The bus, just never know if you are running late , it is running late, or it just decides not to show up. Get to the bus stop at designated time, and no bus, wait 30 minutes and still no bus, ok check Oxon time and it shows nothing for this bus, check the other website and it shows that it has already left. Ok it was dark out maybe I missed it, maybe they missed me again. Go back to house and wa la, app says 3 minutes to bus. I think the GPS on the bus has dead spots. Jolly for me, run to the bus again.
Get there and just make it, out of breath, hand full of money, bus is
already running 45 minutes late. I jump on the bus and show the bus driver all my change, typical thing for a foreigner/ stupid American to do. He gives me that look like you really do not know do you. Then because as I move forward I trip a bit and my hand full of change spills into his change maker. He looks at me and says what did you drop, I say I have no idea I do not know the difference between 20 and 50pence coin. He proceeds to pick up each different coin and tell me what it is. Then sits back and says 1.70pound. Could not believe he would not just pick coins from the remaining change in my hand and be on with it. So I say, could you review that one more time. Not very popular on that bus. I could not stop laughing. I now know 20 pence is an hexagon and smaller than rather large round 50 pence piece which is larger than a round 10 pence piece which is about the same size as the hexagon 20 pence but round. Got it!
Politeness taken a little to far
First week of work, mostly taken up with tours, introductions, inductions, and administrative computer work to make you dizzy. Coffee breaks, lunch and tea time to fill the time In between. And as polite as they are, you are always the first one through the opened door, and guessing which way is the next direction, 50 /50 change and I am batting zero. This campus is very confusing and I swear they go different directions each time to keep me guessing. Then one morning no one was around for coffee so I thought I would go on my own. Funniest thing everyone I asked just said go that way and ask someone else. Very confusing indeed. Did my obligatory number of circles and an hour later had coffee, well deserved.
Still looking for cafe, ended up at Diamond.
Restaurant
Can always tell a polite American in the restaurant, or at least Kirk and I. We are sitting with a group of people for dinner, and you are very hungry, the dinner is pizza, but could also be burgers and fires. . Ready to dig in, catsup, fingers, and pig out. But before you eat you look around, casually, and you discover everyone is eating with a forks and knives. And God forbid no catsup! Life is just not fair. So Kirk pickes up his silver and digs in.
First night out on the town. Yes Kirk and I are going clubbing. And that is not beating each other up. I get home form work, walk the dogs, take a nap then catch late bus to Oxford. Kirk meets me at the bus and we head off ( in wrong direction) looking for Marios, great pizza place(above picture). Suppose to get to club O2 by 10. One of the Pauls plays the bass a Buzz for a Jazz band. Well we back track and find Marios, long line but get a pizza and looks like we will not make it to club until 10:30. Paul has said he would give us a ride since the buses do not run that late. So I an texting Paul and tell him we are coming. My phone runs out of towers and juice and I am just hoping we get home somehow. The good news we arrive at club late, it is loud enough rock your sox off. I do not know if I would of survived the pre band. Find out you can get ear plugs at the bar. The place is packed, cheek to cheek, we migrate to the bar and get water, beer and ear plugs. Then as luck would have it we snag a table, that was just right place at right time, i call dumb luck. 6 tables in the place and over 100 people. The music was great, dixie land, blues jazz in english drawl. Even with out cell phone we connected with Paul/Buzz and get a ride home. Have not done this in years! What fun.
Rabbit Foot Spasm Band
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