Learning the Language (and other bits)

"England and America are two countries separated by a common language."--George Bernard Shaw

As nothing particularly exciting has happened in the past week or so, I thought I'd share some of the language differences that I've noticed thus far. Below you will find the British usage and its American equivalent.

Hoover=Vacuum (can be used as both noun and verb...i.e. My hoover is old. or Joe is hoovering the carpet.)

Pants=men's underwear
Trousers=pants
(be careful not to confuse these two)
Dressing gown=bathrobe
Trainers=tennis shoes
Jumper=sweater/pullover

Football=soccer
Noughts and crosses=tic tac toe

Pavement=sidewalk

Post=Mail (noun and verb)

Courgette=Zucchini
Crisps=Chips
Chips=fat french fries
french fries=shoestring fries
biscuit=cookie/cracker
Mince=hamburger

Teas=evening meal (this can vary by region)

Indicator=turn signal
Windscreen=windshield
Boot=Trunk
Bonnet=Hood
Petrol=gas (f0r your car. gas to heat your home is still gas)
Lorry=Semi

Mate=friend/buddy

Cheers=goodbye

Hospital=the hospital (They don't use the definite article: "George is in hospital.")
Surgery=local doctor's office
Plaster=bandaid

Supermarket=grocery store
Chemist=Drugstore/Pharmacy

Hob=stove
Cooker=oven

Zed=the letter z

Lift=elevator

Rubbish=garbage/trash
dustbin=trash can
bin man=garbage collector

Queue (pronounced "cue")=a line you stand in

Solicitor=lawyer

Torch=flashlight

Garden=yard/lawn

Oh, and on a completely random note, I saw popcorn flavored milk the other day.

People

Many apologies for not posting in a while. I would have posted earlier this week, but Ronald said something snotty about it, so of course I couldn't post right away.

This evening, I went to a Boys' Brigade (and Girls Association) meeting at one of my services. It was quite interesting/fascinating to stand on the sidelines and watch the folks there interact with one another. Sometimes it can be quite fun to play the wallflower. It struck me all of a sudden that this was home for these people. I know that sounds silly and not at all profound, but it just hit me all of a sudden. These are folks who see one another week in and week out. The children involved, this is what they'll remember and reminisce about when they're older. Each of them have their own gifts, their own personality quirks, their own little worlds--just like we all do. As an outsider looking in, the relationships we share in, the events we are part of, the people who surround us...it's the very stuff of life. It's so funny because teenage boys are teenage boys, and 5-year-olds are 5-year-olds, and the old biddies of the church are old biddies of the church wherever you go. Ever since I've arrived, I have found myself struck by the number of similarities in personality and in human behavior (or behaviour). These things do not necessarily change or go away with a transatlantic flight.

In contrast, yesterday I was reminded of how individual we all are. I had the pleasure of travelling two hours (one way...an hour of which just trying to get out of Norwich) to go to a District Probationers Meeting (yes, they have those over here, too). On the whole, the meeting was a waste of my time and the circuit's petrol, but in the middle, I actually learned a lesson. Usually, I resent and suffer through group exercises...especiallly in a theological frame of reference as I often find them quite over-the-top, theologically pathetic, and worthy of a hundred rolls of the eye. I must admit that yesterday, I started the exercies with a similar mindset. However, somewhere in the middle, even in the midst of my resentment at being there in the first place, I found myself actually reflecting theologically (*gasp*) and learning (this did nothing to relieve my resentment, mind you). Anyways, so we all sit down, sing some wonderfully American praise choruses (gag)...Lord I Lift Your Name on High and Shout to the Lord...and paused for prayer and a short meditation. We were then instructed to go over to a table full of pictures...some icons, some representations of Christ and other pictures...and pick out the picture of how we viewed Christ on that day, at that time. Then, we were to find another person, and between the two pictures we had chosen, to eliminate one and keep the other. After that, we were instructed to find another pair of people, and between the two pictures, narrow it down again to one. In the end, for the twelve people present, we were to choose the one picture that worked for all of us. However, by the time we narrowed it all down, the lady in charge called it off at three. She stopped because had we tried to go any further, people would start to become alienated and excluded from the group. As I participated in the exercise, I noticed myself getting very defensive over my picture choice. It didn't sit well that other people wouldn't agree with my picture of Jesus or that I had to give mine up. But then each time I was to present the group's choice, I took ownership of that one as well. It was all quite peculiar. In the end, though, it all made me realize that despite our common purpose (supposedly) and our common worship of God, we all have different pictures of Jesus in our heads and in our souls and that's perfectly OK. Instead of limiting God to one particular representation, it reminds us that Christ died for all...for people from different countries, different cultures, with different needs. So while some people looked for a Jesus that would meet them in the day-to-day, help them through the mud and the muck of life, others looked for the transcendent God, the God who rules over the earth and encompasses all of creation. God is bigger than we can imagine...and that is such good news! The God I need today may have different characteristics than the God I need tomorrow. (Fully aware that God is complete both today and tomorrow, just my perception of God changes, because I can't comprehend all that God is all at once...it's too much!)

All of this is to say that people are people wherever you go, but that God is big enough to reign over our sameness and our uniqueness. I would be lying if watching the people at the meeting tonight didn't make me a little homesick for the familiarity of friends and family. But at the same time, I am comforted with the knowledge that God is present in the familiar and in the unfamiliar...in the belonging and in the loneliness. Life wouldn't be life without a little bit of both mixed in.

Let the Games Begin

Many apologies for the long hiatus. Many factors contributed to my prolonged absence, the predominant one being that I don't know what to tell you about. Having pretty much settled in and acclimated myself to every day life, developed my routine, etc...nothing seems that new anymore. Of course, a lot of it is and I'm learning new things each day, but in some ways it feels like I've been here for 6 months instead of 6 weeks.

Anyways, this is the first super-busy week I've had. Tomorrow, I have two Communion services, two meetings in the afternoon, plus a Church Council tomorrow night. And that's just Tuesday. It will be a fun week.

I received a care package from the aunts in Florida on Friday. I about jumped out of my seat when I saw the delivery person pull up. My books still haven't arrived (*sniff*...don't panic yet mom), but I've had quite a few glasses of iced tea in the last few days, not to mention some good salsa and some chicken and yellow rice...ah, the tastes of home. Last Thursday, I attempted to cook an American meal for some of my new friends. I even bought an iron skillet for authenticity's sake. We were nourished. I'm not saying it was one of my better performances. They were very kind and even raved about my biscuits that were cooked about 10 minutes too long. I hope to redeem myself at the Thanksgiving meal that is now officially on the church calendar. I think I'd better start practicing my pumpkin pies now...as soon as I find some canned pumpkin (one lady was shocked that I didn't use real pumpkin...I set her straight).

A few quick-hit items:
I hope to go to Sandringham this week on my day off. That's the place where the Royal Family spends Christmas. It's about an hour away. I think it will be fun. Plus the drive is excellent...through the English countryside.

I forgot to mention this before, but I took a tour of the Norwich Cathedral a few weeks ago. They had graffiti (not spray paint) from 1669. Somebody had carved their initials and the date into the soft limestone. I thought it might have been a modern-day prank, but when I asked, they confirmed it. Can you imagine? 1669. Blew my mind.

Leading a Communion Service in a nursing home is harder than it looks.

One of the lay workers who lives nearby is in charge of booking the use of the LCD projector. That means when nobody else has it, she can use it. Thursday night after dinner, we hooked it up to the laptop and watched a movie projected onto the wall. It was sweet. Much better than the television.

It's starting to get a bit chilly here. Highs in the lower 60s, lows in the upper 40s. (Farenheit, obviously.) Fall is here.

Yesterday, at the Horsford Church, they restarted their children's Sunday School (after a long hiatus...like years, I think). On their very first day, they had 5 children, with a possibility in the future for 10....and the best part of it--their parents stayed for worship! In American terms, that doesn't sound impressive. But they had to get out extra chairs for worship. So exciting! Ann (the children's worker) was thrilled. She was practically glowing. Heck, so was I, and I wasn't even there!

Meeting with my partner in crime at the joint Methodist-Anglican Church this week--the new Anglican vicar. He's new to the church as well. We've spoken on the phone and I am looking forward to working with him...we have some of the same ideas for the church...scary, I know.

Last week, I had lunch at a church member's home. After the meal, they pulled out some "marrow rum." Marrow is a kind of squash...basically a large zuchinni. It tasted surprisingly good...considering I don't like rum and it was made from zuchinni.

I think I've written enough for today. I hope you all are well. Drop me a note or an email to let me know how you are.