Look RIGHT, then left

First entry since arrival into the glorious UK. It seems like things take a long time, but i've already got my computer hooked up to the internet. So - things hum along at some kind of pace. There is a different language here, and different behavior. I am already uncoordinated enough on a bicycle; how can i ever be expected to ride one here? I've already ventured into traffic too many times on foot. My new motto: look right, then left. I haven't figured out how to tell if its a one way street or not. Safer just to look both ways, mm-kay?

But, aside from the food and the time change and the driving and the bathtub and the...well, actually nothing is really the same. So - nevermind. But, at least its fun - and its been sunny today. And people are really nice. There are a lot of other Americans here - there were a lot at the international student orientation. One of the presentations at the orientation informed us that there are 700 American graduate students admitted every year (out of about 3,000). Proud to be part of the ranking minority. I do feel better now, though: they also told us that no one here in the UK is allowed to own guns. I was WONDERING why i didn't feel very worried, walking down the street here. Its actually illegal to carry any kind of weapon, including mace or something used for self-defense. Instead, you can carry a "personal alarm" which, when activated, makes everyone within earshot crawl out of their skin from irritation. At least there are options, is the way i look at it...

Some ideas for you, in case you want to brush up on your British:
line = queue
bathroom = loo, toilet
shower = apparently there is no word for this since they don't exist
bike = cycle
cell phone = mobile (say moh-bile as in tile)
laptop = laptop
elevator = lift
escalator = escalator
coffee with cream = white coffee
bus = coach

Ok. That's a start. In other news, Oxford has been the target of some of those lovable ALF activists. See the link. I am not part of the college mentioned in the article; but apparently there was another attack on a boatyard over the summer that flattened my college's rowing boats. So - unless something happened, i probably won't be rowing this year. Besides, if St Hilda's has any money to spare, they should maybe invest it in making repairs at some of the dorms. Ahem. If this is confusing ("you go to Oxford so why aren't you part of such-and-such college") then let me know and i'll give you a little university lesson. Essentially, as was pointed out in orientation, its very complicated.

More to come!