Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to feel the UK is really a bit crap?

401 replies

clogdance · 29/04/2017 21:08

We have a German exchange child staying with us. He has been learning English at school for 2 years, and is apparently not top of the class in it. He spent supper talking to me about the rights and wrongs of vegetarianism and veganism.
He also mentioned that he lives in an old house but that new houses in Germany are larger and more solidly built. Just like here then Hmm.
His family are very very pleased that they unlike us are staying in the EU. And that they, unlike us, are welcoming a very large number of Syrian refugees.
Being English feels pretty depressing.

OP posts:
LastGirlOnTheLeft · 29/04/2017 23:30

This kid is in your home and your country to learn something so how about being the teacher instead of the student. He is a child, remember?

Orlantina · 29/04/2017 23:30

I certainly wouldn't be nodding my head in agreement and starting an idiotic thread on Mumsnet

It's always interesting to hear how other countries work. We could learn a lot from other countries and their attitudes towards education, health etc. Some countries could learn from us on some things as well.

No country is perfect.

AntigoneJones · 29/04/2017 23:30

oh right so its OK to make a sweeping statements about how 'crap' the UK is and how wonderful German is in comparison, but say anything in reply and we are 'racist'.
Germany is OK, UK is OK, whichever one we live in we should be grateful. let's be honest.

theresamustgo · 29/04/2017 23:31

Sorry for absurd grammar etc, autocorrect n a iPad.

LastGirlOnTheLeft · 29/04/2017 23:32

Maybe Orlantina if people were traveling and met each other. But if he has been sent here or opted to come here then there is reason for that. A good one, I should hope.

Original poster
clogdance · 29/04/2017 23:32

He is a delightful, bright, interested, chatty, polite child. And people on here are bashing him for mentioning his personal experience that modern houses are better built than old houses. That level of hatred over absolutely nothing is what? Racism? I really think it is.

OP posts:
Orlantina · 29/04/2017 23:33

Germany is OK, UK is OK, whichever one we live in we should be grateful

Could we learn anything from Germany?
Could they learn anything from us?

LastGirlOnTheLeft · 29/04/2017 23:33

I say 'here'. Obviously I mean England. Putting myself into the OP's shoes.

AntigoneJones · 29/04/2017 23:34

" racism " well I am sorry OP, but you started it...

LastGirlOnTheLeft · 29/04/2017 23:35

Clog, what on earth are you talking about?? I have a feeling we might as well be talking to a wooden shoe as you!

CodLiverOil556 · 29/04/2017 23:35

I live in Germany and I believe the uk could learn an awful lot from here. The fine system is harsh though (a friend was fined €10 for not having reflectors on her bike the other day)

I love it but I love uk more, the Germans are very friendly and the place is very child friendly...children given pieces of sausage around supermarket and bread.

Postagestamppat · 29/04/2017 23:36

To answer the original question: I think it is for us as a family. We have moved to Australia and we arn twice as much money, live in a much bigger house and can afford to save. If it wasn't for the distance from family, we'd stay here for the rest of our lives. Also the number of other brits here suggests that there are lots of others finding the same thing. (Ps I have ignored the weather as although it is great it isn't why we are here.)

Blimey01 · 29/04/2017 23:36

theresamustgo - do people in the functioning civil society you mentioned go round labelling people 'fat slobs'?

Notthemessiah · 29/04/2017 23:38

lastgirl well at least your posts have reminded me about something I dislike about the UK - our shitty and condescending attitude towards children. Bloody German children coming over here and expressing opinions..........

LittleKiwi · 29/04/2017 23:39

The UK is great compared to most countries, but not all. Having lived in several other countries, DP and I would put the UK far below all of them - cost of living, housing issues, healthcare system (under funded, over stretched), schools (state schools are often bad and it's difficult to get into good ones while private schools are crazy expensive), general negative atmosphere (Brexit, xenophobia, lack of willingness to support what could be excellent state institutions e.g. The NHS), awful traffic... the list goes on.

The other countries we've lived in, while not perfect, were all better on all of these fronts (Switzerland, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, France) although Switzerland and Australia get special mentions for xenophobia, I guess. We found the UK got us down after a while and we left.

Jakeyboy1 · 29/04/2017 23:39

Absolute hatred? Racism?

Calm down dear.

Blimey01 · 29/04/2017 23:39

Well I'm definitely moving to Germany if I can get free sausage...

Huldra · 29/04/2017 23:40

OK, So your OP now OP is that you had this delightful, bright, interested, chatty, polite exchange student. He made a few remarks about what his parents politics are and he thinks that modern German builds are better than modern. I wouldn't be surprised at the last bit at all.

Why the OP at all? Nothing to see, lets move on. Nice that you have hosted such a nice person.

LastGirlOnTheLeft · 29/04/2017 23:41

Messiah....read your post and see how condescending YOU are!! Bloody hypocrite!!

Are you seriously suggesting we should take political advice from children?? Are you for real?

Original poster
clogdance · 29/04/2017 23:41

I find some of the people on this thread truly disturbing.
One of the best things about the UK in my experience is the tolerance of people here. I do feel that this is lessening now.

OP posts:
Beijingyouth · 29/04/2017 23:41

it's interesting how racism towards the Germans is still tolerated, isn't it?

^^AntigoneJones you really dislike Germany/ the Germans. Why?

crazycatguy · 29/04/2017 23:42

I've lived in England for ten years, and asides gay rights, I find it, on the whole, a less tolerant place than when I came. I also find a huge gap between the north and south, the working and middle class and the young and the old and feel that those gaps have widened.

That being said, I value the low taxes, the NHS and the ability to meet anyone of almost any nationality. I even like the food.

'If you don't like it, leave' is just an attempt to shut down a valid discussion about the state of the country. A lot of people who don't like the country can barely afford the bus into town far less airfares. And post Brexit it's fair to say we'll be more limited than we were.

Grilledaubergines · 29/04/2017 23:44

So sorry if I've missed it OP, but how old is the student? Because comparing a country through a child/teen's eyes isn't the same as through a peer's.

Although language learning in the main us shit. That said, my DC started learning French in receoption class whereas in my day, it started at high school, so improvements have definitely been made.

Original poster
clogdance · 29/04/2017 23:44

For the nth time he made NO comments about his parents' politics. They made those comments themselves. Why not?

Why don't you read the comments that other posters have made, about their experience of living in other countries? Might learn something?

Signing out now.

OP posts:
Blowingthroughthejasmineinmymi · 29/04/2017 23:44

I think German houses are much more sensible they use all the space don't they most have basement and use attic. Bauhouse principles. I really like Germany, but then I adore Spain and Italy, and Netherlands, and Africa and the the US. I could really ramble on with all the different things I like and don't like about each country. There will be good and bad things about every country in the world. But the UK is pretty fantastic too. Re Syrian refugees did you inform your guests that we pay the second largest amount of money to help refuges stay near home, in what are actually very well run camps which are now more like towns. So, when the horror ends they can go home. I am glad however that such a huge rich country in need of young people has welcomed in so many refugees from Syria. Counties should all help in many ways which we also do.