Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
Aug 13th 2013, 12:45 am
#31
Bloody Yank
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Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
Aug 13th 2013, 3:42 am
#35
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Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
These are things I have observed this week and thought it seemed incredibly rude initially but as I observed people calling me 'she' all of the time, in front of me, I kind of guessed it was the done thing.
Politeness is different here. Unlike the UK, it is not necessary to include "please" or "thank you" in every single sentence when you interact with someone in a service environment. It it is necessary to say "How are you?" when you begin the interaction though. You can't just say "Hello, could I get <whatever>" like you would in the UK. (I realised that I was starting to go native when I bounced up to the immigration officer at LHR on a trip back and said "Hello, how are you?" and he looked somewhat surprised and replied "Very well sir, thank you for asking.")
It's also perfectly polite in the US when talking with a group of people to refer to someone with you as "he" or "she" rather than by their name - that threw me a little when I had it applied to me when I first started working here but I quickly realised that no offence was meant. It's also a bit jarring when you see someone make a hand signal for "two" and they do it the rude way round by our lights.
It's also perfectly polite in the US when talking with a group of people to refer to someone with you as "he" or "she" rather than by their name - that threw me a little when I had it applied to me when I first started working here but I quickly realised that no offence was meant. It's also a bit jarring when you see someone make a hand signal for "two" and they do it the rude way round by our lights.
Aug 13th 2013, 4:04 am
#36
He/him
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Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
After being here for 7+1/2 years I had my first "British moment" nearly killed the family, turning a corner at lights I went in to the wrong lane. Luckily the on coming lane was empty, I suppose if it had traffic I would have seen it and not made the mistake.
Aug 13th 2013, 6:48 am
#37
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Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
It was the day after I had returned to the US from the UK and I was making a left turn from the left hand lane of a one way street into a two way street.
Since then I have been acutely aware of the potential for confusion that can result when you switch between countries and find yourself on a one way street driving on what feels to you like the "correct" side of the road when, in fact, it isn't ...
Aug 13th 2013, 8:21 am
#38
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Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
I don't have problems driving on the wrong side per se, but I do occasionally catch myself mis-planning a 'circle'. In the US to go around the block, you go right-right-right to get back to where you started. In the UK (and here in Hong Kong) it's left-left-left.
A couple of times when I said "I'll go around the block" to the wife I've found myself out of lane to try and accomplish that.
A couple of times when I said "I'll go around the block" to the wife I've found myself out of lane to try and accomplish that.
Aug 13th 2013, 3:38 pm
#39
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Aug 13th 2013, 3:51 pm
#40
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Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
Aug 13th 2013, 3:57 pm
#41
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Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
The center of the road and opposing traffic should be kept on the driver's side of the car; on a two-way street, the passenger side of the car should remain closest to the curb. (Of course, you should ignore this rule if you're driving a RHD car in a LHD country or vice versa...)
Aug 13th 2013, 4:34 pm
#43
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Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
Aug 13th 2013, 5:18 pm
#44
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Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
Hi everyone,
My sister is moving to Kentucky for 9 months this week to study at a university.
What differences/quirks are there between US and UK? What did you wish you knew before you left?
I have heard that it is hard to get cheese and onion crisps and that VAT/TAX is added at the checkout and isn't included in the price?
Thanks!
My sister is moving to Kentucky for 9 months this week to study at a university.
What differences/quirks are there between US and UK? What did you wish you knew before you left?
I have heard that it is hard to get cheese and onion crisps and that VAT/TAX is added at the checkout and isn't included in the price?
Thanks!
Aug 13th 2013, 5:20 pm
#45
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Posts: 5,154
Re: Differences between America and UK - culture/food/etc?
Whilst this is a good idea of course, what really irks me about these stores is the obscene prices they charge. It's easier to get relatives / colleagues to bring English stuff (chocolate, tea are my biggest misses) over, but appreciate my situation doesn't apply to all.