What do you miss most?
Dec 15th 2007, 4:37 pm
#121
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,162
Re: What do you miss most?
We can record someting ridiculous like several hundred hours of programming; we can record every occurrence of a show regardless of what channel it's one (good for catching up on various Star Trek re-runs -(and where else in the world will you find those on a regular basis?
)). With a Tivo/DVR, you can skip commercials at the touch of a button (NOTE: Tivo and others are not allowed to give you a single button 'commecial skip' solution, but the Tivo community forums tell you how to 'hack' that). You can also start watching a show 10 minutes after it started, and catch up by skipping commercials (that is, you can watch WHILE recording, unlike with old VCRs).I actually built my own DVR, using an old PC, a tuner card from Hauppauge, and software from a company called Sage TV, but it was probably more trouble than it was worth - learned a lot though
Dec 15th 2007, 6:57 pm
#122
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Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas, USA
Posts: 2,620
Re: What do you miss most?
I have no clue if this has been posted before, but what do you miss most about home? I still call the UK home because I have so much that is mine still back there- along with the majority of my family.
I miss the chippy and being able to go to a cheap footie match near me. We have an NFL team, an NBA team and an MLB team and none of them are cheap really. I have fond memories of going with my dad and my brother to see Burton Albion matches and then stopping at the chippy on the way home. Maybe that's a British thing...probably. I don't see too many families stopping somewhere after they've been to a sporting event here.
I miss the chippy and being able to go to a cheap footie match near me. We have an NFL team, an NBA team and an MLB team and none of them are cheap really. I have fond memories of going with my dad and my brother to see Burton Albion matches and then stopping at the chippy on the way home. Maybe that's a British thing...probably. I don't see too many families stopping somewhere after they've been to a sporting event here.
Dec 15th 2007, 7:07 pm
#124
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Re: What do you miss most?
I've learned to adapt . . . except for this time of year when I really get homesick for ALL things British. A good walk in the countryside, pubs, the shops, Christmas specials on the telly, driving over the moors at night and seeing the lights of Whitby . . . I could go on and on, but I won't as I need to get on with making my mince pies. 
Dec 15th 2007, 7:24 pm
#125
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Location: Kansas, USA
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Re: What do you miss most?
I miss family and friends, pubs,fish & chips,Cornish Pasties,a decent pint,Sunday dinner(roast beef & Yorkshire Pudding) Walkers Crisps (yeah I can get them here but they are damn expensive!) , British supermarkets(far superior and better selection than the US ones),going to football matches,driving on the correct side of the road ... etc etc,the list goes on. But the list of things I DON'T miss is pretty extensive too !!
Dec 15th 2007, 7:31 pm
#126
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Re: What do you miss most?
You say that, it's weird because since being in the US, Ive become aware of my own cynical side, and in contrast to people over here, it's horrible! I don't want to be cynical anymore!!!
Dec 15th 2007, 7:59 pm
#127
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,162
Re: What do you miss most?
Latest examples came from talking to my brother (who still lives there). He has totally free healthcare, but has not been to the doctor in over 15 years, and neither has his wife. My partner recently went through breast cancer surgery, and came through with flying colors in large part (we believe) because she caught it early - due to annual checkups, etc, so I was telling him to go have a checkup.
"they may find out how much I drink, and tell my company" (my arguments about privacy of health information were dismissed out of hand). "I may find out something is wrong, then what ..?". "they'll invent a problem so they can make money off me". And so it went on. Then we got to talking about his daughter (my niece). "She's too busy working on her homework - she's so sad"; "my wife is watching (some junk show on) TV, how sad is that?" - "I had to work late tonight, how sad is that" ... the term 'sad' seems to be used as a put-down to anyone not doing exactly what you think they should be doing. There seems to be a concept of dragging everyone down to your level, no one wants to rise to the level of another - no one will acknowledge that another is doing something worthy. There is so much negative energy, it thoroughly depresses me to listen to this after a day or so; this happens to me each time I go back ... I look forward to it, then totally regret it.
If there is one thing above all else I love about being here, it is the unrelenting optimism and positive attitude of Americans. This behavior has many, many downsides, but they cannot detract from the fact that the people here are happy, cheerful, optimistic, positive, and this rubs off on me and inspires me.
Another good example of this is the reaction of a brit to his/her colleague getting a promotion. If a Brit sees his/her colleague getting a promotion, he'll give you 50 reasons why it was unfair. An American will be inspired to try harder, hoping the he/she will be the next one to get a promotion. If a Brit sees someone with a lot more money than them, they will complain they got it unfairly, or are unworthy of it, etc while an American will see someone to aspire to, to emulate.
Last edited by Steerpike; Dec 15th 2007 at 8:21 pm.
Dec 15th 2007, 9:02 pm
#128
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Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas, USA
Posts: 2,620
Re: What do you miss most?
It must be genetic ... I don't think Brits are aware of it. Hanging out with one or two Brits here is ok, but you get a few together in a room, and ... oh my ... it just pours out ... complaints, cynicism, etc. It's a disease and the only cure is to avoid large groupings.
Latest examples came from talking to my brother (who still lives there). He has totally free healthcare, but has not been to the doctor in over 15 years, and neither has his wife. My partner recently went through breast cancer surgery, and came through with flying colors in large part (we believe) because she caught it early - due to annual checkups, etc, so I was telling him to go have a checkup.
"they may find out how much I drink, and tell my company" (my arguments about privacy of health information were dismissed out of hand). "I may find out something is wrong, then what ..?". "they'll invent a problem so they can make money off me". And so it went on. Then we got to talking about his daughter (my niece). "She's too busy working on her homework - she's so sad"; "my wife is watching (some junk show on) TV, how sad is that?" - "I had to work late tonight, how sad is that" ... the term 'sad' seems to be used as a put-down to anyone not doing exactly what you think they should be doing. There seems to be a concept of dragging everyone down to your level, no one wants to rise to the level of another - no one will acknowledge that another is doing something worthy. There is so much negative energy, it thoroughly depresses me to listen to this after a day or so; this happens to me each time I go back ... I look forward to it, then totally regret it.
If there is one thing above all else I love about being here, it is the unrelenting optimism and positive attitude of Americans. This behavior has many, many downsides, but they cannot detract from the fact that the people here are happy, cheerful, optimistic, positive, and this rubs off on me and inspires me.
Another good example of this is the reaction of a brit to his/her colleague getting a promotion. If a Brit sees his/her colleague getting a promotion, he'll give you 50 reasons why it was unfair. An American will be inspired to try harder, hoping the he/she will be the next one to get a promotion. If a Brit sees someone with a lot more money than them, they will complain they got it unfairly, or are unworthy of it, etc while an American will see someone to aspire to, to emulate.
Latest examples came from talking to my brother (who still lives there). He has totally free healthcare, but has not been to the doctor in over 15 years, and neither has his wife. My partner recently went through breast cancer surgery, and came through with flying colors in large part (we believe) because she caught it early - due to annual checkups, etc, so I was telling him to go have a checkup.
"they may find out how much I drink, and tell my company" (my arguments about privacy of health information were dismissed out of hand). "I may find out something is wrong, then what ..?". "they'll invent a problem so they can make money off me". And so it went on. Then we got to talking about his daughter (my niece). "She's too busy working on her homework - she's so sad"; "my wife is watching (some junk show on) TV, how sad is that?" - "I had to work late tonight, how sad is that" ... the term 'sad' seems to be used as a put-down to anyone not doing exactly what you think they should be doing. There seems to be a concept of dragging everyone down to your level, no one wants to rise to the level of another - no one will acknowledge that another is doing something worthy. There is so much negative energy, it thoroughly depresses me to listen to this after a day or so; this happens to me each time I go back ... I look forward to it, then totally regret it.
If there is one thing above all else I love about being here, it is the unrelenting optimism and positive attitude of Americans. This behavior has many, many downsides, but they cannot detract from the fact that the people here are happy, cheerful, optimistic, positive, and this rubs off on me and inspires me.
Another good example of this is the reaction of a brit to his/her colleague getting a promotion. If a Brit sees his/her colleague getting a promotion, he'll give you 50 reasons why it was unfair. An American will be inspired to try harder, hoping the he/she will be the next one to get a promotion. If a Brit sees someone with a lot more money than them, they will complain they got it unfairly, or are unworthy of it, etc while an American will see someone to aspire to, to emulate.
