Differences Between US and UK

This is the bus I caught to head to Strand campus, sitting at the top gives a nice view when there are shorter buildings around.
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Today was very uneventful so I will spend most of this blog talking about cultural differences between US and UK as I've seen them thus far.

It was a very sunny day so I decided to head down to Strand Campus and see if I couldn't get some help regarding my courses.  I met a couple of other American students who were in the same boat as I.  Somehow, the geography department closes on Wednesdays after 1 pm!  We all had to speak to the department because we were trying to get courses within.  Oh well, we headed out to get some lunch.  I left the group because they wanted to eat in a smoky pub where they were serving very American food (burgers, fries, etc.).  I ended up getting a spicy chicken pasty which looked like a pastry about the size of a woman's wallet filled with chicken, potatoes, gravy, and seasoning.  It was very good and very cheap compared to the pub food so I was glad that I broke away from that group.  I've started to realize that American students LOVE to stick together around these parts.  They also like to talk about how the UK isn't as good as America.  For example, this whole debacle about getting courses has proven difficult.  However, I think it is because their education system is just different, neither worse or better.  It is rather incompatible with the liberal arts - oriented method that is popular in the US.  Also, I can tell that they are from wealthy families and are not used to the small quarters available to students.  But I've noticed that EVERYTHING is smaller here in the UK.  For example, food portions.  I can't seem to get very full on any entrees.  Their living spaces are small, but I've seen how locals live (pictures from flatmates) and their rooms and living spaces are cozy as well.  The small rooms is not necessarily because London is overcrowded.  Sacha is from Leicester (pronounced Lester, they've ousted an entire syllable!) and Hao is from Nottingham.

This is a cathedral located at King's campus.
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Also, I've noticed that the local students aren't so willing to meet the Americans as we are willing to meet them.  Thus far, I've had to introduce myself to most of my friends.  However, once I break the ice they can't stop talking!  They want to know all about where I'm from, what I do, why I decided London, if I play football/rugby, etc.  They're great to talk to and are so receptive!  I think this new group of friends I have may try to visit each other's homes in England some weekends.  I really want to get out of London and see some of the rural areas of England (i.e. Leicester and Nottingham).

Front gate at King's College's Strand campus
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British students study during the day and go out on week nights.  Then on weekends, they go home.  It's pretty reverse to anything I'm used to.  We Americans want to go out on weekends with them but apparently the apartments empty because people leave for home!

They're not as politically inclined as we were told.  We were warned that they often quiz Americans or grill us as to why we support Bush's administration.  However, since I've been here, I haven't heard a single conversation relating at all to politics.  It's great for me because I really don't know anything about it.

Nissan Micra - rear. Look how small this is! It's smaller than the mini as far as I can tell.
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They're not nearly as lazy as we are.  The American students aren't accustomed to walking everywhere.  To get to the tube stop or bus stop I have to walk at least 5 minutes.  Honestly, if we could, we would rather drive to the stop.

I haven't seen many obese people walking around.  That's probably because those walking around aren't obese in the first place.  But in general it seems they are more active.

Their cars are tiny!  See the photos of the Nissan Micra.  It is smaller than the mini!  I've seen many of these cars on the roads.  You know that this car would not sell nearly as well in the states.  I have yet to see a Hummer.  SUVs, trucks, and vans are very scarce.  It is obvious that their are more fuel-conscious.  I see millions of motorcycles and mopeds.  None of these motorists ride for show (as most do in America including yours truly) as made apparent by their hard saddle bags.  Most motorcycles have at least one hard saddle bag, even the hardcore sportsbikes have saddle bags.  Also, most common are small-engine bikes (250-600 cc) which get roughly 50 mpg.  I don't quite understand how their gas prices are because they advertise 87.9 (pounds?).  I don't know what volume that is for.

Nissan Micra - front
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Finally, not too many homeless people walk the streets.  For a city I would expect there to be a lot of homeless people.

Anyway, this is what I've observed thus far within the city.  I would really be interested in seeing the outskirts and the rural area.