Excellent Oddities of the United Kingdom
I've only been in the UK for two weeks, but that has been enough time to learn some absolutely brilliant things about British culture. So I'll shoot off a quick update on what I'm doing professionally, then weave tales of British-inspired glee.
Fulbright Orientation and the Postgraduate Induction
I arrived in Britain two weeks ago, and spent my first week with my fellow Fulbright Scholars enjoying a lively and engaging series of orientation events with the US/UK Fulbright Commission. This included touring London, eating a series of delicious complimentary meals, and meeting 40 of the most talented and interesting people that I've ever had the pleasure to know. This included 32 postgraduate scholars (US students seeking Masters or Doctoral degrees in the UK), and around 8 postdoctorate scholars (US professors researching in the UK).
After a week in London, I took the train out to Norwich, Norfolk, which is where I'll be based for the next year while I pursue a Master's degree at the University of East Anglia. Already I've come to lovely the beautiful city of Norwich, mostly for its history, rich culture, and rural setting. My flat is mostly fully furnished at this point, and I start my postgraduate program in Development and Education on Monday, October 1st. (yikes).
The Best Lessons I've Learned to Date:
It didn't seem to me that there would be a lot about the UK that I didn't know. I'd studied up on the country quite a bit to prepare for the Fulbright process, and felt I had a solid grasps on the national identity. Hell, I'd even read "Notes from a Small Island", Bill Bryson's book about the UK. What else was there to discover? Answer: A lot. Here are some of the cultural lessons that I've really enjoyed:
The English are British, the Scottish are kind of British, but the Scottish are Definitely not English
Make sense? I never knew how important these titles were until I started mixing them up and getting miffed reactions from my new British friends. Basically, the UK is comprised of four nations, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. And no, they are not all "English". Big mistake. This video can help you figure it all out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10
The British Believe that the UK is not in Europe
The following is an except from a real conversation:
British person: So is this your first time in the UK?
Me: Yes, actually I've never even been to Europe before.
British person: Great, well Europe is right on our doorstep, so you can visit it while you're here.
Me: Oh swell! Wait...
Basically, people from the UK don't really think of themselves as European. I'm sure it goes back to a long history of wars and fighting between countries, but it's something that I've yet to understand. I mean, the royal family has strong German lineage, and France is 50 miles away, but ya, definitely not European.
Never have I heard so many different ways to use English
I spent 4 1/2 months in Australia, so I considered myself ready for the different usages of words, phrases, etc. etc. But nothing comes close to the amount of different words and phrase that you will find in the UK. Here is a quick summary of the rules I've learned so far:
So there is it. Of course, there are many more things I've yet to discover about the UK, so stayed tuned for further updates!
Much love from Norwich, UK
Kurt
This is not an official US Department of State website or blog. The views and information presented in this post are my own and do not represent the Fulbright Programme or the US Department of State.
Fulbright Orientation and the Postgraduate Induction
I arrived in Britain two weeks ago, and spent my first week with my fellow Fulbright Scholars enjoying a lively and engaging series of orientation events with the US/UK Fulbright Commission. This included touring London, eating a series of delicious complimentary meals, and meeting 40 of the most talented and interesting people that I've ever had the pleasure to know. This included 32 postgraduate scholars (US students seeking Masters or Doctoral degrees in the UK), and around 8 postdoctorate scholars (US professors researching in the UK).
 |
| We even made it out to Wimbledon. If you zoom in, I'm pointing to Andy Roddick, the eventual (in my dreams) champion. |
After a week in London, I took the train out to Norwich, Norfolk, which is where I'll be based for the next year while I pursue a Master's degree at the University of East Anglia. Already I've come to lovely the beautiful city of Norwich, mostly for its history, rich culture, and rural setting. My flat is mostly fully furnished at this point, and I start my postgraduate program in Development and Education on Monday, October 1st. (yikes).
The Best Lessons I've Learned to Date:
It didn't seem to me that there would be a lot about the UK that I didn't know. I'd studied up on the country quite a bit to prepare for the Fulbright process, and felt I had a solid grasps on the national identity. Hell, I'd even read "Notes from a Small Island", Bill Bryson's book about the UK. What else was there to discover? Answer: A lot. Here are some of the cultural lessons that I've really enjoyed:
The English are British, the Scottish are kind of British, but the Scottish are Definitely not English
Make sense? I never knew how important these titles were until I started mixing them up and getting miffed reactions from my new British friends. Basically, the UK is comprised of four nations, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. And no, they are not all "English". Big mistake. This video can help you figure it all out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10
The British Believe that the UK is not in Europe
The following is an except from a real conversation:
British person: So is this your first time in the UK?
Me: Yes, actually I've never even been to Europe before.
British person: Great, well Europe is right on our doorstep, so you can visit it while you're here.
Me: Oh swell! Wait...
 |
| Look, I know the map says it's in Europe, but since when can we trust maps? Come on. |
Basically, people from the UK don't really think of themselves as European. I'm sure it goes back to a long history of wars and fighting between countries, but it's something that I've yet to understand. I mean, the royal family has strong German lineage, and France is 50 miles away, but ya, definitely not European.
Never have I heard so many different ways to use English
I spent 4 1/2 months in Australia, so I considered myself ready for the different usages of words, phrases, etc. etc. But nothing comes close to the amount of different words and phrase that you will find in the UK. Here is a quick summary of the rules I've learned so far:
- Don't say pants. Pants are underwear, people will laugh if you say your trying decide what pants to wear. Here, it's trousers.
- It's not a fanny pack, it's a bum bag. In fact, fanny is a slang term for a girl's private region.
- Don't try to order a 64oz. "Growler" of beer. (See above not about girl's anatomy)
- "Are you ok?" = "How's it going?" We say "Are you ok?" after someone has just tripped into a rose bush. For them, it's just a normal greeting.
They make two ways out of one ways:
 |
| Room for one car, right? Nope. It's a two way street. You just have to keep your eyes open for cars. |
The first time I saw this particular British custom, I was in a bus, storming down a one lane road with cars barreling down on us from the opposite direction. But those cars calmly pulled out of the way, and continued on after we had passed.
So there is it. Of course, there are many more things I've yet to discover about the UK, so stayed tuned for further updates!
Much love from Norwich, UK
Kurt
This is not an official US Department of State website or blog. The views and information presented in this post are my own and do not represent the Fulbright Programme or the US Department of State.
September 11th Resources for Parents
Tips for Talking with Children About 9/11
One Year as a Fulbright Scholar
With a day of airports and flying left before I arrive in London, I have time to craft together a short summary of what I’ll be doing for the next year.
The 30 Second Version (W/ Hyperlinks!)
I received a US/UK Fulbright Scholarship to study for a Master’s Degree in Education and Development at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK. I will be living in Norwich for the next 12 months in a University-owned apartment in the city centre.
The Place: Whereabouts am I letting a flat?
The United Kingdom Norwich is a swinging town of about 300,000 persons located 1.5 hours NE of London (See above). I’ll be living downtown, likely biking or busing daily to school and work. I’ll have my own apartment, and share a kitchen with six other flat-mates.
The Program: Which chaps are keen on my success?
The US/UK Fulbright Commission sends about 45 students to pursue Master’s degrees in the UK for one year. My cohort of Fulbrighters will be attending schools all around Great Britain, usually with only 1 student per University.
Along with the community of Fulbright scholars, I’ll also be heavily invested in my graduate program at the University of East Anglia. I’ll don’t know a lot about the daily details of graduate school life, so look forward to future blogs posts on that subject. I do know that over 50 countries are represented in the school of International Development, so I’m eager to learn from my peers as much as my professors.
The Plan: Will I become a football hooligan?
In general, my basic plan is to be active in three main ways: cultural activities, studies, and relationship building. This means I’m going to go to many soccer games, explore Great Britain as much as possible, dedicate myself to my studies, and spend a great deal of time connecting to the new people that I meet in the Fulbright program and at UEA. An unofficial dream job of mine is also to be a bartender in a local English pub. This would allow me to meet locals and earn some extra funds for travel and other cultural research (aka EPL games).
This is not an official US Department of State website or blog. The views and information presented in these posts are my own and do not represent the Fulbright Programme or the US Department of State.
Creating Constant Learners Instead of Annual Test-Takers - Grant Wiggins
Grant Wiggins is the co-author of Understanding by Design. His methodology is one that stresses high order thinking and develoment of the student as a life-long learner. His work has influenced my philosophy of education. This article captures the spirit of what we hope to accomplish as a district and describes the types of learners we are hoping to develop.
Creating Constant Learners Instead of Annual Test-Takers - Philadelphia, PA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators
Creating Constant Learners Instead of Annual Test-Takers - Philadelphia, PA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators
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