CANTERBURY, ENGLAND
A few items I learned while living in England:
1. I had a washing machine in my kitchen. It definitely made it convenient to not have to go to a laundromat!
2. I had no idea “beans on toast” was a thing until my roommate taught me how to make it.
3. Apparently “fancy dress” is also a thing there too? The number of groups of girls and guys dressed as random characters while running from pub to pub is a hilarious sight I will never forget.
4. I was taught how to make a proper “cuppa”. And I realized that pouring water straight from the faucet into a mug, microwaving it for one minute, adding a tea bag, and drinking it without adding any sugar or milk.. was the wrong way to make tea. It was an entire process to learn and I can now say I am a proud owner of an electric water kettle.
5. Also, I had no idea there was such a thing as a hot water bottle. Putting them at the foot of my bed before crawling in to go to sleep is pretty much the best thing in the world.
6. Pants do not mean what you think they mean.
7. Eggs aren’t refrigerated in the grocery stores in the UK and if you go to the refrigerated section they won’t be there.
8. So many people walk everywhere in the UK vs. taking cars to get places. Because of this, there were many trails all around and I also noticed many cobblestone streets as well.
9. Going to the same pub after a day at work or school is extremely common here and you often had the same group of people say hi and get to know you day after day.
10. When people ask “are you alright?” it doesn’t mean that they are concerned about you. My first few days of living here, I had to ask a friend if I looked OK because people kept on asking if I looked alright? And I was trying to figure out if I looked sick.
“Are you alright?” = “How are you?” for us Americans!
A good strong "Cuppa" is very important to learning how to make the most delicious cup of tea. Interesting enough, putting a mug of cold water into the microwave for a minute and adding a tea bag, I have learned, is the incorrect way to make a cuppa. First you want to use an electric water kettle or tea kettle and boil fresh water. Use tea leaves rather than bags for a fresh cuppa but it is entirely up to preference. Pour the water into your mug as soon as it boils and cover the mug for 3-4 minutes. Take out your tea carrier and add milk of choice. Add one or two teaspoons of sugar and stir. If you like, you can add a slice of lemon or honey. Your nice cuppa isn't complete without a proper biscuit! Digestive biscuits are my favorite and you can purchase them at your local World Market!
