We've just returned from one of our triannual (sometimes more) trips to RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall. These bases have become our home away from home while living in Oxford. It's about a 3 hour drive but worth it when you consider living on the economy in England can be tough for Americans. This is where being military is a HUGE advantage for us! We can stock up on American grocery items you can't find here like peanut butter, maple syrup, chocolate chips, USDA approved beef! :) etc. and pay U.S. prices. We usually stay overnight and catch a movie or go bowling and take advantage of the fantastic playgrounds we don't seem to have in the Oxford area. A big favorite is the American fast food. Taco Bell and Baskin Robbins especially. Living here without so many of our chain restaurants back home leaves us craving whatever we can get that tastes like it does back in the U.S. It's also hard when we're used to the community life on Air Force base to adjust to living in a different country, culture, and way of life, especially in Oxford. Some would say we should dive in to the culture here and live as the British do and for the most part we do (British home and car and tiny washer and dryer) but it's nice to find what we can here of those familiar comforts of home in the U.S. For anyone who thinks Americans and British aren't too different and speak the same language should check out the website www.english2american.com
