Last Blog in England

This is going to be my last blog about England, as technically, I am no longer in England. Thank you to all of you who have found the time to read my random rambles. I had an amazing two months and I'm glad that I could share it with you.

Here it goes:

1. Paying for gas at the pump isn't really an option. 
2. Bathrooms are set up differently than in America. Doors usually go all the way to the ground and are generally more private. There are also separate rooms with baby changing stations, which is pretty cool seeing as though in America, baby changing stations are usually only found in the women's restroom.
3. There is a bigger push here for renewable energy than in America, including solar power, which doesn't make much sense.
4. News stations actually have more actual news stories than human interest pieces. 
5. Pretty much all restaurants have a delivery option. So do grocery stores. 
6. Grocery shopping in general in different. Firstly, you have to put a one pound coin into a slot in order to unhook the cart you want from the other carts (you do get it back at the end). Secondly, there is an options (at least at Sainsbury's) to scan your own items while you shop so checkout is way quicker. Finally, no one bags your groceries for you. Sainbury's also does this cool thing that if you over pay for any item (if you could have gotten it at another store for less money) they give you a voucher for the difference. Just keep the voucher use it next time for money off your next trip.
7. England, and all of Europe, use a different set of crutches.
8. There are fewer commercials in general, and none are for prescription drugs or lawyers. 
9. The contestants who are involved in radio contests (at least on BBC 2) are the absolute sweetest people in the world. They spent more time talking about how well the other person did than actually playing the game.
10. There is no such thing as a twist top bottle.
11. Celebrities do really funny endorsement deals (think Joey selling lipstick for men in Japan, that's basically what Snoop Dogg (Lion?) is doing in Europe. 
12. Because every school has the same six week summer vacation, every vacation spot or day trip touristy thing is absolutely packed. 
13. Stuff in England is pretty close together. Pretty much everything you want you can get within walking distance. 
14. There are usually the same brand of chips (crisps) as in America, but the packaging might be a different color. Salt and vinegar chips are usually green. It threw me off basically the entire time I was here.
15. If my experience of English weather is true, apparently it is sunny and warm pretty much every every day. I will gladly take credit for bringing it with me from California and I am sorry if it now rains continuously for 5 weeks because I am gone. 

Stuff we did in my last week:

Dover Castle

 

Canterbury Cathedral
Brighton

London one last time

Stumbled upon the premier of the Inbetweeners movie
Saw a West End musical

And had Afternoon tea (which is nowww the most British thing I have ever done)

These past two months have been the most adventurous, crazy, stupid, amazing, and unbelievable of my life. I have met some awesome people and seen the most amazing sites. However, I definitely could definitely not have done it without my travel buddy and her extremely generous family. I cannot thank the Eyles family enough. 

And to England, I have a feeling we will be seeing each other again soon. 

-Megs

Not Long Left Now

We've done a lot this week, just trying to fit in as much as possible before I head off next week. Here's more stuff I've noticed:

1. Road conditions are much better here. Paving freeways and streets seems to actually be a priority so potholes are few and far between.

2. US sport media doesn't care about sport unless Americans are competing. I had never heard of the Commonwealth Games before this year, and it turns out that they are a pretty big deal. But to be fair, I also didn't know half of the countries in the commonwealth were actual countries.

3. For some reason, drying clothes on a line seems to happen more here than in California.

4. There are definitely more Costa coffee houses than Starbucks.

5. Playing a sport in college doesn't mean much as people don't know about the NCAA or the collegiate system. I feel strange having to explain how collegiate sport works, mostly because of how much I hate the NCAA.

6. Air conditioning in houses isn't really a thing.

7. Average speed checks on freeways means people follow the speed limit more closely.

8. People don't fill up their tanks when getting gas. They only get enough to get them where they are going.

9. Pretty much anything is fair game on late night tv. You can say almost any words you choose. It still catches me off guard when comedians on panel shows curse.

10. Ordering lemonade will get you a lemon lime soda.

Things we did:

1.Walked around the whole of Wimbledon trying to find a way to the Tennis Club and then back to the train station.

2. Got a tour of Portsmouth from a history major (thanks Trav!) and stood where Nelson fought his last battle. Saw the HMS Warrior, HSM Victory, and the Mary Rose, which was at the bottom of the ocean for 400 years.

3. Hung out at Shakespear's house in Stratford-upon-Avon.

(Hamlet and the Bard)

4. Got to stay in a house which can be dated back to 1460 in Shrewsbury.