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Published: September 15th 2007
Hello everyone! Since we've been in England we have encountered many new words in the "English" language. Here they are: jumper = sweater, lift = elevator, pants = underwear (we found that out the funny way when the kids laughed at us when we asked them to tuck their shirt into their pants), quid = pound (similar to a buck is a dollar), tramp = homeless person, nicked = steal, tick = checkmark, bumbershoot = umbrella, petrol = gas, mobile = cell phone, bin = trash can, rubbish = trash, rubber = eraser (not condom). If we come across any more, we'll let you know!
The Buckingham School is an interesting school. It is a specialist Sports College with approximately 1200 students ranging from grade 7 to 13. The school system and students are completely different here. Three days a week we are up shortly after 5:00am to catch the 6:30 am bus. The other two days we catch the 7:30 am bus which also picks up a lot of students along the way.
There are some things here that we've noticed are quite different from home. Almost every vehicle is standard rather than automatic. There are very few obese people. No one wears Crocs. Everybody has a mobile. There are few garbage cans around, yet there still seems to be no litter. The movie theatres are really far behind. We are just getting movies entering theatres that left the theatres back home months ago. There are roundabouts everywhere and some are just painted onto the road rather than having a physical median that you are forced to drive around. Most houses do not have dryers; they have a clothesline outside. You have to buy a licence to watch TV. Banks do not have tellers working on Saturdays, but the building is open and a customer service rep is available. People drink alcohol on public transit and walking down the street. Coke cost nearly the same amount as a pint of beer. No restaurant, even McDonald's, gives refills on drinks. Grocery stores have a ton of "Buy 1 get 1 free" deals. Lastly, there are no beer or liquor stores. Alchohol can be purchased in grocery stores and convenience stores. The drinking age is 18, but underage drinking at 16 is allowed if someone over 18 buys it for them.
That's all for this update. Be sure to click on "Gallery" at the top of our page to check out more pictures that we have posted. We miss everyone back home and we can't wait to hear from you.
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Cousin Dani
non-member comment
HEY!
that awesome! I love reading your updates bri! keep it up :D I miss you! *hugs*