Although I miss having seen everyone back home, I simply can't quite believe that I have been in America for six months. I really have enjoyed every single moment of my time here. I find it hard to believe on a daily basis just how happy I have been, and just how amazing it is that I am here and just how lucky I am to be here and doing and seeing and meeting all of the amazing people and places. So much has happened, and many of my experiences are so varied that I don't think I can give any kind of summary. I would just like to take the opportunity to say Thank you to America for a wonderful stay, and an even bigger Thank you to all of the many many kindnesses I have had both from friends, casual acquaintances and strangers. If there is one thing I have learned on this trip it is how nice people are, how eager to help, and happy to give their kindness. I have not met a single person who was not kind and generous - just occasionally a communication where I realise the other person is as rude as your typical English person.Thank you to all of my friends who have welcomed me with open arms. Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me with open arms without being friends, or before they became friends. I am just amazed at how nice you all are, and I feel very indebted, and I hope that one day I maybe able to start repaying some of the generosity shown to me. (And do ask to stay if you are ever near me!)
The things I will miss most about America are:
The great customer service and friendliness of everyone I meet. It has made me see England in a very different light, and I feel slightly embarrassed. People on the street are friendly - one elderly gentleman on a high street tugged his forelock to me! Everyone says hello. When cycling everyone wants to know where you are going and where you have come from. Many many people have wished me a welcome to America. Everyone working in a shop will wish you a good day, even people on the subway in New York even will talk and smile occasionally.
Lemonade! Normal American lemonade is delicious! it is not fizzy, and not not too sweet and absolutely delicious, I will have to make my own in future.
Huge whole food shops with delicious food, and bulk buy sections and fresh bakeries, British whole food shops just can't compare.
The totally amazing, beautiful and well run National Parks.
The things I learned about America:
Car indicators are red - most confusing.
Green men on pedestrian crossings are white - and the crossings themselves were not designed to be used.
General school education is better than in Britain - people I meet who are my counterparts are generally more knowledgeable and better educated than my British counterparts. Also lots of extracurricular activities seem to be the norm - my American counterparts all played sports or joined clubs and organised social things - my British counterparts all spend hours in front of the TV so that the next day they could discuss the programmes at school.
You can't buy double cream, but they have other milk products not seen in the UK: half and half, and totally fat free milk, and yoghurt is often flavoured with vanilla - yuck!
America is a misleading term - the United States much more accurate to try to describe the variety and breadth of Americas geography, culture, and people (food and accents).
Things I will be glad to leave:
Inches, feet, yards, Fahrenheit etc...
Traffic systems that are impossible without a car - i.e. 6 lanes of fast moving traffic with the shop you want on the far side of the road and no pedestrian crossings.
Driving on the other side of the road - I find that hard and haven't got used to it.
The things I will miss most about America are:
The great customer service and friendliness of everyone I meet. It has made me see England in a very different light, and I feel slightly embarrassed. People on the street are friendly - one elderly gentleman on a high street tugged his forelock to me! Everyone says hello. When cycling everyone wants to know where you are going and where you have come from. Many many people have wished me a welcome to America. Everyone working in a shop will wish you a good day, even people on the subway in New York even will talk and smile occasionally.
Lemonade! Normal American lemonade is delicious! it is not fizzy, and not not too sweet and absolutely delicious, I will have to make my own in future.
Huge whole food shops with delicious food, and bulk buy sections and fresh bakeries, British whole food shops just can't compare.
The totally amazing, beautiful and well run National Parks.
The things I learned about America:
Car indicators are red - most confusing.
Green men on pedestrian crossings are white - and the crossings themselves were not designed to be used.
General school education is better than in Britain - people I meet who are my counterparts are generally more knowledgeable and better educated than my British counterparts. Also lots of extracurricular activities seem to be the norm - my American counterparts all played sports or joined clubs and organised social things - my British counterparts all spend hours in front of the TV so that the next day they could discuss the programmes at school.
You can't buy double cream, but they have other milk products not seen in the UK: half and half, and totally fat free milk, and yoghurt is often flavoured with vanilla - yuck!
America is a misleading term - the United States much more accurate to try to describe the variety and breadth of Americas geography, culture, and people (food and accents).
Things I will be glad to leave:
Inches, feet, yards, Fahrenheit etc...
Traffic systems that are impossible without a car - i.e. 6 lanes of fast moving traffic with the shop you want on the far side of the road and no pedestrian crossings.
Driving on the other side of the road - I find that hard and haven't got used to it.
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