A Clash of Cultures

Whenever you travel to a new country, you, of course, expect that some things are going to be different. Although I never experienced what you might call "culture shock" when I went to Honduras, there were some unfamiliar customs that certainly took getting used to (e.g. seating yourself at restaurants, greeting strangers you pass on the street, etc.). So far, I have encountered the same, though perhaps to a lesser extent, here in the United Kingdom.

Surprisingly, I found that one of the most difficult things to adjust to across the pond is the language. Many familiar foods go by different names here. It's not Jell-O, it's 'jelly.' Not cookies, but 'biscuits.' Fries are 'chips,' and chips are 'crisps.' Pudding is called 'custard,' and dessert is called 'pudding.' Lettuce can go by 'salad.' And if you want something to-go, you order it to 'take away.' Well, tomayto, tomahto. (It actually is pronounced 'tomahto' here.)

When it comes to English terminology, the most confusing aspect by far is the counting of stories. The Brits start numbering with the floor directly above the ground floor. So, what I would call the 'second floor' is called the 'first floor' here. This confusion has already led to minor personal tragedies. When I first arrived in Oxford, I ended up lugging my two suitcases, duffel bag, and backpack across medieval sidewalks all the way to the New College Porter's Lodge, where I was told I would have to pick up my key at the Weston Buildings, a few blocks up a slight hill on St. Cross Road. I dutifully carried on, dragging all of my personal belongings through the rain, until I arrived in shambles in front of the Weston Buildings' lodge. I gave the man at the desk my name, and, after a few moments of entering my information into the system, he handed over my key and said the most beautiful words I had ever heard (at least, I thought so at the time): "You're in Building 6 and your room is on the first floor." I was ecstatic thinking I would not have to carry those heavy bags up any stairs. Finally, some good news after a pretty miserable set of events! You can imagine my dismay when I learned this was not the case.

Fortunately, all other adjustments to the British way of life have been much less (melo)dramatic. In fact, some changes have been pretty pleasant. For example, tax is included in all prices, so if a mirror is priced at £4 in a homewares store, that is exactly what you will pay at the register.

As far as money goes, coins are surprisingly important. The UK uses bills for denominations of £20, £10, and £5, but there is no note for single pounds. Instead, they use a coin. (I've heard they also have a coin for £2, but I have not seen it.) Having grown up in the United States, I am used to paying for my items with bills, throwing the change into my purse, and not giving it a second thought. Unless you have a coin purse full of quarters, it isn't likely that you have a significant amount of money in change. Here, however, it doesn't take long before you rack up some serious money in coins. After one of my shopping outings on Cornmarket Street where I had been gleefully paying my way with bills, I came home to realize I had about £10 (~$16) in my coin purse. That's two meals!

These are, of course, just a few of the differences I have come across in my time here so far. Others include British dates (dd/mm/yyyy instead of mm/dd/yyyy) and the strictness with which bicyclists adhere to the rules of the road (I have never seen a cyclist stop for a red light before). More than anything, however, I am surprised (just as I was in Copan) with how remarkably similar different areas of the world can be--and I'm not just talking about American chains. Yes, you can find KFC, Starbucks, Burger King, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Domino's, and Papa John's all within Oxford's city limits. But above that, the street-side performances by musicians and singers, the families strolling through town with their children and dogs, the conversations between friends you overhear as you go about your day, and the general atmosphere of the city make Oxford seem like any other urban area I have come to know in my life. So, despite its differences, Oxford will always feel a bit like home.