English in England?

So I was just reading back through a couple things Brynn wrote about McDonalds in Italy and couldn't help but remember my experience at McDonalds in England. So, after spending a long day driving and checking out Windsor Castle, we decided to eat at McDonalds. Brynn walks away and I am left at the counter by myself to order - how hard can this be? I tell the girl what I want. It was something basic like a hamburger, fries, drink and a kids meal. She doesn't understand. I explain it again. She still doesn't understand. You need to remember, I wasn't even being picky about my order, i.e. I didn't even ask them to leave the onions off the burger! She begins to talk and explain something to me. I am starring at her and have absolutely no idea what she is saying. Next thing I know I had to get Brynn to translate. I was shocked! We could not understand each other, and we were both speaking English. After getting the meal and sitting down I say, without thinking, "I feel like I'm in another country!"

I should add, this was not the only time I had problems with the "language barrier." I had a problem when we all went to Cambridge and ate at Pizza Hut. The waiter starts saying something. I have no idea what. I smile and shake my head. After he leaves Brynn says, "You have no idea what he just said do you?" Nope!

The other interesting moment was when we first reached England and got on the subway. While on the "underground" a young 10yr old girl starts talking to us. She is telling us about the "party" she will be attending and begins asking us all kinds of questions. Kelsey sits there smiling and says nothing. I am having a bit of a problem understanding her, so I figured Kelsey is too. I assume that is why Kelsey is not engaging in the conversation. After a while, the young girl points to Kelsey and asks, "Can she talk?" It cracked me up!

Anyway, despite the English problem in England, Kelsey and I had a lot of fun and we now find ourselves using many of their cool words/phrases. For example, whenever we get the chance we love to say "Mind the Gap." In addition, Kelsey loves to walk around talking with an English accent. She's good!