There was a famous newspaper headline many years ago which declared 'Thick Fog in Channel - Europe Isolated'. It was, perhaps, an indication of the confidence and - dare one say it - superiority with which the British viewed their Continental neighbours at the time. So do we still think we're better than our European cousins? No, of course we don't; but we are an island race and have undoubtedly developed our own customs, habits and preferences distinct from those on the European mainland. And although these can be rather puzzling and even disorienting to young English-language students who come here for study-stays, their very reactions can be an interesting mirror in which to see ourselves as they see us.
Their first problem is, of course, the traffic. We have right-hand drive cars which we drive on the left. This means everything for the Continental visitor is on the wrong side.
They frequently look firstly to the left when they cross roads when they should be looking to the right.
This is less of a quirky national trait than it is a dangerous liability but trying to explain to a visitor why we drive on the side we do when, it appears to them, the whole world has chosen the other side is not easy.
There are sound historical reasons for the difference (too long to go into here) but unfortunately our Continental visitors depart with the grave suspicion that this is just another example of the British being 'difficult' and rather pugnaciously declaring their individuality.
If our guests do manage to get across the roads safely and find a bus stop for the journey home they are highly amused by the way the British queue, happy to wait in line. Buses, post offices, bank ATMs - we'll queue anywhere and for anything with great civility and fairness.
Indeed, queue jumping is still regarded as one of the worst social crimes one can commit in this country. We just don't do it and anyone who tries is likely to be put back in their place (or sent to the back of the line) in a highly peremptory manner.
Of course, queuing is not a uniquely British habit but it is one that we seem to understand instinctively.
It's said we have embraced queuing as a result of the rationing days of World War 2 when the popular joke was: 'If you see a queue, join it because they'll be something worth having at its head'.
And British queues are always marvellously self-policing. If anyone tries to 'push in' a natural leader will immediately emerge, with the instant consensus of the other queue members, to dispense justice.
So if your student has avoided death from the wrong direction and lynching by an angry bus queue they should be home in time for dinner.
Now, it's true to say that British Cuisine doesn't enjoy the greatest reputation or appreciation across the world largely because there is, in reality, no such thing - deep-fried Mars bars, chip butties and doner kebabs don't count.
You only have to watch TV programmes like The Simpsons with its jokes about delicious British 'brain and kidney pie' to realise that, when it comes to food, we are perceived as purveyors and consumers of all that is tasteless - in both senses of the word.
Just watch a European visitor's reaction to Marmite, lemon curd, corned beef or pork scratchings.
The French are a tad disappointed by our sliced white loaf and can't understand why we don't buy fresh daily bread on a daily basis like they do.
The Germans are just as disappointed by our sausages or, in reality, our sausage (singular) because we only really have the one and the utilitarian pork banger seems a bit of a limitation to people from a land that boasts more than thousand different types of wurst.
And the idea of putting together spaghetti and tomato sauce in a can leaves the average Italian rather bemused.
Yet for all the uninspired food favourites that we Brits consume in their tons each year there are some real gems, too.
Our jams and marmalades are a big hit with the visitors and it's not unusual to see them going home with bags and cases loaded with as many jars as they can carry.
But the real unsung hero of the British dinner table is the pudding.
Not until you see your European visitors demolishing plate loads of treacle roly-poly, apple crumble, sticky toffee pudding and Eton mess do you really appreciate that here, at least, Britain really does have a seat at the top table.
Odd though we can seem to Continental guests, our oddities, while wholly British, are also highly inclusive and we're happy to invite everyone to embrace them - as long as they remember to look the 'right way' before crossing the road.
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Fiona Kitchen is a homeschooling mother of two, interested in sustainable living and doing her bit to save our planet.
Her children enjoy learning five languages and she runs http://www.xilfee.eu for homestay host families and language schools worldwide enabling teachers of languages and students to meet in a safe environment.
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