So I've gotten quite used to the Lovely English Woman and her announcements over the loudspeaker at all of the Underground stations. She says things like "please mind the gap" or "please avoid using the interchange at Bank station as the escalators are being refurbished." Things like that.
Today I was out at lunch running around like a madwoman looking for art supplies. I finally had them all purchased and headed down to the underground for the fastest route back to class. I heard the Lovely Woman make several announcements about the Bank station and then she says this (please read this in your most proper British accent): "Ladies and Gentlemen, please expect delays along the Bakerloo line as there is a person under the train."
I guess this announcement is quite common as my classmates explained people here throw themselves in front of trains pretty regularly. I don't think they would announce such things in NYC. I think back in the good ol' US of A they would just lie and say it was a technical difficulty. But perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps a NYC worker would get on the intercom and say something like: Hey folks, the 3 line is running late today because some schmuck threw himself under a train. Better find yourself another route."
What do you think they would say?
9 comments:
Oh, the English are so proper...I doubt if you would hear anything in the US unless you were listening to your local radio. Which is almost obsolete due to the ipod. Sure do miss you and can tell you're getting a little stressed about your assignment. Grades will not be posted on your resume. I sure do love you and miss you. Love, Mom
Great blog, Leslie. How much fun are you having? Wow!
I love the fact that Derek is coming up Knuckles.
Ah hem:
<begin brooklyn accent>Heeeeey, some JACK-ass decided to throw himself in front of the TRAAAAAin, or whatever, and RUin it for the rest of you [bleep].</end brooklyn accent>
she really said that?
man, we took the bakerloo line last april. no deaths! we were totally cheated.
i think nyc would say: "expect a little turbulance!" as the train rolled right on over ... him... her... it...
hi luv,
sounds like you're having a blissfully wonderful time! of course we miss you but we'll wait to hear all your tales. oddly enough this season's "bachelor" is british so i've been learning a few sexy britishisms of my own. we can share. safe travels until then. keep having fun! plus this is gonna say it's from anonymous but it's really me, michiela!
My how things have changed in the Midwest. I once had a neighbor from Wichita who wouldn't be caught dead muttering the word "shit" even if she had a mouth full. Now, I'm beginning to believe that all words like "schmuck" really originated in Wichita; not in NYC.
Salarymen in Japan would often end their careers (and their lives) under the Shinkansen. To discourage future jumpers, the government actually started suing the victims' families for damages!
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