25 things I've learned by moving to London

Greetings from Great Britain.

I've held off on writing about our recent move to the U.K. perhaps out of superstition. There was a part of me that didn't think this relocation would actually happen and didn't want to jinx it, just in case. But here we are, getting settled in a sunny new flat in Shoreditch, near Hoxton Square.
In the spirit of the recent "25 Things" meme that's been floating around Facebook, here's a Friday list.

25 Things I've Learned by Moving to London
(in no particular order)

25. You have to purchase a license (er, licence) to watch TV in the U.K. It runs about £130 and is good for a year.

24. I never realized it about myself, but I apparently have a tendency to hoard pocket-sized notebooks. I found probably 20 of these things crammed into odd corners in my office as we were packing, usually with only a few notes in each.

23. The Brits refer to a washer/dryer as a "kitchen appliance." This amused the BF and me. We were surprised when we moved into the new flat that the washer isn't located in the kitchen at all, but in a downstairs closet, American-style.

22. IKEA is hell whether you're in Georgia, New Jersey, or North London. (Possibly more on this later, once I've had some time to heal.)

21. I'm determined not to return to the States with an affected English accent. But I've already noticed a few very British-sounding words creeping in.

20. Broadband delivered via cable (as opposed to DSL via phone lines) seems to be novel idea here. One friend suggested this was a conspiracy to keep British Telecom in business.

19. John Lewis is a major department store (not to be confused with the Civil Rights hero and congressman from Atlanta).

18. Moving is a royal pain in the ass (arse), whether you're going across the street or across the planet.

17. Despite what Thomas Friedman thinks, I don't believe the world really is all that "flat" after all. For example, getting an American bank to communicate with a foreign bank remains a complicated, heartache-inducing affair. Ditto with making phone calls between countries or establishing an address for deliveries.

16. Then again, some of the crap we bought at IKEA is exactly the same crap we'd previously purchased in the States. It's a sort of eerie feeling to think how many countries are using those same oven mitts.

15. The system of using coins instead of bank notes for, say, £1 or £2 makes a lot of sense. Too bad America never got that memo. (Note: It's also hard for me to remember to use coins instead of breaking a £20 every time.)

14. "Cute" does not translate as a term for attractiveness. A hot boy might be called "fit," but "cute" is reserved for puppy dogs.

13. My new landlord found it funny that I asked a question about the "mailman." Apparently it's "postman" or nothing.

12. I get annoyed when Americans talk about how bad the food is in the U.K. So far the BF and I have had some fine meals here.

11. It also annoys me when Americans use the phrase "across the pond." I don't know why that bugs me.

10. I had a minor panic attack when I realized I had to leave my printer/scanner back in the States. It's just such an integral part of my weekly picture making; I feel like I've lost a finger.

9. Cabbies here look at you funny when you try to tip them. Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

8. Dealing with utility companies so far has made me feel like a pushy American. We really are a culture of instant gratification. The odd hours kept by pharmacies and other shops inspires a similar exasperation.

7. I'm baffled as to why the lines in all of London's grocery stores are so long. What gives?

6. When ordering a sandwich at Subway, I was shocked when the counter person popped my cold turkey sub into the microwave. Nobody asked for that toasted!

5. Leaving a city makes you realize who your friends are. Though we were back in Atlanta for only two years this time around, I'd like to think I made some deep, long-lasting connections with people.

4. I never had trouble with jetlag until recently. Maybe it's a function of getting older.

3. Another neurosis I've discovered during this move: an irrational fear of running out of contact lenses, eye drops or contact solution. I had a contact-related issue during our honeymoon last summer and it's made me a nervous wreck about my eyes.

2. Looking out the bedroom window of our new flat, I can see the immaculately dressed mannequins in the men's shop window across the street. This reminds me of a scene in the '60s film adaptation of The Time Machine, which is a pleasant and appropriate association.

1. Although it can be intimidating being a foreigner living in London, I've noticed so far that almost every counter person, waitron, delivery guy and small shopkeeper I encounter is also of foreign descent. We're all strangers here.