This week marks the start of my second full week of classes (or modules, as the Brits call them) at the University of Reading in Reading, England. It's been an exciting, confusing, scary, and fun time so far. Being thrown into a completely different educational system and traveling to another country has allowed me to experience what it means to be not only British, but also English.

A row of British terraced houses.

I'm able to maneuver this new culture with the help of new British friends who no doubt have gotten tired of my constant questions about what a slang word means, where that town or county is on a map, and why the British do things the way they do. But at the same time, I'm able to explain how things work differently in America, so they have an idea of how I understand it.

Don't eat Marmite.

Although I'd like to think that I'm able to blend in to the British culture rather well, this is indubitably due to my friends teaching me all their slang words, how to brew a proper British cuppa (it includes lots of milk and sugar), which shops will have what I need, and that I should look right first when crossing the street. I still get double-takes when I open my mouth to talk, since my accent is obviously American.

The Brits and their slang.

I've also taken to the British fashion sense, which includes ankle boots and jumpers (or what Americans would call sweaters). The weather here is perfect for the comfortable jumpers, since it rains a soft drizzle all day, which necessitates warm and dry clothing, as opposed to raining for a couple of hours, like I'm used to back in the States.

Public transportation is much more prevalent in England than in the states. In Reading, there is a bus system that much of the population uses, and it's a great way to get around town, even though I could choose to walk if I wanted. The buses are also double-decker, so they are a great way to see the town as you make your way to your destination.

The University of Reading is also much bigger than Centre College, with just over 9,000 undergraduate students, as opposed to the roughly 1,500 at Centre. Reading's size allows for me to constantly be meeting new people but at the same time have a smaller circle of friends. Another perk to studying at Reading is the single room. I have a room all to myself this term, which is much different from the American system of having to share a room with someone else. So far, I've noticed that the single rooms make it much easier for friends to hang out in each other's rooms, because there isn't someone else there to consider when you have six people piled on your bed.

While I retain my American-ness, I notice bits of pieces of Englishness are slowly creeping in, so who knows where I'll end up by the time I have to return to the States.