It SNOWED today in Kent! Apparently it is supposed to be fairly snowy around here this week., which is uncommon. Thankfully it did NOT stick to the ground. I say thankfully, because tomorrow I have to drive. AHHHH!!!
This evening we had a “transport training” entitled “TEACH AMERICANS TO DIVE SAFELY IN THE UK!” It was fairly entertaining in that most of us are pretty nervous about driving here. I learned that Americans typically drive significantly faster than Brits and the roads are a lot smaller here. I am slated to practice driving in the morning with an instructor, whom will either “pass” me to receive my car or place me in a “remedial” driving tutorial. HA!
Today, I road in a car to one of the Kent County Council offices to sign my lease car agreement and it was really weird. Every time I thought the driver should go right he went left. And, their roundabouts can be terrifying. I am hoping that I will pick up driving on the opposite side of the car and road quickly because I think I will doing a lot of driving for work.
Here are some funny word differences we learned in the training that I hope provides you a laugh:
•Fly over = overpass
•Overtaking = passing a car
•Dual carriageway = divided highway
•Zebra crossing = cross walk
•Indicators = blinkers
•High street = main street
And my 3 personal favorites
•Boot = trunk
•Bonnet = hood
•Cats eye = reflectors
A little more about my first day and a half:
I have met the girls I plan to live with and like them. We will look for a place to live on Thursday and Friday of this week.
There are 27 of us that started today. Many are around my age, but there are some that are older and more experienced than us. One coworker’s family (wife and daughter) will be moving here are well. We talked today about how difficult it was to get everything together for one person much less an entire family to move.
We are all upset about the internet charge which is 15 pounds for 24 consecutive hours or about $24. RIDICULOUS. A few of us have buddied up and are alternating to buy internet cards and share computers instead.
A few funny things I’ve noticed:
•The light switches flip down instead of up to turn on --- at least in my hotel room.
•There is a mirror in the shower the size of the entire back wall.
•There is also a food called blood or black pudding, which is made of pig’s blood. GROSS
•None of us really know the details of our job description, but are trusting the process enough to move here and start a job we know little to nothing about.
•English people do cuss in professional settings without hesitation.
•Words that Brits says with funny annunciation: process, schedule, pedophiles
•Other favorite words I’ve heard frequently: “posh” (it is similar to swanky or fancy) and pop (in context: Just pop into the bank to activate your debit card). They seem to use “pop” a lot instead of “stop by.”
That’s all for now, more to come later!
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