John

Mark, it's been awhile since I was a 20- or 30-something with wife newly arrived in Britain. But my recollection (dust off the synapses - or, as my decrepit south-of-England instructor greeted us in graduate school, "G'Morning. How am I?") is that starting and sustaining a conversation requires a pretty similar approach to the way you'd do it in the States. Have a topic of mutual interest. Music and musicians are probably good starts, world events (including the Euro); travel, politics maybe, movies... what icebreakers would you use in the US? I think you'll find (big generalization follows) that more British folks know a fair amount about US culture, politics, and domestic affairs than vice versa, and you can flatter and engage people wonderfully if you learn ahead (or, preferably already know) something about British culture, life, and issues, aside from tourist basics. The Tower of London and Shakespeare aren't particularly the focus of conversation in Britain at the moment. Go visit http://news.bbc.co.uk and become a regular, so you come off as an educated, interested (and therefore interesting) person. You shouldn't have any problems starting a conversation, particularly if you buy a round.

Tony Hughes

kate, why so nasty? I make a point that you're too London-centric (which you are) and a point that UK is obsessed with celebrities (you stated the obvious) and you get all childish? <BR><BR>So yeah go cram it if my point hit home. Take it on your chin if you have one. We all make mistakes and I'm sure you realise you're tangling with the wrong sort of Marlin.<BR><BR>BTW, diddums is entirely inappropriate. Assume denoting childlike crying/whining, yeah? What's that got to do with me telling you to cram it?<BR><BR>stay healthy