June 10th/10th of June
If you visit the United Kingdom for any length of time, you must relearn how to express a date. Take a birth date, for instance. Written with numbers in America, it would look like this: 06/10/76. In Britain, it appears as 10/06/76.
It is so easy to say, “Just keep in mind that the numbers for the month and the day are reversed. In Britain, the date of the day comes first with the month in the middle. In the US, the number of the month is written first, followed by the number of the day. See? Simple.”
HA! This elemental, cultural difference has given me pause countless times in the last five months, especially when looking at an expiration date on food packages.
BUT THIS MORNING . . . !! Let’s say that it is worth writing home about.
Kat frequently orders deliveries from Amazon, restaurants, and Sainsbury’s, her grocery store of choice. This morning we were expecting a Sainsbury delivery.
So, about 10:30 the doorbell rings. Answering it, I open the door to a smiling man of Eurasian descent. He stands patiently, holding a phone-like device in his left hand while two bags of groceries sit on the step.
“Good morning. Here are your groceries. Now, all I need is your birthdate.”
“Of course, it is 3/14/47. Oh! But I’m not the one who made the order. That was my daughter.”
“Okay, what is her birthdate?” He adjusts his device to write down the correct date.
“Six. Ten. 47.”
He enters the numbers. “No, that’s not correct.”
“Oh! I gave you my birth year. Hers is 1976. . . . 6-10-76.”
Again he enters it. Again: “No, that’s not it.”
This time I try words. “June tenth, 1976.” I bend to get a better look at his device, and I see 6, June, 1976. The numbers seem right, but something is wrong. Finally, the error dawns on me.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m from America. . . .”
“I know. I could tell by the accent.” (Oh my! How often have I heard that!)
“I was confused because June is the sixth month. Okay, she was born on the tenth day of June, 1976.”
He takes only a few seconds to enter 10, June, 1976. “That’s it,” he says with a broader smile.
Chuckling at the extra time that a change in culture can make, we each wish other a good weekend as he sets the bags inside.
For five months I have enjoyed the friendliness of the northern English. Though they readily determine that my roots lie not in Yorkshire, they accept me for whom I am and whence I come without any derision. I am glad for my remaining three weeks in the UK. I shall continue to appreciate the people and the countryside of this historic and beautiful island.
Canada shares the same idiosyncrasy. My birth date is 12/24/1940 or 24/12/1940. When I was applying for my Canadian Pension (Social Security Benefit) , I relearned this. 3 more weeks and you will be back in your cozy Portland Place!
I always like to hear from you, Tom. Not only Canada but Vietnam dates in the same manner as Britain. I’m sure that there are many other countries s well. Your reference to my “cozy Portland Place” made me smile with anticipation. See you soon.
Yes, it requires determinatiion, grit, grace, and a change in mind set to live successfully in another country.
Your comment comes from hard earned experience, I know; so, it is truly appreciated. Always good to hear from you, Gail.
Looking forward to seeing you very soon and hearing more about your time in England.
Me, too! Soon ———–
Cultural lessons of accepting, adapting and sharing is so very lovely. Isn’t that what God (and Paul) reiterated?! “…I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some.” (I Corinthians 9:22). It’s a wise missionary and everyday life strategy❣️
Thoroughly enjoy your remaining weeks!!!
Yes, world traveller, you know about cultural lessons leading us ultimately back to a loving God who Himself crossed unimaginable borders to be human among us. Such an amazing true story!!