Differences between UK and USA culture/living
#77
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,220
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
I had an Aston Martin when I was 32 .........with no finance. If I had tried harder at 26 I could've done the same but I was too busy pissing it up and shagging to worry about work and its rewards.
#81
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Location: I live in Hayden Idaho.
Posts: 280
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Yes, I think you're right - which is why I thought I'd better check! It's natural to miss foods from home ... I lived in Luxembourg for six months and was so happy to receive peanut butter of all things from home. We could certainly stand to have less sugar in everything here - it is possible to find bread without added sugar, but it's not easy, nor is it cheap!
I remember my son inlaws mother sending him American Potato Chips because she was sure they didnt have them in Europe...............That tells you something .Plus he was stationed with the USA Army they never go without.
right there,Just to top it off one of my neighbours called to ask me {What State is the Bahamas in?}So I think a little education is missing in this country.
#82
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Funny when I go Cincinnati I can find food from the UK Jungle Jims.But in Luxembourg you should have found Peanut butter.Its Erdnuss Butter in German.
I remember my son inlaws mother sending him American Potato Chips because she was sure they didnt have them in Europe...............That tells you something .Plus he was stationed with the USA Army they never go without.
right there,Just to top it off one of my neighbours called to ask me {What State is the Bahamas in?}So I think a little education is missing in this country.
I remember my son inlaws mother sending him American Potato Chips because she was sure they didnt have them in Europe...............That tells you something .Plus he was stationed with the USA Army they never go without.
right there,Just to top it off one of my neighbours called to ask me {What State is the Bahamas in?}So I think a little education is missing in this country.
It could just be that I didn't look in the right places for peanut butter in Luxembourg - and I speak French, not German, so I likely would have missed the meaning of the label.
You're right that education (particularly regarding geography) is very lacking in this country. I read recently that 25% of Americans (though I can't recall if it was students or the general population, though it doesn't really matter) couldn't point out Louisiana on a map. (Let alone Afghanistan or Iraq). Scary.
#85
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
.........You're right that education (particularly regarding geography) is very lacking in this country. I read recently that 25% of Americans (though I can't recall if it was students or the general population, though it doesn't really matter) couldn't point out Louisiana on a map. (Let alone Afghanistan or Iraq). Scary.
"In a nation called the world's superpower, only 17 percent of young adults in the United States could find Afghanistan on a map, according to a new worldwide survey released today. ... About 11 percent of young citizens of the U.S. couldn't even locate the U.S. on a map. The Pacific Ocean's location was a mystery to 29 percent; Japan, to 58 percent; France, to 65 percent; and the United Kingdom, to 69 percent."
Though other nations could apparently do a lot better also...
You can test yourself
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...perSurvey.html
#86
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,442
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Hello everyone,
.............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
.............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
2) ....There is little or no financial safety net here for you.
It takes a real effort to live a simple life here, mostly because the American way of life is very materialistic. America and Americans are generally intimidated by foreigness. Its not easy to go from being a curiosity to making a real connection with people. On a different note, its disappointing at how consistently grotty US towns tend to be. Especially, the older ones. There doesn't seem to be much community pride in making the town you live in attractive and pretty.
3) Surprised most by the sheer scale of things. The size and volume of literally everything. Roads, cities, food & drink, TV..... basically everything was off the scale in quantity. I came here at the end of the cold war and at that time America was "the promised land" compared to the UK.
4) Of course. The UK and the US are different countries, with totally different cultures. The common language (well....) is helpful for communicating but that really is the only thing we share. In the white collar workplace, Americans tend to be too professional and dont let their personalities through. Corporate identity tends to override and you dont feel like you are dealing with real people. In a blue collar environment its a lot more relaxed and much more like working in the UK. This may be due to America's obsession with qualifications and love of the corporate "ethic". My interaction is, unfortunately, muted. In the type of workplace I usually find myself in, simply being yourself isn't welcomed. It is perceived that you are being unproductive and unprofessional.
I should add that this does vary by region. But in general, it is the case.
#87
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
The link in the article didn't take me to the survey ... try this one:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/index.html
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/index.html
#88
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
The link in the article didn't take me to the survey ... try this one:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/index.html
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/index.html
If your original question is legitimate and you want to know the answers, spend a couple of days reaading back in this forum; you'll get an education in the threads where They are talking amongst themselves for amusement and wearing their hearts on their sleeves. The answers for your project won't be answered in this thread, not completely.
#89
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
"In a nation called the world's superpower, only 17 percent of young adults in the United States could find Afghanistan on a map, according to a new worldwide survey released today. ... About 11 percent of young citizens of the U.S. couldn't even locate the U.S. on a map. The Pacific Ocean's location was a mystery to 29 percent; Japan, to 58 percent; France, to 65 percent; and the United Kingdom, to 69 percent."
#90
Re: Differences between UK and USA culture/living
Don't get bogged down in details..
If your original question is legitimate and you want to know the answers, spend a couple of days reaading back in this forum; you'll get an education in the threads where They are talking amongst themselves for amusement and wearing their hearts on their sleeves. The answers for your project won't be answered in this thread, not completely.
If your original question is legitimate and you want to know the answers, spend a couple of days reaading back in this forum; you'll get an education in the threads where They are talking amongst themselves for amusement and wearing their hearts on their sleeves. The answers for your project won't be answered in this thread, not completely.