Transfer From US job to UK job...Tips, tricks, etiquette :)
Dec 16th, 2013, 07:18 AM
#44
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Key lessons:
1) If you don't know the difference between England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the United Kingdom or Great Britain, find out. Quickly.
2) Connected to 1) - there is no such role as Queen or King of England, hasn't been for centuries (strange but true). Find out why.
3) Connected to 2) not everyone likes the monarchy. Ditto Clarkson, as discussed.
4) Most people don't believe the NHS is a communist conspiracy. A few people do, but a few people believe they have been abducted by aliens.
5) Most of us British people are quite happy that we can't buy an Uzi in the supermarket.
6) If we tell you we think you have made an interesting point we actually think you are insane.
7) And just so we are clear - drive on the LEFT.
1) If you don't know the difference between England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the United Kingdom or Great Britain, find out. Quickly.
2) Connected to 1) - there is no such role as Queen or King of England, hasn't been for centuries (strange but true). Find out why.
3) Connected to 2) not everyone likes the monarchy. Ditto Clarkson, as discussed.
4) Most people don't believe the NHS is a communist conspiracy. A few people do, but a few people believe they have been abducted by aliens.
5) Most of us British people are quite happy that we can't buy an Uzi in the supermarket.
6) If we tell you we think you have made an interesting point we actually think you are insane.
7) And just so we are clear - drive on the LEFT.
Dec 16th, 2013, 08:10 AM
#46
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I suspect what really pisses us off most is when Americans think we - not they - are the exception.
Examples of words demonstrating this are:
- quaint. European buildings are mostly old. Varying by region and looking elderly is the norm: "quaint" implies it's not
- socialised medicine. In the civilised world, healthcare for everyone (and not just ex-servicepeople and politicians) is heavily subsidised by government. We don't talk about "your privatised system"
- Your Queen. Most of the world's stable democracies are constitutional monarchies (Elizabeth is monarch of a fair proportion of them, and most of the rest took their system from us). Scarcely any nation (apart from North Korea and Saddam-era Iraq) gives its President the shared role of head of state and head of government.
- Driving on the left's odd. Not to the people of Japan, the Indian subcontinent, most of Africa and most of SE Asia it's not.
- Cricket's a strange game. Which is why matches between India and Pakistan get the largest audience of any regular sporting fixture in the world (around six times what Superbowl gets)
- Soccer. The English is football
- You get HOW much holiday? The same as our European neighbours
- Chunnel. We don't talk about The Big Apple or Frisco.
- Doesn't it rain a lot here? Not as much as in New York. Or Boston. Or Rome. Or Tel Aviv.
- London Fog. A brand of raincoat. NOT a climatic description
By comparison the "pants", "fanny" and "knocking up" confusions are simply well-rehearsed, universally known, jokes
Examples of words demonstrating this are:
- quaint. European buildings are mostly old. Varying by region and looking elderly is the norm: "quaint" implies it's not
- socialised medicine. In the civilised world, healthcare for everyone (and not just ex-servicepeople and politicians) is heavily subsidised by government. We don't talk about "your privatised system"
- Your Queen. Most of the world's stable democracies are constitutional monarchies (Elizabeth is monarch of a fair proportion of them, and most of the rest took their system from us). Scarcely any nation (apart from North Korea and Saddam-era Iraq) gives its President the shared role of head of state and head of government.
- Driving on the left's odd. Not to the people of Japan, the Indian subcontinent, most of Africa and most of SE Asia it's not.
- Cricket's a strange game. Which is why matches between India and Pakistan get the largest audience of any regular sporting fixture in the world (around six times what Superbowl gets)
- Soccer. The English is football
- You get HOW much holiday? The same as our European neighbours
- Chunnel. We don't talk about The Big Apple or Frisco.
- Doesn't it rain a lot here? Not as much as in New York. Or Boston. Or Rome. Or Tel Aviv.
- London Fog. A brand of raincoat. NOT a climatic description
By comparison the "pants", "fanny" and "knocking up" confusions are simply well-rehearsed, universally known, jokes
Dec 16th, 2013, 08:25 AM
#47
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You will find you write your dates incorrectly ;-)
http://www.theguardian.com/news/data...before-the-day
http://www.theguardian.com/news/data...before-the-day
Dec 16th, 2013, 08:31 AM
#48
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By now I am sure you understand that some are advancing personal agendas here . . The differences between the cultures are not nearly as significant as portrayed . . some usage of words and some spelling of words are different, but that is easy to adjust to.
Use your head, keep an open mind and ignore advice that does not pass the sniff test, and you will do fine
Use your head, keep an open mind and ignore advice that does not pass the sniff test, and you will do fine
Dec 16th, 2013, 08:32 AM
#49
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Psst! Flanner
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/g...wn-in-pictures
Mind you, it was nothing like the pea soupers of yesteryear.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/g...wn-in-pictures
Mind you, it was nothing like the pea soupers of yesteryear.
Dec 16th, 2013, 09:05 AM
#50
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My advice - don't take offence. Our humour is 90% based on taking the piss out of someone. Once your colleagues feel comfortable enough with doing that to you, you're accepted. It will take a long time, but then give as good as you get.
And when they greet you with "Alright?" it doesn't mean they are worried about you or think you look ill or miserable. It's the universal greeting, a modern day "how do you do?". The correct response is "Fine, thanks. And you?".
BTW Are You Being Served rocks. I don't care if you can see the jokes coming at you with the subtlety of a freight train, they still make me laugh out loud. You can learn a lot about what tickles us from that show.
And when they greet you with "Alright?" it doesn't mean they are worried about you or think you look ill or miserable. It's the universal greeting, a modern day "how do you do?". The correct response is "Fine, thanks. And you?".
BTW Are You Being Served rocks. I don't care if you can see the jokes coming at you with the subtlety of a freight train, they still make me laugh out loud. You can learn a lot about what tickles us from that show.
Dec 16th, 2013, 09:53 AM
#52
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Another textbook
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/b...e-British.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/b...e-British.html
Dec 16th, 2013, 11:42 AM
#56
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1) If you don't know the difference between England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the United Kingdom or Great Britain, find out. Quickly.
In Farnborough they are unlikely to care about the distinction between them
But for a quicky - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Br...diagram_15.svg
In Farnborough they are unlikely to care about the distinction between them
But for a quicky - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Br...diagram_15.svg
Dec 16th, 2013, 12:03 PM
#57
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[On British understatement: http://imgur.com/eyJNd
None of them are understatement - understatement is saying "nothing serious" when in reality everything is going to Heck ]
Not only are they not understatement, I can't imagine that anyone would miss the intent of the speaker.
I'm fascinated by the impression that there are lots of people who are ever on the alert for any excuse to completely write off other people.
When I was very young, I worked for an actuarial firm, under a boss who was an English actuary. He never acknowledged the existence of any of his employees outside the office. Even if he got into the elevator with you in the morning, he appeared to have never seen you in his life. (Actually, I was one of his favorite employees, singled out for all sorts of preferential treatment in the office, but he didn't know me from Adam in the elevator.) Being young and mischievous, I amused myself by greeting him every time I met him or passed him on the street with a cheery, "Good morning, Mr. Upping!" (Name changed in a directional manner to protect privacy.) He never blinked or turned his head, and I continued to do it all the time I worked there. Any colleagues who happened to be walking with me thought it was hilarious. I'm pretty sure Mr. Upping himself knew I was amusing myself.
None of them are understatement - understatement is saying "nothing serious" when in reality everything is going to Heck ]
Not only are they not understatement, I can't imagine that anyone would miss the intent of the speaker.
I'm fascinated by the impression that there are lots of people who are ever on the alert for any excuse to completely write off other people.
When I was very young, I worked for an actuarial firm, under a boss who was an English actuary. He never acknowledged the existence of any of his employees outside the office. Even if he got into the elevator with you in the morning, he appeared to have never seen you in his life. (Actually, I was one of his favorite employees, singled out for all sorts of preferential treatment in the office, but he didn't know me from Adam in the elevator.) Being young and mischievous, I amused myself by greeting him every time I met him or passed him on the street with a cheery, "Good morning, Mr. Upping!" (Name changed in a directional manner to protect privacy.) He never blinked or turned his head, and I continued to do it all the time I worked there. Any colleagues who happened to be walking with me thought it was hilarious. I'm pretty sure Mr. Upping himself knew I was amusing myself.
Dec 16th, 2013, 12:34 PM
#59
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>
Quite right too. Nothing more awkward than someone who thinks it's ok to strike up a conversation in a lift, in the supermarket queue, or on the bus. There isn't much space in this little island, so don't invade my bubble. Keep your distance, both physical and metaphorical.
Quite right too. Nothing more awkward than someone who thinks it's ok to strike up a conversation in a lift, in the supermarket queue, or on the bus. There isn't much space in this little island, so don't invade my bubble. Keep your distance, both physical and metaphorical.
Dec 16th, 2013, 03:26 PM
#60
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9) You will need to side with either Strictly or X-Factor, fence sitting is not allowed.
10) You will need to find a café run by Australians for a decent cup of coffee.
11) Unfortunately there is no welcome pack but if there were it would include tea bags, an Oyster card and one free entry into the Telegraph fantasy football.
10) You will need to find a café run by Australians for a decent cup of coffee.
11) Unfortunately there is no welcome pack but if there were it would include tea bags, an Oyster card and one free entry into the Telegraph fantasy football.
