I find myself missing the oddest things from the U.S. I miss the bacon turkey bravo (a sandwich) from St. Louis Bread Co., and I don't even really like Bread Co. I miss California, and while I've been there a lot, I'm not from there. And the worst craving of all, is that I miss American Pancakes. Here, the word "pancake" refers to what Americans, and more importantly, the French, call "crepes. " So finding "American pancakes" has been a struggle. I could make my own, but I'm lazy and my kitchen in York house is growing new kinds of mold never before seen on earth, so going in there might be damaging to my health.
But I found a restaurant that had American pancakes on the menu. I decided to go with my friend Amy as a post-exam treat (although I've been celebrating being done with course work for three days now). The cafe we went to had this great outdoor terrace and was so relaxing. I was so excited to dive into some big, fluffy, butter-smeared, syrupy pancakes with a side of bacon. But when my plate arrived, there were three small (hand palm-sized) pancakes stacked on top of each other with layers of bacon and strawberries in between. Most unorthodox of all, the so-called "American pancakes" were served with a SIDE SALAD of rocket. The American pancake experience was almost as upsetting at that time that I ordered a fajita and it had mayonnaise in it. Ewwwww.
However, while the American pancakes weren't what I had expected, they were still tasty. I don't really have time to phrase this nicely (I'm racing the sun--I want to go outside and read in the sun, but I'm worried the weather will change suddenly and ruin my plans) so I am just going to say it plainly. Basically, I think it is unfair to bring all of my expectations and comparisons based on the U.S. to England, which is another country and culture despite the shared language. So my dissappointment at that nice cae was really my own issue instead of any relfection on the cafe.
I've been thinking about this a lot, mostly because the Americans here have been complaining about England a lot. They don't like the food, the customer service, the weather, how all the shops close at 4:45pm etc. But the truth is, if you stop having expectations that are based on your experiences in the U.S., all those annoying parts of England seem less significant,. Yes, there are some waiters who forget to refill your water, or take forever to get the bill etc., but there are also really nice enthusiastic shop sales people who like to tell you all about how the shoes in their shop were designed in Brighton etc.
So while my American pancakes (and even the gross fajita) weren't what I expected, they were still good, just different (I'm being very generous towards the fajita). And I guess that is what study abroad is about: adapting to a different situation and trying to make it successful. Too bad I finally realized this two weeks before I have to leave. Maybe I'll just stay...
Quick sidenote: I keep meeting really cool, interesting people right before I have to leave. WTF, life? Life is cruel.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Just Another Benedict Arnold
So I've been entertaining traitorous thoughts in many forms.
The most shocking is that, unlike France where I would (quite pathetically) stalk Americans just to hear English spoken in an American accent, I have begun finding American accents really difficult to hear. Of course there are exceptions. My American friends at Sussex are alright. But if I am sitting on the bus, walking around Brighton or generally going about my life in the UK, and I hear an American accent, my ears start to shrivel because the accent sounds so harsh. Like blunt knives attacking my eardrums. I might have to invest in ear plugs for my first few weeks back in the U.S.
I previously posted things I am going to miss about the UK, but losing the diversity of accents is really going to hurt more than anything else. Here in the UK, the amateur linguistic part of my brain is constantly stimulated. It will be sad to go back to a place where everyone sounds about the same.
Scotland was even better for hearing a diversity of accents. One night in Edinburgh, when Daniel and I were deciding what to do, I told him that I just wanted to go someplace where I could sit and hear Scottish people speak. Luckily, we went to a pub that had Scottish music and we met these older Scottish guys (around 60) who told me about Robert Burns (Scottish poet they all pee their pants over), traditional Scottish music (they sometimes use spoons for percussion) and offering me their sons for marriage. I would have taken the offer. Can you imagine having Scottish babies?
So my second treacherous thought is that I think I might prefer Scotland to England. When I mentioned to the older Scottish guys that I have been studying in England and that I really like it, they responded with dead silence. I quickly picked up that my love of England was not an acceptable expression in a Scottish pub and a rushed to say that while I like England, I love Scotland, and that seemed to placate them. And though I was altering my feelings so as to not upset them, it is somewhat true. I think the Scottish are more similar to Americans (in a way I enjoy) in that they are really friendly and warm. And from the walking tour we did, it seems that the English really have been major bastards to the Scottish. For shame.
Last night, I was hanging out in Olivia's flat and I had been showing her flatmates the Lonely Island videos (they hadn't seen I'm on a Boat!!!), and I blurted out, "I miss America!" They looked at me rather bewildered. And I was bewildered too. Because while it is true, I do miss home, as soon as I said it, the other part of my brain said, "Don't be silly, it is much better in Brighton."
Basically, study abroad is making me have multiple personality disorder. Fabulous.
The most shocking is that, unlike France where I would (quite pathetically) stalk Americans just to hear English spoken in an American accent, I have begun finding American accents really difficult to hear. Of course there are exceptions. My American friends at Sussex are alright. But if I am sitting on the bus, walking around Brighton or generally going about my life in the UK, and I hear an American accent, my ears start to shrivel because the accent sounds so harsh. Like blunt knives attacking my eardrums. I might have to invest in ear plugs for my first few weeks back in the U.S.
I previously posted things I am going to miss about the UK, but losing the diversity of accents is really going to hurt more than anything else. Here in the UK, the amateur linguistic part of my brain is constantly stimulated. It will be sad to go back to a place where everyone sounds about the same.
Scotland was even better for hearing a diversity of accents. One night in Edinburgh, when Daniel and I were deciding what to do, I told him that I just wanted to go someplace where I could sit and hear Scottish people speak. Luckily, we went to a pub that had Scottish music and we met these older Scottish guys (around 60) who told me about Robert Burns (Scottish poet they all pee their pants over), traditional Scottish music (they sometimes use spoons for percussion) and offering me their sons for marriage. I would have taken the offer. Can you imagine having Scottish babies?
So my second treacherous thought is that I think I might prefer Scotland to England. When I mentioned to the older Scottish guys that I have been studying in England and that I really like it, they responded with dead silence. I quickly picked up that my love of England was not an acceptable expression in a Scottish pub and a rushed to say that while I like England, I love Scotland, and that seemed to placate them. And though I was altering my feelings so as to not upset them, it is somewhat true. I think the Scottish are more similar to Americans (in a way I enjoy) in that they are really friendly and warm. And from the walking tour we did, it seems that the English really have been major bastards to the Scottish. For shame.
Last night, I was hanging out in Olivia's flat and I had been showing her flatmates the Lonely Island videos (they hadn't seen I'm on a Boat!!!), and I blurted out, "I miss America!" They looked at me rather bewildered. And I was bewildered too. Because while it is true, I do miss home, as soon as I said it, the other part of my brain said, "Don't be silly, it is much better in Brighton."
Basically, study abroad is making me have multiple personality disorder. Fabulous.
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