On the one hand, it seems like England shouldn't be that different from back home in Wisconsin. After all, we share a language and (you would think) similar Western cultural traits. It's not like I'm studying abroad in a country where I don't speak the language or am cut off from the amenities and things I am accustomed to. I'm in England, for Pete's sake! America's estranged parent, our closest ally, the home of most of our TV stars.
Turns out, all of that means very little. I can still barely understand what some people are trying to say to me. I feel largely confused and very much like I stand out in the crowd of Brits. I say "thank you" instead of "cheers," I usually wear jeans and not leggings, my eyeliner isn't an inch thick. So...here's a not-at-all-comprehensive list of things that are different and difficult in jolly old England:
(1) Things are backwards. Look, I know that they drive on the opposite side here, and I'm pretty well adjusted to that. It also means you have to look right first when crossing the street--still challenging, but I'm improving. But the "left" thing extends way beyond that. Remembering to walk on the left side of the sidewalk and the stairs, to enter in the left doors, to take the left escalator up a floor. Still getting tripped up on those.
(2) Converting things in my head sucks. Temperature, distance, weight/volume, currency, the 24-hour clock. My head is full of numbers and it's nearly impossible to keep them all straight. I bought a 700g jar of peanut butter for £1.56. Is that a good deal? Who knows!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
An Awfully Big Adventure
Hey guys!
I know that it's been a while, and part of that is my continuing struggles with sketchy internet availability and a semi-functional power cord for my laptop. The internet issue appears to be fully resolved, but it's still touch and go on the power. Hopefully that will be taken care of soon!
It's hard to believe that I've been in lovely England for a week and a half already! I'm still living in temporary accommodations, so I don't quite feel settled into Leeds yet. The place I'm in until this coming Friday is called Bodington Hall. It's the largest residence hall at the University of Leeds, and it also happens to be (by far) the farthest from the central campus. It's over 4 miles, so I haven't even bothered to try to walk it--I've been getting by with purchasing bus passes to cover the rest of my stay here. Then, I'll move into St. Marks on Friday, which isn't directly on campus but is literally a two minute walk away. Then I can finally stop paying a ridiculous amount of money to get around town!
I'll write more about Leeds in another post, but today I want to share with you some stuff about my weekend trip to London with my friend Megan. As part of our determination to do as much traveling as possible this semester, we planned our first excursion for the morning after our initial arrival. After travel via car, plane, and train, we arrived in Leeds around midday last Thursday. Then, with the aid of the buses and numerous understanding British direction-givers, we managed to find our way to the dorms and move all our stuff into our rooms by early afternoon. We ran around for several hours after that frantically finding food, cell phones, bedding and toiletries and set our alarms for early Friday morning. After a well-deserved and not nearly sufficient night's rest, we trudged onto a morning coach bus to London. Then, I had to fight the urge to sleep more on the four-hour ride both to try to adjust my sleep schedule and battle jet lag and to avoid missing stuff like this:
I know that it's been a while, and part of that is my continuing struggles with sketchy internet availability and a semi-functional power cord for my laptop. The internet issue appears to be fully resolved, but it's still touch and go on the power. Hopefully that will be taken care of soon!
It's hard to believe that I've been in lovely England for a week and a half already! I'm still living in temporary accommodations, so I don't quite feel settled into Leeds yet. The place I'm in until this coming Friday is called Bodington Hall. It's the largest residence hall at the University of Leeds, and it also happens to be (by far) the farthest from the central campus. It's over 4 miles, so I haven't even bothered to try to walk it--I've been getting by with purchasing bus passes to cover the rest of my stay here. Then, I'll move into St. Marks on Friday, which isn't directly on campus but is literally a two minute walk away. Then I can finally stop paying a ridiculous amount of money to get around town!
I'll write more about Leeds in another post, but today I want to share with you some stuff about my weekend trip to London with my friend Megan. As part of our determination to do as much traveling as possible this semester, we planned our first excursion for the morning after our initial arrival. After travel via car, plane, and train, we arrived in Leeds around midday last Thursday. Then, with the aid of the buses and numerous understanding British direction-givers, we managed to find our way to the dorms and move all our stuff into our rooms by early afternoon. We ran around for several hours after that frantically finding food, cell phones, bedding and toiletries and set our alarms for early Friday morning. After a well-deserved and not nearly sufficient night's rest, we trudged onto a morning coach bus to London. Then, I had to fight the urge to sleep more on the four-hour ride both to try to adjust my sleep schedule and battle jet lag and to avoid missing stuff like this:
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
One Week!
Okay, it's actually 8 days, but still... I can't believe the time to to leave is coming up so quickly! I'm getting on a plane next Wednesday and landing the next morning almost four thousand miles from home. It's going to be really weird being away from my family and friends, not seeing the Wisconsin winter melt away, missing out on the opening of the Union Terrace. But I'm incredibly excited about spending 5 months in Leeds (and other places)!
I have a terrible sense of direction--so bad that I manage to get turned around inside buildings. But I kind of love that feeling of wandering and not quite recognizing your surroundings, but exploring and experiencing them. I'm looking forward to getting lost in all sorts of new cities, and finding my way back again. Hopefully in the in-between times I'll get some studying in, discover good food, meet new people.
Haven't started to pack yet...of course. Procrastination strikes again! I do have a pretty solid packing list and a to-do list to finish in the next week. But I also have a lot of book-reading/TV and movie-watching/friend-seeing to do in the next 180 hours or so. And then...on to Leeds, where I will drink boatloads of tea and develop a terrible British accent. I'll try to keep you all updated with stories and pictures as it all unfolds!
Best wishes,
Leah
I have a terrible sense of direction--so bad that I manage to get turned around inside buildings. But I kind of love that feeling of wandering and not quite recognizing your surroundings, but exploring and experiencing them. I'm looking forward to getting lost in all sorts of new cities, and finding my way back again. Hopefully in the in-between times I'll get some studying in, discover good food, meet new people.
Haven't started to pack yet...of course. Procrastination strikes again! I do have a pretty solid packing list and a to-do list to finish in the next week. But I also have a lot of book-reading/TV and movie-watching/friend-seeing to do in the next 180 hours or so. And then...on to Leeds, where I will drink boatloads of tea and develop a terrible British accent. I'll try to keep you all updated with stories and pictures as it all unfolds!
Best wishes,
Leah
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