Our Summer Vacation
|
Our Summer Vacation
|
|
|
"Two nations divided by a common language."How true, how true. Whether the weather or cooking or clothing is the subject, it's amazing how often there is just plain confusion between us. Add to that, the multitude of different dialects and accents and it's impossible to escape unscathed some days. We Americans tend to think of Britain as having about three accents, well four if you count Ireland. There's the normal (what's known as "posh" here), Cockney (small thanks to Dick Van Dyke) and Scottish. The truth is that often you can travel as few as twenty miles and encounter a completely different and sometimes incomprehensible dialect/accent. It's great fun! On the following pages you will find a collection of British colloquialisms and their American translations. Enjoy...there's many a good giggle to be found in our misunderstandings. There are also some general notes you might find helpful or interesting. Dining Notes on dining in pubs, etc. Clothing Shopping for the family Social What did they mean by that?! HomeFront Housing, grocery shopping, things to bring, more. (The home page, interests and travel notes are geared more for family and personal friends, but feel free to take a look!) These are by no means definitive lists. Additions will be made in tangent with new discoveries. FAMILIAR FRIENDS
Shopping malls, outlet malls and multi-screen theaters (cinemas) are out there, too, though not anywhere near as prevalent as in the states. FACTS OF LIFEPounds vs. Dollars: It sounds good when you know that the pound is about 50% stronger, on average, than the dollar. Unfortunately, when you add the V.A.T (value added tax) - 17.5% - and the generally higher prices overall, it doesn't work out to any advantage in reality. In general, plan on spending about equal, pound for dollar, for clothing (and other day to day items) and then add about 30%. Thus, a $10 item would cost you about £13 or a bit more. Weather: If you know and love the Pacific Northwest (west side of the Cascades) then you'll feel right at home in England and Wales. The climate is nearly identical, with mild temperatures for the most part and a depressing amount of rain (sometimes described as "parky") even in the summer. Scotland is cooler and wetter. Best months to visit - read "least rain" - are August and September. But bring your umbrella ("brolly"), no matter what time of year! Wind is a lot more than I anticipated and snow a lot less. England's propensity for tornados along the coast is a well-kept secret! Links to other sites with great information and observations by displaced Yankees: www.geocities.com/ruzzyaman56/index.htm Questions? Comments? Contact me via my email: scherzi2@hotmail.com |
