Things I've Learned

In addition to learning a new application for my job in a whole new area of an industry I've lived and breathed for 30 years, I've had the most fortunate opportunity to learn things in my new country. Now this list would be much larger and much more complicated if it were not an English speaking country, but you'd be surprised the differences I learn every single day. Here are some of the more notable "learning experiences".

Currency: British Sterling Pound - Pennies, 2 pence, 5 p, 10 p, 20 p, 50 p, 1 pound and 2 pound coins. Bills are 5, 10 and 20 pound increments. A pound was roughly equivalent in $1.50 this past year.
A quid is a pound. 5 quid = 5 pounds. A tuppence is 2 pence.

Weight: Stones. A stone = 14 pounds. 15 pounds would be stated as 1 stone, 1 pound.  Drop a stone and you're a whole lot lighter!

Temperature is stated in centigrade instead of farenheit.

A hob is a stovetop.

Clothes clips are clothespins.

I wear a size 6 shoe here which equates to anything between 7.5 and 8.5 in US.

Teaspoons and tablespoons are measurements in recipes here and they are the teaspoons and tablespoons that you put on the table. Most English recipes offer recipes in American, English and Metric measurements.

Mustard is yellow and it is HOT. A little dab will do you!

The most popular washing up liquid (dishwashing liquid) is Fairy.

Most washers and tumble dryers are one unit that does both. If your appliance is in the kitchen, like most flats (apartments) offer, a single load will take about 3 hours to do. To dry the clothes the appliance needs to both suck out the moisture, dry it a bit, suck it out, dry it a bit etc. No heat and outside vent for the apartment dweller.

Phone numbers in the country, outside your area start with 0 and they look like this: 01234 123 123 or 01234 123123.

Everyone pays an annual "TV license". This lets the BBC channels run commercial free. If you don't buy "cable" you can buy a Freeview box and get 40 some channels instead of five. There are additional adult channels that are available after midnight. Yes, they are HBO quality adult channels - for FREE.

Fruit and Vegetable stores and stands abound! Fresh, ripe and ready to eat. Yum!

England uses miles for distance and litres for petrol.

McDonalds offers Flurries with Cadbury and popular seasaonal candies like Cadbury Eggs and Terry's chocolate oranges. 

Cadbury eggs are available the first of January. By the end of the month, Mini Eggs will be in abundance. Cadbury makes dozens of kinds of chocolate/candy. All is absolutely fabulous. It is made differently from the US Cadbury version and much, much, much better.

Brown eggs are the only ones I've seen and they are date stamped right on the egg.

Electric "over blankets" are hard to come by and very expensive. Underblankets are readily available and inexpensive. Be prepared to tie the strings under the mattress to secure it. Most people will look at you and ask why you're seeking an electric option anyway and then ask what's wrong with your hot water bottle.

Hot water bottles are available everywhere. Many offer "designer" type covers. Seriously.

I have yet to locate a top sheet. Every linen set comes with a duvet cover. The sets are: fitted sheet, duvet cover and pillow cases. Duvets are wonderful - a bed is made in 10 seconds flat.

Face cloths are rare in all of Europe.

If you plan to use the loo in a public place, changes are you'll drop a few pence for the honour. And the location will be clean.

England adds a few letters and now then: Colour, behaviour, honour, whilst, etc.

A voucher is a coupon. And advert is an ad.

Aubergines are eggplants and courgettes are zucchinis.  I can carry a "large" pumpkin in one hand without the aid of the other.

I can buy Koala Yummies again!

I drink whiskey, but you'd call it Scotch.

Most country land in the UK gives walkers the right of way. You're free to walk on it, in it, and through it. You are expected to close the gates.

In the summer, in Scotland, it is still partially light at 11:00 pm and the sun starts to rise again around 3:00 am. In the Winter in England it is dark as pitch at 4:30 pm.

Porridge is as common on the breakfast table as roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, Marmite, and beans (as in pork and beans). One stirs porridge with a spurtle.

Cream tea is 1) a scone, 2) filled with clotted cream, 3) served with jam and 4) a cup of tea. It is heaven.

It is NOT cool to NOT take your shopping bags with you to the store. You get all kinds of perks for having them and charges if you don't.

Cookies are biscuits and McVitie's Digestives are The Bomb!

Cell phones are called Mobiles - and that they are.

Electric kettles adorn every house. Tea is most popular, drip coffee isn't so much. Instant coffee comes in many different brands, types and takes up most of the isle.

Choices exist, but you won't have to pick from 12 of each kind. One or two maybe.

Z is pronounced "zed", not "zee".

You get to pick your own electric and telephone companies, even in an apartment building. An apartment is called a flat.

And best of all, I've learned that England and Scotland are a lovely place to be!