Today after class, the group and I were able to go out and explore Plymouth. Taking a tour of the city was a great way to get to know the city that I will be living in for three weeks. The city is a mixture of historical landmarks and modern day buildings. My favorite part of town however, is the section by the sea and the hoe. It has the least amount of American influence, unlike the outdoor strip mall in the middle of town. It was what I expected to see while in England. 
Winding, narrow streets lined with tall brick structures housing shops and pubs. Walking along the harbor and coast, I was able to see the true lifeblood of the city. The water was filled with ships and sailboats. Plymouth is an important port in England and it was definitely evident in the amount of boat traffic in the waters. Walking around the harbor, we stopped and saw the Mayflower steps, a link from the old world to the new. This made me think about the history and connections between England and the United States. Although many of our ancestors came from England, we are very far from being the same.
An example of a difference that I ran into was language. Although Americans and the British both speak English, it is far from being the same. At dinner, the waiter brought out our fish and chips and then asked us if we would like any sauce. I asked what kind of sauce they had and he looked and me weird and repeated his question. Again, I asked what kind of sauce they had and again he gave me a weird look and repeated his question. Finally, Kailey rephrased my sentences and asked what sauces they had. He then answered the question. We were both speaking English, but we didn't understand each other. By using the word "kind" to ask what type of sauces they had confused the waiter because he probably did not associate the same meaning to the word as I did. This experience with the waiter truly illustrated how culture goes beyond the basic things such as language. Just because we both speak the same language does not mean that we share the same culture. Culture is learned and depending on where you are from and how the language is spoken there, you speak the language in your own certain way.
Winding, narrow streets lined with tall brick structures housing shops and pubs. Walking along the harbor and coast, I was able to see the true lifeblood of the city. The water was filled with ships and sailboats. Plymouth is an important port in England and it was definitely evident in the amount of boat traffic in the waters. Walking around the harbor, we stopped and saw the Mayflower steps, a link from the old world to the new. This made me think about the history and connections between England and the United States. Although many of our ancestors came from England, we are very far from being the same.An example of a difference that I ran into was language. Although Americans and the British both speak English, it is far from being the same. At dinner, the waiter brought out our fish and chips and then asked us if we would like any sauce. I asked what kind of sauce they had and he looked and me weird and repeated his question. Again, I asked what kind of sauce they had and again he gave me a weird look and repeated his question. Finally, Kailey rephrased my sentences and asked what sauces they had. He then answered the question. We were both speaking English, but we didn't understand each other. By using the word "kind" to ask what type of sauces they had confused the waiter because he probably did not associate the same meaning to the word as I did. This experience with the waiter truly illustrated how culture goes beyond the basic things such as language. Just because we both speak the same language does not mean that we share the same culture. Culture is learned and depending on where you are from and how the language is spoken there, you speak the language in your own certain way.
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