Good-bye America! Woohoo!

[JustAnotrGuy]

Oh my, going to england for 4 months! Kinda scary, but an adventure it shall be Wonder if people will hate me for being americano in euroland?

 

[Spinaroonie]

Two things:

1. The indian food in London is fan-fucking-tastic, particularly near Victoria station and Leicster square.

2. Depends. If you are the OMG I USED TO LOVE TEH DIXIE CHIX BUT THEN NATALIE SAID BUSH WAS NOT TEH PERFECT PARSIDENT SO NOW I HATE THEM PLEASE SERVE ME FREEDOM FRIES ONLY, DEATH TO TEH FRENCH LOL kind of American, I'd suggest you keep to yourself. Otherwise you'll be fine.

 

[Lost Cause]

What are you going to do in the UK?

Get out of the slums, visit the Guiness brewery and such.
Go see some historical stuff like where William Wallace was butchered by the English.
Visit the 8th Air Force Museum.
Piss in the English Channel.
Wear your Dubya button.
Moon Buckingham Palace.


*In general, be a good ambassador while you're there, we have a rep to keep up you know!

 

[Gusty Wind]

,

 

[p_p_man]

Oh my, going to england for 4 months! Kinda scary, but an adventure it shall be Wonder if people will hate me for being americano in euroland?

Don't be scared, we're not all like me...

Hope you have a great stay and if you see an old man lying in the gutter clutching a bottle of Bacardi and who looks vaguely like Sean Connery, don't kick him in the head as you pass by...



ppman

 

[Gusty Wind]

,

 

[Gil_Favor]

Re: Re: Good-bye America! Woohoo!

Hope you have a great stay and if you see an old man lying in the gutter clutching a bottle of Bacardi and who looks vaguely like Sean Connery, don't kick him in the head as you pass by...



ppman

LOL...........

 

[JustAnotrGuy]

hehe, I actually have half my family over there, so at least I'll be fed Gonna get me a summer rail pass hopefully, go see whatever tickles my whim, and hit on groovy foreign chicks, hehe

 

[Gusty Wind]

,

 

[peachykeen]

well, as an American living in London for the past 4 years, let me tell you the deal:

No one will specifically flat out tell you they hate you for being an American - that would be far to rude and very unBritish. They're much more passive/aggressive than that LOL instead they will just do things like give you shitty service, or talk to you in a tone of voice that clearly indicates that they believe you personally to be responsible for all the misfortune in the world. (However, since they are more or less like this most of the time to eachother anyway, you might not notice the difference.)

Here is a tip: if you're out at the pub, and someone asks you "Roit mate, so wot u fink of your President Bush there, then?", they are not remotely interested in hearing your opinion about anything - they are merely opening up an opportunity for them to tell you what they think of Bush, American television, the size of American cars, and how you personally are responsible for all the misfortune in the world. Just smile politely and nod a lot, and when they're done say "Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts with me." It confuses the hell out them and pisses them off if you don't try to defend yourself.

But really though, London is great, I can't tell you much about the rest of the country because living in London is like living in NYC - the way we live there is so different from the way most of the people in the rest of the country live, you know? But you're going at a good time of year; four months in England from now into the summer is fabulous, but if you were going from like October thru January,well, that would be pretty tragic - four solid months of grey drizzle! But you'll have a blast, I'm sure.

 

[Lovepotion69]

Have a great time in the UK and hope you get to see heaps of places. Of couse you have to hit on foreign chicks! (we expect it... )

Just an addition to PeachyKeen's post. Yes, the service etc isn't...ehm...US standard. Can't really say people working in the UK are the most service minded. You'll also love the fact that everything is three times more expensive for what you actually get for your money. The banks etc are give you a bit of a feel like it's run in a third world country (ducks before the brits on Lit hit me) and you'll end up learning to say "innit" a lot.

As Peachy said, London is different from the rest of the UK, big cities always are. My friend who lived down in Devon met hardly any other people apart from Brits, while I hung out with people from all over the world. She got into the British lifestyle more than me who ended up with the international one.

Summer should be nice though. If you're in Devon check out the Dartington Gardens. Gorgeous. Heard Bath is too. Personally really liked Edinburgh. One day trips are fun especially during the summer.

Enjoy!

 

[Guest]

 

[Topher]

JAG, you didn't say where you were going in England.

I got along fine in London, but I was living with an ex-pat friend who was (is) thoroughly insinuated into London's goth/punk ie Slimelight scene, so I had almost instant acceptance from those people.

Favo(u)rite language moments:

While temping at Marks & Sparks HQ on Baker Street (label compliance) I corrected the pronunciation of a co-worker I overheard referring to the city in Alabama as "BUH-ming-um".

When yet another American friend returned from our local Sainsbury's (on Chapel Market) remarking on seeing some girl, the first person in England he had noticed wearing braces, I asked, "Were they holding up her trousers?" (To this day I crack myself up when I remember that, but none of my friends seems to think it was very funny).

Lastly, I was staring out the window one morning, probably about this time of year, at the grey drizzle mentioned by someone else above, and to my friend's question, "What does it look like out there?" I replied, "England."

 

[shopperst]

If you are going to be doing any travelling round the country, get a young person's railcard.

Have a great time in blighty & try to spend some of the time over the water ... you'll love us even more!

Be prepared to have fun & the piss taken out of you a little & you'll be fine...NO bumbags;cameras;camcorders;guidebooks or baseball caps on public display. If you go on the tube, move DOWN the carriage, stand on the right & keep your voice lowered, and maybe, just maybe, we'll be gentle with you (he he he)

LONDON - Brick Lane;Wallace Collection;the donuts at Harrods; nightlife
Manchester - Salford Quays & the Lowry;
B'ham & most of the north - still in progress
Glasgow - most beautiful city in Scotland

If all fails - put some sunglasses on, ask if the chickens at KFC have anorexia, up the volume & watch people trying not to glass you. Have been told can be endlessly recycled to relieve boredom Enjoy