Things take some getting used to...

There are plenty of things that take adjusting while I am here. Some are functional, some are behavioural, and some are just plain perplexing.

The sinks: For some reason, the Brits like to keep thier hot and cold water completely separate. I have still not mastered how to use these sinks, and have asked a few people what it is all about. One girl just looks at me and says "What's wrong with it? Whaddya mean? Wha?" Then I felt like an unsophisticated fool, like I was missing some sort of functional glamour to separate taps. Another girl quite agreed with me at how absurd it is. Every time I use the loo (check me out!), I have to decide whether I want to burn my hands off or have them freeze. I have contemplated gathering water in the basin, but then the idea of washing my face with the water that has all the soap residue in it doesn't seem the most sanitary option. I think this is what I have the biggest issue with.

Slow walking: I think as a New Yorker, no matter where you go, everyone is a slow walker. I am trying to temper my rage at slow walkers while I am here. I was out at dinner with some new friends today, and when we were finished, since it was still light out, I decided to walk home. Their estimated time to get home was 45 minutes - 1 hour. I did it in 25 minutes. Pshaw.

Military time: This requires too much math for me. After noon hits and I have to look at a digital clock, it is too much for me to calculate the time. No one says "It is 22 o'clock." Why do they use this?

Celsius temperatures: Not sure if I will ever figure this out (again, math). Thank goodness for my weather widget on my mac.

Trees, trees, and more trees: This is actually really nice. My allergies have not acted up while I have been here, to my relief. I am known to have flair ups when in close proximity to nature, so I am pleased to see that I am completely not averse to it. I think it was the homeless in SF that I was allergic to ultimately.

No potty mouths: Compared to the people I have met, I talk like a dirty mouthed sailor with rabies. Perhaps they all have a wider range and use of vocabulary. I have no idea, but its good for me not to use so much foul language and expand my expressions from WTF all the time, to something more colorful (or colourful). Also, I am not sure of what the heirarchy of swear words are, so I should watch myself. Imagine me being so prim?

Toast: People love it. So do I.

Computer keyboards: It has been madness for me to adjust to having the @ where the " used to be. And my beloved ~ has its own key with the # sign just to the left of the enter key. There is this weird thing where it used to be: ¬. What is that symbol for anyways?!

Telephone numbers: Too many digits. Enough said.

It's fun having so many new things around. Keeps me over-stimulated, and tempers being home-sick. I'll eventually post the things I miss from the States (besides my friends and family, who I miss always). I was at a bar the other night, and people seem to go into cardiac arrest when they find out I have moved from NYC to the village they call Oxford. I feel like I will be getting that alot.

First day of work tomorrow!