Accents, Faucets, and Other Bits

Cheerio!

So what’s so different about the UK compared to America? Well, not a whole lot really, but then again, quite a bit.

Let’s start with the obvious: accents. Just like in America, there are a ton of different accents here and it goes way beyond just Scottish, Irish, and the “typical” British accent. I can’t even begin to tell you where specifically people are from when they speak, but I can tell you that at times I have to listen very hard to try and understand what they’re saying. It does get easier though the more you listen to it. Anyway, I may not know all the accents, but this lady sure does: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyyT2jmVPAk

But here’s the funny thing. A lot of people are fascinated by American accents here, and I really didn’t expect that at all. Numerous people have told me they love my accent and wish they had it and all the while I’m thinking, “Hello. You’re the one with the accent!” It makes sense though that they would find our accents intriguing because how often do we go around pretending to have a British accent (and usually failing, I might add)? My forced British accent is rubbish, but a few times I’ve been told I sounded British when I just said something. One time it was in reference to tea, which is amazing by the way. I’ve also been told I don’t have a really strong American accent, which I still don’t understand. What does that even mean?

I haven’t figured out their school system yet. I’ve probably had around five people or more try to explain it to me, and they might as well be trying to explain quantum physics. Okay, maybe it’s not that difficult, but seriously. From what I gathered, they have primary and secondary school and then they have A levels, which I think can also be referred to as college, but don’t quote me. And those A levels prepare students for University (aka Uni). So around the ages 17 to 19 you’re in A levels, taking courses that pertain to what you want to study at Uni. Then you go off to Uni for typically 3 years. Are you confused yet? Because I am.

Okay, now for the fun part: phrases and slang. I absolutely love hearing their phrases because sometimes they’re similar to ours and sometimes they’re completely different. Here’s one that made my day: When I was volunteering at Soul Survivor, we were sitting at a roundabout and cars just kept coming. I thought, “Everybody and their brother is out today.” And just as I was about to say it, the driver said, “Everybody and their dog is out today.” I lost it. I’m not even kidding. So I told everyone in the car with me, and we all had a good laugh.

Speaking of roundabouts, they’re everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. I’ve only seen two stop signs while being here, and they were way out in the country. Traffic lights aren’t that common either. I mean, they have them, but not near as many as we do. How many of you know that stretch of 31 in Franklin where there is a traffic light every two feet? Yeah. Let’s get some roundabouts in there because I think everyone’s life would be a little more pleasant. Just thinking about that road makes my stress level go up. I mean, how many times must I stop within less than a quarter of a mile? Don’t think about the time during construction because it will all be worth it in the end.

You know how back home (or where you are) practically everyone drives an automatic and only a few people have stick shifts? Reverse that and you have the UK. I don’t know why it is, but it is. And the process to get your license just sounds grueling and very expensive. But since learning the basics of driving a stick while at home and then being here and watching people drive them, they don’t seem that intimidating anymore. In fact, I’m hoping they let me drive sometime soon. Driving a stick and on the left side of the road sounds like a fun challenge. I have to really concentrate and think about what’s going on in the car or when I’m walking down the road because if I don’t, I get disoriented. The other day Darbi and I were walking home and there cars passed and for a moment I was very confused as to why everyone was on the “wrong” side of the road. But really, as long as you remember that the driver is supposed to be in the center of the road, you’ll be peachy.

Here’s what gets me. And I’ve tried to understand it, and I just can’t. Take a look at this picture:

Notice anything? Yeah, there are two faucets. What’s the deal right? Well, one is cold and one is hot. Not every sink has two faucets, but quite a lot do and frankly I find it annoying. Here I am, trying to wash my hands or my face and the water is scalding hot or ice cold, and I have no way of making it a nice warm temperature. So what do I do? I turn on both sinks and cup my hands and get a bit of each. It works okay until the hot water is really hot. I really don’t like these sinks. They just seem silly to me. I apologize to anyone who likes them.

Moving on from my distaste for these sinks, you’ll fit in a little more if you call the restroom or bathroom the “toilet.” I’ve said it a few times and it just doesn’t roll off of my tongue. It’s just too literal. I’m going to go to the toilet now. The doors and signs in public places even say “toilets.” It’s like it’s a hall of toilets. But it’s not. It’s just a restroom. Maybe they’re just more open about these things, but I just can’t say “I need to go to the toilet” and feel like myself.

Outlets are a little funky, but I don’t mind them. You just have to remember to flip the switch to on, otherwise you won’t be getting anywhere. I think it is kind of nice to be able to turn them off and on. It honestly probably has to do with health and safety.

Oh, health and safety. Pretty much what that means is that they’re much more concerned about my safety here than they are in the US. At Soul Survivor we were standing outside of the tent entrance where the service was going on, and we were told to move to the sides because we were causing a fire hazard. Excuse me, sir, if there is a fire, I think I’ll be the first one to run. In public places, all doors are fitted with this little plaque:

I’ve come to the conclusion I would hate to have the job of putting them on every single door. It would take ages or as they like to say, donkeys years. But in all honesty, I do feel very prepared in case of a fire. On my first day at UCB, I was shown where every fire escape was and where the meeting point was in case of one. I know what to do. Whereas at home we get little charts that say, you are here. And vaguely point me in the direction I should go.

Just a few more tidbits and I’ll let this blog be.

I think you should know that KFC still professes to have great American food. I tell everyone I beg to differ. On a brighter note, Starbucks lives! But doesn’t have iced tea. You can order iced tea, but they’ll basically get hot water and put a tea bag in and then pour it over ice. They don’t have our “fancy” teas, which is disappointing.

And soda is so not the same. I do not drink soda much, but one day some people were talking about how great American Coca-Cola was and how theirs wasn’t as good. I thought, really? Can it be that much different? And it is. Their Coke tastes flat. We would pour it out. Their other sodas are similar. The flavor isn’t near as strong and they just taste bubbly, if that makes any sense.

But tea is great. And they really do drink a lot of tea, but a lot of people drink coffee too. Tea, however, is amazing. A little sugar, some milk, and some biscuits, mmm. I’m happy.

Lastly, fish and chips (or a chippy) is really good, especially with some minty mushy peas. And I think I've eaten some form of potato nearly everyday since I've been here. 

I must say though, being here has made me very proud to be an American. And maybe it's just because I'm away from home and representing it in a way. I love the UK, but the US will always be home. But here are a couple shots of some of my new friends and I! They're a great bunch! 

Day out at Llandudno, Wales! 

Ice skating a couple of weeks ago!

In the office with Sam and Darbi! Sam likes to steal phones and take photos on them. Apparently I'm always oblivious.

Cheers!

Unity, Harmony, Oneness

Dear readers, friends, and family,

I have officially been living in the UK for two weeks and already so much has happened. I’ve been to Northern Ireland, Liverpool, Wales, and volunteered for UCB at a youth conference called Soul Survivor in Somerset. The only part of the UK I haven’t been to is Scotland. (…Roadtrip?) I’ve met so many people who work at UCB and many other people as well, but I’ll get to that a little later.  

As usual, I’ve been thinking about what to share with all of you, and I’ve decided to talk about unity. Unity is so powerful and important, and I truly believe it is something that the devil fights against because if we are united, there really isn’t a thing we can’t do.

So what does unity really mean at its core? I like to ask the dictionary. Merriam Webster says:

uni-ty
1a :  the quality or state of not being multiple :  oneness
b (1) :  a definite amount taken as one or for which 1 is made to stand in calculation
 2a :  a condition of harmony :  accord
b :  continuity without deviation or change (as in purpose or action)

I think the first moment I truly started to grasp the importance or power of unity was when I went to the Passion conference in January. I remember being in awe that so many denominations were under the same roof with the same purpose: to worship God. The stadium was packed with people, and as we sang along to the song being played, the worship leader stopped singing and the stadium was filled with only our voices. One of us singing or even a few of us singing wouldn’t have made much of an impact: we may not have even been heard amongst the mass of people. But when all of our voices rose together, it was powerful and breathtaking.

As I mentioned, I was in Northern Ireland last week. I’m sure everyone knows how the Protestants and the Catholics have a long history of fighting against each other. I knew that, but seeing the walls that were erected between the communities and hearing about the history broke my heart. I thought, here are two denominations that both believe in God, yet they fight because they don’t exactly believe the same thing. How horrible is that? We’re to love each other, but instead we tend to tear down each other or erect walls between one another (literally and metaphorically).

"Peace" wall in Belfast that separates a Catholic and a Protestant community. 

Have you ever wondered why there are so many denominations? We have Baptists, Catholics, Protestants, Pentecostals, Full Gospel, Methodists, and even Non-Denominationals (which is honestly one in itself) just to name a few. Why are there so many and why is there hostility between them? I truly believe it is because that’s exactly what the devil wants. He wants us to be out of harmony with one another and fighting over quite silly topics because when we’re out of harmony we can only do so much. If we put aside our differences and only focused on God and his purpose for us, we could turn the world upside down.  

But don’t just take my word for it; let’s see what the Bible has to say.

“Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they grow into quarrels. And a good servant of the Lord must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient. The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:23-25

 “But stay away from those who have foolish arguments and talk about useless family histories and quarrel and argue about the law. Those things are worth nothing and will not help anyone.” Titus 3:9

Arguing doesn’t help anything. But rather it causes a divide between people, and divides put us out of unity. There will be times when people don’t think alike and maybe one of them is truly correct, but we have to be patient and kind in correction. Then again, there are subjects and topics that no one really can have the absolute right answer to and arguing is useless. Discussion can be profitable, but arguing will get us nowhere.

When the team and I went to Northern Ireland last week we spent most of our time with a youth group there. Their kindness was truly inspiring. When we arrived, they welcomed us, and we played volleyball with them for probably close to an hour. We only just met them, but they let us into their world. They could’ve shrugged us off, but they didn’t. Darbi and I stayed with two sisters and their parents while there, and we were treated as part of the family. They took us to Carrick Castle and to a waterfall, and we hung out with other people in the youth group too. They wanted to make us feel welcome; they wanted us to see all we could see while there. Darbi and I now refer to them as our Irish family, and we know we’ll always be welcomed back. That’s what the church is supposed to look like. It may not be convenient or easy to open up your home to someone, but one of the girls read a verse in 1 Peter about opening your home to strangers and she listened, and I’m so glad she did. But that’s unity, friends.

Left to right: Darbi, Bethany, Devan, and me (of course). Bethany and Devan and their parents and now Darbi and I's Irish family (oh, and Josie aka Juicy, their dog, too).

Here's one with Chad and Sammy just for fun. :)

The church is not a building, but it’s a body. We’ve started telling parts of the body that we don’t need them because they’re “different,” but we need every believer in order to function as God wants us to. We’re all his children and he loves us all the same. Ephesians chapter 4 talks all about unity. But here is one verse that sticks out to me and is important for us to remember:

“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
Ephesians 4:16

The family of God cannot function as it should if we don’t accept each other and love each other. Each of us has a specific purpose and once we truly believe that and see each other as God sees us, we’ll be a healthy family.

So where do we start?

First off, I’d like to say it was definitely difficult for me to move here and leave my family behind, but I have felt such a unity and comfort between myself and the other members of the CreativeLab and UCB interns. We cook for each other and make tea for each other, and we serve one another. We may all be from different backgrounds, but it doesn’t matter. We all love Jesus and want to see him do marvelous works, and we want to be a part of it. But you can’t just go out and save the world without first starting with the people around you. At times I’ve been a little in wonder at simple things like someone pouring my water for me at dinner or people putting food on everyone’s plates. It’s beautiful to me. It’s how things should be. We should always be looking for ways to serve even if it’s small because you can’t become a missionary to Africa without first filling up someone’s glass or asking them how their day was.

Unity, harmony, oneness. They’re not just large scale. They’re small scale. But even things on the small scale are weighty. They’re not difficult concepts, but we’ve made them seem impossible. In reality, we simply need to focus on our love for God and his love for us and show it to others and walk it out in our every day lives.

In closing, here's a few snapshots from my journeys so far.

Dunluce Castle, Northern Ireland

Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland 

Ballyclare, Northern Ireland

My feet got soaked in the sea at the causeway. I miscalculated the height of the tide. 

Chai latte in Belfast, Northern Ireland 

View of Liverpool from a radio tower.

Where The Beatles first played.

I have many other photos and if you're interested in seeing some more just go to my 2014 photo album on Facebook. 

Just a FYI, but my next blog is going to be more on the light hearted and slightly comical side and will discuss what I miss about America and things I've found interesting and different about the UK including but not limited to: fascinations with the American accent, phrases, and sink faucets.