Words of the month

I've been a bit neglectful with my word of the week, so here's a list of common British words with the equivalent in American English.
Example: Bin (Trash can) ->  a trash can in England is called a "bin"

Let's start with a category:

Things Around the Home:
hob (stove top)
cooker (oven)
toilet (bathroom) -> also the W.C. (water closet) or the loo (though I've rarely heard it used)
bath (bathtub)
tele (television)
mobile (cellphone)
loo roll or toilet roll (toilet paper)
kitchen roll (paper towels)
rubbish (trash)
plasters (band-aids)
cling film (Syran wrap)

Food:
aubergine (eggplant)
courgette (zucchini)
casserole (stew)
coriander (cilantro)
mince (ground beef)
beef burger (hamburger)
chips (thick fries)
crisps (potato chips)
treacle (molasses)
fizzy drink (soda pop)
sweeties (candy)

Cars and roads:
motorway (more than 4-lane highway)
dual-carriage way (4-lane highway)
car park (parking lot)
multi-storey car park (parking garage)
bonnet (car hood)
boot (car trunk)

More categories to come!

Moving in

Wow, finally moved in!! What an ordeal though.  I don’t think there’s any difference between the process of buying a house and renting an apartment; it’s that intense.  They do references, credit checks, employment status checks, etc. and because I’m not legally allowed to work yet it’s been a huge hassle.  And then, the estate agency charges you for all this unnecessary work, just over £300 for the rental ($500 for checking that we’re decent people?!).  Craigslist anyone?? Ever heard of it?? Makes life so much easier.  Will and I are finally moved in, but the overly-complicated British way of doing things doesn’t end there.

Because we’ve moved into a brand-new terraced house (aka town house for the folks back home) some things weren’t taken into consideration by the landlord to actually rent it out.  Say, for example, a television aerial?  It was in the 40-page contract we signed, which yes, I read every page of, that the landlord provides a T.V. aerial.  Alas, there isn’t one, so we’re sorting that out today.  Not the biggest deal in the world for me since I don’t watch a lot of television.  The real problem for me is getting internet.

A month and half wait for internet connection? Are these people nuts? What is this, the 90’s??  Luckily (and I say luckily in relation to the other quotes) we found an internet company that could do it in two weeks, so now the long wait for connection has begun.  I’m currently at Starbucks, which I’m sure will be my favourite place for a little while.  We also have to get the council to drop off trash and recycling cans.

Besides the hassle of getting things sorted out, the house is lovely.  We have two nice bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and a full kitchen with dishwasher, washer/dryer, gas stove, and floor to ceiling refrigerator/freezer.  The living room/lounge is spacious and the garden is small but nice.  Everything except the kitchen is furnished which is saving us a ton of money for the moment.  The inconveniences are worth it; as we really do like the house.