Monday 9 September 2013

Back to school: UK vs US

My New York friends go back to school this week (at least, their children do), so I've been reflecting a little bit on the differences I've noticed so far between the rituals that accompany back-to-school in the UK and in the US.

UK
Spend the week before frantically buying uniform and attaching name tags (or sew-in name tapes, in my unlucky case, see previous post).

US
Spend the week before shopping for nice new kids' clothes at Target and, if you're super-organized, writing a name on the label with a Sharpie.

UK
First day in the plaground: everyone's discussing their summer holidays and where they went.

US
First day in the playground: everyone's discussing which summer camp their kids did

UK
You're not sure what day your child has PE and when to send in the PE bag

US
It doesn't matter what day they have gym, because they don't have to get changed for it.

UK
Everyone's already looking forward to half term/wondering how they're going to arrange childcare for half term

US
Everyone's already thinking about Halloween costumes. There's no half term (although there are an awful lot of random days off in November).

UK
The school run means the traffic everywhere is a nightmare

US
The traffic isn't any different from usual, although there are more school buses around

UK
Everyone's posting pictures of the first day on Facebook
US
Everyone's posting pictures of the first day on Facebook

At least some things are the same the world over.....

5 comments:

Expat mum said...

V interesting. Yes, I'm glad we don't have uniforms (most of the time) but we only have one year left of no PE kit. IN 6th grade they are expected to change. I'm not looking forward to all the lost stuff that will certainly begin, but he will definitely need to change out of the stinky PE kit.

Nota Bene said...

...and I bet the kids are very over-excited about their first day in both countries!

Iota said...

I remember well, after our first summer in America, trying to ask people "where did you go on holiday?" Two problems. 1) should have said "vacation" not "holiday", and 2) most people hadn't been away, and found it an odd question.

Paradise Lost In Translation said...

Has the traffic got any better?

Muddling Along said...

I'm glad you're back and surviving the re-entry

I'm one of the strange people who enjoys the whole name tape thing - feels rather nostalgic for my childhood or something (and nothing says nostalgia like the obligatory pictures of children in over-sized clothes - presumably that is a UK only thing?)