A Year in England and Language Lessons

Well, it has almost been a year since I moved across an ocean for a dream come true. Have I learned anything? Oh yes, loads. I have learned how to transfer money internationally to pay my student loans, pay taxes from a different country, and get my license renewed through the mail. I have also learned how to cook curry, transfer cat records, and travel by train by myself across the country. I have learned what it is like to make friends from all over the world and try to understand their different quirks and customs. I have learned how to speak an entirely different language, and I DO mean English! I have learned how to have a long term relationship with someone and how friendship definitely has to be at the heart of it for the whole thing to work. But the most important thing I have learned is that if you want to make your dreams come true, the number one person that is holding you back is normally the person you see in the mirror. Once you get that person out of the way dreams are a snap! What do I mean? I mean I always kept telling myself I couldn't do it, listened to others who said the same, therefore I believed it. Once I started telling myself I could do it and only listened to that one little voice (and brought out some long suppressed Arnold stubbornness), well here I am a year later. I have now seen Paris, climbed the Eiffel Tower, seen the Mona Lisa, seen the Stone of Destiny, seen the great expanse of English moors, seen the haunted gallery and the maze at Hampton Court Palace, touched Queen Elizabeth's tomb in Westminster Abbey, and been in two rooms where kings were born. I have dined or had a pint where great works of literature have been written, seen Eloise and Abelard, walked in the footsteps of Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

This coming year I hope to see Ann Frank's house, where Horatio Nelson died, Pocahontas, walk through Munich and see where Jesse Owens ran, possibly go to Portugal, and bring the love of my life home to meet my father and mother.

People still ask is London everything you ever wanted. The answer is still Oh Yes and MORE! Everyday I still pinch myself and think how blessed I am. I love England and don't ever want to leave. I have a feeling that I think of it the same way Dad feels about Montana. Maybe that is why he is so understanding about it. Thanks Dad.

Well, I have been promising you a list of some of the language barriers I have had to cross this year. Here are a few of them. . . .

fanny-pretty much not a good word to say around here, means pretty much the same as the c word for female parts. We don't say fanny packs over here, we say bum bags . . . Mum take note.
pint-beer
tube-underground
boot-trunk of a car
garage-pronounced almost like garrish
mobile-cell phone, they don't say cell, they say mobile
cooker-oven
lift-elevator
coach-bus for a long journey
tights-panty hose
chemist-pharmacy
tyres-this one is so hard to explain I will leave it up to Steve when you meet him
nappy-diaper
pram-stroller
jab-a shot from the doctor
kicking off-throwing a tantrum
grass-to tell on someone
bag-purse
rucksack-backpack
coat-jacket
sofa-couch
quid-pound
trousers-pants
pants-underwear
cash point-ATM
that's sick-that's cool!
midges-mini mosquitoes that don't really bite too bad
stag do-bachelor party
hen do-bachelorette party
disco-dance night at a pub
curry-anything Indian to eat, not necessarily with curry in it
jalapenos are pronounced halapino, with no yo sound at the end. It is quite funny. Tacos are almost pronounced with a long a, as is salsa. Trust me, I am correcting as I go.


I also would like to see more of you coming to visit me. I miss you and would love to show you my new home.

Lastly, thank you Parnell. Without you, none of this would be possible. You changed my life and made all my dreams come true. Everything I have now, I have thanks to you. God Bless.

Love,
Cory

Independence Day!

Hello everyone!

I am wearing red, white and blue today as I work on 4th of July. What? The English don't celebrate it? ;-) Well tonight I thought you might find it ironic that me, an American, will be celebrating it exclusively with the English I consider my friends. A lot of our friends are coming out to party with us as I celebrate 4th of July. No fireworks I am afraid, that might be a little over the top.

Anywho, hope you all have a wonderful, relaxful day. Enjoy the barbeque and fireworks. Stay safe and remember I think about you all with love and fondness.