Upon returning, I was almost overwhelmed by the tobacco clouds. Granted, they were much more pronounced in France and Switzerland, but even in London, I was reacquainted with the sight of antsy bus and train passengers preparing a cig, anxiously tapping their fingers, and positioning themselves to light up the moment they stepped off the bus or train.
I’d forgotten how much of everyday American speech is peppered with (seemingly) superfluous adverbs. Example: “Ohmigod, I completely forgot.’
Gone are our days of weekend trips to the Alps or the Acropolis, goodbye to train rides to Edinburgh and Paris.
Brits can wield their silverware with an ease and precision unimaginable to the American mind. Although I’m slowly learning to eat with both a knife and fork, I found myself a bit self-conscious when dining with Brits.
After several incidents where I’ve used a phrase from the wrong side of the pond, I’ve decided it’s time to move up to the next level and provide you, dear readers, with a collection of phrases that are unique to one dialect, but have an equivalent in the other.
There are many brilliant aspects about the UK which would make any American swoon for life across the pond. For starters there’s multi-coloured money, Pimm’s and lemonade, free museums stockpiled […]
Upon my return from ten days in the Home of the Brave, here are a few thoughts on US/UK differences. Before I begin, a few needed caveats. First, David and […]
So, I suppose I am technically “in the field” now, since I am not in London, and anywhere you do research away from your immediate vicinity is “the field.” Very […]
Since my corresponding list about London proved so popular (or at least so ‘likeable’), I thought I’d note a few surprising things about Edinburgh. Granted, I only spent a weekend […]
I have a lot of things I need to be doing for my classes and to prepare for my dissertation right now. Which means that I am instead writing this […]
Of Elephants and Castles 