Strange Facts of London

Things that we have now become accustom to... but yet when we first got here were the strangest things... Especially, when english is your second language! Take the quiz:

1. If you don't want to eat in a restaurant, do you say I'll have it for: "take out" or "take away"? The answer is "take away".

2. When you wait in a line... are you waiting "lining-up" or are you in the "queue"? The answer is the "queue" and it can also be used as a verb as in "I am queuing".

3. When you take out money from a machine, is it a "bank machine" or a "cash point"? The answer is "cash point".

4. If I am on a train that goes under the city, am I on a "subway" or "tube"? That's an easy one... It's called the "tube" as in "I am taking the tube".

5. When you walk on the street do you keep right or left? That one is a bit confusing and took me a while to figure out... Because London is so international it seems that any side goes. However, I did see a few signs in tube stations that says "Keep Left", I now assume that when walking you should keep left.

6. When they want you to pay attention to something do they use the word "mind" or "watch". The answer is "mind" as in "mind the gap" or "mind the step".

7. Do we live in an "apartment" or a "flat"? That's an obvious one... In this country, its called a "flat".

8. When in England, do you "call" someone or "ring" someone? The answer is "ring".

9. When something is not good is it "garbage" or "rubbish"? The answer is "rubbish". It can also be used in a sentence, such as: "I am taking the rubbish outside" or "This essay is rubbish"!

10. Should the hot water and coffee be mixed in the cup or filter? Cup! Yak! The English definitely can't make good coffee!

11. This is Greg's special touch to my list: If you don't like someone should that person be referred to as a "jerk" or a "wanker"? The later is the answer!

On that note, I now have to go mind my mind so that there is no gap!