Pub Culture

Last night we walked to the nearest pub (it's cold outside!) and had a bottle of wine, while people watching and discussing our plans to return to the U.S. Chris is in the process of sending out applications now and just about every corner of the U.S. in being covered in his job search. For example, he's applying for jobs at...

University of Washington (Seattle)
University of Colorado (Denver)
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
University of Tulsa (Oklahoma)
Rice University (Texas)
University of Massachusetts (Boston)
Duke University (North Carolina)

Anyway, back to being at the pub. I've found that going to a pub here is quite different to going to a bar back home. What we've found most surprising is how many old people go out. Women in their 40s and 50s dressed like teenagers (revealing way too much flesh!). Also, men in their 50s and 60s looking and acting sleazy, attempting to pick up women half their age.

Pubs have various dress codes, the most typical is no tennis shoes and no football (soccer) jerseys. Last night we discovered a new one though. Another rule is no hoods, which my winter jacket has. The idea is that hoods are associated with "hoodies."

According to Wikipedia...
In the UK, hoodies have recently been the subject of much criticism: some shoplifters have used the hood to conceal their identities from CCTV cameras in shopping centres. Particularly when worn with a baseball cap, the hoodie has become a trademark of "chavs." Chav is a mainly derogatory slang term in the UK for a subcultural stereotype fixated on fashions derived from American hip hop such as imitation gold, poorly made jewellery and fake designer clothing, combined with elements of working class British street fashion.

I understand that the rules must apply to everyone, but being told I must remove my hooded winter jacket reminds me of being patted down at the airport to ensure I'm not an Islamic terrorist.