up and down the aisles not knowing any of the products, thinking where is the marmite and salad cream!!  Here is a list of helpful shop references to guide you where to find different products.  You will find that you can't buy a tin of beans for 50p and that cereals are very expensive.

Food Shops

Lucky’s, Safeway and Nob Hill

                

These are all big chains in the Bay Area. Lucky’s, Safeway and Nob Hill for general shopping.

Trader Joe’s, Lunardi's and Whole Foods

Specialist food shops.  Organic food, English cheese and nice bread etc. Trader Joes is cheaper but smaller.

British food

Trader Joes, Lunardi's, Whole Foods, Cost Plus, Safeway and any Indian Store

Other than the British food Shop Cost Plus is the best place to buy British food at a reasonable price. Any Indian shop is even cheaper for baked beans, tea bags and bourbon biscuits and obviously Indian food.

You will also have to learn that people are never in a rush, will pack your bags for you and want to know where you are from, they will love your accent and ask if you are from London (as that's the only English place they know) and the ultimate question, have you met the Queen?

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Have a nice day!

Your friendly expates

Welcome new Brits to the Bay Area

As experienced Bay Area Brits who have lived in California for the last 10-15 years, we will guide you through the unknown.  Just because we all speak the same language doesn't mean it's plain sailing....

Subjects for discussion can be as simple as knowing where to shop, healthcare, education, differences in the language etc etc....

Your friendly long-term expates