I Wouldn't Do This In America O_o

After being here for such a short time, I’ve noticed quite a few British behaviors that wouldn’t stand a chance going unrecognized in America.  Awkwardly, I’ve even found myself getting accustomed to these behaviors, as if I were British.  Yes, that quick; I’ve only been here for a week!  Not only getting accustomed to their behaviors, but picking up small habits that I just wouldn’t normally do in America.  For example, the rule I mentioned in my last post, NEW RULES, I wasn’t exaggerating.  These people have emergencies every day, or so it seems!  They can never walk past without bumping you, and there’s no such thing as a gentle bump.  So, what do I do?   You’ve got it, I bump back, move forward with making my way through the sardine packed crowds of people, or I stiffen my shoulders so that the force from their bump knocks them back.  No way would I get away with doing this in America; I will have gotten slapped for walking around like a football player, knocking people out my way left and right.

Another drastic change is the usage of my phone.  Close your eyes really quick, and imagine what being without your phone for three fourths of your day would feel like.  Okay, more or less, but you get the point.  At home I am completely attached to my phone; it is in my hand at all times, and if not, it is within reach.  Since I can only use my phone here, in Wifi, it’s tucked away in my purse until I make it to the nearest McDonalds or Cloud network, or it’s left in my at home in my flat.  I wouldn’t dare leave my phone at home in America, let alone allow the battery to get below 20%.  What’s the use in charging it though? I can’t use it!

Then there’s transportation.  At home, I am driving my own vehicle or riding in someone else’s.  I would never take the bus or a taxi.  I don’t even walk much, unless I’m at school on campus.  Here, I do all of the above.  I only take the tube, which is an underground subway.  There are so many cars on the roads here, but it seems like everyone takes the tube, literally, so I don’t know who’s driving.  It’s a public transpiration system, and as you could expect, there’s no air, they’re packed, they’re not very clean, and you might even catch a homeless person walking through.  Yuck, right?  I would never do it at home, but I sure am here.  The things I do in London...