Ten reminders of what living in the UK is really like
1. Being plied with cups of tea for any remotely plausible reason.
2. Being able to get virtually anywhere on public transportation.
3. The prohibitive cost of almost everything. (The equivalent of $36 for a train ticket to travel less than 60 miles—one way?)
4. Bourneville chocolate.
5. Going to the pub.
6. Anonymous intimacy (everyone is so packed in together that you can see into people’s front rooms and overhear their business when out and about, but we all pretend otherwise).
7. Walkers Thai sweet chili crisps.
8. Determining where UK popular culture overlaps with (as well as completely diverges from) the US equivalent. Can be observed by watching television, listening to the radio, browsing in bookstores, or checking film listings. Very difficult to discern a pattern.
9. Customer service—or complete lack thereof.
10. The weather. 'Nuff said.
4 comments:
Hooray, you're back! We've missed you. :)
Curious - do you find the UK and Oz similar? Culturally they're probably closer than Australia and the US..
Celia
Hi Celia! I missed you all too!
I do find Australia and the UK similar in lots of ways, but also found some cultural similarities between the US and Australia that I didn't find in the UK. Overall I do feel there is a much stronger connection between Oz & the UK: people are much more aware of each country in the other. Whereas the US is not very aware of either (sadly)!
Next time you're in the UK we should set up a day out! I totally agree with all your comments about the UK. I also found OZ and the UK to be more closely related... but Oz had enough little "American" touches to make it feel like home as well. Frankly, the weather here is still so COLD that I'd be happy to move back to OZ or the US right about now!
SK - definitely! I'm expecting to be back later in the year, so will let you know details. If it makes you feel any better, our part of the US is definitely having an English spring--even Miss B (who hasn't been in the UK for two years) commented yesterday, as we were driving home in the rain, "This is just like England!"
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