Giving up US citizenship?

I haven't had much to say of relevance in to the blog world recently, but saw an interesting article today on the BBC:

Why are Americans giving up their citizenship?

On the expat forums I read in the UK, this seems to becoming more prevalent, especially the longer that people are here.  So it's not so much the newly christianed UK citizens but more those who have been UK citizens for many years.

I don't think I'd even remotely consider to give up my US citizenship (which would be an option at some stage, once I get UK citizenship).  Would you consider it?

Parking the German mentality in an American parking spot

I am in the US for work for two weeks, along with many of my colleagues from around the globe, whom I've known for many years.  I went out with the German contingent last night, and we ended up downtown for dinner.  It's been snowy here in the midwest where Benevolent Company J is located, and while the streets have been plowed, it's remained chilly and the snow hasn't budged much, making parallel parking quite an adventure.

When we saw a decent parking spot near our destination, German Colleague 2 hops out to be able to inform Colleague 1 how far away he is from the other cars.  Colleague 3 and I stayed in the car. 

Colleague 1 probably isn't so great at parallel parking in the best of times, and it was a difficult situation:  a small spot with a big American car, leftover snow/slush, and a relatively busy road, so time pressures to get out of the way.  And therefore he botched it, requiring a second and third attempt, and finally, the back and forth to squeeze into the spot due to turning too quick.

As I stood with Colleage 2 at the curb, Colleague 2 remarked, 'he turned in too hard.' 
I answered, 'Yes, I knew each time he was off, but didn't want to pressure him.'
Colleague 1:  'Ah, but H, you must instruct him!  Else how will he ever learn or improve?'

In that moment I was reminded of living in Germany, and how different it was, and how out of place it seemed in that very moment on a US street. 

Literal translation

As seen last week at the beach in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria:

 



It was good to escape the grey and chilly UK weather and to warm up in the sunshine.

Hello January!

Dear Internet,
Slocombe the cat here.  It's been a busy few months and the Main Human has the flu, so time to catch you all up on activities here.  I was away for my winter holidays while she went to the States in December.  Winter holidays really seemed to fly this year, although it's been warm, wet and grey in our corner of Essex, so not really a holiday feel.

In brighter news, the Human finished her dissertation!  Two years part-time of classes and then the dissertation was put into this effort.  I suspect Main Human will take a little time to relax but will then become terribly bored!  I enjoyed the school work, as it meant plenty of lap time for me.

Work?  Eh, same old, it pays for the cat food and litter.  She tells me that March will be ten years with benevolent company J.  That means she'll have been 10 years in Europe as well in March.  My, my, time really does fly.  February will already be four years in the UK! 

I've noticed the travel books have come out though.  She was mentioning Italy, Scotland and all sorts of interesting places!  That's nothing for me though, I'm more of a homebody cat.

Well, that's all for now.  I need to go bat at the shades so that I can go outside and have a sniff around the balkon.
Furry greetings from Essex,
Slocombe the Cat