Info On England

I plan on going to Sunderland next year for a semester abroad and I was wondering if anyone could give me any information on Sunderland/England in general. I talked to a friend that went there last year and she said that the Sunderland dialect is so unique that it almost qualifies as a foreign language since it is mixed with Scottish (even though it sounded more like German from the midi file I found on-line).

Jam it back in, in the dark.

You will be fine they are not that backwards up in Sunderland. Trust me you won't really need to worry about any language barriers, its like some of my friends who were worried when they went to university in Wales/Scotland, but they were totally fine. Although of course it may take you a few days to get accustomed with the accent but thats a non issue really. In the North I find a good way of fitting in some places is to do some of the more local or traditional activities, trust me.

Of course if you just want information on Sunderland/England google would be your most helpful resource.

Also out of interest why Sunderland?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by El Ray Fernando

You will be fine they are not that backwards up in Sunderland. Trust me you won't really need to worry about any language barriers, its like some of my friends who were worried when they went to university in Wales/Scotland, but they were totally fine. Although of course it may take you a few days to get accustomed with the accent but thats a non issue really. In the North I find a good way of fitting in some places is to do some of the more local or traditional activities, trust me.

Of course if you just want information on Sunderland/England google would be your most helpful resource.

Also out of interest why Sunderland?

The newspaper that I work for has a lot of it's student workers travel to Sunderland in order to learn journalism since it is not taught at this college. I want to go because I am very interested in learning about the media (which they do not have any media classes at this college) and Sunderland seems to have a sound media curriculum. Also, I want to learn more about one of the main countries that my family derives from since I will be the first person from my family to travel overseas since the 1700's (not counting my relatives that were drafted in WWII, but they went to Japan, not Europe).

Someone told me that right now, the trend is what was considered to be 1980's in America. I was also told that there are 5 dance clubs around the campus, but that they were difficult to enter. I also heard that the guys in Sunderland are very...blunt when it comes to asking someone out (a lot of people here think that they are actually shy about asking someone out).

I want to try to prepare as much as possible for this trip so I won't go there and do something that may accidentally insult them. Also, meeting a few allies from here would be a plus.

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I honestly think it will be very hard to really offend someone from England. We're more like to give a "WTF?" sort of look more than anything.

How do you mean the trend is 1980s in America? Oh, and about the nightclubs, as long as you look over 18 I don't see why they would be to hard to enter.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Well there's always the 18+ look and for certain night clubs, you have to have certain cloathes. Don't think I've seen any chav dressed people in any of the student nights that I've been to (only Bristol mind you).

I do wonder wtf is sunderland ;\. I really should know better seeing as I live in England and all ¬_¬

How ya doing, buddy?

Even if you dont look 18 as long as you have some sort of ID you will be fine. Is it Sunderland University that you will be going to? I am thinking of leaving Glasgow and going there next year (yes I know I am leaving it very late) since its only a couple of hours drive away.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by XtremeDJW

I honestly think it will be very hard to really offend someone from England. We're more like to give a "WTF?" sort of look more than anything.

How do you mean the trend is 1980s in America? Oh, and about the nightclubs, as long as you look over 18 I don't see why they would be to hard to enter.

That's good to hear, since I always had this image of someone traveling abroad and doing something as innocent as showing the soles of their feet (which is an insult in some Muslim countries I think) and they end up starting the next World War. I knew Deft, but he's not on AIM and I don't know if he still visits this site.

A friend of mine said that the current fashion trend in Sunderland resembles the crazy fashion trends we had in the 1980's. She didn't go into a lot of detail, but she was wearing a shimmery gold, poofy skirt that closed in at the bottom with sneakers (which was a good thing in the 80's but supposedly a no-no now). However, since London is supposedly the main trendsetter, that style should be coming back to America soon.

I always heard that the clubs were a little exclusive. If you didn't know the right people or look the right way that they would kick you out, and it's always been a dream of mine to go to a dance club where they played actual dance music (not just rap/hip-hop) and where they do other dance styles instead of dry-humping grinding.

Originally Posted by Chiribo

Well there's always the 18+ look and for certain night clubs, you have to have certain cloathes. Don't think I've seen any chav dressed people in any of the student nights that I've been to (only Bristol mind you).

I do wonder wtf is sunderland ;\. I really should know better seeing as I live in England and all ¬_¬

What kind of clothes in Bristol do you all have to wear for the club scene? I know it's probably two very different places, but any help would be greatly appreciated. Sunderland is about 15-30 minutes away from Lancaster I think. I know that the person that told me about Sunderland wanted me to go there instead since Sunderland is supposedly a filthy town. I was also told that it could possibly be the birthplace of the person who wrote "Alice in Wonderland".

Originally Posted by Bean

Even if you dont look 18 as long as you have some sort of ID you will be fine. Is it Sunderland University that you will be going to? I am thinking of leaving Glasgow and going there next year (yes I know I am leaving it very late) since its only a couple of hours drive away.

I'm in my 20's, but people still think I'm between the age of 16-18 (even younger if I have my hair in a ponytail). I plan on going to Sunderland University next Spring for a semester. I've heard a lot about Glasgow, Scotland and I was thinking about going to either Scotland or Ireland during Spring Break (if I can find some friends to travel with me). What is you major or what classes do you plan on studying?

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Visavi

What kind of clothes in Bristol do you all have to wear for the club scene? I know it's probably two very different places, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

If its a student place your going to, any clothes will get you in fine. If not though you just have to dress up a bit thats all, make yourself look nice and all that malarky.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Visavi

A friend of mine said that the current fashion trend in Sunderland resembles the crazy fashion trends we had in the 1980's. She didn't go into a lot of detail, but she was wearing a shimmery gold, poofy skirt that closed in at the bottom with sneakers (which was a good thing in the 80's but supposedly a no-no now).

Either she's been in a coma for twenty years or she needs some fashion sense.

Quote:

I always heard that the clubs were a little exclusive. If you didn't know the right people or look the right way that they would kick you out.

Thats true of a lot of places now in terms of the club scene especially in London, if you dress smart casual you won't have a problem you will get in anywhere, but usually these student nightclub's/ bars do not have any strict requirements, they just want your money they don't give a toss what you wear.

Trust me your thinking too hard just come over and enjoy yourself.

Definately go to Ireland or Scotland, good food/drink excellent people, good partys, nice scenery can't ask for much more. Also give London a try.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Just so long as you don't wear a Newcastle United shirt in Sunderland you'll be fine.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Majin yami

Just so long as you don't wear a Newcastle United shirt in Sunderland you'll be fine.

LOL, I heard something about that. There's some kind of slang word I think involving Newcastle and soccer, but I can't remember what it is.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Scum, probably.

I'm not personally a massive fan of the North but then I do live about as far south as it's possible to get in England. The further north you get, the grimmer it gets as a rule but the grimmest bits of England are still preferable to most parts of the world.

You might get a bit of a shock in bars and clubs in England though. People here drink a lot more than pretty much anywhere else, especially America and our dance music is roughly five years ahead of yours. You should feel pretty much at home at retro nights though.

Some people might give you a hard time for being American but you'd get that anywhere in the world, not just England.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Shin

Some people might give you a hard time for being American but you'd get that anywhere in the world, not just England.

Unless you follow Eddie Izzard's advice, say you're Canadian, you'll get much less flack that way (though people might then expect you to say "aboot", but it's a small price to pay).

I was speaking idiomatically.

Hahahahaha.

Are they going to have to re-edit his sketch about the Heimlich manouver now it turns out he was a nonce and they're renaming it abdominal thrusting or some shit like that?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

Unless you follow Eddie Izzard's advice, say you're Canadian, you'll get much less flack that way (though people might then expect you to say "aboot", but it's a small price to pay).

LOL, I know some Canadian slang, so maybe that will help (even though my voice doesn't sound southern, there are some words I can't say without it becoming noticable).

Also, can someone explain to me about how Spring Break works there? I was looking through the booklet and it said that Spring Break lasted from Apr 2 to Apr 20 and I was very excited, until someone that went there last semester told me that you only get a week off, but it depends on the classes you are taking.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Visavi

Also, can someone explain to me about how Spring Break works there? I was looking through the booklet and it said that Spring Break lasted from Apr 2 to Apr 20 and I was very excited, until someone that went there last semester told me that you only get a week off, but it depends on the classes you are taking.

We don't have a spring break as such. The hoiday that is usually between those dates in just called the Easter Holidays. But between the 2nd and the 20th sound about right, it might be shorter, or it might be longer depenind on where you study.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Majin yami

Just so long as you don't wear a Newcastle United shirt in Sunderland you'll be fine.

Quoted for affirmation. People regularly get beaten up for this.
People from Sunderland (Mackems - but it's probably a good idea not to call them this, that and 'sand dancers') and in Newcastle they're Geordies (it's okay to call them that) and there is a sworn hatred between the two sides purely because of football. Unless you're feeling brave it'd probably be a good idea to stay away from pubs and such likes if there's a match on at the Stadium of Light (Sunderland's club).

With an American accent people will take notice and talk to you, you may get some people having a go at you but despite what Shin said, we're all pretty merry up here.

As for the fashion thing;
It's not that people dress like it's the 80's it's just that some people don't seem to own a mirror. These people are mostly hideously obese, really ugly women who wear clothes that really weren't meant for them. It's also a good idea to steer clear of these people because they're usually argumentative, obnoxious, drunk and looking for a fight.
If you're going into clubs, don't wear trainers - you won't get in.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Sal

Quoted for affirmation. People regularly get beaten up for this.
People from Sunderland (Mackems - but it's probably a good idea not to call them this, that and 'sand dancers') and in Newcastle they're Geordies (it's okay to call them that) and there is a sworn hatred between the two sides purely because of football. Unless you're feeling brave it'd probably be a good idea to stay away from pubs and such likes if there's a match on at the Stadium of Light (Sunderland's club).

With an American accent people will take notice and talk to you, you may get some people having a go at you but despite what Shin said, we're all pretty merry up here.

As for the fashion thing;
It's not that people dress like it's the 80's it's just that some people don't seem to own a mirror. These people are mostly hideously obese, really ugly women who wear clothes that really weren't meant for them. It's also a good idea to steer clear of these people because they're usually argumentative, obnoxious, drunk and looking for a fight.
If you're going into clubs, don't wear trainers - you won't get in.

Thanks for the advice about staying away from pubs and such during that time. I'm not really much into argumentative people, so I will try to stay away from them. My accent isn't extremely southern (people acutally wonder if I'm from France or Britain sometimes b/c of my articulation and voice) but I don't know if I could pull of as being Canadian (maybe Canadian as in Shawn Ashmore and Christopher Ralph, but not the thicker accents).

Trainers as in sneakers or trainers as in bra?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Visavi

Trainers as in sneakers or trainers as in bra?

That would be the footwear we are talking about. Oh, and all this stuff about the football rivalries, as long as you don't start the confrontation you should be perfectly fine.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I refuse to go to any club that won't let me in wearing trainers. You can't dance properly in shoes.

People won't actually dislike you just for being American, they'll probably just take the piss out of you a bit.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Well the dress code just kinda varies depending on what kinda club you go to and also if the bouncer likes you or not :\ I tend to wear jeans, dark shoes and a t-shirt+shirt or something and I haven't had a problem getting into anywhere considered "townie".

But I doubt you will have a problem getting in unless you dress like a total goth and go to a "townie" place

I was speaking idiomatically.

Somehow, I feel that you must wear jeans unless you want to be labelled as a "chav". It's quite amusing to see 90% of student in our year dressed in jeans during non-uniform days or trips.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by spikeh

Somehow, I feel that you must wear jeans unless you want to be labelled as a "chav".

Wear anything besides Adidas tracksuit bottoms, with a Burberry t-shirt and a matching baseball cap.

Also fake gold jewelery is a no no.

FELIPE NO

Hey Shin, when was Izzard outed as a nonce? Completely flew me by. Also, did you see that interview they did last week with Gary Glitter? That twat still thinks he did nothing wrong and is hoping to return to England so he can plunder more virgin assholes.

England eh? I live here. It's alright except for the wankers who govern us. The North isn't SO bad, especially Manchester. Even Liverpool has it's redeeming qualities. I was out with some peeps last year and the doorman stopped everyone else who wore trainers but they let me pass, even though I was wearing Docs! We didn't go in there naturally but it looked like a nice place.

You'll find people are more open-minded in the larger cities, as there is naturally more diversity among people and so everyone has learned to tolerate each other and get on with business. It's in the shitty small towns (like where I was born) that you get a lot of chavs who are real bastards, but hopefully you won't have to encounter any of those.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Ulysses

Hey Shin, when was Izzard outed as a nonce? Completely flew me by. Also, did you see that interview they did last week with Gary Glitter? That twat still thinks he did nothing wrong and is hoping to return to England so he can plunder more virgin assholes.

England eh? I live here. It's alright except for the wankers who govern us. The North isn't SO bad, especially Manchester. Even Liverpool has it's redeeming qualities. I was out with some peeps last year and the doorman stopped everyone else who wore trainers but they let me pass, even though I was wearing Docs! We didn't go in there naturally but it looked like a nice place.

You'll find people are more open-minded in the larger cities, as there is naturally more diversity among people and so everyone has learned to tolerate each other and get on with business. It's in the shitty small towns (like where I was born) that you get a lot of chavs who are real bastards, but hopefully you won't have to encounter any of those.

Hahahaha. No, Professor Heimlich was a nonce so they're renaming his manouever.

Jam it back in, in the dark.