BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 10:55 AM

I've heard 'pit used as an abreviation for armpit on many occasions over here - the younger generation in particular, would much rather user an american term than an english one. Mind you I much prefer the word "Oxters".

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Trevor
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 10:10 AM

"Do the women shave their pits....?"

Another linguistic hint - round here 'pit' means bed - if you ask a woman if she likes being kissed in the pit.....well, I don't know, try it. Oops, sorry Morty!

I remember in Cincinatti, being asked by the waitress if she could "take our balls". She meant, of course, the crocks in which our salad had been served.

Try and get over to us in the Shropshire faction at some point - beautiful place, loads of music, plenty of room.

Bon voyage.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 07:57 AM

Linda and I found a wonderful pub called "The Old Bookbinders Ale House" in the Jericho area of Oxford - it was a quite zany place, and we had a wonderful time singing to a great audience on afternoon. They had a regular jazz club there and one bar had instruments all round the walls.

Martin - there are plenty of Jewish delis in London especially in areas like Golders Green, Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill etc. Once upon a time the main Jewish area was in the Whitechapel area of the East End, but most of the Jewish population have got affluent enough to move into North London now and their places have been taken by asian immigrants now. There is still a famous bagel bakery at the northern end of Brick Lane though. I expect most ladies who really need to, do shave the areas which you mentioned. Essex Girl is not exessively hirsute and therefore does not bother.

Finally, we're still waiting to know just where you will be residing in this country, Allan, and also when you will be arriving.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: greg stephens
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 07:56 AM

This don is a bit suspicious,lady jean. Someone might be having you on. I'm familiar with quite a few of the colleges at this venerable seat of learning, and the College of Medieval and Renaissance Studies is not one I've ever been aware of. Mind you, there are one or two iffy establishments down the Cowley Road catering for foreign students, it might conceivably be one of those.
   The Eagle and Child (Bird and Baby), as McGrath points out, is unlikely to be wildly anti-American. In fact I have drunk in there with Americans myself, and experienced no difficulty whatever. And Tolkien and CS Lewis were sat there in the corner, pipes, Harris tweed jackets with leather patches, reading out their latest extracts from Lord of the Rings and the Narnia books, and a good time was had by all. Mind you, I'm going back a bit now.
   As for the Trout, well you could be right. Might have been full of golden-haired boys, straw-boatered and blazered, caressing their teddy bears lasciviously. Might not have been any space for American diners.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 07:16 AM

Is it possible the Don might have been having you on. The Bird and Baby hasn't ever been down on Americans that I've heard.

It's a smallish pub, so if a coachload of Americans or any other variety of people turned up, looking for the place CS Lewis and Tokien and company used to drink at, they might not have been too welcome.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 06:14 AM

The Trout isn't all that special, a bit quaint, and the fish in the river that come to be fed are Chub and not trout. There are nicer places to go round Oxford then that.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Grab
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 06:12 AM

Thanks McGrath. Doh! :-)

Oh yes, milk comes in "skimmed" (no cream free), "semi-skimmed" (half cream removed) or "normal" (all cream left in). I've still not worked out how that compares to the US "1% fat" kind of system.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: sledge
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 02:50 AM

I was born and raised in Banbury, just 20 Miles down the road from Oxford, the only reason I ever went there was for gigs at the Appollo theatre, this was years before the Mill arts Centre in Banbury really got going. If anything kept me from going on a more regular basis it was the students who I then percieved as noisy and arrogant (sorry Morty). But as I was a bit of a country bumpkin my exposure to them was a bit of a shock, now that I've travelled a bit I don't give it a seconds thought, their behaviour was no better or worse on a night out than many other cities in the UK.

Ladyjean, are you saying that restaurant bookings are never messed up in the USA, I'm sure there are also bars in many US cities that it might be best to avoid. Pretty feeble basis on which to run us down.

Allan, great that you are moving over, lots to see and do, Hope you have a blast.

Cheers

Sledge

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 12:59 AM

So do I; it is bitter, and hard, to be disappointed. Oxford is not typical of England, though it is perceived as such in other countries. I haven't been there for twenty years or more, but I can't say I'd recommend it to a visitor, except for its architecture. You would have had a far better experience almost anywhere else. English people are pretty much the same as any other; there are good folk and bad, and most are not quite either; but most mean well, and behave with kindness and decency; though, it is true, sometimes with a reserve that can be mistaken for coldness if it is not recognised for what it really is; shyness.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: LadyJean
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 11:58 PM

My mother, who was by anyone's definition a perfect lady, made reservations at the Trout. We took a taxi out to the restaurant. (It's very nice, really, right on the river. If you're English, I reccomend it highly.) It's a good distance from the town, as you know. When we arrived, we were informed that they had no reservation for us. Another American couple had the same experience, the next night.
We were advised, by a don from the College of Medieval and Rennaissence Studies, to stay out of the Eagle and Child, because they wouldn't serve Americans. Visiting England had long been a dream of mine. I wish my experience had been better.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 11:07 PM

heloo=my cat useec to drinking tee out of a sorcer, but he dieed, im was think of get anothern one, but i think i will get a gold fish callled carlie instead.john

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 11:02 PM

My uncle Ralph did. He also dunked biscuits (hence the overflow) but my mother disapproved, wisely it seems. Ralph lost his teeth at an early age; an awful warning to dunkers and saucer-drinkers alike, perhaps.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 09:01 PM

I've never seen anyone drink tea out of the saucer...!

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 08:05 PM

always use best china. They don't give a bugger about that. Just don't use a tiny cup. Proper tea comes in pint mugs, and pint mugs normally aren't best china.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,Red Eye
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 07:33 PM

Do the follwing and you'll fit in great.

When making tea, warm the pot first. It is still ok to drink it out of the saucer. Tea can be drunk at anytime of the day. When workmen do jobs in or around your house, offer them a cup of tea, guaranteed a good job done. always use best china.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 03:16 PM

Do Brit women shave their pits & legs?

Even more important, is there a good Jewish deli in London?

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Bassic
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 01:33 PM

Morticia! I thought you said we had the first places on the ER...I mean (N)HS waiting list!! No one mentioned shift work........ is it time and a half btw? (Time = 11.00pm, half of 11 is 5 and a half, 11pm + 5 and a half hours is 4.30 in the morning. Hope this is Mudcat time!!!)

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Morticia
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 01:21 PM

I 'spect we'd like to take you up on that sometime,Bassic and Noreen....we can talk about it more when you and RC take your turn on the Hangover Helper Squad in Banbury *G*....( I did mention you were Duty Back Up, didn't I?)

By the way,LadyJean, I went to university in Oxford where, to my knowledge, American tourists are treated with the same courtesy and respect that they might expect anywhere else in the British Isles or at home, come to that. I simply don't believe that any visitor is refused service, especially in a city that is accustomed to mad and the worse for drink students. If you really were,I shudder to think what you were doing to cause such offence.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 10:54 AM

"Telegraph and Observer are for Conservatives (right-wing), Guardian is for Labour (left-wing)." I think Grab might have typed Observer where he mean Times. The Observer is a Sunday paper, and basically it's the Sunday edition of the Guardian. Sort of Labour/Liberal.

If you find some English people to be less than friendly, it isn't because you're American. It's how they are, and it's mostly intended in a sort of friendly way, on the assumption that people would sooner be left alone. It's called "reserved".

If you ever read Fungus the Bogeyman you'll understand the way of thinking better. Sadly, I get the impression that things are changing in the direction of people trying to be bright and cheerful, and that doesn't really suit the English temperament too well.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 09:44 AM

well, I believe I have learned a lot from reading this! I do know that that "thank you" and "sorry" bit seems to be a major cultural difference,*big grin*..in certain parts of America, (south, mostly), there ARE lots of built-in politenesses, but not in most bigger cities. I am sure that shopping and food will be an interesting change for you, Alan, but then you have lived in both city & rural areas here, and will no doubt adjust fine. I do note with interest that there DO seem to be more 'national' brands, store chains and newspapers than in the US, where there are lots of regional differences.

I think I will re-read some of those England/America threads noted above, and see if I can absorb more of the 'flavor' of what the differences really are. I think that Great Britain, having many hundreds of years more continuous history, has a few more cultural 'rules' than this big, new frontier in "The Colonies" (though those rules vary in different areas, most everyone seems to be aware of what they are when moving from Yorkshire to Hull to ...even Scotland.)

I, for one, will certainly look forward to reports, like Naemanson's reports from Guam...

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 09:27 AM

Not only does our press not represent the views of the people, neither does the government, but then with Jeb Bush and his hanging chads you'll be used to that. We never elect 2nd rate actors to high office, we elect their children and in-laws instead. The reason we don't say London England etc. here is because usually there is only one town with that name in the UK, and it's usually the originator of the name, we didn't name it after somewhere back in the old country.
If you stop somebody in the street to ask for directions they are always strangers.
AND. If you're up in Scotland come visit.
Welcome....Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Bassic
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 09:04 AM

From all accounts if you carry on being "you" then you will fit like a glove! A big warm WELCOME from Hull and get yourselves up here SOON and visit all your Yorkshire Mudcat friends again. A weekend that fits round the first Sunday of the month is a good time to catch the Hull crowd "en mass" at the session in the Sun in Beverley, East Yorks. Which is also an excellent place to start acquiring a "taste" for the northern variety of what we call beer over here. I am sure "Sir Roger de Beverley" will personally want to supervise your apprenticeship on that score! Have a look for yourself.

See you in Banbury.

(You are excused learning to speak and spell in "Hullish" for the first 12 months but after that you need to have a note from a parent or guardian :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Grab
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 08:51 AM

Only women have a fanny over here, but everyone has a bum. And a bum over there is a tramp over here, and a tramp over there is a tart over here.

Service in restaurants in general isn't as good as in the States, but service in fast-food places is much better in Britain. I think we've got a better grade of minimum-wage burger jockeys. :-) In particular, you can often get decent fast-food at roadside burger/kebab vans (although this can be risky, as some are merely food poisoning transporters).

In general, American food tends to be sugary whereas English food tends to be salty - this applies particularly to bread and other savoury foods. We don't do "high-fructose corn syrup", but that's a good thing health-wise bcos it gives you diabetes. Oh, and the best peanut butter is made by Duerrs - again, peanut butter is less sweet than the US variety.

The US seems to have picked up many European foods such as pumpernickel. This kind of stuff is difficult to get. Some supermarkets (particularly more expensive ones) have selections of foreign food like that, but generally you can't get it.

As far as supermarkets go, there's a few big chains. Asda is the cheapest and nastiest. Tesco's is next up (cheap but OK). Sainsbury's is next in line (more expensive but better stuff). Top-end is Waitrose (expensive but good). There's also some other ones. The Co-op is variable depending where you are (some are good, some are bad), but generally tends to be smaller local shops. Spar is another one you generally find as smaller local shops - it used to be the only one open late hours, but most supermarkets are open late now. Morrisons is a north England one which is coming south.

Wine isn't expensive over here - you can get a good bottle of wine for £4-5, and cheaper rough stuff for £3 or less. Waitrose generally has a better quality of wine for the same price as other supermarkets. Oh, and liquor stores are called "off-licenses" (or "offies") over here (so-called bcos they're licensed to sell you alcohol to be drunk off the premises, unlike a pub).

There are very few brewpubs over here, in fact the term simply isn't known. Most pubs have a single main brewery that they get their draught beer (bitter) from, plus sometimes guest beers from local small breweries. Plus Guinness, and lagers could be from anywhere, and there'll often be stuff in bottles as well. There are some beers that are nationwide bcos the big breweries have pubs all over, but smaller or medium-size breweries will often have the trade sewn up in the area around where they are.

Re the date thing, if you always write the month in words (or three letters) then you're guaranteed to be OK whichever way round you write it. After working on a project for a US company for 3 years, I do that automatically now.

Any paper with a red top (Sun/Star/Sport/etc) is only suitable for wiping your arse on. The Mail is for ppl who want to read a red-top paper without looking dim. Telegraph and Observer are for Conservatives (right-wing), Guardian is for Labour (left-wing). You can still get decent news from the latter three, so long as you know the political bias to expect.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: harvey andrews
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 08:36 AM

And you can always tell the Scot from the Anglo, like Noddy they have an irremoveable huge chip on both shoulders!

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 08:10 AM

Oh, and learn to read and write the date with the day and month in the right order, or you will be saying 'Sorry' a lot, like HA said above.

And pronounce it 'Sorry', or they'll think you're saying 'Surrey'.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,Noddy
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 07:42 AM

If you find you you stand being in England dont worry it is natural. All the best places are in Scotland Where you will be made most welcome as long as you NEVER NEVER SAY OR THINK THAT SCOTLAND IS PART OF ENGLAND. If you do ..YOUR DEAD.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Teribus
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 07:25 AM

Hi Allan, pity you didn't mention where abouts you were going to.

I hope that you enjoy your stay, just be yourself and I am sure that you will have a great time.

All the best.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 07:16 AM

We moan a lot... particularly about the weather. We always watch the weather forecast even though we know it's a highly contrived work of fiction- which is why my washing is out on the line, wetter than when I put it out, having been rained on...

Electric kettles are a Good Thing :0) (but don't put one on the gas hob to boil as a friend did once after a drinking spree- smell of burning rubber brought him to his senses....)

I look forward to swapping stories from the other point of view after my trip to America!

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 06:53 AM

We moan-a lot. We have a National Press that does not represent the views of the nation, which in the general sense of things wants fairness and justice. It is a rule of thumb to thank the driver when you get off a bus. We appreciate irony. Perhaps Lady Jean mistook this for something else.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 06:35 AM

Allan, you will be fine.

I'd be prepared to bet that in a few weeks time you'll be reporting back with the exact opposite of 'Lady Jean's opinions. People here will react helpfully to your sensitivity, thoughtfulness and your intention to get on with people.

I know many people who are delighted to meet up with new people from a different culture to swap experiences. I hope you & Mortie will make a trip up here when you've settled in.

Of course you will also come across some obnoxious people over here, but the English don't have the monopoly on that characteristic...

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 06:29 AM

"Bigotry is not something of which to be ashamed."

From the tone of her post, I get the impression LadyJean actually means that.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: sian, west wales
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 05:15 AM

Learn to queue (stand in line) politely. On the odd occasion when someone has the unmitigated gall to queue-jump, react with a stiffening of the spine, elevation of chin, and a steely-eyed stare rather than verbal abuse (although this may be rural/semi-rural; urbanites may perhaps be more vocal?)

If you're staying in a B&B and someone asks Your Beloved what time she wants to get knocked up in the morning ... it isn't what you think.

What I'd call 'hikers' back home seem to called 'ramblers' or 'walkers' in Britain.

Enunciate.

Buy rounds.

Understand that you're never going to win the graham cracker/ digestive debate. Never.

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 05:04 AM

Well, I've heard more than enough stories about the rudeness of some of the English towards Americans, or Australians, and heaven help the French or German! That such people do exist is true and visitors should be warned. However, I don't think that they are representative, just be polite back and it will drive them mad.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 04:11 AM

Allan, I don't think you've actually said whereabouts in England you're coming to, or what sort of folk music you're interested in. We'd probably be able to suggest some venues for you if you do.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 03:56 AM

I think Lady Jane's experiences in England are more to do with the personality of Lady Jane than the fact she is American. My own experiences of Americans over the last sixty years are that the vast majority are very nice, polite people but there are a tiny minority who are rude, loud and obnoxious who will quickly bring out the worst in the locals. Also as far as ice cream is concerned you get what you pay for and plenty of American brands are on sale everywhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 03:45 AM

Lady Jean, your comments are, not to put too fine a point on it, a load of bollocks. There is no establishment in the UK which will refuse to serve Americans. Apart from anything else, it would be highly illegal.

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 03:32 AM

Ladyjean: your insights are fascinating. Could you be a little more specific? I know Oxford fairly well, which precisely are the places that refuse to serve Americans? And are you absolutely sure they refuse to serve Americans, perhaps they just refused to serve you?

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: mouldy
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 02:52 AM

At the risk of repeating myself from an earlier post, remember that in a lot of the old towns, roads are called gates (eg Highgate), gates are called bars (as in York - Micklegate Bar = Mickle Road gate), and bars are called pubs (pubs CONTAIN bars).

And a bum isn't a vagrant, either. Butts are the remains of fags (UK version) or something beer comes in. It's also something made of straw that you shoot arrows at. This being real arrows from bows, not the darts used in pubs. If something is a real fag to do, just persevere with it, and you'll get it over and done with!

But you've been here before anyway, so you've at least half an idea of what you're up against!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: LadyJean
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 01:25 AM

I visited England in 1986. I learned quickly that, if you use the American word for something, they'll tell you the "right" word for it immediately. They will also tell you everything else they don't like about the United States without any provoction at all. They hate Americans in Oxford, not dislike, hate. You'll be refused service in places, and insulted regularly. One female had some choice remarks to make while we were waiting for Sunday services at Christchurch Cathedral!
Ethnic jokes are perfectly OK in England. Bigotry is not something of which to be ashamed. Don't think English tv is all "Masterpiece Theater". There is some impressive schlock on British television. If you're served ice cream with whipped cream on top, eat the whipped cream and ignore the frozen library paste underneath. The gardens are beautiful. There are some wonderful old homes. The theater is marvellous, and I love pub lunches. But the English themselves are small minded and mean.
Mother was a young woman in the 1940s. She admired England and the English enormously. She would tell us stories about their amazing courage during the war.
Then she went to England.
The stories stopped.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: AliUK
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 09:58 PM

Never say Vacation as you will be laughed out of the saloon bar. We use cocktail sticks and not toothpicks ( they are used to spear very small sausages and helpless chunks of pineapple and cheese instead of being used to clean your teeth). On a persoanl note, when I went back to the UK in 2001 after 8 years here in Brazil I actually forgot that you don´t usually kiss female friends on the cheek and shake your male friends hands as we do here. My actions caused a few raised eyebrows I can tell you.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 08:37 PM

And then term "Brit" is very much disliked by a lot of people.

On the other hand people rather like Americans saying "You Britishers", though they'd never use the term themselves.

Calling people "Sir" or "Madam" or "Buddy" would probably go down well. People like having their stereotypes confirmed in ways like that.

It probably won't apply in your case - but some Americans have seriously blotted their copybook by saying how they adore Lady Thatcher. Or Tony Blair.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Amergin
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 08:08 PM

or say loudly in a pub...so this is where all the australians came from....

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 08:05 PM

Don't worry. There are only a few cultural habits that might get you killed; most of them involve driving, so it's a lot safer not to do it at all. Another is looking the wrong way when stepping off the curb/kerb. You're used to looking left first; you've got to learn to look right. The rest you can learn as you go along, and you will have fun doing it.

On the whole, Brits seem to know a lot more about American culture than Americans know about British culture. I suppose it's because they've seen so many American movies and TV programs. Even when you don't understand them, they will probably understand you. If you make a mistake, they will make allowances.

Here ya go. Happy browsing.

BS: British/American cultural differences.
BS: British/American cultural differences 2.
BS: British/American cultural differences 3.
American Cultural oddities.
Cultural curriosities II.
What is it with the English?.
BS: No such thing as British... .
BS: Great British Pubs.
BS: American vs British slang.
BS: USA vs British rude & other gestures....
BS: British vs. American names.
BS: Explain the British system of Government.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Amergin
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 07:56 PM

Tell them loudly about the misfits your ancestors ran off...back to england....tell them that thatcher is the best leader the us has ever had....tell them that the queen reminds you of an ugly transvestite male who hit on you in san francisco...

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 07:37 PM

It's perfectly ok to be addressed as "love" by another man, but only in Yorkshire; don't return the greeting in kind, though, unless you have a local accent. Other things to watch out for:

"Fags" are cigarettes. "Faggots" are a kind of small, skinless haggis (but with a lower cereal content, and often served in gravy). "Biscuits" are what Americans call crackers; or, if sweet, cookies. So far as I can remember, American "biscuit" is more like what we'd call Yorkshire Pudding, though of the dense rather that risen variety.

If you need to buy an eraser, try to keep a straight face and ask for a rubber. It will be easier in the long run.

Never talk about "pants" except as a joke. Be very careful how, and to whom, you use the word "fanny".

You probably know all that already, but it's amusing to mention it anyway. On the whole, I'd say make the most of being a wee bit foreign; people rather like it as long as you don't mind queueing and never say things like "you Brits", or imply that things are better back home (even if they are). Most people quite like Americans (most of us have family there), but we do moan about them, on a generic sort of basis; don't take it personally.

Things like Marmite and proper beer are only appreciated with practice; be patient if you haven't already had the groundwork in that. It will come. We have a better selection of bread than we used to, but do buy the more expensive orange juice in order to avoid too much culture-shock.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: artbrooks
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 07:05 PM

If in doubt, consult the dictionary.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 07:01 PM

We Brits would never presume to instruct someone else as to what sort of a day to have.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 06:14 PM

And in supermarkets there's an endless successsion of "Thank you"s.

You hand the check out person the card to pay, and they say "Thank You" Back it comes for you to sign, and you say "Thank You". Probably twice, because they'll likely have to hand you a pen. Then it's "Thank You" from them when you hand back the signed chitty, and probably "Thank You" when you hand back the pen.

And of course there are the shopping items as well. There'll probably be a few "Thank You"s as you pass them along and retrieve them. And for the packing, that always involves a few, whether you do it yourself or they do. And finally as you move off.

Sometimes some of the "Thank You"s might be "Thank You Love" or something similar. But not if you're a bloke and it's a bloke at the check-out.

And don't expect to be told "Have a Nice Day". If you are, count your change.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: harvey andrews
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 05:54 PM

Whatever the situation, say "Sorry" a lot.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 05:30 PM

About time!! Dee-Lighted to hear things are moooving along for you, darlin', both o'youse! With your built-in Guidess, I don't think you'll have much trouble...there's always Micca and the others to fall back on. Congratulations and safe passage to you!!

luvyakat