1) Inanimate objects are very polite: elevators, warning signs, the underground...everything, but not so much the city people. The elevator in the building where our classroom is located warns you when the doors are about to close and open: same with the tube. "The doors are about to close. Please stand clear of the doors. The doors are about to close. Thank you." And when there are delays: "We regret to inform all passengers on the District and Circle lines that there are moderate delays. We apologize for any inconvenience."
My favorite things was the alarm warning on the tube. The alarm was attached to the wall of the tube interior and instead of saying "Warning: Do Not Press Alarm" like it would in the US, it said "Please be aware of this alarm. Please do not activate alarm. Thank you for your cooperation."
The people, on the other hand, are the epitome of the city-dweller stereotype, at least in London. The residents of Cambridge (see next post) were very nice, but it's a much smaller town.
2) Closing times. Everything opens late and closes early. It's a big deal that Primark (think Target) just announced that they will now be open from 8:00am to 8:00pm during the week. And on Sundays? It's not worth trying to go anywhere to buy things. They open late and close early. It's kind of nice, that the workers get to go home etc., but if you're used to everything being open until at least 9:00pm, it can throw you off a bit.
3) When I was on the subway in New York or in Washington DC, it was LOUD. People chattering and playing music and so on. Here it's silent; talking is weird, and should be done at a low volume.
4) Traffic rules and signs are not so much laws as REALLY REALLY REALLY loose guidelines. It's terrifying, and I don't think I ever want to be in a vehicle on London streets ever again. The bus to Cambridge was scary. Unfortunately, we're going to Canterbury this next weekend, so we'll be cruising through London again on our way in and out of town. I'm scared.
5) Prices. Are wonderful. Right now the exchange rate is just over $1.50 for each British pound. This makes figuring exchange rates pretty easy. Food, especially, is very comparatively inexpensive. Even more so when you consider that taxes are already figured into the prices posted in the stores.
6) And Alex tells me that I should post about how street name signs are posted on the sides of building, rather than on sign posts.
No tax on grocery store food in Wisconsin, as it's a necessity. Restaurant/take-away,taxed. Also, less tipping in England helps.
ReplyDeleteSignposts: probably hard to fit on the old narrow streets, and the building come right out to the edge of the sidewalk--I think it was that way in Rome too. Are there signposts in area where the buildings are set back with lawns?
Mom
The sign posts are always on the sides of buildings, even when the streets are very wide.
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