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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:
Redlorry75 · 09/10/2006 10:48

I am Brit born and bred and dont get the Archers either - unless it's with lemonade

However we have no sockets in the bathroom because our power supply runs at the exact same voltage which can stop a human heart - which is dangerous enough on it's own, but mix it with water and you would really make a mess - besides, that's what batteries are for

expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 10:49

Cards, though. Well, I'm from the South (US), where cards and all things crafty are a passion.

As is randomly baking foods for work colleagues, friends, neighbours, etc.

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/10/2006 10:49

Our streets are full of dog poo. The local council has started arresting people for not picking up after their dogs in the local park (hurrah! finally!) so that's really improved, so people who can't be bothered picking up just get them to poo in the street. I'm in East London.

I still don't actually know what a "tombola" is. I also don't get "pass the parcel" and plimsoles (not even a word! never mind a shoe!).

I am a bit of a convert to the washing up bowl, except now we have a double sink, so it's gone .

I don't think anyone has ever actually eaten a grilled tomato. The taste is gross. The texture is worse. Maybe grilled tomatoes are actually poisonous, only nobody's noticed coz nobody's eaten them?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 10:50

All alcopops are nasty!

Those are to drink when you're 14 and just experimenting and only the boys are drinking beer from the kegger in the fair grounds .

expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 10:52

I agree, Mum2, about the diseases.

It's a source of profound curiosity to my sister, who has two daughters aged 12 and 9, brought up in Texas.

My dad was like, 'Scarlet fever!? Huh? I had scarlet fever in 1942. Who gets scarlet fever in the 21st century!? '

Earlybird · 09/10/2006 10:53

Expat - guess I was lucky to have got onto the property ladder 10 years ago when things were more affordable.

However, a few times a year I have a "nervous breakdown" about desperately needing more space. But, I quickly calm down when I hear friends talk about their nightmare experiences. The challenge of financing something larger is almost as much of an issue as the stress of finding/buying another property. It seems to be a process that dominates the life of whoever is going through it for the better part of a year.... and I've never heard of anyone who's had a smooth experience unless they are chain free.

SecondhandRose · 09/10/2006 10:54

We have two bidets and we use them both, fantastic for washing the kids and perfect for when they were tiny. And great for bums too!

expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 10:54

I deal w/my lack of space nervous breakdown by internally screaming pretty much every day.

expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 10:56

My sister with her shocked, 'My lawd! How do you live like this?'

Her husband, bless his soul. 'It's a fine enough place. But I'm afraid I'd be making for that harbour and jumping ship soon enough if I had to stay here.'

Redlorry75 · 09/10/2006 11:00

Expat - when you said about alcopops were you referring to Archers?? It is not a an alcopop - it is a very nive peach liquer - if I remember rightly as am 7.5 mnths PG, and it's been a long time snce any alchol crossed my lips.

Just for the record - Dh and I would love to emigrate to USA! Have been there loads of time and love the way things are made easy for you - although a bit cross Pr Bush doesnt have much consideration for environmental issues - but thats for another thread!

Earlybird · 09/10/2006 11:01

yes expat, I keep telling myself "it's not cramped, it's cozy!"

expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 11:02

Thanks for hte clarification, Red.

I don't much care for sweet drinks like alcopops and liquers, except when the latter is mixed into a smooth drin , so I thought Archers was an alcopop.

It doesn't sound like something I'd drink.

Redlorry75 · 09/10/2006 11:02

Earlybird....it's cramped!

expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 11:04

, Earlybird. As opposed to, 'I'm fixin' to bust in this place!' 'I'm fit to be tied in this place!'

eidsvold · 09/10/2006 11:07

never did work out what a tombola was...

guy fawkes - huge bonfires and fire crackers - potential for disaster - stupid oiks letting them off from Nov5 til New Year

we have 240 volts in Aus and have never ever managed to electrocute myself - neither has anyone I know or have come across.

oh yes - bovril - retching just thinking of it.

yes - washing up bowls - only have a single sink here but do not use washing up bowl....

Earlybird · 09/10/2006 11:15

yes, as I turn sideways to edge past the ironing board propped up in the entry hall corner, I think to myself "better get to a museum quick so I can remind myself why it's a good idea to pay a fortune to live in a shoebox in central London"!

janinlondon · 09/10/2006 11:16

People who say that driving an automatic car is not really driving and that you're not in control with an automatic, and then roar off up the road in first gear for the first two miles, apparently unable to hear that ghastly noise? Not sure I can agree with lots of things here though - we have 12 times the population density of the US and most of our plumbing and streets are Victorian, so the lack of off street parking, separate laundries, extra bathrooms and decent plumbing is really an historical thing. But I agree that conveyancing is unnecessarily and frighteningly complicated, there is no known logic for a basin in a sink or carpet in a bathroom, and the lack of electrical outlets in bathrooms is a mystery - people seem to resist immersing their toasters in their kitchen sinks while washing up - can't imagine why they would have problems in the bathroom...? Not sure about the no preventive medicine thing? We are offered cervical and breast screening during most of our sexually active adult lives completely free of charge?

janinlondon · 09/10/2006 11:19

Hey I looked up Scarlet Fever incidence in the US - about 1% of the population still get it.

expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 11:33

This thread isn't a UK v. other countries - as you noticed, there are expats here not just from the US but France, Germany, Aus, etc.

No need to take it so seriously.

Most of us who are expats here are married to British people and have British kids, so it's not mean to slag anyone.

I can't be bothered to look up how many people getting freakin' scarlet fever, tbh.

Never heard of anyone getting it growing up, though.

The NHS is free at the point of service.

But definitely not free of charge! One look at the wage slip proves otherwise.

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 09/10/2006 11:38

I'm sure there are reasons for all these things, but I really didn't mean this as a "why the UK sucks" thread, and I don't think it is, really.

Although if you want to defend the existance of cryptic crosswords and the national addiction to tea, go ahead ;-)

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 11:39

Tea RULES, NQC.

I get that completely!

In fact, you'll find a lot of Southerners addicted to iced tea, and when you point out that they're nothing but little tea drinkers clinging to the habits of their forefathers, they get all bent out of shape.

expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 11:42

My sister owns an iced tea maker!

Yes, indeed.

And she's not alone.

Plenty of folks at my office in Denver pitched in to buy an iced tea maker for the office kitchen.

janinlondon · 09/10/2006 11:43

Sorry Expat - I was working on a paper about childhood illness - not something I usually do! Didn't mean to upset you.

GeorginaA · 09/10/2006 11:43

Iced tea - WTF is THAT all about, eh?! Never did see the point...

expatinscotland · 09/10/2006 11:45

I'm not upset, but you seemed to be.

Nothing like iced tea on a REALLY hot day.

Mmmmm.

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