Listening to expats speaking at a Democrats Abroad meeting last night, I was struck by how hard it is for Americans to adjust to life in England. I think we assume because we have a language in common (sort of), that'll we'll just slip in and be fine but it doesn't really happen. I've been over here for 18 years, and I still make terrible gaffes due to cultural differences. People cut me some slack though -- they'll say, "Oh she's American," as if that explains everything. :)
The expats I was with last night are all trying to understand the differences and appreciate them and grow as people, but yesterday in the American expats group on the Internet, there was more whining and blaming of England for all their troubles.
One woman's mother-in-law had a brick thrown through her window (she lives on a council estate, the US equivalent of projects), and the poster says this would never happen in the US, or if it did, the police would be out and something would be done about it. Another incident that angered the poster was that her car broke down on the motorway, and people drove past and made fun of them. This would never happen in the US, she assures us.
I was speaking to a friend of mine about the ranting posts these women are putting in the expats conference that is supposed to be helping people who want to move to the UK or are already here, and she pointed out that the people in this online group are poorer than they would be in the US, and therefore can't live in as a nice an area. She asked, "Do they think bricks are being thrown through the windows in Mayfair or Belgravia?"
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Bricks through windows
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3 comments:
Oh, blatantly. You know Mayfair is infamous for its gang warfare!
Come on Elizabeth - even us Brits can't wait to get out of this country!
They do have a point though - Why hide the truth? We live in a country that feels that the best way to encourage people to have families is to give them money - and not much at that... So, what kind of person is going to be encouraged to have children? The kind that make you want to move to France - or Germany - or ANYWHERE else but here! (I hope I don't offend anyone with this view... I'm sure these benefits are a lifeline for some - well... a select few - good parents)
Bring back public flogging and the cane - now that's policing! ;)
Integration in this country is also an interesting topic - one you don't want me to start ranting about. The worst thing about this is that it might well have worked - if people weren't so bloody thick!
Then we have houses: "The government wants to kick start the housing market again..." - Headline Policies that people still seem to be relieved to hear (back to my point about levels of education).
Have I hijacked your blog? Well, you obviously want to stimulate open debate Lizzy ;)
Anyway, I'm sure many of you can think of other stupid policies that have caused this place, I once called home, to become a social mud-slide.
I'm intrigued to see what "listening and leading" will do to transform old Gordon Blockhead Brown after recent local elections... and maybe what the 'Hair' of London might achieve, after years of aspiring to be a clown - now he actually has his own stage!
Anyone who can write phrases as memorable as "stupid polices that have caused this place, that I once called home, to become a social mud-slide" is welcome to hijack my blog anytime! Anyway, it's not hijacking -- you're supposed to come in and say what you think. Thank you anonymous neighbour.
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