I know I am supposed to be writing a post about Dublin or Edinburgh or Boston. Bad me. There are certain things that take precedence. Like my growing list of observations that can only be appreciated by fellow Americans. So here it goes...
1. The Chinese Takeaway (English for take out)
There are a lot of things I miss about home, my weekly Pho and Thai indulgences land high on the list. In my quest to fill the void of my cravings we've stumbled upon what is known here as the Chinese takeaway. I know it is NOT the same type of food but I am desperate. Takeaway is not the same as American take-out. Come on, take-out is an American institution. Here, not so much. In the Chinese Takeaways there are no tables or decorations. Essentially, there is no dine-in option. Instead, after placing your order from the hundreds of options at a large empty counter you are expected to sit and wait on a fold-up chair. Don't worry, there is a flat screen TV and a plastic plant to entertain you while you wait. As to why you are not allowed to eat inside the Takeaway (despite the ample room), probably because the food is SO HORRIBLE that no one would ever pay for it if given the option.
2. The ghost garage
In America the garage is a coveted space. Regardless of what you use your garage for (I'm not judging) it is designed to park a car inside except if you live In England. That is because a car simply will not fit inside the garage unless you drive a SmartCar. Apparently, even if you do manage to squeeze your car inside, you better be capable of crawling out the trunk because there is no way you can exit through a door. Why build a garage if a car cannot fit inside?
3. Though shall not have dry clothes
The English have an irrational love for line drying their laundry. In a country where it is raining more often than not, I've found this practice very impractical. The home we currently occupy does not have a dryer. (Don't ask me how that happened.) I am forced to use two indoor drying racks. Not only does it usually take three days for my clothes to dry but it leaves them feeling like cardboard. If one is lucky enough to have a dryer, you can expect a single load to take 2-3 hours and still come out damp. Why, why, why can the dryer technology from the US not be utilized here? So on my behalf, please go hug your dryer today.
4. The t-i-n-y parking lot
Anyone that has traveled to Europe knows the cars here are much smaller than the US. You won't see an Escalade, Tahoe, Ford F150 or even a Camry. Not only would those vehicles be impossible to drive on the narrow roads (or park in a garage!) but you would never find a parking spot large enough to accommodate the vehicle. The parking lots here do not allow for easy reversing or parking. It is not uncommon to make a 30 point turn to reverse out of a spot. I know this because it happens to me - frequently. So the next time you pull into a parking spot and you can open your doors with ease and reverse out in a single motion, just think of me and my 30 point turns.
5. Dogs in a Pub
Dogs are allowed in most pubs! It is not uncommon to walk inside a pub to see a dog tethered to a table. Just a few weeks ago Rory and I took our dogs to the Cotswolds and ate lunch at a pub (on the patio)...with our dogs! It was great. Although, I still hesitate to bring the dogs inside the pub because I imagine our big dog (Rusty) taking a taste off a neighboring plate of food.
6. Christmas is still called Christmas
...and no one is "offended" by it.
