My English Experience :Through the Eyes of a Teen

People Live Longer

Though the town in Essex where we lived had cars, people walked everywhere. And I’m not just talking about kids and young couples—I mean older people too. Even now, 25 years later, I can still picture the main street clearly in my mind’s eye. The elderly there seemed to live well into their 90s or even 100. After all, the Queen Mother lived to be 102. In America, reaching 80 is often considered a major milestone, but in England, longevity felt almost ordinary.

Behind In Times

America is all about the fast pace of life and constant innovation, while Essex moves at a more relaxed rhythm. So relaxed, in fact, that milk was still delivered to doorsteps in glass bottles, in 4- or 6-counts. I was fascinated to see something I had only ever seen in movies. As I delivered my newspapers, it really felt like stepping back in time. Another example of England’s quaint ways was the little shop in the town where I lived, which sold carbonated drinks in glass bottles. Personally, I think soft drinks taste better from glass than plastic—the drink just seems more refreshing, somehow.

Different Words

The UK uses some words that are different from what we use in America, even though they describe the same things. I’ve put together a list of a few of these words and their meanings below. It almost feels like stepping into ancient times—a whole new world of language and culture.

• Chips- French Fries
• Crisps- Potato Chips
• Jumper- sweater
• Lorry- Semi
• Loo- Toilet
• Trainers- sneakers
• Mate- friend
• Torch-flashlight
• Flat-Apartment

Just to name a few, these are some words the British use to describe things we also have in America. It really feels like the kind of language you might have heard back in the 1800s. I’m not sure if they spoke exactly like that, but I like to imagine they did.

Food

My parents didn’t take me and my sisters to many pubs—those traditional establishments where people go to eat, drink, and socialize. Think of it as a family-friendly bar, a bit like a tavern. I remember the first time I went to a pub: I ordered a ham on a baguette, expecting something like the thin sandwich meat we had back home. Nope. What I got was a thick, grilled slab of ham. But I was a trooper and ate every bite.

The following week, we returned, and this time I bravely tried lamb with mashed potatoes and gravy. It was my very first taste of lamb—and also the last. Chewy doesn’t even begin to cover it; it took me ages to get it down. Of course, the real star of any pub meal was fish and chips—basically England’s version of pizza, the go-to comfort food we couldn’t resist.

Horses

If you’ve read my post My Time in Essex, UK, you’ll know I worked on a horse farm. Seeing someone riding a horse there was as common as seeing someone walking their dog here in America. The horses even wore reflective gear in wet weather—like tiny four-legged commuters braving the rain. Horses in England are clearly cherished and treated like royalty. I tried to find a picture to show the reflective gear, but alas, no luck—apparently even Google couldn’t capture these posh ponies in action!

Cars

The cars I saw over there were generally small—think Ford Escorts and the like. But there’s one car that will make you do a double-take just to make sure you’re seeing it right: a three-wheeled car. Yes, you heard me—three wheels! Even in England, they’re a rare sight nowadays, more of a collector’s item than a daily driver. Picture this: two wheels in the back and one lonely wheel in the middle up front. I managed to dig up a picture of one for you down below—prepare to blink twice.

That’s It

That’s pretty much what I took away from living in the UK. Back then, as a 14-year-old girl, I had no idea I was actually living in a different country—I just thought the milk tasted fancier. Now, 25 years later, I’m sharing some of those experiences with you. Another souvenir I brought back? A British accent that still sneaks out in certain words—usually when I’m trying to sound fancy or confuse my American friends.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane. And if you happen to catch me saying “lorry” instead of “truck” or “biscuit” instead of “cookie,” just know it’s perfectly normal… in my head. Until next time, stay curious, stay laughing, and have a blessed day!

If you want to help me be slightly less stressed and a lot more caffeinated, you can buy me a $2 coffee ☕.”