Excellent Oddities of the United Kingdon, Part 2
After two glorious months in the United Kingdom, it is time to update my list on the endearing eccentricities of this great nation.
Last time in this series I covered driving, Britishness, and new nouns. Today I'll take a swinging leap into sinks, accents, confusing sidewalk encounters, and on of the world's least consistent measuring systems. Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to have a proper good time.
If A Car Weighs 200 stone and is driving for 15 kilometers getting 35 MPG...
Imagine a country where you measure weight with stones (but sometimes kilograms), measure distance by the mile (but sometimes kilometers), sell gas by the liter (but never the gallon), and then measure your fuel efficiency in miles per gallon. Yep, the UK has done the impossible: somehow use a more confusing system of measurement than the US. Bravo my friends.
And to think, I even had my pounds to kilograms all worked out. But nope, it's normal in most parts of the UK to talk about your body weight in stone. Did not see that one coming. Rocked me to the core, if you will. The Math: 1 stone equals 14 pounds, or 6.35kg. Example: Just birthed a seven pound baby? Well, it's a healthy 1/2 stone.
Honestly though, I love the stone measuring system. It's like it's from a different age... And, my perceived weight can depend on what I define as a stone. Want to feel big and strong for MMA class? 1 stone is a boulder. I weigh 13 1/4 boulders. Need to slim down a bit for a run? Eh, 1 stone is like a piece of gravel. I can practically float across the pavement.
As for the others, I find the miles per gallon/gas sold by the litre thing to be a bit perplexing. Imagine if we tried the opposite in the states.... "My car get's 15 miles per liter!"... ummm, are you speaking in soda?
Scalding or Ice Cold?
Ever been punished for wanting to wash your hands? Well, it's a common occurrence in some British sinks. In my flat in particular, our bathroom sink looks like this:
Every day I question the science behind this system. It works something like this:
No, You Can't Actually Do a British Accent
Throughout my life I have heard a lot of American friends try to imitate English/Scottish/Irish accents. Some I even thought sounded convincing, almost dead-on. I was wrong.
In reality, I've found that it's impossible to imitate a British accent, because a single British accent doesn't exist. Seriously. Oh they have accents here, in fact I couldn't image a more accent rich place in the word. But which one specifically are you trying to imitate? Is is the Sheffield accent or the Leeds accent (these cities are only 45 minutes apart). Is it a posh London accent, or a Cockney London accent? Is it a Scottish accent from Glasgow, or from Edinburgh? Are you trying to speak the Queen's English? Pssh, no one actually talks like that. See how hard this is? Here are two examples: This is the Norfolk Accent , and these are the accents in Yorkshire.
This is so strange to me, coming from a region in the states where I'd need to take a 15 hour+ road trip to get to a place with a different accent (and that's if you count the California Valley Girl accent).
So go ahead, try to master an accent from the UK. But you actually need to pick a specific region, down to the postcode.
Awkward Sidewalk Interactions
I spend a lot of time thinking about how to walk down the sidewalk. Definitely more than the average person. These thoughts always coalesce around the same simple decision: "If I meet someone coming from the opposite direction, which way do I go?"
It's the classic sidewalk choice. You are walking down a street. Casually, you notice you and friendly stranger are set for a head on sidewalk collision. Is the US, this is simple. I move to my right, they move to their right, and we pass without notice. In Australia, since people drive on the left, they move to their left. Easy peasy.
So how about the UK? Let's look at a real life example. Here I am at London Liverpool Street Train Station. Looking one direction, people are "going to the left" to use the stairs. Perfect. People in the UK go to the left. But what's this? Looking in the opposite direction from the exact same vantage point, people are staying to their right.
That's correct, people are actually crossing over and switching sides halfway through their walk to/from station! This held for the five minutes I watched people walk by.
Of course, everyone from the UK knows which way to walk. Awkward sidewalk interactions are only the cause of people such as myself who don't know the system. Said a friend, "No, there is no rule, you just kind of figure it out." Really? Figure it out? **Sigh** I feel like I'm trying to not get burned by my sink all over again...
------
Expect a third round of UK wonder sometime in the New Year.
Much love from the 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.
Last time in this series I covered driving, Britishness, and new nouns. Today I'll take a swinging leap into sinks, accents, confusing sidewalk encounters, and on of the world's least consistent measuring systems. Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to have a proper good time.
If A Car Weighs 200 stone and is driving for 15 kilometers getting 35 MPG...
Imagine a country where you measure weight with stones (but sometimes kilograms), measure distance by the mile (but sometimes kilometers), sell gas by the liter (but never the gallon), and then measure your fuel efficiency in miles per gallon. Yep, the UK has done the impossible: somehow use a more confusing system of measurement than the US. Bravo my friends.
 |
| Come on man, it's only 1 stone... |
And to think, I even had my pounds to kilograms all worked out. But nope, it's normal in most parts of the UK to talk about your body weight in stone. Did not see that one coming. Rocked me to the core, if you will. The Math: 1 stone equals 14 pounds, or 6.35kg. Example: Just birthed a seven pound baby? Well, it's a healthy 1/2 stone.
Honestly though, I love the stone measuring system. It's like it's from a different age... And, my perceived weight can depend on what I define as a stone. Want to feel big and strong for MMA class? 1 stone is a boulder. I weigh 13 1/4 boulders. Need to slim down a bit for a run? Eh, 1 stone is like a piece of gravel. I can practically float across the pavement.
As for the others, I find the miles per gallon/gas sold by the litre thing to be a bit perplexing. Imagine if we tried the opposite in the states.... "My car get's 15 miles per liter!"... ummm, are you speaking in soda?
Scalding or Ice Cold?
Ever been punished for wanting to wash your hands? Well, it's a common occurrence in some British sinks. In my flat in particular, our bathroom sink looks like this:
- Twist the blue handle? Freezing Hands.
- Twist the red? Hands on Fire.
No, You Can't Actually Do a British Accent
Throughout my life I have heard a lot of American friends try to imitate English/Scottish/Irish accents. Some I even thought sounded convincing, almost dead-on. I was wrong.
In reality, I've found that it's impossible to imitate a British accent, because a single British accent doesn't exist. Seriously. Oh they have accents here, in fact I couldn't image a more accent rich place in the word. But which one specifically are you trying to imitate? Is is the Sheffield accent or the Leeds accent (these cities are only 45 minutes apart). Is it a posh London accent, or a Cockney London accent? Is it a Scottish accent from Glasgow, or from Edinburgh? Are you trying to speak the Queen's English? Pssh, no one actually talks like that. See how hard this is? Here are two examples: This is the Norfolk Accent , and these are the accents in Yorkshire.
This is so strange to me, coming from a region in the states where I'd need to take a 15 hour+ road trip to get to a place with a different accent (and that's if you count the California Valley Girl accent).
 |
| 1000's of miles separate the US's Best State from any other accent. |
So go ahead, try to master an accent from the UK. But you actually need to pick a specific region, down to the postcode.
Awkward Sidewalk Interactions
I spend a lot of time thinking about how to walk down the sidewalk. Definitely more than the average person. These thoughts always coalesce around the same simple decision: "If I meet someone coming from the opposite direction, which way do I go?"
It's the classic sidewalk choice. You are walking down a street. Casually, you notice you and friendly stranger are set for a head on sidewalk collision. Is the US, this is simple. I move to my right, they move to their right, and we pass without notice. In Australia, since people drive on the left, they move to their left. Easy peasy.
So how about the UK? Let's look at a real life example. Here I am at London Liverpool Street Train Station. Looking one direction, people are "going to the left" to use the stairs. Perfect. People in the UK go to the left. But what's this? Looking in the opposite direction from the exact same vantage point, people are staying to their right.
That's correct, people are actually crossing over and switching sides halfway through their walk to/from station! This held for the five minutes I watched people walk by.
Of course, everyone from the UK knows which way to walk. Awkward sidewalk interactions are only the cause of people such as myself who don't know the system. Said a friend, "No, there is no rule, you just kind of figure it out." Really? Figure it out? **Sigh** I feel like I'm trying to not get burned by my sink all over again...
------
Expect a third round of UK wonder sometime in the New Year.
Much love from the 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.
Nine Massachusetts CHPS Verified Schools Recognized!
Congratulations to MERMHS!
Recognized with elite award for healthy, high performance green school buildings, from the Collaborative for High Performance Schools last Thursday. The schools received plaques commemorating their achievement at a recognition ceremony at the ArchitectureBoston Expo in Boston, MA. The recognition of these schools makes Massachusetts the leading state in number of CHPS Verified schools.
Thank you to the many school and community members who worked tirelessly on the building project!
Nine Massachusetts CHPS Verified Schools Recognized
Recognized with elite award for healthy, high performance green school buildings, from the Collaborative for High Performance Schools last Thursday. The schools received plaques commemorating their achievement at a recognition ceremony at the ArchitectureBoston Expo in Boston, MA. The recognition of these schools makes Massachusetts the leading state in number of CHPS Verified schools.
Thank you to the many school and community members who worked tirelessly on the building project!
Nine Massachusetts CHPS Verified Schools Recognized
Students Explore Native American Culture
MERSD Core Value ~ Climate
We believe our schools must create an environment of respect and appreciation for individual and cultural differences and instill a passion for responsible social action, both locally and globally. To this end we endeavor to help or students develop a multicultural world view.
One example of this effort can be seen in our elementary students' study of local Native American culture as they develop an understanding of the roots of our Thanksgiving tradition. Read about our elementary students' experience with the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers in the Gloucester Times article Going Native.
Why Oregon is the Best State Ever… in the US.
Real quick, I’d like to offer a sincere thank you to everyone who read my blog explaining my support of same sex marriage and urging others to follow suit. It had over 900 views in one day! So even if you didn't agree with the article, thank you for reading. Official feedback from my Mom: “People in Mt. Angel (my socially conservative hometown) said you should stick to writing about your travels.” That’s when I knew that it had been especially effective.
We are the Best US State Ever
Oregon has it rough. People from the East Coast can't usually produce our name (it's Ory-gain (like from again), not Ory-gone), some think we still use covered wagons, and even Jon Stewart once commented that Oregon was “California’s Canada, Washington’s Mexico, and Idaho’s Portugal.” It's time to set the record as straight as the southern border of Oregon: We are #1.
We are The Goal in the Game “The Oregon Trail”
If you haven’t played The Oregon Trail before, I demand that you whip out a ’95 Macintosh computer with MSDOS and buy a CD Rom copy off ebay. Or for less dedicated players, you can read about it here.
We are the Best US State Ever
Oregon has it rough. People from the East Coast can't usually produce our name (it's Ory-gain (like from again), not Ory-gone), some think we still use covered wagons, and even Jon Stewart once commented that Oregon was “California’s Canada, Washington’s Mexico, and Idaho’s Portugal.” It's time to set the record as straight as the southern border of Oregon: We are #1.
Why make this bold statement? One, it's something that people in the US need to know. Two, I’m officially fed up with people from the UK not knowing about the glorious fountain of wonder that is the state of Oregon. Here’s a common example:
- UK Person: Whereabouts are you from in the States?
- Me: Oregon! Have you heard of it? It’s only the coolest state in the union.
- UK Person: Ya, Oregon, umm, that’s umm… near Minnesota? Midwest somewhere?
Yep, totally Midwest. Really, what’s a few thousand miles between friends? I don’t blame them though, there are 50 states to remember, and these people are not originally from the US. In fact, they'd probably score better than most Americans on a similar test. To turn it around, how many Americans could name any one of the 48 counties in the UK? (Nope, London isn’t one, nice try).
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| There it is, in all it's glory. |
So I don't care if you don't know all 50 states in the union. But you should know Oregon. Oregon is different. Special. Unique, Brilliant. Forget about all of those other states, and memorize these two facts:
- West Coast Best Coast. It’s simple, and oh so true. Why do you think so many left the East Coast and took the Oregon Trail? Because they wanted to get to someplace awesome.
- Oregon is the best state on the West Coast.
We Have the Best Beer City in the US
Could there be a better place to start? I actually have facts to back up this assertion! Portland is ranked as the best beer city in the US, and is consistently ranked in the top 5 of beer cities in the world, with over 50 microbreweries within the city limits. We are have big beer names, with Deschutes, Rogue and Widmer all birthed in Oregon. But in the end, it’s the not the number sold, it’s the quality of the beer (call this the Coors Light proof.). If you’ve ever tried Rogue’ All American Amber or Oakshire’s Espresso Stout, you know the kind of quality I’m talking about. And this is only the beginning…
We are The Goal in the Game “The Oregon Trail”
If you haven’t played The Oregon Trail before, I demand that you whip out a ’95 Macintosh computer with MSDOS and buy a CD Rom copy off ebay. Or for less dedicated players, you can read about it here.
This game may have been the most exciting yet tragic offering for kids under 10 ever conceived. Here is a quick review:
- The premise: Load up a wagon with your friends and family and head west, toward the wonderful state of Oregon.
- The actions: Ford some rivers, hunt for some food, and soon you’ll be in the paradise of the West Coast.
- Any risks? Not really. Only that at least 1 member of your family will drown or die of typhoid or cholera, and there is about a 50% chance that your venture will end in starvation or your own death. But no, no big.
Again Nicole? Really?!? Ugh.
We Invented the Freaking Bottle Deposit… And More
Ya, you’re welcome. Actually, Oregon has been at the forefront of a number of cutting edge social or environmental programs. According to former Oregon senator Frank Robert, Oregon was also the first to grant widespread public beach access, the first to have statewide voter registration, and the first state to celebrate Labor Day. Boom.
We Don't Use Umbrellas
Who needs them? Not using an umbrella comes down to simple pride, and is a perfect example of Oregon's resilient and wacky spirit. We are one with the rain. If you can't handle it, grab an umbrella and move to Washington. If you are a true Oregonian, but on a rain coat, some boots, and tough it out.
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| This picture is literally how I feel, and is available for purchase from these wonderful artists. |
Who needs them? Not using an umbrella comes down to simple pride, and is a perfect example of Oregon's resilient and wacky spirit. We are one with the rain. If you can't handle it, grab an umbrella and move to Washington. If you are a true Oregonian, but on a rain coat, some boots, and tough it out.
 |
| Try graduating while holding an umbrella in Oregon... Not going to happen. |
We Have the Most Applicable State Mottos... Ever
“She Flies With Her Own Wings.” Yep. It says it all. Progressive, daring, independent, Oregon. And when did we come up with that motto? Freaking 1854. That's right, we've been doing it right for over 150 years.
The most recent Oregon tagline is "We Love Dreamers." I think this picture tells you about all you need to know:
The most recent Oregon tagline is "We Love Dreamers." I think this picture tells you about all you need to know:
Other Reasons: Nature, Sustainability, Food, and countless, countless more I'll find time to write about at a later date.
So there it is ladies and gentlemen, it's settled. Oregon wins.
Much love from the 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.
So there it is ladies and gentlemen, it's settled. Oregon wins.
Much love from the 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.
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