5 Lessons I Have Learnt from the British
This is the fourth and final blog link up post about celebrating expat life, started by Amanda van Mulligen of Expat Life With a Double Buggy. See previous three posts here: 5 Things I Love About My Expat Life , 5 Reasons I’m Glad my Children are British and American and 5 Reasons Iām Glad my Children Speak British English and American English
5 Lessons I Have Learnt from the British
1. An appreciation of subtlety and the use of the passive language. The British way of communicating is more laid back, more thought provoking and less aggressive. People take their time. Things happen more slowly. People say “yes, that could be a good idea.” Or “Hmmm, that might be something we could discuss.” Or “Yes, perhaps that would work well.” The best one is, “Yes, that might be something to think about….”. Americans want everything done two days ago (yes, I am like this!) and can be pretty loud about it. They don’t want to wait, they want something to action. In America this usually goes down very well because people expect this and it’s more common for things to happen very quickly (and sometimes loudly). I’ve learned that it’s sometimes better to sit back and ponder the situation. Although I sometimes get frustrated by what appears to be indecisiveness, I’m used to it now and find myself saying things like “Why don’t you think about that and get back to me.” Whereas before I would have said, “So what do you think?”.
2. That potatoes are a major food group and not just a side. People here eat baked potatoes as a meal, not just as a side dish. I actually like this – it’s a great idea and an easy meal for the kids. The chip butty, on the other hand, is not something I’ve grown to like. My husband makes these and although I have to admit my initial fascination with them, I’m not keen. However, our kids love chip butties. They also like cheesy chips which is a British pub favorite and constitutes lunch.
3. To drive through heavy traffic on narrow roads and park in tiny spaces where you can’t open the doors once you’ve parked. I have bashed up many cars usually by trying to squeeze down a road that is clearly too small for cars even though it is a road for cars to travel on. I’ve also bashed up many cars trying to park in between two lines that are clearly not big enough for a car but is a purpose built parking place for cars. Over the years, I’ve learned how to drive British style. Very politely, very slowly, and very very carefully.
4. To not expect summer every year. If we get summer, we’re happy. But it’s not a given. I’ve learned to settle for a week tops of hot sunny weather any time during July and August. Sometimes during May or June – and that’s summer.
5. That a nice cup of tea really does help. I was never a tea drinker before I moved here. Tea was something we had on special occasions at around 4pm brought in on a tray in a china teapot with dainty china cups and saucers. Here, people drink tea from coffee mugs any time of the day every day, all day long. And I’ve learned that there actually is something about a nice cup of tea that makes things better.
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Meghan Fenn is the author of Bringing Up Brits and co-author of Inspiring Global Entrepreneurs with Heidi Mulligan Walker. Meghan is also the Director and Chief Designer at her own design company, White Ochre Design Ltd. And, she is an award winning expat blogger.
Meghan, great points about the British. I think the tea drinking one is my favourite. I couldn’t get over the fact that my husband had a pint tea mug – that’s a huge cup of tea! My dad in fact says that we have buckets of tea and not cups š
Well I still don’t drink half as much tea as my husband does! But I have grown to love it š
Oh Meghan, I love this post. It made me smile!! The use of passive language is brilliantly captured and a world away from the directness of the Dutch which I have now come to appreciate – I call the British culture of conversation now “beating around the bush” so funny to read how you have come to appreciate it and I now see it as avoiding the point…..lol! You made me pause and re-appreciate it!
And tea of course…… how can you not appreciate a good cuppa? It how we set the world to rights. š
And the summers….. until you wrote that I never really realised that not relying on summer wasn’t normal!! We’ve never been able to count on a summer, instead being grateful for a week of sunshine…and it is the same where I live now! Thanks for being a fabulous supporter of this link up – have loved reading about your expat life in Britain.
Thank you Amanda! This blog link up has been a lot of fun – reading your posts and posts from other families who are living abroad. It’s been great to write down the answers too and makes me realize how much I’ve changed and adapted and what I’ve grown to love about Britain AND what I’ve learned. Like their way of communicating for example. Thank you! š
I love point number 1, Kiwis are very similar to Americans in this regard. I am still learning the art of pondering…. Great post as usual:-).
Yes, well me too actually, although I’m much better than I was a few years ago. I still have to stop and check myself sometimes and really try and read the situation before I open my big mouth!
Yes!
Especially #4 – but oh how it still pains me to accept this as reality.
*Deep dramatic sigh*
I know! I am still sometimes in denial about it. But at least I’ve stopped being disappointed every “summer”! I think the fact that school summer vacation is very short here helps. And, going away to a hot country also helps!