2. Brits and Americans alike love that I'm from the South, although I'm pretty sure the Brits have a hard time understanding me. All people know about Atlanta is that a) Coca-Cola was made there, b) they had the Olympics there, or c) Gone With the Wind. Strangely, someone realized it was near Nashville, and apparently, those are the magic words here. Heather, you would be very popular. Everyone at the pub kept talking about Kings of Leon, who by the way, are ridiculously popular. I love the new album too, but I heard "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody" at least 10 times yesterday in various locations (once sung by a drunk kid on the street). Oh, and they were on Jools Holland. Which I love.
3. People who are really from Manchester (Mancunians, or Mancs) pronounce my name oddly. At home it's When-dee or Windy, but the locals apparently say "win-DEH". It's really fast though. I couldn't describe it without saying it, but trust me, it's cool.
4. Pasties (not something strippers wear) - little miraculous pastries filled with meat and potatoes or meat and cheese or something. A lot like Hot Pockets but infinitely more delicious and calorie-filled. See Mom, I'm totally eating when I have time.
5. No shoes are comfortable. None. Except for my trainers (tennis shoes). Have you ever walked so much that your CHUCKS actually hurt your feet? No, neither have I. I noticed that all the girls here wear flats except at night (more on fashion later), and I know why. Carrie Bradshaw may wear Manolos, but Big is so paying for her towncar. Yesterday, I wore my black ballet flats, and even they hurt my feet. I walked all the way to City Centre to the sort-of mall place to find some comfortable shoes that didn't cost a fortune (double the price and that's what it is in dollars). I tried on shoes at Topshop and Primark and all the department stores and half a dozen shoe stores, and I was about to cry because every single pair hurt. Between having bizarrely narrow feet and not being used to walking so much in general, I was at a loss for what to get. Standing barefoot on the floor felt better. I very nearly went into the Crocs store, and anyone who knows me knows how I feel about those. Anyway, I used to make fun of my mom for wearing what I deemed to be "old lady shoes" (i.e. really comfortable but not very attractive), but when I saw the Clarks shoe store, it was like a beacon of hope in a dark, uncomfortable world (okay, that's a little melodramatic, but it's how I felt). I saw a couple of pairs that were actually sort of cute and had not much heel and had cushion in the bottom, and when the lady asked me what size I needed, I said "the one that doesn't hurt". She laughed and when I explained my situation, she said, "I've got a few nice pairs in patent (pay-tent) that don't look like your mum's shoes, and since you've come all the way from America, I'll even give you an extra 10% off." I almost hugged her. When I tried them on, it was like wearing bedroom slippers. Ahhhh. "Helen", the saleslady, came back with a little matching purse and said, "You look like you're carrying sooch a heavy bag, and a smaller one might keep you from hurtin' s' much, luv". She sounded like my mom, but she appealed to me that the matching bag was on sale if I bought the shoes, so I didn't argue. They were more expensive than I was planning to spend, but it was totes worth it. I wore my little gray pay-tent mary janes all the way home, even though they didn't match my outfit, and frankly, I didn't care.
6. For my beer-drinking readers, they don't call it beer here. I use beer as a blanket term for anything with foam in a pint glass, but I have been corrected at least 20 times. "Nuh, luhv, it's bitt-uhs yoor wantin'." (Mancs drop the "g" on the end of any word.) Ale, lager, cask(?), "stoot", bitters, anything but beer. They don't care if you call it the wrong one (they assume you're drunk anyway), just don't call it beer. I should've paid more attention when Richard and Matt and Dave were talking about brewing.
1 comment:
Here goes: I told you so about the shoes. One day when you have no joint problems you will thank me. You might consider the fact that over here much of what we walk on is carpeted with a pad underneath. You are probably walking entirely on concrete or stone. Remember the Louvre. Carry your fancy shoes in your bag and change when you get there. I hope your first day of class went well. I am not working on Tuesday. I went and got airmail stamps so I shall be writing you the odd letter.
I love you, Mom
P.S. your blog makes me think with a British accent.
Post a Comment