After finishing law school, the author, who lived in Illinois, found herself approaching the age of 30 feeling “sullen and wanting, mostly chocolate.” She searched for romantic connections online and met Ben, a chivalrous, blond British engineer with a “razor wit” who was working a two-year stint in America. His handsomeness and quirky personality soon captured her heart. Having studied law abroad in London during the summer of 2001 (and nurturing an addiction to British reality TV), Evans was no stranger to British culture, and the two eventually married. The couple conducted two ceremonies in the late summer of 2008: one in the author’s hometown of Peoria, Illinois, the other following just a few weeks later in Ben’s home of Falmouth, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. The question arose about where the happy couple would reside; Evans imagined relocating to England with her new husband as a “green and pleasant adventure” on an “enchanted island where somewhat mysterious women with dewy complexions made jam in thatched cottages.” The initial uprooting from America was the easy part; the resulting culture clash brought immense confusion and unexpected—if slightly humorous—unease. Evans’ prose is breezy, lighthearted, and affably chatty, which elevates her account of her British adventures above the typical cross-cultural narrative. Her generous personal anecdotes will bring joy and solidarity to readers who have experienced the same bewilderment after relocating to a new country. The narrative includes amusing stories of losing her luggage on her way to meet Ben’s parents; passing the infamous 24-question “Life in the UK” immigration exam; navigating the language barrier (despite speaking English); and surviving a hilarious UK driving test.
THE BODY ALONE
July 3, 2024