Day Three: Really Random Musings

Today whilst at CCCU Orientation (notice I used a new English word!), I was suddenly made aware of my own American-ness.  It was awkward and funny, but something I’ve never experienced before…

Let me set the scene:  International Orientation takes place in the Augustine House, a massive, state-of-the-art building which is home to the library, computer labs, and various offices, including the International Office.  The Augustine House was relatively empty these past few days, but now that more students have arrived, it has become a lot busier.  This morning, as we filed in at 9:30, the atrium and café were filled with British students.  It was slightly intimidating, but we took our seats in the atrium and waited for the program directors to come and get us.  However, we received word that orientation would start late, specifically at 10:30.  Over the hour break, a group of us from NCC decided to check out the Student Union coffee house just down the road because they sell Starbucks coffee for a discounted price.  After going four days without any decent coffee (the airlines coffee was awful and the coffee that the Augustine House café serves is nothing to brag about), I was pretty pumped about some Starbucks.   AND BOY WAS IT DELICIOUS...  Caramel latte with a touch of chocolate powder.  Come on, y’all.  So good.

Anyway, to kill some time, we hung out at the coffee house for a while, which was really cute and sort of vintage-looking.  It was here that I began to notice a difference in the way Americans act and the way the British act (or at least a difference in our coffee house etiquette).  We were all sitting in the lounge area, excitedly talking to each other and sipping our coffees.  Meanwhile, across the room, a small group of British girls were sitting together and chatting softly, if at all.  They were staring at us from the moment we walked in, and were definitely watching us as we talked.  It was almost funny, how different we were.  But they clearly we not amused.  Maybe they were just peeved that we had disturbed their peaceful midmorning coffee break, maybe they were genuinely annoyed that Americans were invading their coffee shop.  Either way, I immediately felt embarrassed and uncomfortable.  But soon after this happened, we had to leave to make it back in time for the rest of orientation. 

The second embarrassing moment occurred when we were on campus after lunch, searching for the location of our classes.  I felt like such a dumb American!  And everyone in my group was loudly asking a thousand questions and gathered around Doug, the study abroad coordinator at CCCU, pestering him about their schedules.  I, too, was asking questions and trying to figure things out, but I somehow felt like the British people there were almost – this is silly – judging us.  Haha.  I suppose they expected the American students to be the most obnoxious.   I was suddenly acutely aware of my own American-ness and it bothered me a lot more than I expected!  Wow. 

The entire orientation program was very… chill.  We had several different “talks” from various representatives in the University.  In between the sessions, there were fifteen to thirty minute breaks when we did nothing but sit around and chat amongst ourselves, waiting for the next talk to begin.  It was very informal, which is odd because I was expecting the Brits to be punctual and strict in scheduling matters.  My expectation was the complete opposite of the reality!

 My first meal in England... I found American mustard! Success!

On another topic, the food here expires rather quickly.  Everything has such a short shelf life!  I have to shop for food multiple times a week because there are no preservatives or additives in the meats/breads/etc. to make the food last longer than three or four days.  For example, I bought two packs of deli meat for sandwiches, but I quickly realized that the meat will go bad two days after opening!  Same with the bread.  Crazy, right?  I never understood just how bad the food back home is until I read the labels on food here in the UK.  And that’s another interesting issue – food labels.  They are quite different from the little “nutrition facts” table that is on everything in the states.  I need to adjust to the UK system. :)

 First time at a British pub!

Yuuuuum - pub food!

Finally, the weather.  I know I’m jumping around with all of these topics, but I need to write about everything as it comes to mind.  You’ve heard about the rain in England?  Well, it’s true.  It’s rained at some point every day of my stay so far.  But the rain is different here.  It’s not Chicago rain.  To paraphrase my British friend Natalie, “The rain here is not like your rain where you go outside and psssssssssssshhhhhhhhh – downpour!  You get soaked!”  Haha, she’s so right.  The rain in England is a gentle mist, not a harsh, torrential downpour.  It will rain for literally five minutes, then stop, then rain an hour later for like twenty minutes… then rain again later!  It certainly takes some getting used to.   Thankfully I am prepared with a nice raincoat and umbrella (shout out to my awesome grandma!).  Actually, no one really uses umbrellas here.  The locals are used to the rain and they either have a coat with a hood or they simply “keep calm” and keep walking through the light rains.  I feel very touristy when I use my umbrella, so I’ve been trying to use my hood as often as possible.  Don’t want to stand out too much! 

Check out this massive rain cloud!

So far, I am not too terribly homesick.  I’ve been so busy exploring and sleeping and trying to cook food for myself, I hardly have time to miss home. :)  I still cannot believe I live here.  How do the locals adjust to the splendor of the cathedral, the medieval buildings they pass everyday on their way to work, or the quaint little cafes and pubs that line the cobblestone streets?  How does one just get used to those sights?  Every time I pass the enormous West Gate, the majestic cathedral, or the beautiful entrance to St. Augustine’s Abbey, I want to snap a picture (even if I already have several of the same place)!  This is just unbelievable.  What an amazing experience I am having!  Wouldn’t trade this for anything.  Not anything. 

The City Wall

 The Canterbury Cathedral entrance



The West Gate

At the West Gate

P.S.  I finally found the Fine Arts building… you know what that means!  PIANO TIME. <3

–K




BRITISH WORDS OF THE DAY:

Tutor - professor, teacher, instructor

Tutorials - one on one time with a tutor.  Similar to the help an American student would receive at a professor's office hours.