When I took the train into York on Saturday, it was the hottest October 1 ever on record. I thought I’d get to wear my summer clothes and was excited. 

Then the temperature returned to normal on Sunday.  It’s supposed to snow by the end of the month. 

Prices for processed items such as cereal are the same as in the US.  Prices for fresh fruits and vegetables are higher, because - get this - everything is plastic-wrapped in individually sized portions.  It’s like looking into the future. 

Zumba is big in England and only just catching on in the US. (The future!)

Related to point three above, at least it’s easy to shop for just one person.  There is no buying in bulk - at least not at the city supermarket - but this is fine because I don’t have anywhere to put bulk anyway. (I am sharing a minifridge with three other people.)

To buy a knife at the Sainsbury’s in York, I had to show ID proving I was over 25. Is this why no one cooks in England??  (Joke, it’s because England is an advanced postindustrial society.)

On the up side, my English ID doesn’t have my birthdate or anything else on it to indicate my actual age - it just says “over 25” (there is also an “over 18” version for people over 18 but younger than 25). 

My Chinese suitemates shared their dinner with me. They know how to make the Chinese bachelor dishes: rice, fried egg, and egg-pork-tomato soup. I contributed by “cooking” sweet green peas, which are sweeter than Chinese peas, apparently. 

Mushy peas aren’t just mashed green peas???

Met an Indian guy from Delhi named Kush, after the sacred plant. 

Met a Peruvian girl from Lima who complained that salsa is much more casual in Peru and that she can’t keep up with European “salsa dancers”.   

Met two actual English people!!!

My knowledge of (London) British accents acquired by listening to British indie music does not help me here.