Today we discussed American English in my linguistics class. We got to a slide about differences in slang between American and British English. Consider the following scenarios:
-An American walking into her job in a UK office and being told that one of her coworkers is "outside blowing a fag."
-A Brit walking into a stationery store and asking for a "rubber."
-A Brit walking into an American bar and asking the bartender if he can "pinch a fag."
-An American explaining that he has relationship problems and being told that he should just "keep his pecker up."
In British English, you see, a fag is a cigarette, a rubber is (I assume) an eraser, and pecker is overall cheerfulness. As you know, we Americans interpret these terms quite differently.
Lori and I were DYING of laughter when we read these and we kept giggling silently through the rest of class...but I'm not sure the Brits understood what all of these phrases meant because none of them were laughing at all.
My Simon Schama "A History of Britain" DVDs have arrived at last! I am very excited for the nerdy movie nights that will begin in the near future.
As some of you may already be aware, I am going camping and hiking in Roy Bridge, Scotland this weekend (Google has pretty pictures of this area, so I am quite excited). Tomorrow the forecast indicates a 70% chance of rain. Sunday's prediction, however, includes a picture of a sun, even if it is a sun covered partially by a cloud, so I have high hopes for semi-decent hiking conditions. We will be staying at an actual campsite, which will have "sinks," and I remain unsure whether "sinks" includes toilets as well. If you can bring water in for a sink, I'd assume you can bring water in for a toilet. But I suppose I'll find out.
(By the way, Brits do not say "bathroom" the way that we do. A bathroom includes a shower. When you want to use the bathroom, you need to ask where the "toilets" are, or they might just come out and tell you that they do have toilets but they don't have bathrooms. A lot of my friends seem to have difficulty adjusting to this, as they still feel that "toilet" is not a polite term, but I guess I've gotten used to it very quickly. Still have yet to make British friends. I should get to know some people over the weekend, so perhaps in the near future I'll be able to provide you with more enlightening and amusing insights into English culture.)
Much love! Pictures of the Scottish highlands to come SOON!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Photos of Liverpool and the canal path
Today I did nothing except read Jane Eyre, go for a walk to Galgate with Germa, and enjoy free dinner from Globe Cafe while being amused by Falcon's British-Chinese accent. I'm not sure how I dissipated all of the hours in between. But it has been a very enjoyable and relaxing day.
Photos!
Across the street from the bus station
A church that was mostly destroyed in WWII
Lori and Saudya
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King
I am deeply in love with this building. It is extraordinary. Sublime even? (OH NO! The S word! Jeff, you will just have to deal with it. I promise it was sublime.)
This is inside the Liverpool Cathedral. Slightly more commercialized...much less beautiful....
A cafe and a gift shop. No, they are not outside the cathedral, they are inside. Commercialism much?
On top of the tower of Liverpool Cathedral!
That view extends to Wales. You can see the mountains of Wales in the background.
BLUE SKY!
This restaurant was fantastic. Very inexpensive, very delicious food, and it was really cute inside.
Entrance to Chinatown
Flags for Chinese New Year celebrations
I just love the juxtaposition of the ride and the cathedral....
Docks
Penny Lane!
Our bus!
George Harrison house?...maybe?.....
This just amused me. I really don't know why. I don't want to think about it much either. It just makes me laugh.
Strawberry Fields forever!
John Lennon's house at some point in time. Probably between the ages of 4 and 4 1/2, that seemed to be the general trend.
One of the many parks in Liverpool as seen out the window
See, I think this actually WAS George Harrison's house....hmmmmm.
The Cavern Club is awesome inside. Someday I will go back there and actually have a drink. It's just so damn cool.
We couldn't resist taking pictures of these...this was at the Rococo Cafe where we enjoyed dessert.
Lemon and chocolate cake. I had coffee cake, it was delicious.
The next day I woke up and it was sunny and so I decided to go for a walk!
Okay, so if you look at that cottage in the middle, and you look right under it, you see a little black dot, and that black dot is a cat.
BLUE SKY IN LANCASTER!!!!
The puddles all reflected the sky and were very beautiful.
Canal path
Patos!
Maman et bebe moutons!!!
I had quite an adventure navigating these puddles, which often expanded to take up the entire path. I at last figured out how Elizabeth Bennett became covered in mud on her walk to Netherfield.
Leaves!
More mama and baby sheep!
Town is near! Almost there!
View of the town from the castle
Castle!
Priory church
View from the priory church
MOUNTAINS WITH SNOW!!!!!!!!
Typical street in Lancaster. I can work my way around Lancaster by looking at the slope of the street. I have no idea how the streets intersect, but I know the geography well enough that I can figure out what is down and what is up.
Back on campus
Photos!
Across the street from the bus station
A church that was mostly destroyed in WWII
Lori and Saudya
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King
I am deeply in love with this building. It is extraordinary. Sublime even? (OH NO! The S word! Jeff, you will just have to deal with it. I promise it was sublime.)
This is inside the Liverpool Cathedral. Slightly more commercialized...much less beautiful....
A cafe and a gift shop. No, they are not outside the cathedral, they are inside. Commercialism much?
On top of the tower of Liverpool Cathedral!
That view extends to Wales. You can see the mountains of Wales in the background.
BLUE SKY!
This restaurant was fantastic. Very inexpensive, very delicious food, and it was really cute inside.
Entrance to Chinatown
Flags for Chinese New Year celebrations
I just love the juxtaposition of the ride and the cathedral....
Docks
Penny Lane!
Our bus!
George Harrison house?...maybe?.....
This just amused me. I really don't know why. I don't want to think about it much either. It just makes me laugh.
Strawberry Fields forever!
John Lennon's house at some point in time. Probably between the ages of 4 and 4 1/2, that seemed to be the general trend.
One of the many parks in Liverpool as seen out the window
See, I think this actually WAS George Harrison's house....hmmmmm.
The Cavern Club is awesome inside. Someday I will go back there and actually have a drink. It's just so damn cool.
We couldn't resist taking pictures of these...this was at the Rococo Cafe where we enjoyed dessert.
Lemon and chocolate cake. I had coffee cake, it was delicious.
The next day I woke up and it was sunny and so I decided to go for a walk!
Okay, so if you look at that cottage in the middle, and you look right under it, you see a little black dot, and that black dot is a cat.
BLUE SKY IN LANCASTER!!!!
The puddles all reflected the sky and were very beautiful.
Canal path
Patos!
Maman et bebe moutons!!!
I had quite an adventure navigating these puddles, which often expanded to take up the entire path. I at last figured out how Elizabeth Bennett became covered in mud on her walk to Netherfield.
Leaves!
More mama and baby sheep!
Town is near! Almost there!
View of the town from the castle
Castle!
Priory church
View from the priory church
MOUNTAINS WITH SNOW!!!!!!!!
Typical street in Lancaster. I can work my way around Lancaster by looking at the slope of the street. I have no idea how the streets intersect, but I know the geography well enough that I can figure out what is down and what is up.
Back on campus
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