Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Jul 8th 2007, 1:25 am
#1
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Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Hello everyone,
I hope you won't mind me writing to you. I'm an American graduate student, and I'm currently taking a course relating to doing business in other countries and across cultures.
We have an interesting challenge! My classmates and I have been divided into teams, and each team has been asked to make a presentation to educate the class on how to conduct business and interact with a culture in another country. This is certainly an interesting project. The members of each team have also been charged with interviewing someone from another country who is currently living in the U.S., and all of the members of a given team must interview individuals from the same country.
This presents quite a challenge! I actually am working with colleagues in the UK at present, but do not know anyone from the UK who is currently living in the US.
So ... with that lengthy introduction ... I found this forum and thought I would write to see if anyone might be willing to help me by answering a few questions posted below. I'd really appreciate anyone's input, and fully understand if you'd rather not participate. For that matter, if I can assist anyone with any advice regarding this country I'm more than happy to do so. Just let me know.
A few questions I've thought of are ...
1) What do you like about living in the United States?
2) On the flip side, what don't you like about living in the United States?
3) What surprised you the most when you moved here?
4) Do you interact with American colleagues differently than you would colleagues at home? If so, why, and in what way?
In general, I'm interested in anything you have to say and are willing to share. Thank you in advance.
Kind Regards,
Kathy
I hope you won't mind me writing to you. I'm an American graduate student, and I'm currently taking a course relating to doing business in other countries and across cultures.
We have an interesting challenge! My classmates and I have been divided into teams, and each team has been asked to make a presentation to educate the class on how to conduct business and interact with a culture in another country. This is certainly an interesting project. The members of each team have also been charged with interviewing someone from another country who is currently living in the U.S., and all of the members of a given team must interview individuals from the same country.
This presents quite a challenge! I actually am working with colleagues in the UK at present, but do not know anyone from the UK who is currently living in the US.
So ... with that lengthy introduction ... I found this forum and thought I would write to see if anyone might be willing to help me by answering a few questions posted below. I'd really appreciate anyone's input, and fully understand if you'd rather not participate. For that matter, if I can assist anyone with any advice regarding this country I'm more than happy to do so. Just let me know.
A few questions I've thought of are ...
1) What do you like about living in the United States?
2) On the flip side, what don't you like about living in the United States?
3) What surprised you the most when you moved here?
4) Do you interact with American colleagues differently than you would colleagues at home? If so, why, and in what way?
In general, I'm interested in anything you have to say and are willing to share. Thank you in advance.
Kind Regards,
Kathy
Jul 8th 2007, 2:31 am
#2
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,220
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
So ... with that lengthy introduction ... I found this forum and thought I would write to see if anyone might be willing to help me by answering a few questions posted below. I'd really appreciate anyone's input,
A few questions I've thought of are ...
1) What do you like about living in the United States?
Cheap(er) gas than the UK. People here are generally more polite
2) On the flip side, what don't you like about living in the United States?
How long have you got? Over rated/ over priced healthcare system. Constantly hearing this is the land of the Free yet I never get to see any bare tits on TV and your cops are like robots with pre recorded answers. The food comes in family sizes for individuals and a family pack looks like a NATO air drop for a starving nation. Most US citizens are completely world ignorant and blindly assume because it's American it's the best in the world when in actual fact it's basically crap (Your cars for instance). The 18th century religious mentality of small town rural USA. The Bread, Bacon and beer here all suck beyond belief and theres nowhere near enough gratituitous sex and nudity on TV.
3) What surprised you the most when you moved here?
How fat and unwordly the average American is
4) Do you interact with American colleagues differently than you would colleagues at home? If so, why, and in what way?
Yes. US colleagues do not share my sense of humour and object to being called a "Bunch of useless wankers".
In general, I'm interested in anything you have to say and are willing to share. Thank you in advance.
Kind Regards,
Kathy
Jul 8th 2007, 2:35 am
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mother Land.
Posts: 14,858
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Rushman has said it all for me 
Jul 8th 2007, 2:45 am
#4
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Jul 8th 2007, 3:01 am
#5
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Posts: 22,220
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Angry people (providing their anger isn't directed at you) are funny are they not? This is another fundamental difference between the US and UK, we laugh at people having a hard time AND laugh at ourselves when we are having a hard time. I find Americans to be too uptight to laugh at themselves to quite the extent that we do.
But then again, we are Brits, the closest thing to perfection.
I was going to go into a huge dialogue about your breaSts but i don't think you are quite ready for that yet.
Last edited by Rushman; Jul 8th 2007 at 3:17 am.
Jul 8th 2007, 3:13 am
#8
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
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Jul 8th 2007, 3:15 am
#10
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
110v for electric is pathetic
Warranties on goods is pathetic
Jul 8th 2007, 3:22 am
#13
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,717
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
1) What do you like about living in the United States?
on the whole it is a classless society, new money is just as good as the old boys club money. My accent gives me authority, I can talk about wine, plays, poetry, heck what color you should paint your house; and it is presumed I have birth given expertise in any field just because I know how to pronounce words properly
2) On the flip side, what don't you like about living in the United States?
Americans are inward looking, ignorant and have no dress sense.
3) What surprised you the most when you moved here?
The size. My whole perspective changed. I expected it to be somewhat like England, with states similar to our counties (only bigger). I found it was like 50 separate countries in one.
4) Do you interact with American colleagues differently than you would colleagues at home? If so, why, and in what way?
Septics do not have the same sense of humor, take life to seriously, and they smell funny
.
Jul 8th 2007, 3:25 am
#14
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Women hairstyles are just about post war ....
You actually believe Politician are good people ...
and that being on TV is important ..
You actually believe Politician are good people ...
and that being on TV is important ..
Jul 8th 2007, 3:36 am
#15
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Posts: 8,497
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
See what I mean. Because my post wasn't filled with a flowery complimentary load of old cobblers for the USA you automatically assume I am filled with anger. Not true. When I am asked to describe aspects of my experience of the USA it is my nature to make observations and exaggerate and expand on them. I stereotype and generalise and these are deemed to be faults by Americans whereas most Brits can see that I am purposely exaggerating for the sake of humour.
Angry people (providing their anger isn't directed at you) are funny are they not? This is another fundamental difference between the US and UK, we laugh at people having a hard time AND laugh at ourselves when we are having a hard time. I find Americans to be too uptight to laugh at themselves to quite the extent that we do.
But then again, we are Brits, the closest thing to perfection.
I was going to go into a huge dialogue about your breaSts but i don't think you are quite ready for that yet.
Angry people (providing their anger isn't directed at you) are funny are they not? This is another fundamental difference between the US and UK, we laugh at people having a hard time AND laugh at ourselves when we are having a hard time. I find Americans to be too uptight to laugh at themselves to quite the extent that we do.
But then again, we are Brits, the closest thing to perfection.
I was going to go into a huge dialogue about your breaSts but i don't think you are quite ready for that yet.