I have just arrived freshly scrubbed and clear−headed in the United States, ready to start a graduate degree at Tufts. Despite having flown nearly 4,000 miles from my native London, I am confident that fitting in should be easy. After all, I am from a Western culture permeated with American fashion, music and consumables. Indeed, were it not for this fashion influence, our British boys might still be wearing their trousers over their underwear rather than perched below their buttocks wedges. If I were a student of physics, I might be tempted to examine this gravity−defying fashion statement further, but I digress.
My point is that culture shock is rarely expected when you move from one Westernized country to another, ones that share broadly similar language and values. But the devil is in the details, as they say, so let's examine those often confusing little details.
Firstly, your dates are quite clearly the wrong way around. The 27th of August is 27.08.11, not 08.27.11 — that is just crazy and counterintuitive to my British mind. This has led to extreme difficulties when completing almost any university or immigration forms. Without fail, I always have to pause and cognitively override my natural instinct and muscle memory to fill in a date. Obviously the net effect of this is that I look like a complete idiot who has no clue what the day is, or worse, my own birthday. I found this especially embarrassing under the glare of a supposedly welcoming customs official — "And you're going to college, sheesh!"
Your floors are an additional source of confusion to the weary British traveler, though on this one I'll admit that America may have the more logical method. Where is the ground floor? On arriving in my dorm, I was informed by a helpful roommate that my room was on the first floor and proceeded to march upstairs with all my luggage before realizing my mistake and slowly descending the stairs red−faced.
Other linguistic problems emerge from the concept of roommates. Here I feel we are at an advantage — the British term "housemate" or "flatmate" is surely more descriptive than the American "roommate." I know American housing errs on the more generous side than ours, but it is still a leap of faith to imagine rooms accommodating tens or hundreds of students.
Other differences have been much more refreshing. Take for example the strict policy of "carding" all for alcohol. Although I am assured this policy applies to octogenarians and freshmen alike, as someone in her (cough) 30s, I still find it reassuring to be requested for identification. Otherwise how could I have had the opportunity to giggle coquettishly at the hunky barman — until he inevitably looks at my ID and clocks me for being the old bat I am?
On the subject of drinking culture, you guys seem to have a lot more balance than us Brits. Going out for a drink here appears to be a literal term — not an invitation to sink at least 10 or 12 pints in two hours, as it would naturally be infered in the United Kingdom. A more sensible attitude to drinking is especially evident in the glory of the sunshine. Despite the gorgeous weather, the green spaces are thankfully clear of pasty male British torsos with one Frisbee, 40 cans of lager and two packets of crisps having an (ahem) "picnic." Other differences have been equally refreshing — the Orientations have been punctuated with wit, pride and a sincerity that surely would be coupled with cynicism and eye−rolling in the United Kingdom. Yet there are no feedback forms. Britons would be slack−jawed in astonishment wondering how you could possible deliver high−quality events without some sort of feedback sheet filled with scrawled meaningless drivel by students desperate for their lunch break.
Speaking of lunch, the food out here has been a welcome surprise. I must admit that due to America's "larger than life" international reputation, I had some nagging worries that the only salad I would see would be inside a burger bun. However, the food has been almost unanimously outstanding — fresh, delicious, varied and healthy, with seafood being a particular highlight. I am greatly looking forward to indulging further in the U.S. culinary palate.
So, all in all, with some tentative first steps I am slowly assimilating in to American culture and way of life. Nevertheless, if you see me on campus struggling to complete a form or looking in vain for my class on the wrong floor, please stop and help me out. Such amicability is something your culture is known for and I would expect no less from my American brethren.
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Tai Frater is an exchange student from London pursuing a post-graduate degree in occupational therapy.
