Lessons Learned

Hello! I am finally starting to get settled here in Leeds. Classes have started and so far, I'm really enjoying them! I have moved in my permanent flat where I will be staying for the remainder of the semester. I have 4 flatmates: Jennifer, Sophie (from Australia), Ally (from Seattle), and Emilia (not sure if I have the right spelling, but it's pronounced Emily-uh; she's from Australia). They all seem very nice! My body has not yet adapted to the cold weather, and I'm not entirely sure that it will; however, since February is the coldest month in Leeds, on average, I only need to make it through the the next month and then I think I'll be able to handle it a little better. During orientation, we were told about a program called "Give it a Go!" where the clubs and societies on campus have a day where you can come and try something new without any commitments. On Tuesday, Jennifer and I decided to give kickboxing/ krav maga a try. It was so fun! But my legs are so sore that I can barely walk! In the next couple of weeks, there is also an Irish dance and a traditional folk dance class and you can bet that I will be there! This Saturday, Jennifer and I, along with our new friend Gaby, are planning on getting out and exploring. We have yet to decide where we'll be going but as of now, we are thinking a trip to York would be fun. Stay tuned to hear about that! In the mean time, here are some things that I've learned so far since coming to England:

1.  Fleece lined tights are a life saver! I have yet to leave my flat without a pair layered under my jeans.
2. The English love their baked beans. Almost every restaurant I've been to offers it as a side dish with your meal. 
3. The water from the sinks is never warm! There are either two separate faucets for the hot and cold water, or one tap with separate hot/cold knobs and the water will not mix to make it warm. You either have scalding hot water or ice cold water.
4. Everyone starts going out to the pubs/clubs at around 10pm or later, which is about the time that I am usually going to bed. 
5. A lot of the grocery stores offer a delivery service! This is amazing for the university students who don't have cars. I have yet to use it, but will be looking into it soon as the walk from my flat to town is about 30-40 minutes and I can only carry a couple of bags back with me. In the week that we've been here, we have already made the trek almost every day just to get our essentials.
6. Most of the check-out lines at the grocery stores are self-service.
7. If you are under 25 years old and attempt to buy a pair of scissors from the grocery store, you will be carded. And no, a CA driver's license will not work. Neither will a copy of your passport. (I learned this one from Jennifer).
8. Many of the food colorings and sugary food items we consume in the U.S. are banned in the U.K.
9. Before coming to the U.K., I heard the peanut butter was terrible. I actually really like the taste and upon reading the ingredients, found that it is made up of about 95% peanuts. I'm assuming the U.S. just uses a lot more additives in their peanut butter. Shame!
10. The eggs sold in the U.K. are not refrigerated. Supposedly, it is illegal to wash the eggs here before selling them, so maybe there is some type of coating on them that allows them to stay fresh without refrigeration? 
11. The microwaveable meals are surprisingly tasty. 
12. It is pointless to fix my hair for the day because with the wind and the rain, it will be a frizzy mess within 5 minutes of being outdoors. 
13. The architecture is gorgeous! I feel like I've gone back in time when walking around some parts of the country!
14. The double-decker bus is not just a tourist thing. They are used everywhere.
15. People do not talk on the public transportation. If someone is being loud and obnoxious, they are most likely American.
16. There are little "on/off" switches next to all of the plug outlets. Instead of having to unplug appliances, all you need to do is flip the switch to "off."
17. Always carry an umbrella. You never know when it will start pouring rain!
18. Some of the local girls like to walk around wearing only a thin pair of tights and a dress. I practically get hypothermia just thinking about it. (By the way, I have a minimum of 5 layers on at all times! Lol just kidding. But not really.)
19. All of the children I have seen being pushed in strollers are sitting in something that looks like a baby sleeping bag.
20. One of the major stereotypes that the English/Australians have about Americans is that we all own guns and carry them around with us wherever we go. 
21. Most of the schooling consists of independent reading from a 'reading list' provided by the professor. Usually, your entire grade for the class is made up of one exam at the end of the semester/ year. 
22. A lot of people have greeted me by saying "hiya" instead of "hi." I'm not yet sure if this is just a Yorkshire thing or if most English people say this. 
23. Every single one of my lecturers has mentioned America in some way (usually in a negative way). Then all of the British students giggle while I sit there thinking "well gee, thanks!"/"why are you so obsessed with America?"
24. Everybody walks like they are on mission! Almost everyone power walks everywhere they go.
25. Vehicles have the right-of-way, not pedestrians. I have seen the drivers of double decker buses blaring on their horns and practically running people over. They will not stop for you to walk across the street. They usually won't slow down either.
26. A lot of the shops are multiple stories high, but each floor is smaller than what you would see in the U.S.
27. You don't need to tip at most restaurants and for most delivery services.
28. Sales tax is not added onto your purchases. The price you see is the price you pay.
29. There are pubs EVERYWHERE.
30. There are 20 oz. in the U.K. pint, compared to 16 oz. in the U.S. pint.
31. When someone says "thank you," a common response is "that's ok." I know, it threw me off too. 
32. Another one that threw me off is the common greeting of "you alright?" This would be the equivalent of saying "what's up?"/"how are you?"
33. The Yorkshire accent is amazing! It sounds like a mix between an English and an Irish accent. *Swoon*
34. Waiting at a stop light for the "walk" signal to appear is not a thing. Jaywalking is.
35. NOTHING beats California sunshine! :)

Translations
U.S. = U.K.

Fries = Chips
Chips = Crisps
Cookies = Biscuits
Underwear = Pants
Pants = Trousers
Sweater = Jumper
Sneakers = Trainers
Sidewalk = Pavement
Stand in line = Queue
Cotton Swab = Cotton Buds/ Ear Buds
An electrical cord = An electrical cable
Bathroom/ Restroom = Toilet
Shopping Cart = Trolley
Apartment = Flat
Tap/Faucet = Tap
Goodbye/ Thank you = Cheers
Pulp (like in orange juice) = Juicy Bits
Eggplant = Aubergine
Arugala = Rocket
Zucchini = Courgette

Well that's all for now! Let me know if you like reading these types of posts, as I'm sure I have a lot more to learn while I'm here! :)