Can I Say Wicked in England?: First 2 Months:

   I love England! I fear that my time here is far too short for the amount of exploring I want to do, which is the sad reality of being abrade for one semester. But, I know when I leave, I'm going to be so happy knowing I made the most of my time here by doing everything possible and taking advantage of being in this wonderful city, even if it's exhausting. I guess that goes for globe trotting too. People keep asking me how I have so much energy and how I get my work done with all of the traveling I've managed. And here is my answer: I work extra hard during the week so that I can travel or explore Bath on the weekends. Although I'm here as a student, I feel as though a lot of what I've learned about the people and culture of England as well as of other countries is from traveling and experiencing life first hand.
   No doubt though, school work is still challenging and for those of you who have doubted the amount of work I've had this semester...just know that the last two weeks were very hard!!! And ask my housemates, when I need to get something done, I just hunker down in the library (with no internet :o) and get it done. So even though it's been amazing traveling and seeing so much around Europe, of course I'm tired!!! But I wouldn't change that for some extra hours of sleep, because I have the rest of my life to sleep in!
   So I've talked mostly about my travels elsewhere, but here's what I've learned in Bath...
1. As the seasons change, the only difference is the temperature of the rain...it hailed today! And right now, on Oct 20- it's 34 degrees and raining. BURRRRRR
2. English people either love Americans, or they dislike Americans. There is no in-between because most people have either had really happy interactions or the contrary.
3. Americans are often seen as being really loud...which I understand because English people are slightly quieter than us. Also, they mumble a lot so sometimes it's hard to understand their accents especially if they're from New Castle of Yorkshire. haha
4. Pumpkin doesn't really exist here. BUT we found somewhere that sold it and since then have made muffins, pie and smoothies. The funny part about this is that the only people who buy pumpkin are Americans, and the guy at the check out counter asked me if it was a holiday because we had cans of pumpkin. He was embarrassed when I said no but then I assured him that we just like eating pumpkin in autumn which made him feel better.
5. People smoke a lot. Even though the cigarettes say "Smoking Kills" everyone smokes even the young people! This is strange for us because at home you never see someone standing outside the gym...smoking, it just doesn't make sense!
6. Tea is a way of life. People joke about that but here, they are really serious about their tea! Everyday people drink tea in the morning and afternoon. Our assistant director joked "whenever there's a crisis, everyone freaks out and then someone puts on the kettle so they can solve the problem over tea." haha true story! So with that being said, coffee here is not strong or good because it's not a necessity like it is at home. My friend Deanna would die without good coffee! But luckily, when I do want to indulge, we have a Starbuck's which is my comfort shop when I get homesick because it's so familiar to me.
Now for some language:
stove: the hobb
to rent: to hire
bathroom: toilets
thank you: cheers
bucks $: quid
cents: P as is pence
rotary: circus
money, bill: note, banknote
sandwich at at street vendor: butty, like a chip butty
fries: chips
parking lot: car park
trash: rubbish bin
poor college student (out of money): skint...haha the fact that they have a noun for this is awesome
being right: being spot on
cash register: the till. this still confuses me.
umbrella: brolly, this term is most useful!

Here are photos from our 11 mile walk to Bradford on Avon: