1 von 1 Benutzern finden diesen Beitrag hilfreich
If you're thinking about visiting the UK, I'd like to examine some of the old clichés to help you make up your mind.
1) The British are uptight and rigid. False. In fact, the British are some of the most open minded people in the world, with a vast swathe of foreign influences embraced into the mainstream and a liberal media which has an almost no-holds barred approach to what they'll show. "No sex, please, we're British" is an antiquated notion, long since abandoned. The British have an eyes-open approach to sex, although pornography is still tightly controlled, and are quite happy talking about it - at some length!
2) The British are reserved. True. An overpopulated island causes the British to value their privacy. "An Englishman's home is his castle" is still very much the case, and if you're hoping to be invited into a 'native's' home you'll find it a difficult nut to crack! This isn't to say the British can't be warm and hospitable: break down those initial barriers and you'll find them enthusiastic hosts, with a liberal pouring hand when it comes to alcohol! But it's true, you may find the British, in general, a cold bunch. Just remember it's born out of a desire to respect privacy, don't take it personally, and keep a smile on your face. You'll find people warming to you much more quickly, and you might get behind those barriers after all!
3) British food is terrible! False. In fact, British cuisine is wonderful because of the variation you find in even the smallest town. Restaurants are generally good, if expensive, and the days of flaccid vegetables and non-descript bits of meat are long gone. The British are slightly fanatical about their food, and have an extremely open mind about what they eat - much more so than their continental cousins. As for traditional British food - lightly battered fish and chips, steak and ale pie, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, Beef Wellington, farmhouse bread with thick cut ham, cheddar, stilton, Lancashire cheeses ... how can you object?
4) The British are phlegmatic. True - up to a point. When the bombs went off in London, Londoners took to the street and walked, without complaint or batting an eyelid. When the tubes opened again, people went back to them with a martial look in their eyes and a defiant grin. The art of understatement is never more utilised than in Britain. I had a friend on one of the tubes where the bombs went off, and she described the experience as "a bit hairy for a while." The British don't like to reveal their emotions in public - not when it really matters! But scratch the surface and you'll reveal seething passions beneath. Just look at how the British watch sport. Games are an outlet for repressed emotion, and the passions that flow during football, rugby, or curling matches can be slightly alarming!
5) The British are drunkards. True. The national passion for drinking is depressing, and is, again, a result of British repression. The British are so wary of infringing on someone's personal space, they find it hard to interact with strangers. The best way of cutting loose is to drink enough to lose inhibitions. Unfortunately, any town on a Saturday night is worth avoiding - unless you're in a party mood. If you like to party hearty, nobody does it 'better' than the British!
6) The British are polite. True. Despite certain beliefs that British courtesy is dying , it's still very evident everywhere you go. 'Please' and 'thank you' are ALWAYS used in shops, and if you don't thank the shop attendant you will be looked on with considerable indignation. If you don't say 'please' when asking for something, you will also be considered rude. A good rule of thumb is: if in doubt, say 'please.' You'll also find people apologising a great deal, and 'sorry' is a very useful word! If you haven't heard what someone has said, don't say "what?" say "sorry?" People are, in general, extremely courteous - and this helps on the overpopulated roads. Drivers tend to be extremely aware of each other, and someone will always let you into their lane if you indicate - eventually. Drivers also wave at each other to say thank you for courtesies, and not waving is considered rude.
7) British countryside is glorious. True. Every county is unique, and it's astonishing how quickly the scenery can change in a short distance. Go from the gently rolling hills of Leicestershire to the dramatic peaks of Derbyshire in an hour, or the golden beaches of Fife to the Grampian mountains in the space of 50 miles. As for the 'green and pleasant land' of England - it's no lie. The vibrant green of summer grass in the south of England is truly special.
8) Britain is one country. False. It absolutely is not. In fact, the Kingdom is united only in name. The Scots have a proud nationality all their own, as do the Welsh and Northern Irish, with their own traits. For example, the English don't sing. Seiously - this is a major difference! You can't stop the Scots singing. Every party, every gathering, someone brings a guitar or bashes something out on an old piano, and everyone sings the old songs. The English have lost this beautiful trait, and although a new breed of folk singers are trying valiantly to bring it back, I see no evidence of it taking hold. There are many other differences, too - and one of the worst things you can do is call a Scot, a Welshman, or an Irishman 'English.'
So, there are a few notes on the British - good and bad. Overall, the British are a fascinating, complex and proud people, whose surface impression tells you very little. Believe me - they're well worth getting to know a little better.
|
War dieser Reisetipp für Dich hilfreich?
Ja
|
Nein |
Kommentar schreiben!
Diese Reisetipps könnten dich auch interessieren:
British Museum
Interessant fanden wir das Britisch Museum,dort waren viele Kunstschätze...
The Railway
Das Pub "The Railway" in West Hampstead ist das Pub, was ich jedem zu...
The Brecon Beacons National Park
Von Wales ist mir vor allem der Brecon Beacons National Park mit seinen...
The Corner Store
Die Bar mitten in Covent Garden auf der Wellington Street ist eine solch...
The Gallery in West Hampstead
The Gallery ist ein kleiner Pub, der sich von anderen Pubs in London...
|
Top Forum zu Großbritannien
|
|
Wild Zelten in Großbritannien
Offiziell ist wildes Zelten auch in...
|
|
|
Mietauto in Großbritannien
Der wohl bequemste Weg die Insel zu...
|
|
|
Bodiam Castle
Wenn man in England einen romantischen Ort...
|
Alle Forum zu Großbritannien
Top Fotos von Großbritannien
Alle Fotos von Großbritannien
|
