As many of you probably remember... my daughter Brittany will be studying abroad in London. Before when I mentioned this I didn't know what University she would be studying at... well (even though she claims she told me before) I finally got an answer today. Found out that she will be studying at the University of London.  I also found out that she will be staying with a host family which I am happy about.

While talking to Brittany on the phone today we were talking about how on the following year she is planning to study abroad once again... the next time being in Japan! My daughter... the world traveler! I asked her how she was coming along with her learning Japanese (coming along fine) and how at least she don't have that worry in London. That is when she tells me about some of the different terms used in UK compared to here. Liker...

Here: eraser
UK: rubber
(that could be embarrassing!) LOL

Here: Cigarette
UK: Fag

Here: Sprite
UK: Lemon-aide
Which makes me want to ask... if Brittany wants an actual Lemon-aide  what does she ask for?

Any of our UK friends out there that can help her not embarrass herself when asking for stuff... what all does she need to know?... would be much appreciated!

In other words... what other differences in languages must she know?

Do you know which particular college she'll be attached to? I think there are about twenty constituent colleges which make up UoL. Amusingly, the  chancellor of the uni (a titular/ceremonial figurehead) is Princess Anne.....named after a town in Maryland as I recall  

Now for a language lesson (UK first)

Tap =  fawcet

Pavement  = sidewalk

Bonnet (of car) = hood

Boot (of car) = trunk

Chemist = drugstore

Lift = elevator

Underground = subway

Many, many more can be found by googling "oxford dictionaries - British & American terms"

Don't forget we drive on the left side of the road, which means that the traffic will be coming from the other direction when she's crossing!

If she fancies getting out of town at the weekend then there are frequent (overground) trains in all directions, and you can get a long way in an hour ( we are a small country!).  I would recommend Oxford & Brighton for "extreme Englishness".



and finally., and most importantly,...football is played with a round ball!!!!  

Thanks all... Next time I talk to her I will see which campus she will be attending. And yeah... should know Princess Anne... for those that don't know... that is the town Brittany and I are from.

Quoting Ardos:

Quote:
Quoting Addicted2DVD:

Quote:

Here: eraser
UK: rubber
(that could be embarrassing!) LOL

Everyone I've come across has understood eraser to be an alternate word.

I was actually thinking if it was the other way around... if an Englishman asked an American for a rubber... that could be embarrassing! LOL

What we call a handbag, you would call a purse.  (If she refers to her purse, most people in the UK would assume she means a lady's wallet.  You know, the sort with compartments for coins and the like.  I have no idea what you'd call one of those.)

Wings (of car) = fenders (at least front fenders)

The worst and most embarrassing, in my opinion:

In the US a Fanny = Bum/Bottom
In the UK Fanny is another word for Vagina.

So, please make sure she never says "I got hit on the fanny", or "fell on my fanny" or put anything in her fanny pocket.
Whenever I hear those phrases in US shows it always makes me laugh/cringe.

If she in London no one will care what word she uses. London is massively cosmopolitan and mostly these days very excepting of every nationality.  As long as you have a basic grasp of English and don't ask people for direction all the time, as Londoners hate being inconvenienced by tourists and mostly won't help any one. So yeah she should be fine.

Quoting mediadogg:

Quote:
I agree with ShinyDiscGuy. On our recent trip, we found that neighborhood small shop owners and even central London restaurant and pub staff willingly provide help. So, you can save some of those those juicy questions for when you're having a food break, and engage a friendly waiter / waitress.

Of course, a student will usually establish a set of local friends.

Aye just don't ask the suits and ties on the street which way to the nearest taxi rank or tube station. Americans are not uber foreigners unlike people from Asia where cultural differences are massive. Americans are even less foreign than some Europeans (excluding the fact Americans speak English) Greeks and the Swiss.

Greeks are lovely people mostly but there unique culture and language makes them see the world a lot more differently than most other Europeans. I have a few Greek friends and i have a lot of respect for the Greeks. Swiss oh my god combine a German, Italian and French with snobbery and insanity and that's my experience of them. I'm sure there are nice Swiss out there but not met any yet.

Any way besides that i will offer this one caveat to obey if your daughter is to avoid any problems with British culture. ALWAYS RESPECT THE QUEUE. It's the biggest cardinal sin in British society to queue jump or push in front of a queue. Seriously you will evoke the wrath of an angry mob if you do this.