Back From The UK

⏱ Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes

Yo, what’s good? Trying to get back into the rhythm of life after a few weeks across the pond. And no, for those wondering, I did not come back with a British accent – much to my dismay! I was so keen, so hoping to develop one, maybe even start saying ‘How you doing, in it?’ But alas, no one there actually says ‘in it’ anymore. Turns out I’m stuck in ’90s British lore!

Britain’s cool, man. We were up north, around the Newcastle and Sunderland area, and the weather was beautiful. Though, fun fact: a lot of houses there don’t have AC or central heating, simply because it doesn’t typically get that cold or too hot. Apparently, they had a massive heatwave right before we arrived, so everyone was just thankful that had passed. It really makes you think, especially when you see those viral videos of Americans coming back from Europe, celebrating all the ‘luxuries’ they missed. And almost all of it is about complete and utter excess: gas-guzzling trucks, giant SUVs, the ability to take the tops off their water bottles and throw them around (weirdly specific, right?). It’s like the things people miss are purely about the immense excess we have here, while they’re a bit more cognizant about resource use over there.

One thing I truly, truly appreciated was the sheer amount of history. The houses we stayed in, the places we visited – they all had a lineage, a story stretching back centuries. We’re talking places that are over a hundred years old, with people who can tell you who originally lived there and why it was built. There’s this sense of being part of something bigger than yourself. Here, our houses get old, sure (mine’s almost 40!), but there’s no attached history or lineage you’d celebrate or share. No ‘so-and-so lived here when this was a farming city’ narrative. Maybe that’s just a suburban thing, I don’t know.

Another thing I loved was how walkable everything was. Maybe it was specific to where we stayed, but it felt like a general experience: everything was accessible on foot. Compare that to here, where unless you’re living in a downtown core urban area, the suburbs offer none of that. I didn’t get the feeling there were really ‘suburbs’ out there in the same way. It was more like: here’s a city, here’s where we live, then a bit of country, then the next city. It’s truly something, this breathable, livable ‘15-minute city’ concept. Yet, here, people get up in arms at the thought of it – ‘What do you mean I have to walk to get groceries?’ You don’t have to walk, of course; you can take your car, and I’m sure many do. But the fact that you have the choice to walk, and it’s a manageable option, is huge.

And obviously, they’re celebrated for their public transportation, which I actually didn’t experience this time. Next trip, I’ll make more of an effort! But no one here really thinks about jumping on public transit unless they’re in the city. So maybe this whole comparison is just a city versus suburban vibe thing. Who knows? But it was a beautiful time out there, man. Weather was great, people were awesome, and the food was fantastic!

I even had some chips and gravy. And I’m gonna be honest, controversial opinion incoming: French fries, chips, whatever you want to call them, whatever makes you happy – they’re not all that. I mean, I like them, but it’s funny how America has burgers as its national dish, and somehow the UK has made beans and chips their national dish. It’s kind of overrated, if you ask me. I guess Canada has poutine, which is kind of like… well, you get what I’m saying, right? I had so many people messaging me saying, ‘Oh, make sure you check out the chips! Make sure you have chips and curry!’ So I did! They were cool. But then they’d say, ‘Yeah, you can’t get chips like that in Canada!’ And I’d be like, ‘Yo, buddy, chill. They’re just French fries.’ ‘No, no, no, they don’t make them like that.’ Maybe they deep-fry them a little longer? I don’t know, man. The food was great overall, though, we had a fantastic time.

Another thing that completely blew my mind was the cost of living there – it’s incredibly expensive! I don’t know how anyone survives. They’re paying £4 for a coffee, while we’re still lucky enough to pay around $2 or $3. But considering the pound is worth roughly double the Canadian dollar, it makes you seriously wonder how people manage to get by. It is what it is, though. Anyway, I’m trying to get back into the vibe of doing these videos more regularly. I know I dropped off, I’m sorry, but we’ll get there. Until the next one, peace!

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updated_at 05-08-2025
Ai Disclosure: The above posts were transcribed using AI tools. Some language may not have been accurately transcribed.
Ai Header Image Prompt: A highly detailed, visually rich image that subtly blends two contrasting worlds, reflecting themes of travel, history, and modern life. **Art Style:** The dominant style should be a sophisticated blend of soft, textured digital painting with integrated elements of abstract digital art, avoiding a purely photorealistic or "AI-generated" appearance. **Composition:** The image should be divided by an invisible, fluid line, creating a dynamic contrast. **Left Side (UK):** Depict elements evocative of historical British towns and their walkability. Imagine ancient, weathered stone architecture — perhaps a fragment of a centuries-old building or a narrow, winding cobblestone street. Integrate subtle visual cues of deep history, such as a layered, almost translucent texture resembling a timeline or faint, ethereal outlines of past figures woven into the stone, conveying lineage. The color palette should be muted, earthy, and warm, reminiscent of diffused natural light. **Right Side (North America/Modernity):** Contrast this with abstract representations of modern North American themes. Use clean, geometric shapes and subtle glowing lines to suggest large vehicles or vast suburban expanses, without depicting actual cars. This side can incorporate a slightly cooler, more artificial color palette, with hints of digital interfaces or data streams. **Abstract Elements & Transition:** The central area where these two worlds meet should be highly abstract, featuring dynamic, flowing lines, interconnected networks, and subtle digital glitch effects or gradient shifts. This represents the mental processing of comparisons, the rhythm of life, and the blending of experiences. **Symbolism:** Very subtly, incorporate symbolic elements like a few stylized, almost translucent "chips" (fries) or the ghost of a coffee cup, dissolving into the abstract background, representing food and cost-of-living observations without being literal. **Human Figures:** To avoid an overtly AI look and issues with limbs, any human presence should be extremely abstract or implied. For example, a blurred, translucent silhouette of a person walking on the cobblestone path, or dynamic light trails suggesting movement, rather than defined figures. **Overall Feel:** The image should convey a thoughtful, reflective atmosphere, a sense of transition and observation, without any prominent text or titles. High level of detail in both the painted textures and abstract digital overlays.