Questions, Comments, Concerns and Amusing Anecdotes

First, let's all let out a collective sigh of relief that I'm finally posting again. Next, I'd like to point out that something that's special or exciting is so, in part because it doesn't happen every day.

Much like my blog.

If my blog became part of your morning routine, it'd be just that--routine. I want these few minutes we share in cyberspace together to be meaningful and insightful. But above all, I'd like you to feel like reading this blog was better than actually doing what you know you should've been doing instead of reading this blog. Especially those of you reading this on company time. You know who you are.

Wow, all that pretension has left me physically and emotionally drained. While I recharge the proverbial batteries, enjoy this intermission brought to you by laughing baby









Now that that's over we can all get on with our lives.

I wanted to do something a little different with this post. I've sort of settled in to a routine here, especially now that classes have started. There's really not too much to report on that wouldn't create mass amounts of Déjà vu for any of you who have spent any amount of time (probably company time) reading one of my earlier posts. But, now that I've been here for an entire month (Today is my one month anniversary with England and we're already living together. Moving kind of fast, right?) I've had some time to sort of adjust to the people, the city and the accent; enough at least to comment on some things I find interesting/cool/neat-o/any other annoying adjective you can think of. Without further adieu, this is my list of Questions, Comments, Concerns and Amusing Anecdotes:

• Yes, they really do drive on the wrong side of the road. This could have the potential to be dangerous crossing busy streets in the center city. Luckily, painted on the road at nearly every crosswalk are the words "LOOK LEFT" or "LOOK RIGHT." Yes, in all caps. Screaming at you from the pavement
• Groceries don't last nearly as long as they do in the States and for that, I'm thankful. The food is severely lacking in the preservatives that allow your bread to sit in the cupboard for 2 weeks while you're vacationing in Bali, come home and make lunch for the kiddos for the next 5 days. As a result, I feel healthier. I have to go to the grocery store more often, but it's a small price to pay. Which leads me to my next point:
• The groceries are by and large cheaper here than in the States. Even considering the conversion rate (it's bad... take my word for it), I can buy the same amount of groceries for probably 30-40% less than back home
• Brighton is a really trendy, fashion-forward city. Sometimes I feel like I don't fit in because I'm not nearly as fashionable as the rest of the city
• In every class I've been in, I've been nervous to talk in front of everyone for the first time. Right when I open my mouth I can feel dozens of pairs of eyeballs burning a hole through my face because of my accent. Once we all get over the initial shock of me being an American, it's smooth sailing
• Europe is much more in-tune with America than America is with Europe
• The Brits love Obama
• A city the size of Brighton in America wouldn't have nearly the amount or quality of public transport
• The English love a good rally/demonstration/protest
• Students seem to have much more of a voice in the UK's University system than students would in the US
• England is very dog-friendly: dogs on public transportation, dogs in stores, dogs in university lecture halls
• Media in general is far less censored. Imagine my surprise opening up a newspaper and seeing a topless woman. I had to check the front to make sure it wasn't a Playboy.... nope, it's a newspaper all right. Come to find out, Page 3 is an "institution in Britain" as one of my British classmates informed me
• I know more Brits that have been to America than Americans that have been to the UK. And trust me, I know far more Americans than I do Brits
• I sometimes find myself thinking with a British accent. I wouldn't dare try to put one on, though. It sounds pretentious trying to fake an accent. Like they don't know that you're trying to put one on, anyways.
• I feel out of touch with news in the US. I don't see much TV and honestly don't check internet-based news resources that often.

I'm really running out of things to say here. If there's something you were hoping I'd mention that I failed to, then feel free to keep it to yourself because this is NOT a democracy.

Just kidding, let me know what you want to hear about I'll do my best to make your dreams become reality.