Your idea of people

Something that I was reminded of...when Graham and I were still on separate continents, he came for a visit and I treated him to a Murder Mystery train ride. We shared the booth with another couple (American). The WHOLE time the man across from us kept calling Graham "Sherlock" and commenting that he should be good at this stuff because he was British. I just wanted to crawl deeply under the table. The man thought he was being funny and that we were laughing along with him.

My husband came over to the US for a visit.  Whilst there, he had a chat with my boss who'd taken a cruise and become very fond of these two twin British waitresses on the ship.  He proceeds to extol virtures of these very nice girls, and then looks at my husband and says:

"Surely you must know them.  They live in London and are very nice girls."

My husband blinks and replies, "Sir, there are 7 million people in London."

"Oh.  Are you sure you don't know them?"

Avebury is a lot more impressive than Stonehenge, anyway. I always take visitors to Avebury. The best time is late in the year when there aren't many tourists and you have the place to yourself.

I was once there with two friends from Germany, and the only other people were some pagans holding some kind of ceremony (a wedding?). That was pretty cool.

Well, this one goes the other way.  So I will definately share it.  First of all, I live in Surrey which is very diverse.

Anyway I went to get a key cut.  When I asked if I could get a 'fun key' the guy says yes, but judging by my accent I won't want the 'patriotic' ones.  I smile vaguely.  So he starts talking about Bush.  I smile vaguely.  He asked how long I've been here.  I say fifteeen years.  He says 'oh, after Thatcher', I say 'no, during Thatcher.'  He talks about Thatcher, I smile vaguely.  He then asks, and this is a quote 'Oh, you probably haven't lived here long enough to get an understanding of British satirical comedy.  I say again 'I've lived here fifteen years'.  He says 'Oh, well I don't supppose you've ever heard of one of our satirical comedians.  His name is Rory Bremner'.  I explode.  'I've lived here fifteen years.  I haven't been under a rock.  Of course I know who Rory Bremner is'.  He's now wounded.  I just want my key.  He starts talking about his German cousins and how some foriegners find it difficult to find their way around.  I grit my teeth. 

Know when you buy a certain car and then suddenly you see *everyone* driving it? It's not that it's become popular; always been there. Just your notice of it has heightened.

I think it's the same with jabs. We don't notice when other people make fun of certain cultures until *we* become the brunt of the jokes. Listen closely. Americans do it to Polish. Swedes do it to Norwegians. Texans do it to Oklahomans. French do it to British. Brunettes do it to blonds. Thin do it to fat. Tall do it to short. White do it to black. Protestants do it to Catholics. Whew...I could keep going.

It's everwhere I suppose. The English make fun of the Scots for being mean, the Scots in turn make fun of Aberdonians (north east Scotland) for being mean.

I believed that the Uk was going to be castles and historical places galore as well! Never in my life had I imagined everything being made of brick and stone and homes..errrr...flats lining the streets. And the people I imagined as proper and courteous.... I know this isn't going to sound good, in any way shape or form, but I wasn't disappointed, but I also have come to hate the UK and most of the rude people in it...I know everywhere you go you get those types of people, but i can't believe that everywhere I have been, people walk with their eyes down, never giving you a first glance let alone a second one, and the littering is overwhelming, and walking into a store, getting up to the check out and the clerk basically telling you (not in so many words) to f!$k off now that they have your money. It's not what I expected, no....but I was more than willing, and still am willing, to give it a chance and try to adjust and see the good in it....hopefully someday I will, but right now the chances are pretty bleak.

Rory Bremner - BORING.

Actually funny English comedians: Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, League of Gentlemen, etc. etc.

As if Americans don't have "satirical comedy".

Has anything ever been made that is as funny as Seinfeld? Whether here or there? I think not.

Rory Bremner - BORING.

Actually funny English comedians: Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, League of Gentlemen, etc. etc.

As if Americans don't have "satirical comedy".

Has anything ever been made that is as funny as Seinfeld? Whether here or there? I think not.

Anything with Ronnie Barker is.
Billy Connoly.
To The Manor Born.......etc.

BTW Dawn French is not actually English, I think you'll find.

BTW Dawn French is not actually English, I think you'll find.

Are we going to start this again?  OK fine, she's Welsh. Educated in England, though-I looked at the website a while back for the girls' school where she went.

Would it have been better if misch had said "British" comedians? Or "UK" comedians?

What about the fact that her last name is "French"?  Surely that might imply an ancestry not entirely Welsh?  Perhaps misch should have said "European" comedian?  Or simply "non-American" comedian?

Do we have a copy of her genealogical chart?  We wouldn't want to classify her as "Welsh" if there is, say, German ancestry too.  We would have to call her "Welsh-German".
How long would a Welsh family have to live in England before, in your eyes, we could safely call them English?  And the converse as well?  Would my children born in England be English to you, by virtue of birth, or would they still be American?  I guess you would consider them English, because it seems to be all about where someone was born?  If they're born here, when do they become "English" in your eyes?  After how mnay years?  Or never?  Does obtaining British citizenship matter, or no?

I'm very curious.  I love to learn new things!  Thanks for bringing up the fascinating point that Dawn French, while many people think she is English, is in fact NOT.

I know I'm new here, and I don't want to step on any toes, but I have a quick comment.

Of course our views of each other are going to be skewed a little.  Most people here in the US only know about other cultures through entertainment (tv, movies, books, etc).  So of course they're going to expect castles and cottages and tea.  Just as they assume that every person in France wears haute couture and spouts existential poetry.  And that all Spanish men look like Antonio Banderas.  Just, as some of you have mentioned, people elsewhere assume that the US is like Disneyland and Friends.

I think it is each person's responsibility to approach a different culture with an open mind.  They're not going to be like you.  And that's what's so great about the world - every place is different.  If it wasn't, I don't think it would be half as fun. 

I'm very curious.  I love to learn new things!  Thanks for bringing up the fascinating point that Dawn French, while many people think she is English, is in fact NOT.

You are very welcome Ma'am !

Anything with Ronnie Barker is.
Billy Connoly.
To The Manor Born.......etc.

Used to watch To the Manor Born -- back in the 70s - watch out, CC, you're beginning to date yourself in a serious way.

But, I don't really like Billy Connolly. Not that funny.

I think there was recently an article on the BBC web site about "Whether Americans get irony" and the conclusion was that they do, but theirs is a somewhat different flavour. The article suggested that irony was not considered appropriate by Americans for all contexts, which is different from whether they can understand it or "get" it.  Of course, they often do not, but I have lived in the non-English speaking world and can attest to greater differences in what is considered funny elsewhere. The French? They can't stop watching Jerry Lewis. Puh-lease.

The BBC also specifically mentioned Seinfeld as an example of American irony and something that was considered riotously funny in the US but didn't really catch on over here. I think this is one of the rare instances where people here lack some of the context and thus don't "get" some of the humour. However, Seinfeld is still funnier to me than just about anything I have ever seen, anywhere.

George Costanza's mother, screaming at her husband:

"Of coahse bras are made of spandex!!!! I'll get one and show you!!!"

Or any episode involving Newman - particularly the one about the chicken roaster across the street from Jerry's apartment.

etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

I would pay money to have the full set on video!

I think the harshest reality for me has been the housing situation. I didn't realize that the houses would be so small and so "non-descript." (I hope I don't offend anyone.) Seeing terraced housing is the only thing that really makes me depressed here! Before my first visit I realized that not everyone lived in the idealized stone cottage surrounded by wild flowers of my fantasies, but...I thought there would be more individualized housing. I thought the architecture would reflect the grandeur of England...but instead, for me, most housing looks like what I fondly call in the US "70's architecture."Even if there was just a small strip of grass between units I might feel a bit more positive! I feel like I am in a condo, not a "house!" Maybe because I am in the middle unit of terraced housing?! We will be house hunting for a larger home this spring, and I am worried that I won't be able to muster enough enthusiasm when the time comes. Wow...reading this through I sound like such a snot. Don't mean to though. Like I wrote in another post a few minutes ago...just need to keep reminding myself "true love, true love" and remember that it is the love and happy relationships that make a house a home.

Geally. what is the noise level like being in the middle? I ask because a friend of mine has a semi-detached and you can practically hear next door's conversations if you try hard enough! Its rather annoying...

Surprisingly, it is not all that too bad if everyone's windows are closed etc., unless loud music is being played. But, I have a hard time being in the back garden knowing that people could be looking down on me (no sunbathing here for this mama of 5! Maybe I am just too vain?) and also, if people are sitting in their own gardens I make sure my bathroom window is closed before "sitting on the throne." (Sorry if that is TMI) I guess it is just the feeling of closeness that I am not used to. And, luckily we have really nice people as neighbors. I have heard some horror stories if you're next to people who are loud and fight with eachother etc.