But first an update: It’s been just about a month since I’ve been in England and I love it. No blog posts to date before this one, but I spent the time settling into my new flat and new city, and getting a new laptop which is a pretty essential tool when it comes to blogging. But here I am, keyboard at the ready, with a list of blog posts to fill the coming weeks. Let’s begin.

There are some things that really stick out to me in England.

Things that struck me as being different from Canada in ways I didn’t expect. Like sure, people here drive on the opposite side of the road and call fries “chips”, but that’s just scratching the surface. I want to share with you some of the things I’ve noticed that I hadn’t expected before I moved to England.

1. Their use of land is incredibly efficient

As a Canadian, I still can’t get over how fascinating this is. Driving (or taking the train) through the countryside shows just how compactly the country’s farms, fields, and industrial spaces fit together. Plus, there are so many windmills scattered everywhere! In a nation 41 times smaller than Canada with over twice the population, it’s obvious that every inch of land has to be used. In Canada, a drive through the country is maybe 80% forests. My first drive through England – from Gatwick Airport to Lincoln -it amazed me how differently the country uses its space. At least, I was until I fell asleep! It hasn’t impressed me less over time, either. A small rant about land efficiency is one of my go-tos when people ask what I think of England so far.

2. The Roundabouts actually make sense

So I know I said that driving differently was an obvious choice for differences, but what I wasn’t expecting was that the roundabouts that England is known for… actually make sense? In Canada, our streets are typically laid out as grids with perpendicular intersections. There are a few roundabouts, but they’re used to keep traffic moving on busy commuter roads. Looking at you, Prince of Wales Drive. And yeah, the roundabouts in England do that too. But England doesn’t have their streets on a grid. Intersections and Motorway exits can have roads leading off at different angles, or more than four roads intersecting. Enter the roundabout. Literally. It’ll get you where you need to be.

3. Gambling is a big thing here

This was a HUGE surprise for me. Slot machines (aka one-armed bandits) are king. You see them everywhere. Nearly every single pub, club, and bar I’ve been in have had one or two machines covered in flashing lights, tempting customers to spend their drinking money in the hopes of winning more drinking money. As well as these individualized slot machines, you can find storefronts that are lined with them, like arcades but with slot machines replacing skeeball.

In Canada, we definitely have gambling. There’s an unbearable amount of lottery ads on the radio. We also have casinos and horse racing near Ottawa (that advertise a lot) so I’m not coming from somewhere where gambling has no presence. I assume there is more regulation on where you can have slot machines, as I’ve never seen one in a bar! The biggest difference is that I don’t know any people who play the lottery, and going to the casino is more about a night out dancing than it is sitting at the machines or card tables. Gambling in Canada feels a bit like cigarettes – older people do it. In England, it’s common to see a group of young guys stop at a slot machine when they get into a bar and play once or twice. Again, like cigarettes, a lot more young people do it here.

4. People are out after 8pm

This shook my fragile Ottawa heart. No matter what day of the week it is, people will be out in the city centre at night. It’s not even just that people are out, it’s busy. Though shops here close earlier, pubs and bars are such an integral part of the culture that any night of the week there will be people of all ages out socializing. And places are busy!

I’m sure it’s very circumstantial based on where you’re from, but I’m from Ottawa. It’s Government employee and family based city. It’s a “gotta be in bed by 10 to get a full night’s sleep” kind of city. It’s a “there’s no point going out because it’ll be dead anyway” city. If I haven’t driven my point home yet, it’s the nation’s capital that was voted the most boring city in Canada two years in a row. I love Ottawa, but now I understand why my European coworkers didn’t. Ottawa nightlife is minimal; I much prefer England.

5. The water tastes different

It does. Tap water tastes different in different places based on the water treatment system it comes from: the age and cleanliness of the pipes, the distance it travels through the pipes and how long it sits in them, mineral density, added chlorine, and the “hardness/softness” of the water source. The Water Industry Operators of Australia have even come up with a “testing wheel” to determine different attributes of water taste.

Okay, so maybe that’s a bit much. You’re not Jesus; it’s not wine. The water here just has a more pronounced taste than I’m used to: a bit more bitter, a little more metallic. It reminds me of the potable water at camp in Quebec, which was very dense in minerals.

I’d heard about it from my Victorian Literature professor, who told us about her trip to England (to visit famous literary sites of course), and how the water tastes different (and it does) and how the taste of the water improves the taste of tea. And it does. I’m not a big tea drinker, but it does taste better in some weird, unidentifiable way. Richer? I’ve started to get used to the taste though, and am trying to drink more water.

6. The people here are so stylish

I think this, again, is very circumstantial based on where you are. Nottingham is a city that has a big student/young professional population, and it’s a city that has a big artsy and alternative scene. Passing through city centre, or Hockley, or the Lace Market I see so many people who have such an interesting sense of style. It’s a great mix of trendy streetwear and alternative styles, but it seems like more people here a) put effort into their daily outfits and b) have more statement pieces in their wardrobes. Athleisure seems to be less of a thing here though. There are also lots more older people who are committed to alternative/punk/goth aesthetics, and I love seeing that. I’m very tempted to take to the streets with my camera to photograph some street fashion. We’ll see if my aspirations win out over my fear of talking to strangers!

A sub-header on fashion here is that girls get more dressed up for nights out. In Ottawa, bar and club outfits have become fairly casual (leggings and a cute top with minimal eye makeup) and I felt very old and out of touch for wanting to get done up fancy for a night out. The first few times I went out in England I went with what was cool in Ottawa and Oh my GOd did I feel underdressed! I think people should go out in whatever they’re comfortable with, but I love that a night out is a reason to get dressed up.

In the month that I’ve been in England, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it. It’s definitely different from Canada, but discovering the differences is such a fun part of this adventure. I feel pretty settled into everything here now, and only want to learn about and explore the city of Nottingham and the rest of this amazing country!