It's weird to think I've only been here for a week, it seems a lot longer than that. In seven days I've suffered jet-lag, overcome jet lag, gotten the hang of the public transportation system, blown up my toothbrush from the outlet, eaten less than I am used to, and walked more than I think I have in my entire life combined.
I have found myself starting to say 'toilet' instead of 'bathroom' and 'quid' instead of 'bucks.' Although I am trying to adapt to this new culture there are parts of my home culture that have molded me, making it difficult to change. For example, I find it very confusing that people don't look at each other or speak on the tube, but romantic couples will make out on an escalator or in a restaurant. In America people will speak to each other but rarely engage in any forms of P.D.A. This is just one cultural difference I have noticed.
I am beginning to understand why people are so skinny...they eat half as much as we do and walk twice as much as we ever do! Food portions are definitely smaller and fatty foods sold in bulk in the US (hamburger meat/steak) are very expensive. Good thing I brought a belt because a pair of jeans I brought are already too big. Another cultural shock that I experienced was that of public television at night. My roommates and I discovered the hard way that after 9pm, anything is fair game on public television.
I think that I am still in the "honeymoon" phase of arrival. Everything is new and exciting and functioning on no sleep is still working. Last night a group of us gals were looking for a bar/nightclub to go to and got hopelessly lost. After three and a half hours we had been everywhere except where we were trying to go...it was quite comical, but also frustrating because the tubes were closed and we didn't know the bus system yet. But overall my experience thus far has been awesome, but I am excited to begin this week with a set-schedule that I can get used to.
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