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Original poster

Foreigners in the UK: What do you just not "get"?

389 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 07/10/2006 21:12

I've been in the UK for 10 years now, I think. I do not understand:

  • the Archers
  • tea (why? why? why?)
  • cryptic crosswords

Anyone else?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 11/10/2006 16:06

Hmmm. I hadn't noticed the cans here.

I don't often go to supermarkets, though.

franca70 · 11/10/2006 16:26

"Actually, I could have added to that list the social divisions. It seems to me like people might be more isolated and insulated in their own social class/community in Britain than in most other developed countries. "
That is my feeling too. But then again, perhaps it's strikes me more because I'm a foreigner, and I feel I don't belong anywhere. I think that, at least until ten years ago, borders between different classes were more fluid in my country of origin. And I think it was also due to the fact that kids didn't go to private schools that much
. So I went to school and grew up with people from different backgrounds. Mind you, it might have been just my experience. Mind you, my country has many other v. serious social problems. so, please, don't think I'm patronizing or anything.

Astrophe · 11/10/2006 16:32

Why don't they pack the groceries into a bag for you at the supermarket? Its actually quicker if they do it as they go IMHO.

Anyone get the 1p and 2p coins?

Am intrigued at someone saying that something they like about the UK is 'how open people are'. Intrigued, because I find exactly the opposite!

quokka · 11/10/2006 16:34

people have already said this but I have to say it again Carpet in the kitchen and bathroom is soooo gross! Can you imagine all the bugs and germs that live in it .
Brown pebble dash houses would have to come in second - and I live in one!
The fact that people don't really chat to you. Maybe thats just a london thing, but I'm sure I used to talk more to strangers back home.

quokka · 11/10/2006 16:35

thats so true about packing groceries!

expatinscotland · 11/10/2006 16:37

ARRGGGH! If I get another person who, upon hearing my name, remarks, 'That's not an American surname . . . ' or hear DD1 speak and exclaim, 'That child has a Scottish accent!' I'm going to run away screaming.

If I had 10p for everytime my husband comes up and the other person says, 'Oh, your husband is Scottish' I'd be rich.

SherlockLGJ · 11/10/2006 16:39

If I live to be 100 I will never understand this one.......................

It is your birthday,so you buy the cakes.

quokka · 11/10/2006 16:41

what!

expatinscotland · 11/10/2006 16:42

Crisp flavours

Now crisps are rank as it is, and only suitable to eat whilst rat-arsed.

But lamb mint or bacon ones?

NO.

EmmyLou · 11/10/2006 16:43

The only place I had to buy cakes because it was my birthday, was Poland. Is this a north/south divide thing???

quokka · 11/10/2006 16:43

don't they do marmites one as well?

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 11/10/2006 16:45

Actually, I shared a lovely little bag of Tyrrells crisps that were sausage and mustard flavoured, with quite a kick, the other week.

But yeah, generally crisp flavours are grotty, I only bother if they're from a "nice" brand. Those Walkers Sensations are particularly rank.

(In Quebec, we have "All dressed" crisps, which is so not a flavour. And briefly, when I was a kid, Canada had crisps that were Orange, Cherry and Grape flavoured, and coloured accordingly. Gah.)

OP posts:
SherlockLGJ · 11/10/2006 16:46

I have worked in the North, I have worked in the South,

And I have bought them in the North and I have bought them in the South.

EmmyLou · 11/10/2006 16:51

But...but...all that having to pretend that you didn't know the receptionist had been sent out to buy a cake malarky...I could've just BOUGHT ONE I LIKED, MYSELF?

SherlockLGJ · 11/10/2006 16:53

Emmy Lou, with a name like that you could sing my song.

EmmyLou · 11/10/2006 16:53

(suggestions for spin off thread: "Things that British born British people just don't get about Britain...")

EmmyLou · 11/10/2006 16:54

And I think my spin off thread title could make a catchy chorus.

All together now...

shimmy21 · 11/10/2006 16:58

speaking for dh here - why do British people never move down the bus or tube but stand in a big sweaty crowd near the doors?

And for myself -i'd prefer to come from a country where electric plugs are not allowed in the bathroom than dh's country where we had a live socket conveniently placed in the shower of the first flat we rented . I'd blithely assumed it must have been disconnected as I watched the drips run down it. Luckily dh checked it before I found out the hard way that it was live.

Whoowhoobewhooooooh · 11/10/2006 17:13

Franca: having read this thread, I made a point of stopping and cooing over a five-week-old baby when walking to the doctors. And I'm a Londoner.

Thing is, in London you're much more likely to have a knife pulled on you for no reason than most other places in the country. (I live near the recent McDonald's shooting incident). Puts you off approaching strangers...

Marmite: Yuck.

Tube-bunching phenomena: because people sitting down are at arse-level, and you might fart? Just an idea.

quokka · 11/10/2006 17:24

did she run away or call you a nutter?

Whoowhoobewhooooooh · 11/10/2006 17:33

She screamed, stabbed me and her baby called me a ho.

quokka · 11/10/2006 17:38

pmsl

franca70 · 11/10/2006 17:54

LOL!
And I was convinced that london was one of the safest capital city in europe... it must have a v. good pr then!

Whoowhoobewhooooooh · 11/10/2006 17:59

Don't worry, I just live in a rough bit.

Which is fine, coz I'm well 'ard, I am.

Jernowotimean?

EmmyLou · 11/10/2006 18:47

pmsl @ baby calling you a ho, Whoooo.