Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Jul 11th 2007, 4:27 am
#526
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Jul 11th 2007, 5:46 am
#527
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
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?
KJ2007, I live in the UK so can not help you, however I was wondering whether you checked out the American Expats forum, to both give you a broader understanding and use in a reverse way i.e. find out what Americans miss about America and so what America has in its favour, weather, ease of obtaining driving licence etc.
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?
KJ2007, I live in the UK so can not help you, however I was wondering whether you checked out the American Expats forum, to both give you a broader understanding and use in a reverse way i.e. find out what Americans miss about America and so what America has in its favour, weather, ease of obtaining driving licence etc.
Jul 11th 2007, 5:52 am
#528
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
KJ2007, I live in the UK so can not help you, however I was wondering whether you checked out the American Expats forum, to both give you a broader understanding and use in a reverse way i.e. find out what Americans miss about America and so what America has in its favour, weather, ease of obtaining driving licence etc.
Jul 11th 2007, 6:02 am
#529
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Jul 11th 2007, 8:35 am
#533
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,553
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
(I am answering based on my British husband's opinions.)
1) What do you like about living in the United States?
the weather is nicer and my wife is happy.
2) On the flip side, what don't you like about living in the United States?
-people are fat & lazy
-Americans are ignorant about the rest of the world & very self-centered
-public transportation sucks
-Going for a drink after work means getting drunk
-people take offense or make a mockery if you have a moral or ethical conviction instead of respecting a person's right to have a belief
-Heinz baked beans cost $2/can
3) What surprised you the most when you moved here?
-people don't understand my sense of humour.
-I grew up in a black neighborhood and black people "African-Americans" are very different to black people in the UK.
4) Do you interact with American colleagues differently than you would colleagues at home? If so, why, and in what way?
Yes. If you say, "Hello, darling/beuatiful" in a cockney accent to an American colleague, usually the bloke will be offended. I can't go for a drink after work unless I want a 4-hour binge session, so I don't go.
There is a lack of tansparency in the workplace--I have to ask for a raise instead of getting an annual cost of living adjustment.
In general, I'm interested in anything you have to say and are willing to share. Thank you in advance.
Kind Regards,
Kathy
1) What do you like about living in the United States?
the weather is nicer and my wife is happy.
2) On the flip side, what don't you like about living in the United States?
-people are fat & lazy
-Americans are ignorant about the rest of the world & very self-centered
-public transportation sucks
-Going for a drink after work means getting drunk
-people take offense or make a mockery if you have a moral or ethical conviction instead of respecting a person's right to have a belief
-Heinz baked beans cost $2/can
3) What surprised you the most when you moved here?
-people don't understand my sense of humour.
-I grew up in a black neighborhood and black people "African-Americans" are very different to black people in the UK.
4) Do you interact with American colleagues differently than you would colleagues at home? If so, why, and in what way?
Yes. If you say, "Hello, darling/beuatiful" in a cockney accent to an American colleague, usually the bloke will be offended. I can't go for a drink after work unless I want a 4-hour binge session, so I don't go.
There is a lack of tansparency in the workplace--I have to ask for a raise instead of getting an annual cost of living adjustment.
In general, I'm interested in anything you have to say and are willing to share. Thank you in advance.
Kind Regards,
Kathy
Kathy - can I ask you what you mean about how black brits are different from black americans? I found that an interesting comment.
My experience of black British is that they pretty much indistinguishable from white British (colour aside), especially if ones compares like with like (education, etc).
My experience (to date) with African Americans is that they are some way removed from the culture and attitudes of white (or indeed other ethnic minority) americans. This might just be that I am not comparing like with like sufficiently.
Jul 11th 2007, 8:48 am
#534
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Jul 11th 2007, 9:48 am
#536
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mother Land.
Posts: 14,858
