Also, now that it has been 6 weeks, I think that it about time we start commenting on some of the stranger things that we have grown somewhat accustomed to.
"Should, Could, and Might Do"
Quite frequently in the workplace, I have heard these expressions. Usually it is in the following context; "I will give the broker a call to check on that data request"
"Yeah, you should do"
Or, when we were buying items for our new place, we asked if the store would offer us a discount on the display item since it was the only one left. "They might do"
I don't know why exactly I find this expression so strange, but I think it might be that I feel the sentence is incomplete. Might do what, exactly? Sure, it is usually apparent from the context of the rest of the conversation, but it just leaves it in such an awkward place.
Floor one is floor zero
If you find yourself in a 'lift' in the UK, don't get off on the first floor if you expect to be at ground level. You may find yourself walking down a flight of stairs.
The washer and the dryer are the same appliance.....and it's in the kitchen
Now, I don't mean that the washer and dryer are connected and stacked on top of one another, I mean that it is the SAME MACHINE. You put you clothes in, leave it for four hours, and you come back ready to fold the laundry. In theory, this would be nice, except all the clothes inevitably get wrinkled from being in the same position for 4+ hours, so ironing is a must. Also, I said 4 hours. That is like an eternity. Especially when it is located in your kitchen/living area and shakes the entire room during the rinse cycle.
You can't dry your hair in the bathroom
Now, this is the one that really bothers me. Apparently, since the voltage here in the UK is so high, it is against the law to have regular electrical outlets in the bathroom. Instead, females are forced to use a vanity or some other set up and dry their hair in the bedroom. And where do men use electric razors, you ask? Oh, well they simply invented a low voltage razor and have a low voltage outlet in the bathroom that only works with electric shavers. Say, what???
Crossing the street requires more steps than it should
Usually at larger intersections, there is a median in the middle for pedestrians to stand. However, when crossing from one side of the street to the other, you usually have to walk about 2-3 meters on this median to get to the spot where the walk signal is located for the crossing the second part of the street. Why can't you just walk in one straight line? Wouldn't that be simpler??
People don't get out of the way when you need to exit the train
In Chicago, it was always one of those 'unspoken rules' that when the El was crowded, the people standing by the doors would exit the train car at every stop in order to let people out and then would get back inside once everyone exited. That was cold, snowy Chicago where the trains are outside. Here in London, where trains are underground and almost always hot because they are crowded and not air conditioned, people do not move an inch when the train pulls into a station. If you need to get out you are pushing people out of your way the entire time. Shouldn't you demonstrate this small courtesy to your fellow commuters? Yes you should do!
