wildlife

The wildlife I saw in England was similar to the wildlife in the states. The one animal I found to be different was a red pigeon. I was very interested when I saw one for the first time because it was new to me. Also, I didn't notice crows until the day I traveled to Stonehenge and there they were everywhere. As I traveled back and forth to London it was a surprise there weren't more animals grazing then what I did see. Sheep were popular in this area and would explain the reason for lamb being on most menus, or doner as it was referred to.

vegetation

The vegetation was pretty similar to that back home in the states. I have always had a problem with allergies and was surprised to not be bothered during the trip. I think the constant rain helps to keep pollen and other things from becoming an issue. When looking back on the trip I didn't notice what the dirt was like and need to spend more time in the country when I back.

Olympics

I am very honored have been able to visit the United Kingdom during the Olympics of 2012. It is an experience that I will never forget and was once in a life time. I have not traveled to see the Olympics set up in a different place but I thought that they did a good job in London. I saw different mascots spread out in London and the rings were on display at the train station and Tower Bridge. Seeing these rings made me feel honored to be in London.

Talent

The street performers were exciting to watch throughout the country. I saw many performers and it made me wonder if they acted on a part time basis or if they did the same routines day in and day out. Hearing the different types of music while walking down the streets made the experience more enjoyable.

Art

Art is a very important part of culture. It is a great way to capture a moment that people can study and reflect upon. These pictures made me realize the talent that is held by certain individuals. Overall, I was amazed at the amount of detailed artwork that was on display in Oxford and London.

Museums

There were many educational museums throughout Oxford and London. I learned a lot about trade routes and the history of Britain during my excursions. I feel that the museums showed many different aspects of the country during the present and of the past. I especially enjoyed the audio guides that were offered at most museums because it allowed the individual to take their time and study what was of interest.

Famous Places

Being able to go and see different famous place during the trip was very exciting. One my favorite spots was in the underground in London at the Charring Cross stop. This was a filming spot for the Jason Bourne movie series. While in the underground, I didn't particularly enjoy the experience. I felt that it was very muggy and I don't enjoy being crammed in a train car with strangers. Besides being uncomfortable, it was a good way to look at the culture of different people. As with public transportation in the states, it was very common to see people traveling with headphones on and not engaging in conversation. 

Culture

Different aspects of the culture in the United Kingdom that I adapted to included theatre, shopping, and public restrooms. I was excited to see Hamlet and get a good taste of Shakespeare during my stay. I found the play to be one of the best I have seen thus far. My overall experience with their public restroom systems was somewhat familiar with the systems used in the states besides a few differences. I noticed that in the UK, they mostly use two different faucets in the bathroom; one for the cold water and one for the hot. I was surprised to see this most places I went and I would just run my hands under the cold and then the hot water to rinse off. I did admire the fact that most businesses used the air dry systems to cut back on paper use and garbage.

Food

Throughout my experience in the United Kingdom, I tried many different types of food. Some of the food I have tried before and some of it was new to me. I found the food to taste very bland and I began to miss some of my favorite meals from the states. Ranch dressing was one commodity that I could not find and many of the service people did not have it in their restaurants. French fries were served with salt and vinegar and when I did order ketchup, it did not have the same flavor to me. It was a shock to me when I found they kept their eggs on a shelf with the dry food and not in a cooler. I believe that every country has their own culture and I am happy to try anything once.

Oxford living

These pictures represent some views of what living in Oxford was like for three and a half weeks. During my stay, I felt the humidity more than ever before because we had no air conditioning, which I have become familiar with using in the United States. I had times of being happy and sad during my stay in Oxford because I missed things back home like a good working dryer and normal operating appliances. Overall the first week was the toughest but once I settled into their everyday living, things went better.