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I have lived in the UK, Slough (if that counts) for about 24 years, so that's pretty much my home. I love the place. Despite it's extortionate prices, dirty streets, stuck up Londoners (not all of you), chavs (well, actually you gotta love the chavs) and general crapiness, home is home, and it will always be. However, I have decided to come to sunny California to further my studies, and I will be stuck here for the better part of 4 or 5 years. So far I've been here about 4 months. The transition has been smooth, but it hasn't gone without its difficulties. The main problem with my thinking and many others' is that, because we speak the same language (just about), we are the same. But this isn't the case, and in fact it is so important to remember that the USA and the UK are two totally different countries, with different cultures.
For a start the language isn't as similar as many think it is. On the surface, there are the differences in spelling, where the Americans miss out the 'u' in colour, favour, armour, humour, (or the British miss it out, if you look at it the other way); Americans use the 'ize' instead of the 'ise' for the endings in British English, such as organize, recognize and realize (this I find the most annoying). There is also the American 'Aluminum' vs the British 'Aluminium' (the British have the extra 'i' after the 'n', or the Americans have one less 'i' if you look at it from a different angle). It goes as far as having different spellings for arse, aeroplane, bogeyman and the list goes on (UK spellings used). For a more indepth analysis of spelling see the wikipedia entry, and this one too for a more general explanation of language differences.
It's not just the spelling or the meanings of the words, but there are some cultural differences aswell. For example driving, which I would like to talk about in this entry. OK, so we all now that the British drive on the left, while the Americans and most of the other countries in the world drive on the right. But I just took my California driving test the other day (I passed ) and over here, you are expected to bring your own car. So here's my problem: I've just come into the country say, I want a drivers license cos I wanna drive, but don't wanna go to prison. So I have to purchase a car. To purchase a car you need a license. To get a license you need a car. Problem? Before you can take the test you also need to prove that you have insurance for the car. To get insurance you need a license. To get a license you need insurance. Problem? OK you could just ask someone, a friend maybe, to borrow their car, get insured on it (don't know how that would work), and do it that way, but say if, like i mentioned before, you just come into the country. Who would trust you enough, to lend you their car. The other problem is, if you've just come into the country with a foreign drivers license, like me, you can only use your foreign legally for 10 days. So you have 10 days to make friends with a stranger, and use them for their car. The other alternative is to rent a car, which just doesn't seem right.
Anyway, I don't have to worry about that anymore. But the other thing that bugs me is that a California drivers license qualifies you to drive a manual as well as an automatic, from doing the same test. So you can do your test in an automatic, not having to worry about any gears or any of that complicated stuff, and then LEGALLY drive a manual, without even knowing how. OK, so it is assumed that no one in their right mind, would drive a manual without knowing how but...hey...we all now that there are stupid people amoung us. In England (and i know how that sounds, but bear with me), there are two tests, one for manual, which most people do, and one for automatic. If you pass the test for manual cars, you can drive automatics legally with that license. However, if you pass on an automatic car, it is illegal to drive a manual car with that license. They are totally different cars, with totally different things you have to learn, so in my opinion the British have it on this one.
The final thing that gets on my nerves are the rear indicators, or tail lights on the majority of cars I've seen in California so far. Most of them are the same colour as the brake lights, and a lot of those are the actual same light! So when someone is braking and indicating at the same time the same light flashes. I know it's petty, and if you're not dumb (which hopefully a majority of the drivers won't have a problem with, but you never knooow!), then you will be able to figure it out. My point is, a brake light is just as important as an indicator, and they should not have to share the same resource. For safety reason they should be seperated. Someone who's in danger in their car, maybe having a heart attack or something ( ok they would probably blow their horn too, but play with me on this one) may put their hazards on to signify that they are in trouble. This could be mistaken for someone who just keeps on braking.
The indicators should be like this. Two different lights, for two different, very important purposes. I rest my case.
Well actually, this brings me back to another really annoying problem. If the tail lights were all changed it wouldn't make much difference anyway, as HARDLY ANYONE USES THEM HERE ANYWAY!!!!
I'll come to a close now. When it comes to driving in California, the terrible driving habits, the terrible roads (I could go on for another couple of hundred thousand words on how the design and layout of the freeway and highway systems in California are rediculous and are probably the cause of most the accidents that happen, but I will spare you), and the design of the cars (lights anyway) let it down, making the UK a winner on this one. Yea i know I'm biased, but hey, this is my blog, and I'm allowed to be. But I would freely contest with anyone who doesn't agree with me.
Drive safe, and use your damn indicators!
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