Although it's still 'English' over here, it's more than a bit different from the American version of English, in fact I would go so far as to say there is a *language barrier.* Here's a few terms that I've picked up/had to decipher so far:

- On a menu, the item "jacket" is not referring to something to put on your body in cold weather. British meaning: Baked Potato. They also enjoy putting such things as prawns (never referred to as shrimp) and tuna and things on them. I like mine with cheese and bacon.

- When telling a Brit that you are attending 'school' here, do not be confused if they seem perplexed. To Brits, 'school' is equivalent to primary/secondary (elementary/middle) school.. Not college. Which is another word that isn't understood sometimes - it's best to refer to it as 'university' (or 'uni' if you're feeling daring.)

- What is this "8 o'clock" you speak of? Here, everything is referred to in military time, which is probably much easier to adapt to had I been in the military at any point in my life prior to this. But, alas, I was not, so military time gets a little difficult because I have to use my brain. For MATH. The horror! (Seriously.. I suck at math [referred to here as 'maths'] in my head.) I haven't been so bold as to refer to times as 17:00 or 22:00 out loud, but I'm slowly getting used to the system.

- Cheers! = Thanks! It's hard to get used to. I feel like I'm at a wedding or celebration or something all the time.

- Crisps = Chips, Chips = Fries, but sometimes Fries = Fries and Chips = Chips. It gets a bit confusing..

- This one was told to me by the woman who is my internship coordinator; do not refer to pants as pants.. they are trousers. I sincerely hope I won't ever have to talk about what I wear on my bottom half, because I know for a fact that I won't ever remember to say trousers. When I think trousers, I think grandpa-pants. ..I don't know why. I just do. People wear pants, and grandpas wear trousers. It's just the way it is. Nothing against grandpas...

- The next one isn't actually that difficult, probably from my years of mastering what is known as "Rollercoaster Tycoon." Lines, lining up, get in line - these words/phrases mean nothing. You "queue up," etc.

- It took me a while to realize (spelled realise here..) that 'estate agents' are in fact what is known in the States as 'realtors.' We went through one to find our flat (..aka apartment), and it didn't really dawn on me until I saw that the word 'realtor' was nowhere to be found. Everyone is an 'estate agent,' which sounds more like somebody who writes wills and distributes dead people's property if you ask me..

- The last word, but certainly not the last word that is different.. by any means, comes to you from a host who seated us at a restaurant here (Navajo Joe's in Covent Garden.. fabulous food! Highly reccommend it.) Anyways, the word 'vacation' is nonexistent here. Instead, vacation = holiday. Used in a sentence: I am trying to plan a holiday in Italy in October.

And there you have it! Hopefully after reading this, you've felt culture shock. But most likely you probably haven't, but you have been saying all the British forms of words in a British accent in your heard, haven't you? Hehehe. But it's late, I'm clearly delirious (and hungry :'( ) but hopefully you've enjoyed all this reading and no photos. It's almost a chapter of a book! ...Okay. No it's not. I'm going to get some rest, so until the next time I post..

xx

(PS: One term I still haven't figured out is "tikka chicken" ..!? What is 'tikka'? I do not comprehend?