1. London is comprised of 32 boroughs. I equate boroughs to the various neighborhoods in Chicago. Much like Chicago has Wrigleyville, Lake View, Lincoln Park, West Loop, South Loop, the Loop, etc, London has boroughs such as Kensington, Chelsea, the City {it refers to an actual name of a borough, not the city of London}, Westminster, Shoreditch, Islington, Notting Hill, etc. And much like Chicago, these boroughs each have its defining characteristics + unique restaurants + shops {shameless plug: for restaurant recs, follow me on insta @learninglondon!}.
2. If you don't finish your food at a restaurant, there are no doggy bags offered to take your leftovers home. Luckily, I'm always hungry, the portions are always small, and our fridge is too tiny to take any food home.
3. I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as personal space in Europe. My personal space has been violated multiple times since moving here.
4. When flying, Easy Jet is a cheap option {like Southwest Airlines}. Everyone who works for Easy Jet is also so incredibly nice and friendly. This is how we flew to Amsterdam. AND I learned that if they cancel the flight {which they did going to Amsterdam}, they will do everything in their power to redirect you on a later flight {which they pay for, along with any other costs associated with the change, including hotels, transportation, and food}.
5. Light switches are usually placed outside the room.
6. There is free wifi in all the major airports I've been to and most coffee shops + cafés, which is great because an iPhone can text, surf the Internet, check email, and FaceTime on airplane mode with wifi {funny side note: apparently the Spanish pronounce this as weefee, so say the English teachers we met who teach abroad in Spain}.
7. After being in Amsterdam for a few days and not understanding the Dutch language, maps, street names, and signs, I am beyond happy + grateful that we moved to an English speaking country. I may not understand everything, but I can at least read and speak the language.
8. London {currency: the pound} is so expensive and Amsterdam {currency: the euro} is so cheap.
9. Residents of Amsterdam are some of the nicest, most helpful people I've ever met. Where I'd be lost in London without anyone offering to help, various locals in Amsterdam would not only guide us in the right direction but then suggest must-see attractions and must-eat restaurants.
10. However, maybe they feel the need to help tourists because there are no maps scattered throughout Amsterdam and each street name looks + sounds the same. So that being said, I am appreciative of the maps that London has on every block.
11. Mayonnaise is served with fries. Always. In London, it comes as a side. In Amsterdam, they smother at least 3 pumps of mayo directly on top your "frites" or "patatas." Sounds disgusting, but don't knock it till you try it {I swear, inside of me, there is a fat kid that forces me to eat unhealthy foods}.
12. My short trip to Amsterdam made me realize how much more I want to travel and how much more I have to see. Watch out, world!