I know what 12 feels like

Jul 14, 2010 by Daniel Ross-Jones

One of the biggest obstacles for Americans traveling or residing abroad is the use of the metric system.  Regardless of one’s views as to whether or not the U.S. should go metric, the fact remains: stepping outside and thinking it feels to be about 55 degrees is not the same as stepping outside and thinking it feels to be about 12 degrees.

The last few days have changed that.  Being immersed in the New Zealand culture now for more than three weeks, I’ve adopted a hybrid approach to metrication.  I’ve got 0-15 C down for its feeling, and the rest I can mentally convert to Fahrenheit in my head.  I can visualize metres almost as well as I can visualize feet; though the 4.26m underpass clearances still don’t translate the same as 14 ft.

I’m asking people how they’re going, and more than once I’ve asked if someone is sorted.  I find “quite” and “rather” sneaking into my vocabulary, and I’ll ask where the rubbish bin is located.  It’s still ketchup, however, and except when giving Internet addresses it will remain “zee.”

For the past three weeks, however, I catch myself when turning right still looking over my right shoulder immediately before the turn, assuming I will cut in front of the car coming from that direction.  I realized this morning that I didn’t do that, which is a different level of acculturation altogether.  Walking through the double doors going into the common room at church, I catch myself routinely using the left-hand door now instead of the right.

(I still, however, cannot comprehend driving clockwise around a cul-de-sac on a dead-end street as opposed to counter-clockwise.)

So how are things, now that I’m at the halfway point?  I know what 12 feels like.  I can’t sum it up better than that.

Related Posts

Tags

Share This