Lessons I learned from the UK

I LOVED the UK. So here we go. :)

1. Under no circumstances should you ever run to catch the tube if you are traveling in groups of two or more: Why you may ask? Because one of you will make it on, and the other one will have the doors slam in their face (and if it happens to be the first trip for one of you, then that person will definitely be the one to get left behind.) Yes, this happened. It was terrifying and funny all at the same time. Jake made it on, and the doors closed. I looked at him with my wide terrified eyes, and he looked at me, and shrugged. The people sitting behind him, all made that “oooh, so close!” face. Then the train went away. I wasn’t sure what to do. Luckily this couple was standing right next to me, and the man looked at me. I felt compelled to say something…something like “I think I just lost my husband.” He replied, “I’ve never lost mine before.” :) The lady was more helpful, haha. She said it had happened to her before. (Good to know it’s not just me that these things happen to). She said Jake had actually jumped on the wrong train, and that it was better for me to just stay put—which was brilliant, because my original plan had been to hop on the next train. So I waited, and then a few trains later, Jake popped up. He had gotten off at the next stop, waited to see if I was on the train after him, and when I wasn’t, he hopped on the next train back, and found me. The first thing I said to him was “Good thing this only lasted long enough so it’s still funny.” :) So my tip? Always hold on—literally, after this I always had a handful of Jake’s jacket when we got on—to your travel buddy, and have a plan so you both know what to do if you get separated…needless to say, we came up with one as soon as Jake came back.
2. Be willing to try new things: You’re in a different country with brand new opportunities presented to you. My biggest regret about Scotland was not trying Haggis—the one day I had a shot at it, my stomach was already in knots, and I felt awful. (plus the only places we could find that served it were all bars and the added smell of beer and alcohol was the furthest thing from helping my stomach we could get). But, you can bet your butt we’re going back and I’m getting that order of Haggis :) So here are the things I did try for the first time:
1. going on a 9 hour flight (twice!)
2. getting a decent sleep on a plane ride
3. riding the tube/underground/subway :)
4. using a shower cap
5. using “opera glasses” during a show
6. riding in a cab
7. getting separated from Jake & temporarily lost in the underground
8. (my personal favorite) participating in the first ever Harry Potter conference in the UK
9. wearing a coat at the beach
10. eating mousse (which has neither moose or mice in it…very misleading)
11. eating a kumquat
12. eating fish and chips (fries).
3. Food doesn’t have to make any kind of sense: For example, McDonalds (I know, I know) doesn’t have vanilla milkshakes, but they do have banana? Really? Banana shakes are more popular than vanilla? Ok. How about pepperoni….on a nacho sandwich? Yeah, Jake was surprised by that bite :)
4. Become a impulse-buyer!: Now don’t be unreasonable, paying 300 pounds for a bag is completely crazy whether you’re on holiday or not. What I mean is if you see something you love (it’s a decent/reasonable price), get it right then and there. Don’t say “Oh, I’ll think about it.” Because you won’t be able to find the shop again, or the shop will be closed. You’re supposed to get awesome stuff. Like this kind of stuff:

  An awesome old school milk bottle, a tin of fudge, a cd of Scottish bagpipe music (a wee bit pricey, but I have a weak place for bagpipes, and bagpipe music bought in Scotland? Like i could turn that down!), rosary beads from St. Paul’s, 2 bracelets, some earrings from Scotland, a little gargoyle from Westminster, and a pin from Scotland.

Three patches from Scotland (Scotland flag, Scotland crest, and Scotty Dog) and a brilliant little pin that says “Up Yer Kilt”

 

And lots of postcards (postcards are great for those types of places—museums especially—where you’re not allowed to take pictures).

5. Take an extra battery, extra memory cards, and TONS of pictures: You’re not guaranteed to get to see this place again. Take as many pictures as you can. If it seems fuzzy, take the time to take the picture again. It’s like shopping: do it now, because you won’t necessarily get the opportunity to do it again!

6. Take note of all the cool, different things: For example, there were some things that the UK just does better than the US like the traffic lights. In the US the lights go Green, Yellow, Red, Green. In the UK the lights go Green, Yellow, Red, Red & Yellow, Green. It just makes more sense. The interstates are all 3 lanes; this allows the trucks to pass each other while still maintaining a free lane for cars to pass the trucks. The money system is clever. There are coins for two pounds, one pound, fifty pence, twenty pence, ten pence, five pence, and one pence. It makes getting change so much easier. (plus the one pound coins remind me of the communication coins Hermione makes in Order of the Phoenix).

7. Don’t be an Idiot: Under no circumstances should you wear a London hat in Edinburgh…there will be a nasty little old man who makes you feel the fool, and makes you cry…or at least want to cry. Don’t let one mean person ruin your feelings for the country. Other than that one man, I had a wonderful experience with Scotland.

I’m sure there was more stuff I thought of, and wanted to tell you, but I don’t remember right now. Basically we had a brilliant time, and loved St. Andrews so much that we want to go to school there. :) I loved it—even the parts when I was tired, hungry, sore, and wet.