Lessons Learned

Random things I learned this week in London:

• The British love gossip as much as the US does, maybe more. The newspapers and TV are filled with the stuff.
• Maybe I just don't notice it in the US. Madonna's baby adoption was the biggest piece of news all week here.
• British newspapers are a lot more risque. Going through the Detroit News, I don't typically expect to find pictures of naked women.
• You can only bring one bag through security at Heathrow. No carry on luggage plus suitcase stuff here.
• My Northwest Gold Elite status gets me into the KLM World Club without any additional membership.
• You can say just about anything with a British accent and it sounds polite.
• You need to look the opposite way when crossing the street over here than you do in the US British food is pretty horrible.
• Calling someone a Numpty is similar to calling them a numb-skull, which is scottish in origin (that sounded very Willish.
• On average, the Brits don't have the same kind of dental hygene that we do in the states (not including West Virgina, Arkansas and Alabama).
• The US is not all that beloved outside of the US. Sometimes being the top dog is tough.
• Make a copy of your passport and keep it separate from your actual passport (thanks Dan for this tip AFTER the fact. Losing your passport can put you in a world of hurt, but you can book an appointment at the U.S. Embassy online.
• A five hour time zone change is tough coming this way, but not as bad going back.
• I'm barely functional with european currency: quid, pence, pound and euro - especially the change. There were times when I would just hold a handful of random change out and let them pick out the right denominations for me.
• When riding in the passenger side of a European car, get in on the right otherwise they'll think you want to drive.
• There are a million pubs over here.
• TV over here is pretty horrible.
• Budweiser is an import here, and lots of people drink it. It is the king of beers after all.
• England uses the metric system, except for miles (the measurement system, not the guy).