Heaps Of _______

It seems fairly common for Americans to return from abroad and share lists of things the foreign country had and didn't have as a way to interest their fellow Americans about the different world they experienced. Luckily for you, that time is now and that list is here.

Q: "Hey Marta! What are some things they have in England that we don't have in the US?"

A: "Thank you for asking, friend. In England they have heaps of ________" (Notice my use of "heaps". Look at me using lingo! Haha.)

Fill in the blank:

a) UMBROS. Seriously, I've landed in the land of Umbros...everywhere. And it doesn't stop at the wind-pant esque shorts of early 90s America. Pants, hoodies, hats, even shoes. I suddenly feel the urge to shove some shinguards in my tube socks and go be of little importance on a soccer field.
b) TEA. Its not a English stereotype, kids. Lots and lots of tea. Coffee is a lesser option too during tea breaks. I drink mine straight up! (No milk or sugar...)
c) RABBITS. Rabbits on the SPEC grounds are large and in charge. So so so so so many. Its ridiculous. And they're huge. Like they should be in an episode of the Twilight Zone. They aren't afraid of humans either. *Shiver*
d) COINS There are 8 coins I have counted so far. 1 pence (penny), 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, 50 pence, 1 pound, 2 pound. I rarely feel the desire to tell an entire nation they are wrong-- but 8 coins is what I like to consider OVERKILL! Its confusing and somewhat necessary. Once you add a 1 and 2 dollar equivalent into the mix, no one gives a rat's patoot about the small guys...and all they do is make foreigners like myself feel like like a little kid searching through my change purse to make correct change at checkouts. I pay in cash just so I don't look out of place in stores! (Confession: I sometimes also mask my American accent...shhh!) I'm about to "stick it to the system" and have 2 change purses--- 1 for 50ps, 1 pound, and 2 pounders and one of all the other fluff.


e) CLOTHES LINES I haven't hung up my clothes to dry since...ummmm...Sudie? Did we ever use a clothes line? Enter my year in England. They are everywhere and commonly used. (in addition to dryers) You should see the variety of clothes pins in the store! I can see the clothes line from my room window...in case my clothes start misbehaving out there.

f) MY TWO LONG LOST LOVES! There has been a hole in my foodie-heart ever since my Australian semester abroad. Sweet Chilli Sauce and Penguins (aka Tim Tams) have re-entered my life. Thank you England. I've already done a "Penguin Slam" so Now all I need to do is to drench potato wedges in Sweet Chilli sauce and sour cream and I'm pratically Down Under again!
g) WAYS TO PRONOUCE MARTA In the States, you have a choice between Marda and Marta. (You should choose the latter.) Here, my name is experiencing the land of opportunity! A chance to really explore and try new things via accents! Mah-ta, Marter, Ma-ah, Martuh. For those of you who know that annoying Ting Tings diddy, it is my new theme song- hahahaha. "They call me Mah-ta, they call me Marter, They call me Ma-ah..thats not my name!!"


Mah-ta has had a long day of painting rooms. It is now time to face the mutant rabbit population outside and head back to Chantry Lodge where my bed awaits.

jo ejszakat! (Thats goodnight from my Hungarian co-worker Agi who is sitting next to me!)
-Marta