Ok, a couple of weeks ago, Scott Bryan posted '18 Things You Will Miss If You're a Brit In America'. I laughed a long happily to this article but, I have to admit, I miss America terribly. Even things I used to complain about in America, I MISS!!!!!!!
So here is:-
18 Things You Will Miss If You're a Brit Who Has Just Returned From America
The People
I have to start by saying the people are amazing. They are incredible human beings and I love all the amazing friends I made in America dearly. It wouldn't have been the same without them and I love them to pieces. I will take about how lovely Americans are in general below but I am not talking about all the lovely friends, American or not, I made in UCSD. They were amazing. I have made some friends for life and I miss them so very much.
The Weather
It was sunny in San Diego. It was pretty much sunny all of the time. I adored it. I seriously get sad and depressed when it is cold (SAD disorder potentially?). I hate getting so cold that my fingers turn purple. I hate wrapping in so many layers that I look like a right chubby chap. I hate having to take off all those layers the moment I get into the warmth. I hate having to have tissues at hand as when I change from a drastically cold temperature to a warm one, my nose begins to run (sorry too much info?). I hate scarring myself with hot water bottles every winter as I press them up against my skin and they leave ugly purple lines up and down my body. And I hate not being able to eat yummy cold foods like yoghurt or the occasional ice cream.
SAN DIEGO WAS WARM AND GLORIOUS! You felt on top of the world. The sun was constantly in sight and you could feel the warmth of it all around you. People smiled. People were happy. No one was really shivering. And if they were, all they had to do was put a cardigan on. Not quite the same back here in freezing cold England.
The Salads
America had such interesting salads on their menus. I am not joking, even the University diners were full of yummy salads and interesting foods. In England, it pretty much is 'Caesar Salad or Tuna Nicoise?'. Andy and I have taken to making our own healthy salads as both of these are calorie-laden in England. Furthermore, despite salads being expensive in America, they are MORE expensive in England. To get an interesting one for dinner will cost you around £5 at the supermarket. In a restaurant, £9-14. They always make it the most expensive thing on the menu! Now all my friends just stare at me when I say "I'll have the soup please." Only healthy equivalent on there even if it is on the starters menu. Once England restaurants cotton onto this however, that price will soon soar. Oh and Shrimp salads in America were not a 'crazy' thing. Here, if you want prawns with anything it'll usually cost about £3 more. WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Beach
La Jolla Shores
Brighton Beach
Need I say more? Yes? Ok. Well the first beach is beautiful, sand beneath your toes, sun in the sky, very cold sea but hey you'll dry off when you get out of it.
Brighton beach. THOSE ARE STONES. A stony beach. That is all we have in England. STONY BEACHES. You want to walk barefoot? Go on then, see how long you can manage before hopping in pain as one embeds itself into the soles of your feel or you stub your toe. Or just until you can't stand the uncomfortableness of the stones beneath your feet. Also those people are wearing clothes - jeans, hats and gloves. And they are not going to dare go in the water because they will freeze and when they get out they will freeze. ALSO this is a very rare occasion - the sun is out and it is not raining.
Ralphs
All you need is a Ralphs card and you get discounts on the food. Why doesn't England have this? I have a Tesco clubcard but have never received my supposed voucher booklets in the post. I have rung Tesco twice asking where it is and I have had a clubcard for four years. That is a lot of points I must have stocked up and a lot of 'monthly voucher' booklets but I still have not received a single one. :( Ralphs - so much easier. Also they have such a range of cooler foods. So many types of cereal, so many types of diet drinks, so many types of everything. They have everything. The new Tesco layouts are good and clearly trying to mimic the amazing American supermarket....but it still isn't quite Ralphs.
Free Buses For Students
This little b**ch of a bus was the bane of my life during second year. I lived in South Leamington so at least I got a seat in the morning, but it took forever to get to University and often students had to wait for three buses to pass before getting on. They were OBSCENELY EXPENSIVE - you usually got a bus pass for some ridiculous price, and went you registered for it, they didn't save your data so if you lost it, you had to pay the full price all over again - and they were always late. ALWAYS. And waiting on freezing cold morning, when everything is frosted over at 5.30am isn't a pleasant thing. The buses in UCSD were regular, free and the bus drivers were nice! They would talk to you. In Warwick, my friend Chloe actually had three bus drivers removed from our route because they were so rude to her and she kicked up a fuss. Glad to not be travelling on these anymore.
(slight benefit of English buses vs American buses - no homeless people are on them who will try and sell you things because the buses are really too expensive for them to afford it).
American People
They are just so nice in general. Americans always want to talk to you, they don't avoid eye contact, they smile if you open a door for them and they are nice people. They wish you a nice day. They are considerate. Yeah. Some people may think it is all fake....but hey, that's nicer than being greeted by sulky silent people.
American Shop Assistants
I know, I know. I am a hypocrite. I did a blog last year about how awkward it was being greeted by happy shop assistants who wanted to help you with everything. Well....look I'd still feel uncomfortable if they followed me around and tried to make me buy something. I do like being left to my own devices. BUT English shop assistants are usually so miserable. They disappear so you can't ask anyone for help if you need to find something. They run a mile if they see you trying to catch their eye and they are so sulky and grumpy when you try and pay for something. "Oh ok, so if you really don't want me in your shop, I just won't buy this shall I?" It is a bit of a nightmare.
UCSD Gym/ Swimming Pool was Free and Beautiful
Enough said really. Everywhere in England, the gym is crowded, smelly and extremely expensive (although I have just joined Gym Group who are so cheap and have such amazing equipment so thank you Gym Group). Gyms with pools are over priced and filled with grannies who can't swim or just people who can't swim who want to socialise and not swim. SWIMMING IS A SPORT. IT IS A GREAT WAY TO TONE UP AND BURN CALORIES. You wouldn't just chat leisurely whilst running on a treadmill so have some respect for other people's hard sports You may see it as a 'cool-down' after a gym session but some people are trying to work up a sweat.
This is UCSD's pool and it really is this empty. All the time....well apart from at weekends. It usually is this empty during the week. I love it. And it is outside!! Beautiful!
This isn't Warwick Swimming Pool but this IS similar to how I feel Warwick swimming pool looks. Crowded and dirty. And lots of people talking. No lanes. Great....
American TV Shows
I actually get to watch the shows on time. They are shown on time and I don't have to wait three weeks to watch them, like in England. I also don't have all the story lines spoiled online by the time I watch them. I find it really unfair that Americans get British shows on the same day they are shown in Britain but British people have to wait a month! But if you are in America...well it is a great advantage. And their shows are advertised on huge billboards so you can always pick a new one to watch and find out about new shows easily. Also American TV is full of short comedy sketches, only 30 minutes long. Brilliant!
Bolba Tea
This is slowly starting to appear in England, but it is not a widespread phenomena like it is in England. BOLBA is so amazing. I used to have Bolba Hibiscus Tea. I haven't had any bolba since I got home :( I miss it. Hibiscus Tea is also amazing. So refreshing and healthy. However, there seems to be no such thing in England. Whenever I type it into supermarket store websites, it only offers me Strawberry and Raspberry tea. I love Bolba. I miss it so much. So chewy and yummy.
Smores
Do I really need to say anymore?? Smores are amazing. I only had them like three times but oh my gosh they tasted good. By a campfire on the beach. Lovely. I did this with Laura on the third day of having known her. It was night time and it was just really nice. I was a bit scared of having the smores as other people had brought the foods but they let us have them. Definitely an American tradition you should not miss out on.
American Accent
I love it. I love all the american accents. There is something so positive and energetic about them. Beautiful. I love all the different tones from all over America. I shouldn't be surprised that Americans have such varied accents as a Londoner doesn't sound anything like a Liverpudlian and we have an even smaller country. But I just didn't expect such varied accents. It is kind of wonderful.
American Responses To Your Own Accents
Everyone is so nice about the English accent. They say you sound posh all the time, get you to repeat words and are just lovely. I love that sometimes they completely don't understand what you have been saying but they nod along anyway. They sometimes even get the totally wrong end of the stick because they think you mean something else. I just find it funny and a really good way to bond. You can't help but laugh like idiots when it happens and it really is something amazing.
The X
They don't do X's at the end of their texts or messages. It is so sweet that they don't tell you they have no clue about what you're saying with the 'x' at the end of the message till you are way into your friendship. They usually give you a smiley face which is also very sweet sign off gesture.
The Doggies
Americans love their doggies. They are so cute. They are big fluffy and cuddly. Or they are teeny and are so adorable and travel via their owner's handbag. I just love how much they love animals out there. They are adorable. They are so cute. And they are worshipped by their owners. They take them to lectures for goodness sake! Furthermore, you don't see as many aggressive dogs out and about. Often one sees known aggressive dogs in the streets in London. Now I am a firm believer that it is the owner that makes the dogs bad or good but sometimes one should be more careful when buying a dog who is known to be more aggressive and violent. And I am not sure why so many people in England are prone to buying known aggressive dogs???
The Theme Parks
I mean look at it! Look at it! It is beautiful!!! So magical. It fills you with joy and makes you so happy. I just love it so much. DISNEY LAND/ DISNEY WORLD. They are both amazing. So if California Park and Universal Studios. Oh and Knotsberry Farm. They are all amazing. They are huge with so many different rides and so many places to eat and to try new things. Each is so different and their individual way and they bring back so many happy memories of my childhood.
England has roughly three main Theme Parks - Thorpe Park, Alton Towers and Legoland. They are good. Don't get me wrong they are good. And I enjoy them a lot. But they don't have that magical touch. They aren't filled with sunshine and happy families. Usually English weather spoils the day and then half the rides have to shut...yeah. And they rip you off a lot! America does that too but it kind of feels worth it...and dollars aren't really money anywhere! Are they?!
The Range of California Food On Your Doorstep
California food is amazing. Like really amazing. And there is such a variety. Yes I live near London and there are many different types of cuisine. However, in Bushey and at University there isn't much choice. At Uni, there is pizza (as always), baguettes and pub food available. In Bushey there is the traditional Chinese and Indian food. England is full of Chinese and Indian restaurants. Oh and wannabe Italian restaurants - basically Pizza but from a fancier place than Dominoes. In California, there was Japanese, Chinese, Vegetarian, American, Mexican and European ALL ON CAMPUS. I mean within a twenty minute walk and it was good food. Yummy food. Sometimes a tad unhealthy but if you have everything in moderation it is fine :).
Also there were new things I had never tried. Bubble tea? Sprinkles Cupcakes? I mean amazing foods that were such treats! Such yummy special things. There was 'WholeFoods' which allowed you to buy the yummiest food to put in your salads. I loved it. Now I am living off Baked Beans on Toast and crackers (yep it is healthy and way cheaper and I am losing weight buuuttt....it isn't no where as much fun!!!!).
Anyway I've probably missed a gazillion things. I really have. And I miss America a lot. SO MUCH. Too much to put in a list. I miss it a lot. But I am glad I have finished this list :)
Sorry it took so long. It's hard to put things into categories. I want to list so many things. Like lots of little things but they are personal :) and not everyone who appreciate them probably.
So YES AMERICA IS AMAZING. Don't diss it! x
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