The London Eye
Two months ago I flew over to London for a short work trip during London Fashion Week.
It had been nearly a year since I last visited our neighbors across the pond, and yet it felt like I'd never left. I immediately started chatting with my taxi driver about my love of The Beatles, navigated the tube with ease and confidently asked the teller to put twenty "quid" on my Oyster card (although that confused him as he skeptically replied, "Don't you mean dollars?" So much for trying to speak like a native.)
You would think that as an American, traveling to the UK would provide little to no culture shock - next to Canada, they're about as close to America as you can get.
But whenever I'm in London, I often feel like I've entered some bizarre alternate universe.
At first glance, it looks, feels and sounds just like home. But then, I hear the change in accent (swoon.) And then people start saying words like "loo," "jumper" and "trainers" instead of "bathroom," "sweater" and "sneakers."
And then these cars come barreling out of no where, on the wrong side of the road no less!
(I swear I nearly kill myself every time I try to cross the street in that city - I should have a safety patrol with me at all times.)
It had been nearly a year since I last visited our neighbors across the pond, and yet it felt like I'd never left. I immediately started chatting with my taxi driver about my love of The Beatles, navigated the tube with ease and confidently asked the teller to put twenty "quid" on my Oyster card (although that confused him as he skeptically replied, "Don't you mean dollars?" So much for trying to speak like a native.)
You would think that as an American, traveling to the UK would provide little to no culture shock - next to Canada, they're about as close to America as you can get.
But whenever I'm in London, I often feel like I've entered some bizarre alternate universe.
At first glance, it looks, feels and sounds just like home. But then, I hear the change in accent (swoon.) And then people start saying words like "loo," "jumper" and "trainers" instead of "bathroom," "sweater" and "sneakers."
And then these cars come barreling out of no where, on the wrong side of the road no less!
(I swear I nearly kill myself every time I try to cross the street in that city - I should have a safety patrol with me at all times.)
Parliament - London
Sometimes I find myself feeling more caught off guard in London than I do in Paris, because it's so unexpected.
In France, or most other countries for that matter, there is the language barrier and a trunk full of cultural differences to overcome. When I'm abroad in non-English speaking countries, I can blend in as a normal "foreigner" - they know I'm not French, but they don't automatically assume I'm American (Living in Paris, I've gotten mistaken for a Brit, an Italian and a Brazilian before - that last person was clearly delusional.)
But in England, it's clear the second I open my mouth that I'm an American. And there's nothing wrong with that. But I still can't help but feel a bit vulnerable and yes, I'll admit, a bit...well, less classy.
In France, or most other countries for that matter, there is the language barrier and a trunk full of cultural differences to overcome. When I'm abroad in non-English speaking countries, I can blend in as a normal "foreigner" - they know I'm not French, but they don't automatically assume I'm American (Living in Paris, I've gotten mistaken for a Brit, an Italian and a Brazilian before - that last person was clearly delusional.)
But in England, it's clear the second I open my mouth that I'm an American. And there's nothing wrong with that. But I still can't help but feel a bit vulnerable and yes, I'll admit, a bit...well, less classy.
image courtesy of listal.com
For this, I blame Julie Andrews.
Like any good American child, I was brought up wishing I could sing like/be Mary Poppins or Maria from The Sound of Music. I was convinced that Hugh Grant was the only acceptable man for me. In short, I was brainwashed to believe that all things classy, polite and distinguished were inherently British.
(They still have a freaking Queen for goodness sakes.)
That being said, in my old age I've learned that just because the Brits may sound posh, it doesn't actually mean they are. They can be just as brash, drunk and inappropriate as anyone else.
And that's not a bad thing - they are human after all.**
**although any tiny island that manages to produce The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, The Who and Eric Clapton within a six year time frame clearly has some kind of magical superhuman molecules floating around the air. Or maybe it's the water...**
Like any good American child, I was brought up wishing I could sing like/be Mary Poppins or Maria from The Sound of Music. I was convinced that Hugh Grant was the only acceptable man for me. In short, I was brainwashed to believe that all things classy, polite and distinguished were inherently British.
(They still have a freaking Queen for goodness sakes.)
That being said, in my old age I've learned that just because the Brits may sound posh, it doesn't actually mean they are. They can be just as brash, drunk and inappropriate as anyone else.
And that's not a bad thing - they are human after all.**
**although any tiny island that manages to produce The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, The Who and Eric Clapton within a six year time frame clearly has some kind of magical superhuman molecules floating around the air. Or maybe it's the water...**
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