Natural speed, please. Thank you!
Hawkridge Wood House
Thatcham
Berkshire
Hi Mom and Dad,
What do you think of my new address? There are no numbers on houses in this little village in England, only names! It's very confusing. If you are trying to find a specific house, you usually have to ask people for directions. But, you have to be very careful how you ask. The English speak more politely than we Americans do! Once I approached an Englishman and asked: "Which way is Charing Cross station?" He looked at me a bit strangely but then he politely gave me directions. Of course, the problem was how I asked because I should have begun like this: "Excuse me, I'm sorry to disturb you but could you please...?
Driving in England is a pretty scary experience! Here they drive on the left side, can you imagine? I frequently enter the car from the passenger side by mistake. I must concentrate very hard when I'm driving. It helps if there are other cars on the road because then I simply follow one of them, but if the road is empty, I am in big trouble! Sometimes, it's easier to walk.
By the way, did you know, walking is a popular English pastime? The weather here is great for good walks. It is usually very mild, but still, English people complain loudly about the weather. "Horrible weather!" they will shout to you on a day when there is a slight wind and a bit of rain. They should try Boston in the winter!
It's an education and I love it.
Love,
Sam
Nice selection, though I would argue that most Americans are much more polite than the English! :-p