The Countdown

Well, it is almost time for Amsterdam. I'm excited, but with reservations. I really want to go, it will be amazing and I'm totally lucky. But the hassle of learning a new city, getting around, all the documentation to just be allowed to live there, the massive pain it is to just grocery shop and cook in a place that has different food and measuring systems, all the things that could go wrong with my school registration or my housing, just the massive effort it will be to get there with all my things... Yikes. I am literally tired thinking about it.

For now I'm hanging out in sunny Britain. (Hmm, thought just occurred, do I need to change the subtitle of my blog if I will no longer be in the UK? Do I need to be an American in Holland?) Ahh, sunny Britain. The land of less fluffy q-tips and people who pronounce tomato tomato (ok, that doesn't come across in typing). I've just been dancing a lot, hanging out with the dance team, going on dance socials, working with costume projects for the dancers... Apparently if I didn't have to work or go to school all I would do is dance. And cook American food. I've introduced Ian to Christmas cookies, peanut butter chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies, blueberry pancakes, and grilled cheese, the last three all this week. Poor guy.

Here is what might be my last British lesson for a long while. Feeling nostalgic? I am.

I found American style bacon. Until now bacon has been rather ham-like, almost like what the love child of American bacon and ham would be. But, if you want American-style bacon, you buy "streaky bacon." Gross name, yummy food. And a strip of bacon is a rasher. And ground beef is mince.

In the great battle between American peanut butter and Uk peanut butter, America has triumphed.

In the great battle between the American breakfast sandwich (toasted bread, egg, bacon, cheese) and the UK breakfast sandwich (untoasted bread, bacon), I feel America has triumphed. But it has not been proven unbiasedly.

There are two varieties of bread. White and brown. Sure, ok, a bakery you can get like Italian bread and rolls and things, and tiger bread, whatever the hell it is, is AMAZING. But as for sliced bread from the regular grocery store isle, sadly lacking in exciting variety.

When someone sees you for the first time in a day, they might ask "Are you alright?" This only means how are you doing. They don't actually think you are not alright. I get thrown off thinking I look scared or sad or ill or something. But no, its just a colloquialism. When asked, I always wonder, "Am I alright, really?" Then, what do you say back? "Um, yeah, I'm not unwell." Apparently you are supposed to nod and mumble the same thing back.

Speaking of, when one is not feeling well, they are ill, not sick. "Sick" specifically refers to vomit. Sorry to be gross, but it is an important distinction.

Speaking of, prescriptions here are SO CHEAP. I have some damn expensive prescriptions. I am embarrassed to even think how much my migraine medicine would cost without health insurance covering it. Here, every prescription is 7.50. Across the board. For everyone. Unless you are old or young or something. And then it is free. England win.

The game most like American baseball is called rounders. Or grounders. Or something that sounds like that, I'm not sure, everyone here talks funny. (I've just been laughed at by Ian the Brit for not being able to understand the accent. I've been informed the game is in fact rounders)
The q-tips really are not as fluffy. And are called cotton buds.

Companies operate under different names here. I was surprised to see the toilet paper brand Andrex sporting a fluffy puppy and and slogan "Be kind to your behind." Can anyone name that brand? Cotonelle. And a brand of crisps/chips over here called Walkers is either massively infringing on a copyright, or they are in face Lay's, the packaging is too similar. I'm excited. I thought just Ritz and Kellogg operated over here, but apparently if you dig a little deeper you can find American stuff. It is comforting.

I must sadly admit that a few British colloquialisms have snuck into my vernacular. I occasionally make myself say "cheers" but usually to fit in. You'll recall that its meaning is "casual thank you". But I catch myself saying "proper" all the time. I may or may not have included this in a previous Brit lesson, but this can be used pretty much anywhere, and means that something is done correctly, or formally, or the right way, or in a big way, or whatever. And I eat potatoes now. And I sign "Joxx" when I write messages. I should lose my American citizenship.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the cultural exchange. Stay tuned, Dutch lessons soon to come!


Shout out to my parents. Hey guys! Sorry I've been busy. I miss you.