And somehow, in the midst of this chaotic, yet fun and surreal, time, I'm still observing + learning parts about London + English culture that I didn't know {I'm having déjà vu. Have I said this before?}. Funny story, I thought I knew everything I needed to know about London when I went home a few weeks ago. However, I come back and it seems like it's a whole new world. Again, I ask is that even possible?
1. A bottle of water is always served with a glass.
2. Whatever allergen is in the air, it's terrible here. I've never had allergies and now I am a sneezing, wheezing, leaking sink :(.
3. Compared to the winter where there was 4 hours of sunshine, now the sun doesn't set until almost 9pm.
4. British people are comfortable with ambiguity {that's come from a Brit!}. Honestly, this explains a whole lot. Where I feel Americans, specifically me, need thorough explanations otherwise I'm confused and unsure, they seem to embrace the unknown.
5. Women wear black tights or some kind of colored tights during the fall and winter. And during the spring {I have yet to observe summer-wear} they wear nude nylons. They do not enjoys bare legs {I've gotten many looks of dismay when I forgo the nylons}. You know what I don't enjoy? Restrictive, sheer, stretchable, itchy material over my legs. Nor do I like the word "nylon." Or people staring.
6. I have yet to see anyone wear flip flops or open toe shoes, even on the warmest days. And when you do, people stare.
7. When it is hot outside, the tube cars are dreadfully stuffy, warm, and smelly. This is going to cause major problems as I will admit that I am the most cranky when I'm all hot and bothered {just ask my friend Tracy ;)}.
8. Surprisingly, I don't think ice tea is a speciality here.
9. Rather than saying "envision," British people say "envisage." They are synonymous but I'm curious why "envisage" is used more often here.
10. Likewise, British people say "fortnight" quite a bit, which means every other week or two weeks. As in, "The project will take a fortnight to complete, so be prepared to work for a couple weeks on it." It's confusing. How is language, especially when supposedly English, this confusing?
11. Coming back to London after two weeks in Chicago makes me realize I haven't fully transitioned here and it's been almost 5 months. Maybe at 6 months I'll feel "home." Just maybe...