by Englishman 62 Replies latest jw friends
Make sure you pack union jack shorts and a knotted hanky for paddling.
LOL, that's too cute, I'd love to see a pic of Eman "paddling" with a knotted hanky on his head!
Actually, in the States (and other countries like Australia) they have things called "waves". Not little ripples that end as soon as they start, but big waves that some people ride using a thing called a "surf board". Check it out, it's quite fun (just don't get dumped by a wave and end up with sand in your pants).
One thing I have found, is that the universal US citizen is hard to find. Having traveled in all but 3 of the 50 states, I can say that each state is unique in culture. Don't ever tell someone in Minnesota that they are like the people in Wisconsin.
I have to admit that beer is pretty bad. But there are some nice microbreweries with ales that might surprise you. Remember that some states limit the alcohol content in beer so that one beer in the UK may equal 2 or 3 for alcohol content in the US.
Florida is an unusual state since people from so many parts of the US have settled there. It has watered down the "southern" accent some. Florida is a tourist's playground and you will enjoy the warmer water in the Gulf for swimming.
I know you will have a good time.
Blondie
When Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands years ago one of the biggest complaints of the locals was that the invaders were forcing them to drive on the right side of the road. Hell, I thought the Argentine army was doing them a favor. Bug
The vast majority of things are cheaper in the US than in the UK. The portions are larger - if you ask for a soda in the UK you have to pay a fortune and then another fortune to get a refil -- refils of soda (pop) and coffee is generally free in the US. European beer is better than domestic beer but Europena beer is not served cold -- in the US the beer is served deliciously cold as it is in Australia of course. The service in the UK sucks -- in the US it is generally quite good -- they do expect an absolute minimum of 10% tip and 12.5 -15% is closer to the norm -- otherwise have a great trip
hhhmmmm we don't tend to keep pots of water on for tea...and if you ask for milk with your tea you might get a funny look, course the accent will be getting you plenty of looks to begin with
we tend to be quite curious too and have no problem asking "foreign" people questions about where they are from and whatnot
top sheets...that was an odd one for me, several places I stayed didn't use top sheets, just the bottom and a comforter on top
uuummm if you could bring some of those yummy crisps (aka potato chips) of yours...the good flavors like roast chicken...you know just on the off chance I might make it to the fest...
and yes we sell our weak ass beer everywhere, cept on Sundays. The hard stuff you have to get from the liquor stores.
oooohhh and the electric current is different....I didn't get to use my electric rollers the ENTIRE time I was there....it was very traumatic for me! (I know I should have remembered...I lived in Europe growing up....but it didn't even cross my mind when I was packing...)
4 way stops take a bit of getting used to though and are always a bit nerve wracking!
ROFL....no those roundie things ya'll have are much worse...esp when you are with someone who gets lost on occasion and you go round and round and round and round!!!!!!!!!!
that's all I can think of for the moment..........I sure hope I can make it to Fla. I would love to see you guys again and bring Bethany with me to meet the kids!!!!
oooohh our gas is WAY cheaper!!!!!!! I was in shock at how much it cost there!
Food
America : Eat all you can for 4 dollars, huge steak, fries etc.
UK : Tosos 'shitonastick' Kebab place, 1 kebab 4 pounds.
The Yanks are leagues ahead when it comes to good food.
4 way stops take a bit of getting used to though and are always a bit nerve wracking!
Just remember that the person to your far right has the right of way. You only have a problem when there are four cars at the intersection.
If you want hot tea, make sure you tell them you want it hot, or else you will get iced tea, which imo is better. Not all people will look at you side ways if you ask for milk in your tea. People in PA drink it that way and I happen to like it too.
The limeys think 200 miles is a long way, the yankees think 200 years is a long time.
Be prepared to drive at high speeds for a couple of hours to get to where you want to go.
If someone pulls up next to you at a red light, pumping a heavy bass beat that rattles the rust off the sides of his car, and he is black and you are white, don't make eye contact.
If you make a driving mistake, don't admit you are wrong. It's your God-given right as an American (temporarily) to be wrong if you damn well please, and I LIKE driving on the left side of the road, and who the hell are you to tell me different, your family probably fought for the South you white trash... fill in the blanks as you see fit.
CZAR
If you smoke, please do not go into a store and ask for a fag!
The cheese they use at McDonalds is not cheese - it's crap- actually, I'd be scared to actually read the ingredient list. We really do have good food here. Please don't use McDonalds as a standard!
Liquor laws varry state to state, but in many, you can buy liquor in the grocery store, and you can also buy it on Sundays in lots of places. Do not under any circumstances drink alcohol in the car or allow any passengers to drink either.
Always wait a few seconds to proceed through a green light to allow the color blind people with a death wish to zoom through their red light.
I think you will find things much cheaper here in general.
Do not attempt to joke with customs unless you want to be subjected to a body cavity search in retalliation.
The advice you are getting is totally cracking me up! I hope you enjoy your trip!
Hi E-man.... my wife is a Brit, and we live in Georgia... (just above where you are going)... the biggest thing you may encounter is something called "red-necks". If you see a large group (two or more) do not speak.... it may save your life Below is a short list of terms you may hear, that may be helpful... Notice that "Europe" is pronounced "Yurp".
AIG (noun)(egg)
Something a fowl (such as hen) lays
Usage: "Ma, how much aig money ya git this week ?"
ARN (noun)(Iron)
An appliance used to press clothes
Usage: "Ma ? Ya arned my paints yet ?"
BOBBED WAR (noun)(barbed-wire)
Twisted strands of fence wire with barbs at regular intervals
Usage: "Tore my paints agin on that danged bobbed wire."
BUB (noun)(bulb)
an incandescent lamp
Usage: "The lite bub done burned out agin'."
CHEER (noun)(chair)
A piece of furniture
Usage: "Keep that danged cat outta my cheer."
CRICK (noun)(creek)
a tributary to a river, a brook
Usage: "I'm a-gonna go fishin' down at the crick."
FANGER (noun)(finger)
one of the five digits of the hand
Usage: "Y'all see that thar rock on her fanger ?"
FLAR (noun)(flower)
A plant which blooms
Usage: "A rose is a purdy flar."
FRASH (adjective)(fresh)
New, novel, not preserved
Usage: "Them aigs ain't frash."
GRAIN (noun)(green)
a color whose hue is emerald in nature
Usage: "She was plum grain with envy."
HAIL (Noun)(hell)
The abode of the evil dead
Usage: "Better change your ways or you-en's are fixing to go to hail."
HOLLAR (noun)(hollow)
a valley between the hills
Usage: "Dad-gum place reminds me of Sleepy Hollar."
JEW (contraction)
Short form of "did" and "you"
Usage: "Jew hear that my brother got a job with that bobbed war fence cump'ny ?"
LAIG (noun)(leg)
the lower limb of a man
Usage: "Darned fool dog damn near ran my laigs off."
MAILK (noun)(milk)
liquid produced by mammary glands of female mammals
Usage: "I'll be in the burn a-mailking them kuws."
MERE (noun)(mirror)
a reflective surface
Usage: "Boy's so plum ugly, thard mere he's cracked this munth."
NAR (adjective)(narrow)
of limited width
Usage: "Damn door's a-getin' too nar to fit thru."
PARCH (noun)(porch)
a covered platform, usually in front/back of a house
Usage: "Let's sat a bit on the parch."
PURDY (adjective)(pretty)
pleasing or attractive
Usage: "That Sally-Mae's one right prudy filly."
RATS (noun)(rights)
Entitled power or privilege
Usage: "We Southerners are willin' to fat for are rats."
RANG (noun)(ring)
a circular band
Usage: "Danged fool aisked Sally-Mae to murry him then couldn't ford no rang."
RAT NOW (adverb)(right now)
immediately
Usage: "I sed go git 'em boy, rat now."
SHAR (noun)(shower)
A brief period of rain
Usage: "Wish-in' it wud shar some and cooled thangs off a bit."
SKEER-UP (verb)
Locate, find, prepare
Usage: "Hey Ma! How's about skeering-up some viddles."
THANK (verb)(think)
Ability to cognitively process
Usage: "Ah thank ah'll have some mailk."
YURP (proper noun)(Europe)
A continent
Usage: "We'ems a-savin' fur a trip to Yurp."
Do you know how many times people say my wife "can't talk guud aynglish"???
and one more thing .... when someone points out the "historical culture".... just pretend you admire the "old" buildings. "This house is over 100 years old!" They may be quite proud actually... Over here, anything over thirty-five years old is considered an "antique".
