Adapters, Webcams, Countdowns and Slang!

G'day to you, chaps.

Today my US to UK socket adapter arrived in the post, along with a webcam for my family. My laptop is already equipped with a built-in webcam, so we ordered a webcam for Amazon for the home computer. That way, when I am in England and Scotland, we can still see each other. Ah, modern technology. It's a marvelous thing.

Also, check out the countdown ticker above this post! Pretty awesome.

Which leads me to...slang. Do people say 'pretty awesome,' 'check it,' 'sweet,' and other American slang in the UK? I know they have their own slang and lingo, but I'm curious what crosses over and what doesn't.

For example, in the UK, credit card machines are sometimes referred to as 'chip and pin machines.' In Colorado, most people call them 'card readers.'

In the US, it's the 'bathroom' or 'restroom.' In the UK, it's the 'loo.'

In the US, it's usually 'the mail.' In the UK (and parts of the US) it's 'the post.'

In the US, it's a 'cell phone.' In the UK, it's a 'mobile.'

In the US, it's the 'TV.' In the UK, it's the 'television' or 'telly.'

In the US, it's 'counterclockwise.' In the UK, it's 'anti-clockwise.'

In the US, it's 'fired.' In the UK, it's 'sacked.'

And then Scotland's got its own jargon, with their heavy accents and what-not. Maybe I'll touch on that in a future post.

Interesting, no? If you're so inclined, you can see a list of British words not commonly used in the US from Wikipedia.

It's Mailed!

The reservation form and check are in the mail! Making its way through the sluggish postal system, in and out of dark mail bags, pushed along with other mail, through noisy mail rooms, as it's sorted and stamped. Then it'll be driven, or put on a train or a plane or whatever it is they do with mail, and sent to the tour company. Yay!

I'm Finally Going!

I just want to shout it out: 

I'm going to Scotland and England!!

Areal view of the Thames

I'm So Excited!!

 Six and a half days in England, a train ride to Edinburgh, and three days in Scotland. I leave the US on June 20th, 2012, arriving in London on June 21st. I'll leave Edinburgh and come home on July 1st. Just another reason to be impatient for the semester to be over! Just four more months, and my dream of visiting the UK will be realized. *sigh of contentment*

This is where, once I'm there, I'll post longer updates about where I've been, what I've done and seen, what I've eaten, and post pictures, pictures, pictures! ;) Look for shorter updates and some photos on Facebook or Twitter.

Until then, I might post some updates on preparing. Reservation form mailed, flight booked, tour paid in full, other random things... Just because I'm excited and CAN HARDLY WAIT.

Here's the link for the tour itinerary: http://www.reformationtours.com/site/490868/page/350205

Edinburgh Castle