Forgetful

[DanaC]

What you call chips, we call crisps. Chips are a little like fries, but they are just potatos cut into long pieces and deep fried. Fries are very thin and usually made from formed potato rather than just chopping up a potato.

[Perry Winkle]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Chips are a little like fries, but they are just potatos cut into long pieces and deep fried. Fries are very thin and usually made from formed potato rather than just chopping up a potato.

Thank you for the definition. I had made the assumption that in the UK 'chips' meant what 'fries' means in the US. Good to know that in the UK 'chips' and 'fries' are two similar, but different foods.

Barbasol is a brand shaving foam.

I haven't actually tried the peanut butter here. But I hear it's pretty disgusting/different than I'm used to. I got a jar of the good stuff from home yesterday. My girlfriend and I killed half of it for breakfast this morning.

[DanaC]

But....Ovenchips, are actually fries, not chips....because they are made from formed potato (usually) and are usually thinner (unless they claim to be steakcut chips).

[Cloud]

you say potato, I say potato.

wait, that didn't come out right . . .

[Cloud]

you can always make your own peanut butter in a food processor. Peanuts, add salt, a little oil if you need it, and voila! It doesn't taste like Skippy, but it does taste like peanuts, and much better for you.

[limey]

Waitrose or Sainsbury's (or some delicatessens) may be a better bet to find real maple syrup - just read the label carefully.

Marmite is a love-it or loathe-it substance - savoury flavoured, and a little goes a long way. Spread VERY thinly on toast. Those that love it make marmite soldiers (spread thinly on toast and margerine/butter which is then cut into fingers for dipping into soft boiled eggs).
I'm not a treacle fan myself, I prefer godlen syrup in the sweet and sticky stakes.

[Sundae]

I second Sainsbury's & Waitrose for real maple syrup.
The very big Sainsbury's are very good for global food, you might even find some American peanut butter. Don't knock the British stuff til you've tried it though, just because someone else had some that was grim, doesn't mean another brand will be. Personally I'd find it all grim and advise you to eat jam instead

Don't fret about the fact it's the little things getting you down. You are out of your comfort zone - everything from the weather to the traffic to the local brand names to the food is different. And as you've found, words don't always mean the same thing. It doesn't matter so much on holiday (vacation!) because you are there for a short time and at your leisure. To take on a foreign country, away from friends and family AND a new university is a big deal.

Grumble about it here - you'll look back in a year and some things may still bother you, but I bet you laugh about most of them, forgetting you ever found them foreign.

Get a miniature pot of Marmite (with the mini jams/ condiments in big supermarkets). Not cost effective, but if you hate it you've wasted less money. I have it on cold toast with butter personally.

Forget treacle. Only bought by parents whose children need it for a specific recipe at school, then dies a sticky, dusty death in the back of the cupboard. BTW if treacle tart or treacle sponge are on the dessert menu, chances are it's really golden syrup. Well it can't all make sense can it? We'd be over-run with furriners!

[dar512]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Don't fret about the fact it's the little things getting you down. You are out of your comfort zone - everything from the weather to the traffic to the local brand names to the food is different.

William Gibson calls it "the mirror world" where everything is the same, except where it's different. If you like spy and/or action novels, you might like Pattern Recognition much of which is set in London.

[Undertoad]

Your GF made the move with you?

[Perry Winkle]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Your GF made the move with you?

Basically, I made the move with her. We made the move independently, from a certain point of view. Depends on which way you want to look at it.

She was already lined up to come here to study. When we met she was up front about this. After things started getting serious, I decided that getting a Master's degree now is as good a time as any, so, after discussing things with the GF, I applied and was accepted to a few schools around here.

[Pie]

Huh. Education by induction.
Not a bad way to go.

[monster]

Just wanted to say "I told you so"! I'll look up the parking recipe when i stand up. it's traditionally eaten on bonfire night.

[Sundae]

Last night of the series for Saturday Night Takeaway tonight. If you've missed Geordie heroes Ant & Dec in that, I genuinely suggest you watch I'm A Celebrity... next year. They have made me laugh immoderately for the best part of 10 years.

If other students give you a cynical opinion of them, just remember students simply wear the Cloak of Cynicism to disguise their own lack of confidence - feel free to like Ant & Dec anyway, even if you have to tell fellow students it's in an ironic way.