British families.

[Deleted User]

AskAsk said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

AskAsk said:

Torry_Quine said:

AskAsk said:

Riley_G said:

WickedWitch123 said:

AskAsk said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Riley_G said:

Savvy_Sue said:

What I don't quite understand is why your boyfriend isn't giving you a reverse cultural induction to the one he must have had when he came to the USA.

He tried. Oh he tried. I prefer learning my own way. 

I don't know anyone else in the UK. I've never been to the UK. Boyfriend has told me to do some things. 

PLEASE make some friends yourself. I know it's not the the best of times, but whatever YOUR interests are make time for them and try to connect with like-minded people. 

it is actually not that easy to make friends in the UK as people are more reserved and are more cautious around strangers, particularly foreigners.  but yes, the OP should try to make friends as it is pretty lonely just to depend on her boyfriend.

best way to make friends is to join some sort of activity club where you can meet people who like similar things to you.

Hey that may be true if you're from 'down South' but up here in Manchester we are an extremely friendly and approachable bunch.  OP you seem outgoing and confident - you'll have no trouble making friends in Manchester. Obviously not a great time with COVID but you'll be fine.  Any other questions, ask away and welcome to the UK xx

Thank you, people on the tram were lovely. I had a nice chat with a lovely old lady who advised me to avoid an area with an "accent like mine". 

I try and be outgoing and confident sometimes I am the scared New Yorker in a new city. You guys seem to take COVID a lot more seriously than we do in the states, which is great!

I have to say your cell companies are also cheaper! I went to the cell phone store and got a new phone. They gave me £10 off a month, A free carry case and a screen protector. I have a shiny new UK phone, I can use back in NY at no charge.

You are all lovely! Thank you!

I do have another question what do all the rainbow drawings mean? My boyfriend said its to clap for keyworkers due to covid. I just think they look really cute.

I also hear my boyfriend talk about down south and loads of people have mentioned it, Does the north not like the south?

only the scots hate the english as far as i am aware.  the rest of the northerners think the southerners are a bit stuck up and unfriendly.  the southerners don't hate the northerners, we just think they have a funny accent 

Well this Scot doesn't hate the English. It's annoying when something is described as national when it's English though.

i only know the scots hate the english because my husband used to date a scottish lady and she said that the scots hate the english because of the past, your rob roy and all that  , but that on an individual level, a scot can be friends with someone english, so the animosity is not at the personal level but the national level.

One person told you this and this woman was the spokesperson for every single Scot as if we’re some sort of collective Borg? 

normally i wouldn't take one person's word for the sentiment of a whole country, but it sounded logical as when you think back to what the english did to the scottish in the course of history, it is understandable that the scots have no love for the english.  history like that do not fade with time, if you look at other countries that were at war with one another in the past as an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHZT9gg-wXY

I do not require a history lesson from you.  It is not logical to take the opinions of one individual and apply them as if they are the same opinions held by those of the same nationality.  I don't look at Jimmy Saville and assume that every English person is like him.

MovingForwards

Barm / bap is a northern thing. Don't forget cob 😁

Some Scottish people don't like the English, same as some English people don't like 'foreigners', can't write off a whole country based on the few. Enough of us from below the border live up here and made it out home. Horror of horrors, there's even Scottish people dating / married to English people.

This thread alone demonstrates to OP the huge difference across the UK.

AskAsk

Lover_of_Lycra said:

AskAsk said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

AskAsk said:

Torry_Quine said:

AskAsk said:

Riley_G said:

WickedWitch123 said:

AskAsk said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Riley_G said:

Savvy_Sue said:

What I don't quite understand is why your boyfriend isn't giving you a reverse cultural induction to the one he must have had when he came to the USA.

He tried. Oh he tried. I prefer learning my own way. 

I don't know anyone else in the UK. I've never been to the UK. Boyfriend has told me to do some things. 

PLEASE make some friends yourself. I know it's not the the best of times, but whatever YOUR interests are make time for them and try to connect with like-minded people. 

it is actually not that easy to make friends in the UK as people are more reserved and are more cautious around strangers, particularly foreigners.  but yes, the OP should try to make friends as it is pretty lonely just to depend on her boyfriend.

best way to make friends is to join some sort of activity club where you can meet people who like similar things to you.

Hey that may be true if you're from 'down South' but up here in Manchester we are an extremely friendly and approachable bunch.  OP you seem outgoing and confident - you'll have no trouble making friends in Manchester. Obviously not a great time with COVID but you'll be fine.  Any other questions, ask away and welcome to the UK xx

Thank you, people on the tram were lovely. I had a nice chat with a lovely old lady who advised me to avoid an area with an "accent like mine". 

I try and be outgoing and confident sometimes I am the scared New Yorker in a new city. You guys seem to take COVID a lot more seriously than we do in the states, which is great!

I have to say your cell companies are also cheaper! I went to the cell phone store and got a new phone. They gave me £10 off a month, A free carry case and a screen protector. I have a shiny new UK phone, I can use back in NY at no charge.

You are all lovely! Thank you!

I do have another question what do all the rainbow drawings mean? My boyfriend said its to clap for keyworkers due to covid. I just think they look really cute.

I also hear my boyfriend talk about down south and loads of people have mentioned it, Does the north not like the south?

only the scots hate the english as far as i am aware.  the rest of the northerners think the southerners are a bit stuck up and unfriendly.  the southerners don't hate the northerners, we just think they have a funny accent 

Well this Scot doesn't hate the English. It's annoying when something is described as national when it's English though.

i only know the scots hate the english because my husband used to date a scottish lady and she said that the scots hate the english because of the past, your rob roy and all that  , but that on an individual level, a scot can be friends with someone english, so the animosity is not at the personal level but the national level.

One person told you this and this woman was the spokesperson for every single Scot as if we’re some sort of collective Borg? 

normally i wouldn't take one person's word for the sentiment of a whole country, but it sounded logical as when you think back to what the english did to the scottish in the course of history, it is understandable that the scots have no love for the english.  history like that do not fade with time, if you look at other countries that were at war with one another in the past as an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHZT9gg-wXY

I do not require a history lesson from you.  It is not logical to take the opinions of one individual and apply them as if they are the same opinions held by those of the same nationality.  I don't look at Jimmy Saville and assume that every English person is like him.

i wasn't teaching you history.  i was simply quoting the program which explained why there is animosity between the various countries in the UK because of the past history of how they came about to be one country.

it may be that the scots do not hate the english, but if you google the topic, there are several articles which states that there is animosity between scotland and england at a national level, particularly politics.  and that lady did say it wasn't a personal hatred but an animosity at a national level.

as fas as i can remember the last referendum on leaving the UK was very tight between yes and no, and if there was another referendum done now with brexit, that may very well swing to leave the UK.  i don't think scotland love the idea of being part of the united kingdom and would prefer to be its own country again, if it wasn't for the worry of the financial stability of being separated from the UK.

[Deleted User]

AskAsk said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

AskAsk said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

AskAsk said:

Torry_Quine said:

AskAsk said:

Riley_G said:

WickedWitch123 said:

AskAsk said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Riley_G said:

Savvy_Sue said:

What I don't quite understand is why your boyfriend isn't giving you a reverse cultural induction to the one he must have had when he came to the USA.

He tried. Oh he tried. I prefer learning my own way. 

I don't know anyone else in the UK. I've never been to the UK. Boyfriend has told me to do some things. 

PLEASE make some friends yourself. I know it's not the the best of times, but whatever YOUR interests are make time for them and try to connect with like-minded people. 

it is actually not that easy to make friends in the UK as people are more reserved and are more cautious around strangers, particularly foreigners.  but yes, the OP should try to make friends as it is pretty lonely just to depend on her boyfriend.

best way to make friends is to join some sort of activity club where you can meet people who like similar things to you.

Hey that may be true if you're from 'down South' but up here in Manchester we are an extremely friendly and approachable bunch.  OP you seem outgoing and confident - you'll have no trouble making friends in Manchester. Obviously not a great time with COVID but you'll be fine.  Any other questions, ask away and welcome to the UK xx

Thank you, people on the tram were lovely. I had a nice chat with a lovely old lady who advised me to avoid an area with an "accent like mine". 

I try and be outgoing and confident sometimes I am the scared New Yorker in a new city. You guys seem to take COVID a lot more seriously than we do in the states, which is great!

I have to say your cell companies are also cheaper! I went to the cell phone store and got a new phone. They gave me £10 off a month, A free carry case and a screen protector. I have a shiny new UK phone, I can use back in NY at no charge.

You are all lovely! Thank you!

I do have another question what do all the rainbow drawings mean? My boyfriend said its to clap for keyworkers due to covid. I just think they look really cute.

I also hear my boyfriend talk about down south and loads of people have mentioned it, Does the north not like the south?

only the scots hate the english as far as i am aware.  the rest of the northerners think the southerners are a bit stuck up and unfriendly.  the southerners don't hate the northerners, we just think they have a funny accent 

Well this Scot doesn't hate the English. It's annoying when something is described as national when it's English though.

i only know the scots hate the english because my husband used to date a scottish lady and she said that the scots hate the english because of the past, your rob roy and all that  , but that on an individual level, a scot can be friends with someone english, so the animosity is not at the personal level but the national level.

One person told you this and this woman was the spokesperson for every single Scot as if we’re some sort of collective Borg? 

normally i wouldn't take one person's word for the sentiment of a whole country, but it sounded logical as when you think back to what the english did to the scottish in the course of history, it is understandable that the scots have no love for the english.  history like that do not fade with time, if you look at other countries that were at war with one another in the past as an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHZT9gg-wXY

I do not require a history lesson from you.  It is not logical to take the opinions of one individual and apply them as if they are the same opinions held by those of the same nationality.  I don't look at Jimmy Saville and assume that every English person is like him.

i wasn't teaching you history.  i was simply quoting the program which explained why there is animosity between the various countries in the UK because of the past history of how they came about to be one country.

it may be that the scots do not hate the english, but if you google the topic, there are several articles which states that there is animosity between scotland and england at a national level, particularly politics.  and that lady did say it wasn't a personal hatred but an animosity at a national level.

as fas as i can remember the last referendum on leaving the UK was very tight between yes and no, and if there was another referendum done now with brexit, that may very well swing to leave the UK.  i don't think scotland love the idea of being part of the united kingdom and would prefer to be its own country again, if it wasn't for the worry of the financial stability of being separated from the UK.

You've now gone from accepting the opinion of one woman as the opinion of an entire nation to conflating Scottish independence with hatred for the English. Put the shovel down and stop digging.

Riley_G

Thank you for everyone's replies.

Gravy and biscuits, I used to have that as a kid. I didn't like it. British gravy is so much nicer (and Beef dinners!)

I am quite good at chess. When I worked in the diner that was also a bar and a restaurant (Depending on the time of the day according to the owner), I used to play with a customer who always had a Chess set with him when he would spend the day in our diner. So I'll look for chess and board game clubs when we can!

I was told it isn't curry, and to pour gravy on everything. As for the barm, everyone (Bakeries, boyfriend and others) have referred to it as a barm, sorry if I got it wrong!

I don't try and mimic people because I hate when people do that to me! I still don't get the whole "We having tea" I think a drink but they mean dinner! All stuff I need to get used to. I don't get how you guys love Starbucks! I much prefer small chains!

I love how you guys still have markets for fruit and vegetables and meat. 

MovingForwards

Have you discovered local charity shops (thrift stores) yet? Some very unique items can often be found at a fraction of the price of new, also great for picking up board games.

If your BFs mom is 'old school' (traditional) in the kitchen, then gravy moves up to a whole new level. There's nothing like gravy which has had meat cooked in it, or gravy made from roast meat juice.

The dinner / tea thing depends again on location in the UK. It could be breakfast, lunch and dinner, breakfast, dinner, tea.

You've not got the barn thing wrong, again it's a regional thing.

elsien

Barm in Lancashire. Chip barm used to be a regular. 
Tea/lunch/dinner/supper/high tea - we're back to the class/geography aspect again.
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2018/05/22/dinner-time-or-tea-time-it-depends-where-you-live

AskAsk

Lover_of_Lycra said:

AskAsk said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

AskAsk said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

AskAsk said:

Torry_Quine said:

AskAsk said:

Riley_G said:

WickedWitch123 said:

AskAsk said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Riley_G said:

Savvy_Sue said:

What I don't quite understand is why your boyfriend isn't giving you a reverse cultural induction to the one he must have had when he came to the USA.

He tried. Oh he tried. I prefer learning my own way. 

I don't know anyone else in the UK. I've never been to the UK. Boyfriend has told me to do some things. 

PLEASE make some friends yourself. I know it's not the the best of times, but whatever YOUR interests are make time for them and try to connect with like-minded people. 

it is actually not that easy to make friends in the UK as people are more reserved and are more cautious around strangers, particularly foreigners.  but yes, the OP should try to make friends as it is pretty lonely just to depend on her boyfriend.

best way to make friends is to join some sort of activity club where you can meet people who like similar things to you.

Hey that may be true if you're from 'down South' but up here in Manchester we are an extremely friendly and approachable bunch.  OP you seem outgoing and confident - you'll have no trouble making friends in Manchester. Obviously not a great time with COVID but you'll be fine.  Any other questions, ask away and welcome to the UK xx

Thank you, people on the tram were lovely. I had a nice chat with a lovely old lady who advised me to avoid an area with an "accent like mine". 

I try and be outgoing and confident sometimes I am the scared New Yorker in a new city. You guys seem to take COVID a lot more seriously than we do in the states, which is great!

I have to say your cell companies are also cheaper! I went to the cell phone store and got a new phone. They gave me £10 off a month, A free carry case and a screen protector. I have a shiny new UK phone, I can use back in NY at no charge.

You are all lovely! Thank you!

I do have another question what do all the rainbow drawings mean? My boyfriend said its to clap for keyworkers due to covid. I just think they look really cute.

I also hear my boyfriend talk about down south and loads of people have mentioned it, Does the north not like the south?

only the scots hate the english as far as i am aware.  the rest of the northerners think the southerners are a bit stuck up and unfriendly.  the southerners don't hate the northerners, we just think they have a funny accent 

Well this Scot doesn't hate the English. It's annoying when something is described as national when it's English though.

i only know the scots hate the english because my husband used to date a scottish lady and she said that the scots hate the english because of the past, your rob roy and all that  , but that on an individual level, a scot can be friends with someone english, so the animosity is not at the personal level but the national level.

One person told you this and this woman was the spokesperson for every single Scot as if we’re some sort of collective Borg? 

normally i wouldn't take one person's word for the sentiment of a whole country, but it sounded logical as when you think back to what the english did to the scottish in the course of history, it is understandable that the scots have no love for the english.  history like that do not fade with time, if you look at other countries that were at war with one another in the past as an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHZT9gg-wXY

I do not require a history lesson from you.  It is not logical to take the opinions of one individual and apply them as if they are the same opinions held by those of the same nationality.  I don't look at Jimmy Saville and assume that every English person is like him.

i wasn't teaching you history.  i was simply quoting the program which explained why there is animosity between the various countries in the UK because of the past history of how they came about to be one country.

it may be that the scots do not hate the english, but if you google the topic, there are several articles which states that there is animosity between scotland and england at a national level, particularly politics.  and that lady did say it wasn't a personal hatred but an animosity at a national level.

as fas as i can remember the last referendum on leaving the UK was very tight between yes and no, and if there was another referendum done now with brexit, that may very well swing to leave the UK.  i don't think scotland love the idea of being part of the united kingdom and would prefer to be its own country again, if it wasn't for the worry of the financial stability of being separated from the UK.

You've now gone from accepting the opinion of one woman as the opinion of an entire nation to conflating Scottish independence with hatred for the English. Put the shovel down and stop digging.

well, if you say that the scots don't hate the english, then i am happy to accept that.  so that lady was just bitter.  i didn't think someone would state their personal opinion as being the norm for the country.  interestingly i read that since the brexit vote, there is now a growing sentiment amongst the scots to leave the UK, and that nicola sturgeon states that getting a new referendum for scotland's independence will be the basis of her re-election campaign.

if i had a crystal ball, i would say it says scotland won't be part of the UK for long.

NBLondon

Riley_G said:

 As for the barm, everyone (Bakeries, boyfriend and others) have referred to it as a barm, sorry if I got it wrong!

Not wrong - it's a regional thing.  It's a barm cake to many people - barm is the raising agent.   The same thing (a soft bread roll) is called a bap, a batch, a breadcake, a bun, an oven-bottom in other places.   A teacake is a sweet version with fruit.  Except when it is a small chocolate and marshmallow confection.  A cob is a roll with a harder crust, aka a morning roll.

Be also aware that baps in the plural refers to the female front chestal area - so asking a bakery assistant when she's getting the baps out could be misconstrued

While we're at it - a cheesecake may be quite different from a New York one and some Northern folk serve cheese with fruit cake.

Apintplease said:

The North South divide starts at the Watford gap for Southerners. There are many millions South of the Gap who have never travelled further then that and think they will fall of the end of the universe 

Watford Gap is in Northamptonshire (and is not the same place as Watford (which is in Hertfordshire just outside London)).  It's the site of a service area on the M1 (the motorway from London to the North) and pretty much where you leave the Home Counties (counties which touch London) and move into the Midlands.

AskAsk

MovingForwards said:

Barm / bap is a northern thing. Don't forget cob 😁

Some Scottish people don't like the English, same as some English people don't like 'foreigners', can't write off a whole country based on the few. Enough of us from below the border live up here and made it out home. Horror of horrors, there's even Scottish people dating / married to English people.

This thread alone demonstrates to OP the huge difference across the UK.

if you mean corn cob, then that is quite normal, but otherwise i have not heard of cob in any other context.

yes, OP.  british is very different depending on where you are located in the UK.  also the class that you fall into, working, middle, upper and chavs 

britain is also a very diverse country, with people from all over the world settling and become british citizens.  if you live in London for example, british is very cosmopolitan and it would be diifcult to work out one particular british thing among londoners, except long queues and rudeness