Culture Grams

I had a request from a friend to write a post about general observations as an American studying in a foreign country, so instead of reading about the odious Moll Flanders, I will do my best to fulfill that request!

Some general observations about the UK from an American perspective.

• British people say "sorry" a lot. Like, instead of "excuse me," "pardon me," "What?" and so on.  Whenever I try to get through a crowd to the next Tube stop, or push to the front of the mob of young school-children to see THE Coronation portrait of Elizabeth I, I always say "excuse me" like a good American. Not that "sorry" isn't adequate, but it's just something to get used to. I have noticed that I am saying it a lot more than I used to, but "excuse me" still mostly prevails in my speech pattern.
• The sales tax is built into everything you buy here, from food and postcards to shampoo and cotton balls. It is certainly convenient to not worry about having the right amount of money to pay for tax on top of the sales price, but it doesn't change the fact that London is extremely expensive!
• Queues are quite common here. The Brits love to queue. In fact, I think it is a secret national sport: Who can queue up the best? This would SO not happen in America. Americans decidedly do NOT like to line up. Takes too much effort/order.
• On the Tube, it is generally considered obnoxious if you talk, especially during the morning rush hour. Especially if you *gasp* have an American accent. My friends and I got our share of dirty looks from fellow Tube riders the first week of school when we weren't completely attuned to this unspoken rule. However, it is quite all right for British school-children to talk loudly on the Tube on their way home from school. No one gives THEM dirty looks.
• When you go to a restaurant, it is more expensive to dine in than take-away your order. Like at Caffe Nero, for instance (it's like Starbucks in Seattle - on every street corner!!), if you order a hot chocolate (it's to die for), there is about a twenty pence difference between taking your drink to go or drinking it in the shop. Which isn't a lot at the time, but things like that do add up!
• Indian food/culture is extremely prevalent here. Which isn't a problem at all, it's just different from America. It's sort of like Hispanic culture in the US (or at least in California haha); it has a growing influence upon our mainstream culture. It's very hard to find acceptable salsa here in the UK, but there is a plethora of Indian cuisine! I have yet to try Indian food. Whenever that happens, that should be an adventure in itself!
• I will never get over the cuteness of British school-children going off to school in the morning. Most schools here require a uniform of some kind, with a blazer, dress shirt, tie, slacks, or a skirt and tights, and dress shoes. Every time I see a little five year old heading off to school with his adorable little uniform, it makes my heart melt!!
• Pronunciations are very unexpected. For example, take "Leicester Square." Now, how do you think "Leicester" is pronounced? Many people who don't know any better might say it sounds something like "Lie-ces-ster," giving it three syllables. False. It's pronounced more like "Lay-ster." Psych! Also, there is a train station called St. Pancras here, and I have had several internal giggles when I hear unwitting Americans pronouncing it as St. "Pancreas." :)

Of course, there are a myriad of other little differences between the UK and US, but these were the ones that stuck out to me the most. Although I sound like I'm being nit-picky, it's the differences that make this experience so worthwhile!