Weather Issues

3 weeksa ago as I landed at Heathrow airport in London the announcer announced that the temperature was 12 degrees C.
As I arrived in Tampa, Fl a similiar type voice announced the weather as 78 degrees F.
What's the difference -well obviously, London is cold, Florida is warm - but apart from that. The measurement. Seriously - whose idea was it to record temperature in different ways for the two countries. It took me ages to adjust to Farenheit in America after being used to Celcius in England.
My friends in England always ask me what the weather is like in Florida, and when I reply 80. They look puzzled. But then I remember I have to change the value to Celcius. Luckily my weather app on my iphone shows it in either Celcius or Farenheit - either that or I can do a quick approximate calculation. But it still seems silly.
Also, England uses the metric system which I do love by the way - but America doesn't use it, although they do teach it in math.. i guess just so we can all be aware. And they do teach us about calculating weather in Celcius, Farenheit and Kelvin. Kelvin - who is ever going to need to know the temperature in Klevin???

Anyway.. these differences..........

More on Shopping and Manners

I was recently having a conversation with a cousin of mine who had visited America a few years ago. I can't remember what part of America he visited. But anyway, he said that when he was out shopping he remembers that it was a big difference the kind of customer service he got compared to in England. Said that he thought that he found it a little 'too much.'
For example, in one store he was approached by a salesperson almost 5 times:
'Hello, can I help you?' No, I'm ok
'Can I help you find anything?' No, I'm ok
'You still doing ok?' Yes, I'm fine
'Do you need me to hold anything?' No, I'm ok
'You ok?' Ok leave me alone....
Ok, he didn't tell the salesperson to leave him alone, but I'm sure he wanted to. lol. Just hearing that made me see how someone from England who is not used to this level of customer service would find the helpfulness a little overbearing. There seems to be a huge difference between the two. And I know that many places in America have to be this way because this is how they are trained and expected to act. In addition, some positions offer monetary compensation for getting sales so it is in their best interest to 'harass the customer' lol. But how much harassment is really necessary???

Personally, I appreciate someone coming up to me at least once and letting me know they are there to help if I need it. I know this is easier in small stores to do, but less possible in bigger department stores. Although it is usually in large department stores where customers usually require the most help because it seems like sizes are never available, or someone is kept up really high and I have to do some pseudo-gymnastic move in order to locate this item. (Note to self - in the future only go shopping with people who are taller than me lol!!!!!)

I think there should be some medium between no customer interaction and complete annoyance and interference of one's shopping experience. Let us know you are there and available to help but then leave us alone, we don't know who you are, we're not friends, i didn't ask you to come shopping with me, so why are you hanging around with me while I am shopping lol.

Lets throw that away

Since my nieces were born in America, they obviously have more 'American' in their blood than 'British' But my sister and I (especially me) occasionally pepper our speech with some English-isms and of course they catch on to this since they are super smart lol.  
For example, I often use the word 'rubbish' rather than 'trash' or ask her if she can put something in the bin, rather than saying trash can.
Rubbish (English) = trash (American)
Bin (English) = Trash can (American)

About a year ago, as we were waiting on my sister to finish feeding the little one, my oldest neice who was 2 at the time and I decided to take a walk. So I took her in her stroller (buggie) to the dollar store. As we walked in, she asked me in a really loud voice 'what's all this rubbish?'
As quick as I could I reversed the stroller out of there hoping no-one heard. I guess it was my fault for teaching her 'rubbish' lol.

Creepy Crawly Things

I don't think it matters which country you live in - you will always be exposed to some kind of creepy crawly things.
In London, flies were a big problems, especially fruit flies. And just recently I've seen spiders creeping up everywhere especially in people who have larger houses. I don't remember seeing that many spiders when I used to live here. But while on vacation/holiday, I've seen over 10 spiders. Let me also say, I've also killed a few of them too. So let me apologize to those spider loving people in advance.
I remember we used to get a lot of flies inside, but i guess that's probably due to the fact that we often had windows open and the flies would come and try to get to the food. And I remember we would have to get a cover to put on top of the fruits so that the flies wouldn't all be there on top of the bananas etc.
Mice aren't really creepy crawlies but I couldn't stand those - never could.

I'm actually okay with creepy crawlies and I probably have my sister to thank for that. It all started approximately 10-11 years ago when we moved to America. Florida has roaches.. gross. They come out when its hot especially. And when we got our place there, before we knew about the importance of pest control, we saw an abundance of roaches. My sister was petrified of them. And she would call me to come and kill them or else she would be screaming lol. Sometimes I would have to seek them out and find them or else she wouldn't go to sleep. So I became the insect killer... and its not that it didn't bother me, i guess the roaches etc.. didn't bother me as much as they bothered my sister. My mum has always been brave about insects or whatever, so maybe I got that from her.

When I moved to Orlando, the 1st thing I had to do was get pest control, but of course that doesn't completly eradicate all the roaches and insects. But my biggest thing was that - I wanted to find the bug and kill it. I couldn't stand the thought of it crawling around. I would grab any kind of device I could think of - paper napkin, shoe, candle, ruler, pencil to terminate the life of it.. lol.

When I came to London for my holiday. I met many people who were scared of spiders and it didn't bother me killing them or whatever. But it did amuse me at how scared people got of them. I guess I got used to them. I don't like bees though or wasps but spiders, roaches aren't a problem.

So, i guess i have my sister to thank for that... and just in case she reads this... of course I made her do lots of things in return for me that I could not do myself.

So basically whereever you go - England or America... the bugs will be with you.

Do you have a rubber?

I did most of my schooling in england and most of my childhood days were spent writing and drawing in pencil which often required some kind of erasing device.
A rubber was something that was used to 'rub' off the pencil when you made a mistake or you just wanted it to disappear. But in America - a rubber was something else entirely.
In America a rubber refers to a condom so if you were to casually ask someone for a rubber, you may get a strange look especially if you don't know them. In America, this device is called an eraser.
Rubber = eraser
Rubber = condom

I had a friend and her daughter from England visit me in America last year. We were in a gift store with novelty items. Some of you may know this store - Spencer Gifts. The mother and I were browsing and suddenly the daughter shouted out 'Mum, can I get this rubber for my collection?' I saw the mouths of the customers in the store open as they were shocked what had come out of the mouth of a 6 year old. I grabbed both my friend and her daughter and left the store as quickly as possible. Of course, the girl had only been referring to an eraser, but due to the difference of the word in America and of course being in Spencer Gift store well would lead one open to interpretation. And that's all I will say on that subject...

Would you like any batteries today?

My first job after coming to America was at a toy store. Of course my accent was heavily peppered with English at this time and therefore it was distinct and at times unfamiliar to some.
Everytime we rang up a purchase for a customer, we had to ask them if they wanted any batteries. If we didn't ask, then they would be entitled to free batteries and that would come out of our wage.
But I had a problem.
I had no issues with remembering to ask them, BUT....
when I did ask them, the way we say battery in England is completely different to the way it is said in America. Its not as easy to explain this in a written sense but I'll try.
In England we say BAT-TRY. In America they say BAT-ERY.
And so when I would ask the customers about any BAT-RIES that they would want, every now and then I would get caught out and told that I hadn't asked. Hmmm...
So I started to change the way I said it... I would say 'Would you like any.... and then I would do my best to stress the word batteries in what I hoped sounded American but probably sounded like 'BAD-A-RIES.' But nevertheless - it did the job, and no one ever accused me of not asking them for their batteries lol.... what can I say? But it was pretty funny to have half my sentence in English and then one word in this weird fake American accent... lol.

I need some pants

What are pants? Well - in America they refer to the items of clothing you put on your legs - but in London these garment of clothings are called trousers.
In London pants are things you wear under clothing - underwear. Confused? Me too.
Lets start again.
Pants = trousers (in America)
Pants = underwear (in London)

A few years ago I was shopping in London with a friend of mine. I came out of the dressing room and I wanted to show her some jeans I had tried on. I said 'Hey, what do u think of these pants?' She went bright red because she thought I was asking her about underwear and she didn't know why I was yelling about underwear half way across the store.

So, a small child who shall remain nameless asked me, well if in America pants are trousers, then what is underwear called. I said just underwear. You wouldn't hear too many Americans say knickers.... lol!!!

I need to go to the toilet

So - in America people don't say toilet. This place is the restroom or less formally the bathroom. But in London - its the loo or the toilet.
I was in Marks and Spencer the other day and I asked a sales assistant where the rest room was. She looked at me in a strange way. And my cousin nudged me and said - say the toilet. Oh yeah.
Its funny because we don't say toilet in America and I'm sure if I asked someone where the toilet was - they might turn an embarassing shade of red!!!

Manners

Since I visited America on a regular basis I already knew that Americans tended to be much friendlier compared to English people. I remember once I came back from a visit and then when I went back to my job at the library, without knowing, I suddenly started saying 'thank you - have a nice day.' I cannot tell you how many strange looks I got from people. They must have thought I had gone bonkers lol. I wasn't conscious that I was doing this deliberately, but after being accustomed to the American friendliness during my recent trip, I guess some of this had rubbed off on me.

Since living there, the friendliness is just part of the whole culture. Its something you do. Its a part of us all there.

I used to work in retail and it was part of my job to be friendly, and caring, and compassionate. We had to check in on customers several times during their time in the store.

On my way into London for this vacation (holiday) my allergies (hayfever) was acting up. I sneezed about ten times in the immigration line. And after the first sneeze, it was weird there was still silence. I wondered if maybe nobody heard my sneeze - but that's impossible because I inherited my dad's loud sneezing and therefore, its enough to wake up the 'dead' apparently. Anyway - so after my multiple sneezes - still nothing. I guess I had been in America for so long and got used to strangers just saying 'bless you' that it was very weird to me that not a single person in line said anything when I sneezed.

I also suffered from some rudeness during various shopping trips. It was quite an expedition in Debenhams trying to find a shopkeeper to ask some help, and when I did, they told me they had no idea. In Marks and Spencers, I asked where the VAT desk was - I got a response, 'oh maybe on the first floor somewhere'. OK seriously - am i asking too much. Maybe I've been spoilt.
In Primark - the lady at the dressing room told me I couldn't take the shopping bag in with me. Fair enough. So I left it outside. She said - 'you can't leave it outside.' Ok so.... now I am wondering what am I supossed to do with it??? She said - 'are you going to give it to me or just hold up the line.' WOW!!!! I could not believe it. She told me where I could not leave it, but she never told me that I was able to leave it with her. Was I supposed to be a psychic? I didn't think I was that dumb. I do have a masters degree, but seriously this woman should have been much more clearer.

Anyway, I just thought some of these changes were interesting to note...

Which is better?

People always ask me - which place do you prefer, England or America? Its the toughest question to answer. Because there are so many factors to take into consideration. I miss the people and the places in England, as well as the familiarity. I am not really a fan of the cold weather, although the few weeks of sunshine is probably more appreciated because its a rare occurrence. In Florida, the sun is always shining and so its something that you really rely on rather than appreciate. Since the majority of my time in Florida has been spent in a classroom or behind books I feel like I can't comment that much on the social aspect of Florida. However, in London I always feel like there is so much to do. You can take a walk, visit museums, site attractions, such as the queen's palace, tower of london, london eye etc. In Florida, there are places to go, theme parks but there is limitations as far as transport goes. You have to have a car in order to get anywhere in Florida specifically. New York is a different story. I've visited Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Vegas etc... and most of these places seem to have more use of public transport but still a car remains a necessity in terms of travel. That's my opinion anyway.
London is my home because its where I grew up. It is the place I took my first steps, the place where I made my memories, well most of them. Its my childhood home, and thus is the place I will always consider to be a home. I had hesitation about moving to America especially because I hate change, but I guess Florida has become my home too. I learnt to drive in Florida because having a car there was a necessity. So many of my friends from school and college don't need to have a car because of public transport here which is readily available of accessible.
I miss the people I grow up with in London. Family and friends. Nothing can replace familiarity.
But I've learnt to accept Florida as my home. Its the place where I decided what I wanted to do with my life, its where I worked, and will work. Its the place I will be able to achieve my dream. But where do I prefer - I really can't answer that question, except to say - that I am a english yankee...!

Introduction

I was born and raised  in England and ten years before my 21st birthday I moved to America and I experienced a culture shock I never expected. Who would have thought that the two places would have been so different. I had visited America, specifically florida for most of my life since I had family there, but living there was a totally different story altogether.
I'm currently on vacation (holiday) in London and after being away for ten years the changes once again confront me as my friends and family remind me that I'm an English Yankee after all.....!