First few days

Thanks to miss Jana I am starting this blog! I figured it would be easier to put my memories down on the computer than on paper. And now all of you can read along!

So, the first day was intense. In all of the ways I didn't think it would be either. I thought the flight and going through customs would be the hardest things but those turned out to be the highlights of the trip. Not that spending an hour in the Paddington police department wasn't rad but I suppose I had other arrival plans in mind. Anyway, that's all over with now.

Linda spent a lot of time over the past couple of weeks soaking up all of the historical knowledge she could  to be a better tour guide when I arrived and she did an amazing job! Oxford is so historic, exciting, beautiful and DIFFERENT! I love it!

The house we live in really nice! There is another young man that lives here. His name is Jonathan. It's talking with him and sharing the differences in culture and just the way we speak. He explained that a funny term they say when someone eats a lot or looks bloated is, "Who ate all the pies?" Which Linda and I thoroughly enjoyed and plan to incorporate into our everyday vernacular.

So, a couple of odd things that have happened so far that I thought I'd are as follows;

My first day, before I had even gone to the police department, when I was in Paddington I went to the ATM at the Barclays to get money out. I had my card out and was litterally reaching toward the card slot when an Indian man jumped in front of me and just made sounds! The only intelligible thing I got was, "I'ts okay. It's okay." Which, it clearly wasn't!!! He proceeded to use MY ATM! I was, "Are you for real right now?!" As mad as I thought I was though the lady behind me put me to shame. She said, or screamed rather, "Did he just cut in front of you?!?! OH HELL NO!!! You F***ing prat!!! We're in a hurry you a**hole!" Needless to say I went from being frustrated to being completely uncomfortable. He still used the ATM. It was fine though. I hurried away from there!

The second exciting time was when Jon, Linda, Nathaniel and I were at the farmers market and the guy selling produce was helping a girl in front of us. She was Asian but I couldn't tell where in Asia she was from. When she walked away she had forgotten her change and the guy said, "Don't you want your money? You Chinese girl have a lot of money, eh?" She was awkward. We were awkward. That guy was oblivious! It was strange.

Last night at the pub when we were watching the rugby match a lady came around selling tickets to a raffle which turned out to be a meat raffle. Yes, you pay a few pounds and you can win some meat at the end of the night. It was bizarre. I guess it's a regular Friday night thing though.

So far the most difficult things to adjust to are English people's attitudes, humor and dish washers. You seriously do not have to rinse them at all. you can put two day old crusty oatmeal dishes straight into the dish washer and it will come out clean! Amazing!

Linda as started the fish 'n' chips challenge which is an oxford-wide contest to see who has the best fish 'n' chips! I am a huge supporter! We've also been working diligently on developing believable accents and lingo! I think we're doing quite well!

That's all for now. Cheerio!