Hello!
So this post is about a few cultural differences that I've noticed so far, (plus anything else I remember as I type!)
1) People say 'right' a lot here. Like how we say 'yeah' in a conversation to show we understand and we're listening or that we agree with something; here 'right' is used to mean that. It doesn't sound that strange, but when one of my professor's is talking in a lecture, explaining something or another, and every other word is 'right' you definitely notice it!
2) 'Sure' is also another 'yes' substitute; however it is also often used when someone has just provided you with a service of some kind, i.e. in a shop or office, when you'd say thank you and leave, they'd just say 'sure.' Again it's a small difference, but when you're used to someone saying 'You're welcome' or something more formal and substantial, 'sure' can sound a bit nonchalant.
3) Swear words. I haven't quite figured out the different degrees of severity yet, but today my professor actually said BS; which of course I was shocked by!
4) I forgot to mention my Drive Thru' ATM experience. Yes, that was odd one. We pulled up to something that looked like a petrol station, filled out some forms and put them in a tube thing with our card, the tube whizzed up the system entered their office they sorted it all out and sent the money and the card back. It was crazy.
5) Sororities and Fraternities actually are a big deal like in the films. UIUC (the university I'm at here!) actually has THE largest fraternity and sorority community in the US!! Honestly, I see numerous people everyday walking around with specific Greek letters on their clothes, symbolising which group they are a member of.
I was on the bus yesterday around campus and it went through the 'Greek Village' where the majority of the HUGE houses are that hosts 20+ students in a particular group. Practically everyday at university there have been chalk scribbles on the floor advertising each 'frat' group, because there is a short period of time in the beginning of this semester called 'rushing,' which is where new members are being recruited.
I don't completely understand the process yet or what being in a group of that kind actually consists of; but I've heard that they do have the parties like on the films! One of my professor's actually advised us international students that if we were to go to a 'frat' party to ask around first, she said: 'You'll learn which ones not to go to fairly quickly' meaning that the activities you see on the films probably do actually happen in certain ones!
6) Eating out is a big part of the culture here, it's just so cheap to do so. It's a hard one to navigate, I haven't eaten out too many times since living here at the apartment, but I can understand why it is so popular. Food ingredients, 'groceries' or whatever aren't actually that much cheaper here than in the UK I keep forgetting about tax getting added on at the end, so things don't work out to be much cheaper. Whereas eating out in a restaurant is definitely a lot cheaper. It's hard to navigate because you want to eat healthily, so would prefer to cook yourself since you know what you're putting into a meal, but that ends up costing you more! It's a strange thing, but I'm definitely learning which ingredients are necessary and which are superfluous; whilst still getting an 'American dining experience' every now and then!
7) Tipping. I forget a lot! But what I have noticed (when I do remember!) that people are kind when they know you don't get it, or aren't used to it, and even if you give them less than what's expected because you're confused about coins, they appreciate your effort in trying!
8) MACS. I don't even know how to turn a mac computer on. I went into a computer work room intending to do some research online, but since I couldn't figure out how to turn the thing on, (and it was a silent study room!) I just sat and read my book instead.
9) People give directions in compass language. They say things like 'Oh! The Krannert Centre? That's just South of here.' I'm sorry.. South?! How the heck do I know which way I'm facing? Being someone whose geography is appalling and tends to get lost frequently, these kinds of directions don't help much! Maybe when I return home I'll actually be able to read a map and not walk in the wrong direction.
10) It's an imperial system here. The unit converter on Google has never received so many hits. Every time I cook something or even go on the treadmill, I have to convert things over; it's confusing!
So there we go, 10 differences/experience so far that I can remember! I'm sure there will be many more to come!
Cheryl
So this post is about a few cultural differences that I've noticed so far, (plus anything else I remember as I type!)
1) People say 'right' a lot here. Like how we say 'yeah' in a conversation to show we understand and we're listening or that we agree with something; here 'right' is used to mean that. It doesn't sound that strange, but when one of my professor's is talking in a lecture, explaining something or another, and every other word is 'right' you definitely notice it!
2) 'Sure' is also another 'yes' substitute; however it is also often used when someone has just provided you with a service of some kind, i.e. in a shop or office, when you'd say thank you and leave, they'd just say 'sure.' Again it's a small difference, but when you're used to someone saying 'You're welcome' or something more formal and substantial, 'sure' can sound a bit nonchalant.
3) Swear words. I haven't quite figured out the different degrees of severity yet, but today my professor actually said BS; which of course I was shocked by!
4) I forgot to mention my Drive Thru' ATM experience. Yes, that was odd one. We pulled up to something that looked like a petrol station, filled out some forms and put them in a tube thing with our card, the tube whizzed up the system entered their office they sorted it all out and sent the money and the card back. It was crazy.
5) Sororities and Fraternities actually are a big deal like in the films. UIUC (the university I'm at here!) actually has THE largest fraternity and sorority community in the US!! Honestly, I see numerous people everyday walking around with specific Greek letters on their clothes, symbolising which group they are a member of.
I was on the bus yesterday around campus and it went through the 'Greek Village' where the majority of the HUGE houses are that hosts 20+ students in a particular group. Practically everyday at university there have been chalk scribbles on the floor advertising each 'frat' group, because there is a short period of time in the beginning of this semester called 'rushing,' which is where new members are being recruited.
I don't completely understand the process yet or what being in a group of that kind actually consists of; but I've heard that they do have the parties like on the films! One of my professor's actually advised us international students that if we were to go to a 'frat' party to ask around first, she said: 'You'll learn which ones not to go to fairly quickly' meaning that the activities you see on the films probably do actually happen in certain ones!
6) Eating out is a big part of the culture here, it's just so cheap to do so. It's a hard one to navigate, I haven't eaten out too many times since living here at the apartment, but I can understand why it is so popular. Food ingredients, 'groceries' or whatever aren't actually that much cheaper here than in the UK I keep forgetting about tax getting added on at the end, so things don't work out to be much cheaper. Whereas eating out in a restaurant is definitely a lot cheaper. It's hard to navigate because you want to eat healthily, so would prefer to cook yourself since you know what you're putting into a meal, but that ends up costing you more! It's a strange thing, but I'm definitely learning which ingredients are necessary and which are superfluous; whilst still getting an 'American dining experience' every now and then!
7) Tipping. I forget a lot! But what I have noticed (when I do remember!) that people are kind when they know you don't get it, or aren't used to it, and even if you give them less than what's expected because you're confused about coins, they appreciate your effort in trying!
8) MACS. I don't even know how to turn a mac computer on. I went into a computer work room intending to do some research online, but since I couldn't figure out how to turn the thing on, (and it was a silent study room!) I just sat and read my book instead.
9) People give directions in compass language. They say things like 'Oh! The Krannert Centre? That's just South of here.' I'm sorry.. South?! How the heck do I know which way I'm facing? Being someone whose geography is appalling and tends to get lost frequently, these kinds of directions don't help much! Maybe when I return home I'll actually be able to read a map and not walk in the wrong direction.
10) It's an imperial system here. The unit converter on Google has never received so many hits. Every time I cook something or even go on the treadmill, I have to convert things over; it's confusing!
So there we go, 10 differences/experience so far that I can remember! I'm sure there will be many more to come!
Cheryl
Brilliant brilliant Cheryl! I can relate to ALL these observations from when I lived in the States...and there'll be many more ha ha! Glad to hear you're doing well - we miss you! Leah
ReplyDeleteYes, the list of differences is definitely getting longer! Thanks for stopping by! I miss you all too!
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