This comes a bit late because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write about. Since I’ve been wrapped up in studies recently, I’d like to take the time to list some little (or not-so-little) differences between the US and the UK. And comment on how well I think I’m handling it.

Things I’ve had to get used to:

• Greeting people. Instead of “Hi!” the British say “All right?” which inevitably makes wonder I’m not injured or sick, why am I being asked this? Just something that after being greeted for the thousandth time, one gets used to it.
• Crossing streets: So when I first came to Bath, I remembered well to look right then left. And then realised that half the streets in Bath are one way, which made it infinitely more confusing. Fortunately, I’m getting adapted to the traffic patterns, but I’m not used to just walking across busy streets, which locals here do all the time. You can pretty much cross the road anywhere as long as no cars are coming.
• 24-hour clock, which wouldn’t have been so difficult if they didn’t use it interchangeably with the 12-hour clock.
• Crisps are chips and chips are fries. And I’ve ordered both successfully, so check this one off the list.
• The rain. I will come back to State College thinking Penn State lies in a desert.
• Talking about the weather and the length of time it takes the bus to arrive. This is the essence of British small talk.
• Saying “Cheers” a hundred times a day. And since one doesn’t hear it often
• Spelling. A couple weeks ago, a lecturer of mine wrote the “-ize” ending on a word and I thought it looked weird because it should be “-ise”. And my topology unit has taught me the correct spelling of “neighbourhood”.
• The money. �1 notes don’t exist. They are coins. Also, there are �2, 1p (though I’ve never actually had one), 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, and 50p coins but no 25p coin. The 20p and 50p are 7-sided instead of round, and the 2p coin is larger than the �1 coin. Go figure!
• Units. I was under the impression the British used the metric system until I noticed those bridge clearance signs are in feet and inches and I bought 2 pints of milk. So, mostly everything is metric, but there are a few Imperial units that have endured, just to make life all the more confusing.
• Traffic lights. Just before turning green, the yellow light turns on with the red.
• Coursework. In most of my units, it’s not graded, but the professor will mark it. So why bother? These units are graded entirely on the final, which uses material from the coursework.

Things I’ve come to appreciate:

• Georgian architecture. The stone archicture of Bath is quite stately, and really adds something to the character of the city.
• Trains. By far the fastest ground transport between cities. And I equally love the 30% discount a railcard gives one.
• 50/40 MB (upload/download) internet speeds. Unless Penn State upgrades, this will be hard to say goodbye to.
• No sales tax. Ok, this needs a disclaimer. There is an equivalent called a VAT (value-added tax) but it’s included in the price, not added on at the till.
• It’s fun using British words like jumper, washing up liquid, circus, plimsoll, full stop, crisps, cheerio, revising, Uni, flat, lift, etc.
• An abundance of tea, tea rooms, and cafes.
• The British sense of humour.

Things I miss:

• Peanut butter. In the meantime, Nutella. (I’ve tried Marmite… but it’s not the same…)
• A �1 cup of tea is actually $1.60.
• Mexican food. I’m sorry, but rocket does not belong in tacos.

Location: Bath, UK