From Yorkshire Tea to Sonic Ice: Why I moved (back) to Oklahoma

When I first moved to the UK, I was bursting with excitement to leave Oklahoma behind. I’d wanted out since I was about nine years old—Oklahoma had always felt a bit too quiet, a bit too flat, and not quite brimming with the kind of culture or city life I dreamed about. I’d grown up romanticizing travel and craving the magic of “somewhere else.” So when I landed in Manchester for the first time, with snow dusting the Yorkshire hills, it felt like a dream finally realized.

That first evening, I had beef Wellington in a pub older than any building I’d ever set foot in—and I was hooked.

A Love Letter to London (and M&S Picnics)

I eventually made my way to London and got my first true taste of city living. Days were spent roaming Covent Garden and Leicester Square, getting blissfully lost in museums, sipping fancy cocktails in West London pubs, and learning to like red wine with dinner. On summer days, I’d stretch out on the grass near the London Eye or have M&S charcuterie picnics in Green Park with a fresh baguette and friends from uni.

It was fast-paced, a little gritty, incredibly beautiful—and unlike anything I’d ever known.

But it wasn’t without its challenges.

Culture Shock in a Queen’s World

Despite the beauty and buzz of London, starting over in the UK wasn’t easy. Getting a job with no local experience—and no one to vouch for me—was nearly impossible. Networking was everything, and as an outsider, I quickly learned that British society is... different. It’s far more reserved. And when you’re a chatty, quirky, say-what-you-mean kind of American? Let’s just say I was constantly worried I’d put my foot in my mouth.

Even after more than a decade in the UK, I had built very few lasting friendships. It was hard not to feel like an outsider, no matter how many parks I picnicked in or how many cups of tea I drank.

Eventually, I went to Queen Mary University of London to study film. (I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.) I met friends from all over the world and discovered just how much life existed beyond what I knew growing up. The cultural exposure was extraordinary.

And when I met my husband, we moved out to the Kent coast—to the charming seaside town of Ramsgate. For six lovely years, we lived in a tall, creaky Victorian home just five minutes from the beach. We renovated it ourselves, and it was the kind of house that made you fall in love with rainy days and warm lamps. We’d walk along the coast, rain or shine, and dream up futures over Sunday roasts at the pub.

And then we had our son.

A Heart Split in Two

Motherhood shifted everything. The isolation I’d once managed with beach walks and renovation projects started to feel heavy. I adored the UK’s beauty, history, and opportunities—but the cultural distance started to weigh more than the romance could lift.

Suddenly, Oklahoma made sense in a way it never had before.

Open skies. Open land. Homes with big yards (or gardens, depending who you ask), all on one floor. Bedrooms that didn’t feel like closet conversions. And—most of all—people. Friendly people who would strike up a conversation in the Target line and invite you for coffee the next week. In Oklahoma, deep friendships happen in days or weeks—not over cautious years of slowly testing the waters.

And let’s be honest: family six minutes down the road who can babysit at the drop of a hat? That's hard to beat.

From Pub Fires to Tornado Skies

We traded moody beach walks and Waitrose wine for Sonic ice and lightning storms that stretch across the prairie sky. We swapped the easy train rides to Europe for road trips to Medicine Park and weekend drives to Tulsa. There are no cobbled alleys or Roman ruins here, but there are wide-open spaces, an ever-changing sky, and the smell of rain on red dirt.

Now, when I have a late meeting, my son can be picked up from school by his Meme and Yoyo. We can pop over for a family dinner without booking it three weeks in advance. Socializing doesn’t require a bar tab and a black cab—it might just mean backyard burgers and an impromptu splash pad setup with friends.

Sure, I miss the UK. I miss the friends and family we left behind, who we still don’t get to see nearly often enough (though we’re planning a trip this summer!). I miss cozy pub dinners on chilly Sundays, roaring fires in places older than the United States itself, and the endless stream of free museums in London. I miss M&S. I miss soft green grass perfect for barefoot summer days and long walks along the Thames in every season.

But I love Oklahoma too—more than I ever expected to. I love the smiles from strangers. I love the mix of old friends and new. I love the food (Mexican! Thai! Indian! Cheeseburgers from places with wood paneling!). I love having a career again, on my own terms. And most of all, I love watching my son thrive.

Where You Are and Where You’ve Been

So many people ask me what it was like to live in England, and what it’s like coming “back.” But it doesn’t feel like going back—it feels like going forward, just in a new direction. One that includes everything I learned and loved overseas, and everything I now value more than ever right here at home.

From Yorkshire tea to Sonic ice, from London fog to Oklahoma thunderstorms, this heart holds both.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thinking About Making Oklahoma Home?

Whether you're moving from another state—or another country—I know what it's like to start over, and I know just how good Oklahoma can be. If you're dreaming of more space, more sunshine, and more people who smile at you in the grocery store, I’d love to help you find your next home here.

Let’s grab a coffee (or a sweet tea!) and chat about what’s next.
📍 Based in Norman, serving the greater OKC metro
📞 (405) 508-8811
💌 Or just shoot me a message—I’d love to hear your story.