Send Me Your Questions

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This posting is an opportunity for you all to tell me what you want to know more about! If you have any specific questions about my travel experiences, English University life, the culture, language, food, etc. please do one of these 3 things:
1) Post a comment (click on the link at the bottom of the post)
2) Send a message (next to the comment- this one will be sent to me, I will repost the question anonymously)
3) Send me an e-mail at [e-mail]


I am really excited about this idea- it makes this blog a two way conversation!
I look forward to your questions and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Question 1 Submitted by E-mail:
Thanks so much for keeping this updated, I've really enjoyed following it. I'd like to know more about how university life is different, how the profs are, how non usa students are, how are the girls for goodness sakes.......

Are things really the same with accents? What are the big differences. How has it affected you?

I say:There are quite a few ways university life is different. The biggest difference is the fact that drinking is legal. All of the events on campus and the societies and organizations are centered around drinking. At Bowling Green, since most of the student body can't legally drink, they wear themselves out offering fun non-drinking events. So while I do enjoy an occasional pint, I have to find my own fun most of the time, because I don't want to spend the money to see bands play that I don't know with a bunch of drunk people.

The profs are a lot like the ones in the US, very passionate about their work and good teachers. The difference comes in the way classes are run. Here you typically have 2 hours a week of lecture- which is purely lecture the prof talks for 55 minutes straight. Then you have one hour of seminar, which is more discussion based with a smaller group of students.

Most of my friends are non-USA students, it just worked out that way because we were all here for almost a week before the English students moved in. The International Student Society is very active and I have met a lot of people through it. All the international students are really nice, and it is cool that we all speak pretty good English. We can share our cultures and stories on common ground.

The girls look a lot like the ones in the United States. For some, the accent helps, for others the accent completely ruins it. Sometimes an English accent comes across as whiny and annoying to me. Quite unfortunate. But the ones I know are really nice but there are some obvious "I'm too good for anybody" snobs. But no different than at home.

As for everything being the same with an accent, not really. Everything is the same with a different word.
A sweater is a jumper
A semi is a lorry
Being pissed means you're drunk, not angry
Chips are Fries, Crisps are (Potato) Chips
Dinner is sometimes called Tea over here
"I'm too lazy" is "I can't be bothered" (I have adopted this one)

I have really enjoyed getting used to not having a car. I bought a bike which has been my best friend. I can get anywhere I need to go in about a half an hour. The bus takes the same amount of time and costs $7 roundtrip. Yuck. I have also enjoyed cooking on my own. I definitely haven't put on any weight like I did last year!

I guess that's about it!


Question Set 2 from Amy
1.) Are there any aspects of daily life, or any significant social problems, that you think Europe has "figured out" better than the U.S.?
One major area that Europe seems to have figured out better than the United States are environmental issues. Here in England, they are much more into renewable/sustainable energy than we are. There are a lot of wind farms near Norwich I know. There is also talk of banning plastic bags (like you get from the grocery)- most stores have an incentive program to bring a reusable bag and some places charge you for each plastic bag you take. I am sure the rest of Europe has the same policies, but I have only witnessed it in England specifically.

Another area Europe as a whole has better figured out is transportation. Their public transportation is light-years ahead of the US's. The whole continent is connected by railways that are relatively affordable and are a viable alternative to driving. Every city and most towns have a bus system. The cars they do have are much more fuel efficient than what we drive in America. I have seen very few SUV/Minivans anywhere. One reason is the emphasis on environmental and the other issue is the price of gas (petrol) in Europe. The cost of 1L of gas costs 1GBP (about $8/gallon!). So nobody has gas guzzlers unless they ACTUALLY need them.

I don't have statistical evidence for this, but it seems there is much less violent crime here. This is due to handguns being outlawed and the widespread use of CCTV monitoring systems. A little Big Brother-esque, but it seems to do the job.

Something that I rather like about Europe is that their sales tax (called Value Add Tax here) is included in the price on the tag/menu. I don't like the tax rate (like 17%!o(MISSING)r something!) but I do like knowing exactly how much I am going to have pay- and don't have to deal with as much change usually.

Finally, Europe is much more socially liberal than the United States. Whether that is good or bad is up to you (most people know my views on that...) But gay marriage/civil unions exist in most European countries, marijuana is legal/decriminalized most places, there is definitely separation of church and state (even in England, even though the Queen is the head of the Church of England 😊, etc.


2.) Have you noticed any differences in the degree of consumerism/materialism between the U.S. and Europe, or any other major differences in values?
Consumerism is hard to judge for two reasons. First, I have the most experience with college students who I would say tend to be more consumerist than the wider population. Second, everything here seems so expensive to me I always feel like people are spending exorbitant amounts on stuff. But given those two hindrances, I would say there is actually little difference in consumption between the US and Europe though. While Americans buy more

stuff

, Europeans go on more vacations/holidays. One difference though is the attention paid to sustainability. There is an effort to buy fair trade/organic/free range items.

Education is viewed very differently here. There doesn't seem to be the concept of a Liberal Arts Education. Students begin focusing on fewer subjects typically when they are 16. At University, you only take classes that pertain to your degree. There aren't any English majors taking math, no chemists taking sociology. Education is viewed primarily as an avenue to a better job/career and more money. While this is the view of most college students in the States, it isn't the view of most administrators in the States.

3.) Be honest: do you find European art or stray cats more interesting? I suspect the latter :-)
Your suspicion is spot on. I find stray cats absolutely fantastic. I mean they move, interact with you, you can touch them (usually), and no little old lady stares you down and you lean in for a closer look.

Thanks for the questions Amy!

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Comments

[Amy]

yea questions!!
Hi Greg! I have three questions: 1.) Are there any aspects of daily life, or any significant social problems, that you think Europe has "figured out" better than the U.S.? 2.) Have you noticed any differences in the degree of consumerism/materialism between the U.S. and Europe, or any other major differences in values? 3.) Be honest: do you find European art or stray cats more interesting? I suspect the latter :-) Thanks and I love you! Have a good Thanksgiving! :-)