How happy are you living in AMERICA?
May 27th 2016, 1:57 am
#91
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: CT
Posts: 33,655
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
you've obviously never lived in France. Never ever ever ever ask a frenchperson about their health!! Or about their amazing social security system and world class healthcare. Or about the weather, or well anything really. Even food can be a touchy subject which apparently is nowhere near as good as it used to be........
There's a saturday french school here for the french speaking kids, the parents go to fairly extensive trouble to get decent baguettes, pains au chocolat et croissants to the kids. Never saw the Brits doing that in France.
I would have thought the stereotype of British is "stiff upper lip" rather than moaning. My experience of Brits abroad is of people who are very good at just "getting on with it".
There's a saturday french school here for the french speaking kids, the parents go to fairly extensive trouble to get decent baguettes, pains au chocolat et croissants to the kids. Never saw the Brits doing that in France.
I would have thought the stereotype of British is "stiff upper lip" rather than moaning. My experience of Brits abroad is of people who are very good at just "getting on with it".
/CJ
May 27th 2016, 2:05 am
#92
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,016
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
Yep, you're right. After all, if Brits liked foreign stuff then they'd have embraced curry and other foods and obviously that hasn't happened has it? Oh, wait...........
I don't know how long it's been since you've lived in the UK, but I'm guessing quite a while if you think that Brits still don't like foreign stuff. I'd suggest that those that visit the godawful towns on the Spanish south coast aren't your typical Brits. I've got 3 tapas bars within 15 minutes of me which are super popular, and I'm in rural Berkshire - the ham, egg and chips brigade obviously wouldn't go near them with a bargepole, but the majority of Brits would disagree with your statement that they find anything 'not British' undesirable I'm sure.
I don't know how long it's been since you've lived in the UK, but I'm guessing quite a while if you think that Brits still don't like foreign stuff. I'd suggest that those that visit the godawful towns on the Spanish south coast aren't your typical Brits. I've got 3 tapas bars within 15 minutes of me which are super popular, and I'm in rural Berkshire - the ham, egg and chips brigade obviously wouldn't go near them with a bargepole, but the majority of Brits would disagree with your statement that they find anything 'not British' undesirable I'm sure.
May 27th 2016, 2:53 am
#93
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Mallorca
Posts: 19,367
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
Yep, you're right. After all, if Brits liked foreign stuff then they'd have embraced curry and other foods and obviously that hasn't happened has it? Oh, wait...........
I don't know how long it's been since you've lived in the UK, but I'm guessing quite a while if you think that Brits still don't like foreign stuff. I'd suggest that those that visit the godawful towns on the Spanish south coast aren't your typical Brits. I've got 3 tapas bars within 15 minutes of me which are super popular, and I'm in rural Berkshire - the ham, egg and chips brigade obviously wouldn't go near them with a bargepole, but the majority of Brits would disagree with your statement that they find anything 'not British' undesirable I'm sure.
I don't know how long it's been since you've lived in the UK, but I'm guessing quite a while if you think that Brits still don't like foreign stuff. I'd suggest that those that visit the godawful towns on the Spanish south coast aren't your typical Brits. I've got 3 tapas bars within 15 minutes of me which are super popular, and I'm in rural Berkshire - the ham, egg and chips brigade obviously wouldn't go near them with a bargepole, but the majority of Brits would disagree with your statement that they find anything 'not British' undesirable I'm sure.
The Spanish are crap drivers. One acquaintance summed it up by saying the only natural way to drive is on the left, so that explains it.
You go into a shop, and they're too lazy to bother helping you, and they don't even have the decency to learn or speak proper English. And their crap 3rd-world siesta, stupidest thing ever... And those stupid German electrical sockets. Nothing fits them! Couldn't they just use "normal" ones?
On TripAdvisor, one of the most popular questions is where the nearest fish & chips shop is, and is this hotel for British, or is it full of "foreigners", and do they serve full English breakfasts? What is the price of british brand fags? My husband is picky, so we don't want a "foreign" place on our hols abroad.
Yet other nationalitiues seem to readily accept that they are abroad, and exhibit much more enthusiasm for experiencng the local culture rather than demanding the familiar. The Germans and scandinavians especially. And those that live here almost universally learn Spanish and happily adopt the local cuisines and custom. They don't have to drive 20km and spend 50% more at the "German shop".
Sure, curry is the British national dish. Everybody loves Italian. Tapas (well, not the authentic type) have become popular everywhere
Anyway, please forgive me for upsetting you with examples of how the well known stereotypes incubate. It's just my experience. But it shows in other ways too. The brexit arguments are full of nationalistic, anti-foreign sentiments. But that's just part of being British. (?)
May 27th 2016, 2:59 am
#94
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: CT
Posts: 33,655
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
You ought to cine and hang out here for a while. If it isn't the crap food in the supermarkets, you can't find a decent beer, wine or gin like at Morrison's, and the British shop is 20km away (although all 3 are abundant, of excellent quality, and half the price of england, just mostly Spanish brands).
The Spanish are crap drivers. One acquaintance summed it up by saying the only natural way to drive is on the left, so that explains it.
You go into a shop, and they're too lazy to bother helping you, and they don't even have the decency to learn or speak proper English. And their crap 3rd-world siesta, stupidest thing ever... And those stupid German electrical sockets. Nothing fits them! Couldn't they just use "normal" ones?
On TripAdvisor, one of the most popular questions is where the nearest fish & chips shop is, and is this hotel for British, or is it full of "foreigners", and do they serve full English breakfasts? What is the price of british brand fags? My husband is picky, so we don't want a "foreign" place on our hols abroad.
Yet other nationalitiues seem to readily accept that they are abroad, and exhibit much more enthusiasm for experiencng the local culture rather than demanding the familiar. The Germans and scandinavians especially. And those that live here almost universally learn Spanish and happily adopt the local cuisines and custom. They don't have to drive 20km and spend 50% more at the "German shop".
Sure, curry is the British national dish. Everybody loves Italian. Tapas (well, not the authentic type) have become popular everywhere
Anyway, please forgive me for upsetting you with examples of how the well known stereotypes incubate. It's just my experience. But it shows in other ways too. The brexit arguments are full of nationalistic, anti-foreign sentiments. But that's just part of being British. (?)
The Spanish are crap drivers. One acquaintance summed it up by saying the only natural way to drive is on the left, so that explains it.
You go into a shop, and they're too lazy to bother helping you, and they don't even have the decency to learn or speak proper English. And their crap 3rd-world siesta, stupidest thing ever... And those stupid German electrical sockets. Nothing fits them! Couldn't they just use "normal" ones?
On TripAdvisor, one of the most popular questions is where the nearest fish & chips shop is, and is this hotel for British, or is it full of "foreigners", and do they serve full English breakfasts? What is the price of british brand fags? My husband is picky, so we don't want a "foreign" place on our hols abroad.
Yet other nationalitiues seem to readily accept that they are abroad, and exhibit much more enthusiasm for experiencng the local culture rather than demanding the familiar. The Germans and scandinavians especially. And those that live here almost universally learn Spanish and happily adopt the local cuisines and custom. They don't have to drive 20km and spend 50% more at the "German shop".
Sure, curry is the British national dish. Everybody loves Italian. Tapas (well, not the authentic type) have become popular everywhere
Anyway, please forgive me for upsetting you with examples of how the well known stereotypes incubate. It's just my experience. But it shows in other ways too. The brexit arguments are full of nationalistic, anti-foreign sentiments. But that's just part of being British. (?)
May 27th 2016, 4:01 am
#95
Banned
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: california
Posts: 6,035
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
The impression I get from French people, the older ones that is, that anything edible doesn't exist outside France
May 27th 2016, 4:18 am
#97
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,427
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
I miss the terrible food in Little Chef.
it made me realize how good home cooked food is.
If you think American food is bad, try the UK.
it made me realize how good home cooked food is.
If you think American food is bad, try the UK.
May 27th 2016, 4:32 am
#99
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,427
May 27th 2016, 5:10 am
#101
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Mallorca
Posts: 19,367
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
My apologies though, I'm really quite happy. So are the majority those around me. Now, if I could only find a way to get British expats around here to learn how to be happy, I'd probably be rich too.
But I'm often left with the feeling that Brits just can't be happy unless they have something to moan about. So perhaps I'm actually providing you a "happy service" by posting something to moan about (?).
May 27th 2016, 5:23 am
#102
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: CT
Posts: 33,655
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
Well, I have been accused of being a "foreigner" before. I do speak several other languages, and that alone makes me suspect.
My apologies though, I'm really quite happy. So are the majority those around me. Now, if I could only find a way to get British expats around here to learn how to be happy, I'd probably be rich too.
But I'm often left with the feeling that Brits just can't be happy unless they have something to moan about. So perhaps I'm actually providing you a "happy service" by posting something to moan about (?).
My apologies though, I'm really quite happy. So are the majority those around me. Now, if I could only find a way to get British expats around here to learn how to be happy, I'd probably be rich too.
But I'm often left with the feeling that Brits just can't be happy unless they have something to moan about. So perhaps I'm actually providing you a "happy service" by posting something to moan about (?).
Could be. Mostly I think it helps people that miss home to have a good moan about stuff.
May 27th 2016, 5:30 am
#103
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,427
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
A lot of Brits aren't happy unless they are moaning. The culture is more to moan about stuff than deal with the situation.
Americans will complain to the server about bad food. Brits will eat it, and complain about it to their buddies after leaving the restaurant.
Americans will complain to the server about bad food. Brits will eat it, and complain about it to their buddies after leaving the restaurant.
Last edited by mrken30; May 27th 2016 at 5:33 am.
May 27th 2016, 5:36 am
#104
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Watford
Posts: 1,147
Re: How happy are you living in AMERICA?
In n Out, double double for lunch, yummy!
May 27th 2016, 6:24 am
#105
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
