LibriumArcana.Games

A Brit studying abroad across the pond might not sound that adventurous, but it's been an eye-opening year for me at the University of West Georgia in the much stereotyped US south. Here's the best and worst of what I learned about America:

1. Bad: currency

I'm not very good with numbers, so maybe this didn't help me, but I still cannot understand American coins after living here for 10 months. One of the coins which is larger actually has a lower value than a coin which is smaller (and of the same colour), go figure. "Dimes" and "nickels," still mean nothing to me.

1. Good: value for money

Having said that, you get phenomenal value for money everywhere. Buy a drink which isn't alcoholic (because you're under 21) and you get free unlimited refills at the vast majority of establishments. First few months I was here I kept rejecting refills, presuming they'd show up on the bill, but they never do. You'll also find the portion sizes here are more than generous, taking home meals in "to-go boxes" is commonplace.

Beyond meals, shopping is also generally cheaper in America. Even organic foods are basically on sale.

2. Bad: US healthcare

I paid $687.44 per semester for the mandatory international student health insurance that all internationals must take upon enrolling at my institution. It covered me for the student health centre, a couple of practices outside the campus and one hospital. Republicans say that Britain's National Health Services is evil and doesn't work … try private medical insurers.

2. Good: hospitality

When you're not embroiled in a spat with a local hospital as to whether or not your insurance plan covers you for that particular treatment at that particular hospital, the hospitality you receive when visiting American homes is second to none. I have been shown nothing but kindness from Americans, and I've been invited to countless people's homes during the year to spend the weekend with them, rather than being trapped in university dormitories. The TVs are also huge, which makes a day of Netflix after finals a reliable choice.

3. Bad: American media

I don't know about you, but there is nothing better than hearing the same Top 40 songs repeated over and over again. I thought the repetition of songs on Capital FM in the UK was bad enough, but here it's just the same playlist, almost hourly. In the south it's either that or country music stations, choose your poison.

Also, try and get any informed debate from any major national news network in the US, MSNBC will invite on mostly liberals to their shows and come to the conclusion that background checks for gun buyers are a good thing. Fox News will do the exact opposite. CNN doesn't quite have the open debate that I'd like to see. As a result, all politics here is skewed towards spin, not facts. Don't get me started on the one third of every televisual hour being advert breaks, either.

3. Good: place names

Yes, Intercourse, PA does really exist. There are also some amazing street names, if you fancy living on a student visa in a country in which most streets use any of the following names "Creek", "Lakeview", "Circle", "Way", "Court" and "Drive" then be my guest. I have no issue with the names here, but some of them are a little bizarre, if overly optimistic: "Happy Valley Circle", for instance, in Georgia. The numbering idea for towns and cities is very wise, however, "1st Street", "2nd Street" and so on. I like the system, the names just take a while to adjust to.

4. Bad: road network

The interstate highways are a beautiful system, modelled by President Dwight Eisenhower on the autobahns in Germany, but unfortunately that is where my love for American roads ends. Each junction in America is of increasing complexity, it seems to me, with some angles almost making it impossible to make a turn quickly enough. Road networks here also seem to have either too much information, meaning an information overload three miles before an exit is due, or not enough, and without a GPS you'd be completely stuck.

4. Good thing: weather

How can a Brit go abroad and not mention the weather? While Georgia weather is bipolar (it snowed in February, the next day it was 24 celsius, we also had hailstorms during spring break), when it is beautiful, it is stunning. Fortunately, the weather being beautiful accounts for about 70-80% of the year.

5. Bad thing: that accent and associated pronunciations

Asking for Oregano in any Subway sandwich causes a minor crisis at every outlet I have been to. For some reason, all the syllables from this word are removed, yet one of my host "moms" complains how the Brits drop the ends of words (Buckingham, Birmingham, Manchester, etc), usually, Americans are the ones to extend the vowels, but with oregano, this does not apply at all, clearly. I did once find myself saying to a friend on Skype after three months of being here, "oh, what a beautiful accent you have", I thought that was something only Americans said.

Clumsy sentences are also abound, "Gotten sick" and "Keep off of the grass/rocks/enjoyable water feature" are personal favourites.

5. Good thing: it's beautiful

America is beautiful. I went travelling out west over the Christmas break and took over 1,000 photos in a week. Even the scenery where the houses are set in Georgia is beautiful. A lot of America is truly stunning. The suburbs are peaceful and quiet, with birdsong and the gentle rustle of wind through the trees as you step out of a car. I've heard California is even nicer, but I really can't imagine how that's possible.

I'm so torn, America is far better than I ever expected, but at the same time I must return to the UK to continue my studies. As much as this country has been great to me, and it really has, the people are just fantastic, I must return to the UK, where no one talks on public transport and where we'll complain when it's too hot and moan when it's too cold, despite packing inappropriate clothing for both occasions. I can't wait, but at the same time I'm leaving a fan of our former colony.