I'm American, and I'm absoloutely enthralled by your culture. I'd really like to be better acquainted with the vernacular over there. I love watching films made with British people. EX: Love Actually, Bridget Jones' Diary, Pride & Prejudice (both the movie and the A&E series). You guys have emerged some of the greatest bands. I hope that you aren't making a joke about me being a dumb American in your head, lol. But if you are, understand that I come in peace! I really would like to start using some phrases that you guys use, and stuff like that. I'm sure you probally think that I shouldn't, maybe that's just the stereotype talking... But I really want to connect with new people, and maybe get a penpal over there or something. I'd really like to live in England someday. Any advice/tips/other films? I would love a crash course in all things English. Thanks, feel free to e-mail or something. :) I hope I'm not offending anyone...
2007-01-02 20:51:26 · 25 answers · asked by _nxeural 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
PS.
I'm well aware that many people here are overweight, and ignorant, and our gov't is total sh!t..
Please don't bash...Serious answers..
2007-01-02 20:56:28 · update #1
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Please don't bash...Serious answers..
2007-01-02 21:05:14 · update #2
PSS.
If you're American, this question doesn't apply to you. So stop leaving answers calling me a traitor, just because I want to learn something about another country. Get off your damn high horse.
2007-01-02 21:06:59 · update #3
My friend and I went to see a girly US/ UK film "The Holiday" (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) over Christmas. (not a serious story but nice scenes). I think you'll enjoy that too.
"Sense and Sensibility" was on telly the other night, a lovely film.
Not everyone here is a LittleBritain fan though. It depends on what type of programmes u like. Check out
http://www.heritagebritain.com/
if you like to see some beautiful places in Britain.
One thing for sure, anyone kind and friendly like yourself is warmly welcome here.
PS Sorry to read so much hostility to your supposedly friendly posting. Oh well, look on the bright side: now u have so many new friends ...
Good Luck!!!
2007-01-02 21:15:27 · answer #1 · answered by Zenithia 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Thank you for your question. I have worked with and for Americans and I now live in Germany (where I am surrounded by them!) the main things that make us different are: 1. Humour, the Brits take the mickey out of themselves (like "Little Britain" on TV) while the Americans do not do this. 2. Our politics are very middle of the road while a lot of Americans seem to be very strongly commited to one party or another, I even know one American who won't buy any Heinz products because there is a connection between Heinz and John Kerry's wife! 3. We tend to question everything we are told in the media far more than Americans.
If you wan to visit the UK, then do you will be made most welcome, just DON'T go to London. One of the things you need to know is that most things in the UK cost twice what you would pay in the USA. My favorite film about UK/USA interaction is "Local Hero". Watch it and then get in touch and I'll tell you where to go to experience life like the film shows!
You are welcome to get in touch if I can help you any further. Remember only 6% of Americand have passports, only 3% have actually used them! While 80% of Brits have travelled abroad, so we have lots of experience of our wonderful world. I have been to around twenty countries.
2007-01-03 06:34:16 · answer #2 · answered by Reg Tedious 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Are you interested in British or English culture????????? England is really only a small part of Great Britain. The UK is made up of a few countries i.e. - Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England.
I am from Cardiff - The Capital City of Wales. Wales has some great culture and if you do visit the UK, I would suggest that you drop into Wales and pay us a visit.
2007-01-03 05:39:00 · answer #3 · answered by The Dude 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is very sweet of you to want to know more about our culture, there was a TV programme called "The Edwardian Country House" and I think it's available on DVD or Video. It was like a reality show with modern people spending two months living as they did in the old days, very fascinating programme.
I would also like to recommend "Bleak House" (2006) and the new "Jane Eyre" are both lovely.
I am glad that someone from abroad appreciate our culture and please don't apologise for it. If you want you can send me an e-amil and I will think of something more to write.
2007-01-03 05:30:37 · answer #4 · answered by Tuppence 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some reading:
Any Shakespeare
Any Charles Dickens
Dip into the Norton Anthology of Poetry - Wordsworth, Coleridge, etc
Read a good History of Britain - Simon Schama's is a good popular one
See the movie "Sir Henry at Rawlinson End" for a taste of England at its most un-politically correct.
Thousands more.....
2007-01-03 05:00:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Like everywhere Britain has it's good and it's bad. What it does have over America is history......I imagine it is this which in part is the attraction. It is easy look through rose coloured specks.....Britain is diverse as in Wales, Scotland Ireland all unique and different. Try a visit or two firstbefore the choice to live kicks in.........might not be all you imagined. Feel free to e mailme....
2007-01-03 05:32:20 · answer #6 · answered by eagledreams 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need to come over, travel up and down the country. Cornish expressions are different from Yorkshire and both are different to London and the south east. So come and take a gander( London)
me duck ( northern) that'le be a proper job (Cornish)
Oh bring a raincoat, and have fun
2007-01-03 13:23:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi I am from Bristol in the west of England. i think its great you love us Brits so much. Try watching nottinging hill a great film with some very British characters.
Little Britain is a great comedy series but I'm not sure it really shows us in a good light but there really are people like that in Britain unfortunately.
good luck with your quest
2007-01-03 05:37:44 · answer #8 · answered by gina 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ohhhh you really MUST watch a Show called Little Britain....it really does take the perverbale out of Britain its hilarious !!!!!!
only one slight point though if i may it's not just english culture ?
I'm a Scot and we have a lot of history and culture also :)
2007-01-03 05:54:48 · answer #9 · answered by thunderchild67 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good British food:
The Traditional (and still eaten) English Breakfast: Beans, sausages, fried mushrooms, hash browns (potato covered in breadcrumb), fried egg, bacon, toast, black pudding (dried pig's blood cake).
Chip shop (or "chippy"): Traditionally eaten on a Friday but now eaten everyday: Cod or Haddock with chips (chunky fries) with malt vinegar and salt as condiments, alternatively smokey sausage with gravy.
The Sunday lunch: Roast potatoes, carrots, turnip, sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, with some kind of meat (pork, lamb, beef or chicken). The Christmas dinner is similar but with Tukrey, Cranberry sauce and sage and onion stuffing.
Toad in the Hole: Sausages inside a giant Yorkshire Pudding covered in gravy.
Bread and Butter Pudding: Covered in custard and raisins and cinnamon.
Apple and toffe granny: A flan with cooked apples and toffee sauce served with fresh cream.
Good British drink:
The essential British cup of tea. Dash of milk, two sugars, a good brand of tea and scalding hot water. Lovely!
Your avergae pint of lager/cider or a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale will sort you out!
Good British shows:
Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, The Young Ones and Red Dwarf
Good British Films: Billy Elliott, anything by filmfour, East is East
Good British phrases:
Cup of cha - cup of tea
Knackered - tired
Mate: Friend
Pavement: Sidewalk
Bin: Trashcan
National sport: FOOTBALL (aka soccer) is the worshipped sport on UK turf, but Rugby is also very popular (like American football but with no padding!)
British bands: Sex pistols, Black Sabbath, Dropkicks
British scum: Chavs or Charvas, they're the British version of rednecks and they're the vilest thing on this earth
British stuff: Current Prime Mininster (president) is Tony Blair, there's the Queen, the bulldog is our national breed, there are more people living in London than the whole of Australia, there are countless accents and variations and dialects, the UK is made up of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the Channel islands Jersey and Guernsey.
Fabulous stuff! Rule Britannia!
PS: Visit a place called Newcastle in the North of England. You'll never guess it's English they're talking! It's kind of a hybrid between Scottish, English and Norsk heh!
2007-01-03 05:07:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋