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Cultures page - This page is being created!
It is about our two cultures, and the differences and similarities between them.
Adrian is from Cornwall in England, and Chris is from Washington State in the United States of America. For two English speaking nations, with such an interestingly shared history, there are more differences in daily life than you might have thought.
to be continued...
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About British Pubs
"There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn".
Samuel Johnson, 1776
Whilst it probably won't surprise you to discover that the English have been enjoying a drop of ale since at least the Bronze-Age, it may interest you to learn that it wasn't until the Romans invaded the British Isles (55 BC - 410 AD) that the English Tavern came into existence. Indeed, it was only during the period that these mighty Latin conquerors were constructing wonderfully straight roads across the countryside, that a network of inns, offering lodgings and refreshments, began to appear.
Once the Romans departed, their roads quickly fell into a state of disrepair. Nevertheless the Saxon people were rather fond of a tipple, and as their kingdom grew, so too did the need for decent roads and travellers’ rests. It was at this point in history (7th century) that the King of Wessex established legal ale houses, and following the arrival of St. Augustine on a mission to re-establish the Christian faith, missionaries began to build monasteries which offered hospitality to weary travellers; until separate establishments appeared, providing food, drink and shelter.
Eventually the local tavern became an important social gathering place. The pub was the place to meet your friends and neighbours for a good old chin-wag (conversation); somewhere you could drown your sorrows over a pint of ale, enjoy a sing-song with your mates, play games, warm your frozen toes in front of a crackling log fire, woo a lover or perhaps even escape a nagging spouse and noisy children. In short, a community just wasn't a community without its 'local'.
These days you are just as likely to find a bistro or nightclub on the corner where Ye Olde Kings Head once stood. The advent of television did a great deal to harm the traditional pub, when, over a period of time, more and more people began to sit at home watching the 'goggle box' instead of venturing out into the cold night air. However, there are still some wonderful old inns in existence, many with histories going back several centuries; and the inhabitants of smaller towns and villages in particular still frequent their local pub each evening - that is, until 'chucking out time' comes around and the landlord rings last orders! |
Quite eye opening! |
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A Primer To British TV
In Britain there are only five terrestrial broadcasting TV channels: BBC-1, BBC-2, ITV , Channel 4 and Channel 5 . The BBC operate their two channels, while the other three are independent commercial broadcasters. The BBC does not show commercials and all shows and movies are broadcast without interruptions. Promotions for other BBC shows are run in-between programs. The BBC is financed exclusively from mandatory television licenses that must be paid for annually. In order to own a television or any device capable of receiving television signals, each household in Britain is required by law to pay £97.50 () each year - even if you never watch the BBC. The penalty for failing to have a license is a heavy fine and a possible jail sentence. Despite such heavy-handedness, most people approve of the way the BBC is funded which allows it to produce quality programs for all audiences without commercial considerations or government interference. The other three commercial networks are much like their American counterparts: shows are either 30 or 60 minutes in length with commercial breaks during the programs (though typically in Britain there is only one break during a half hour show and two during an hour show). And sometimes the commercials can be the most entertaining part of a program. Without much of a film industry in Britain up until recently, most up-and-coming directors get their start doing slick, arty commercials. Ridley Scott is the best example of someone who garnered attention from directing award-winning commercials and turned it into a feature-film career. Except for soap operas (the most popular shows in Britain), most series only run for 6 weeks a year, giving up their time slot to other series, only to return a year later. Reruns are not nearly as common as in the US, partially because British viewers expect plenty of new programming for their hefty license fee. It can be quite a task to keep up with your favorite series in England when it only runs for a month and a half each year, instead of 52 weeks year-round like in the US. Mini-series are also much more frequent than in the US, with many award-winning 8 and 10-part dramas shown each year. The two "main" channels in Britain are BBC-1 and ITV. They have the majority of audiences (top series receive 19 million viewers) with the most popular mainstream series and comedies. The "art" channels are perceived to be BBC-2 and Channel 4 which, much like Public Television in the US, suffer under the impression that everything is either too dull or experimental for ordinary viewers, though of course this is far from the case. Their top-rated series garner about 7 million viewers, even though they are available to everyone in the country. Channel 5 is just over a year old, still not available in some parts of Britain, and has yet to really build an identity with original programs. ITV is actually a collection of 16 different companies (e.g. Carlton in London, Anglia in the East) each with their own territory, loosely affiliated, much like WB and UPN stations in the US are. News, sports, and prime time programming on ITV are networked throughout the country simultaneously, but "fringe" programming (for example late at night) can vary from region to region. The franchise for each area is bid on every few years and can frequently change hands. Thames TV in London, the company that created many classic series and produced Benny Hill for years, lost their broadcasting license rights several years ago to Carlton (which continues to share the franchise with London Weekend Television, the only such dual-arrangement in the country). Satellite television has had a presence in Britain longer than in the US and is dominated completely by Rupert Murdock's Sky channels. Relying almost exclusively on glossy American imports such as The X-Files and Star Trek and sports, satellite television is slowly making in-roads in British audiences, although it is in only about 5 million households currently. Cable television is still a long way from the kind of penetration it has in the USA. |
TV |
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Do's and Don'ts
While it's true to say that the English aren't anything like the sticklers they used to be for perfect manners and seemly decorum (unless, of course, you have an audience with the Queen), there are still a handful of no-no's and best if you don'ts. So, here are a few face-saving pointers that may well come in useful during your stay in England :
Do...
stand in line, form orderly queues and wait patiently for your turn to come in shops; at bus stops, cash machines or anywhere else a number of people are waiting for the same service. Unlike some other Europeans, the English (and the British in general) become enraged by 'queue jumpers', and you may well see the English reserve crack if you attempt to push in front of others who have been waiting longer than yourself.
shake a persons right hand with your own right hand when you are first introduced.
say "excuse me" if someone is blocking your way and you would like them to move.
cover your mouth with your hand when yawning or coughing.
pay for drinks as you order them in pubs and other types of bars.
say "please" and "thank-you" whenever appropriate.
Don't...
make a two fingered V for Victory sign at someone with your knuckles facing them. This is an extremely insulting gesture!
ask personal or intimate questions, such as: "How much money do you earn?" "Why aren't you married?" or "What is your age?" The English are extremely private people and this type questioning, however well-meant, is unlikely to indear you to your hosts.
pass wind in public - through any bodily orifice!
speak when your mouth is full of food.
call England "quaint".
greet people with a kiss when you have never met them before (this type of behaviour is normally reserved for close friends and relatives).
discuss politics or religion! Whilst not exactly taboo subjects, the English regard their political and religious beliefs as their own business - it really is far safer to avoid such talk, if not completely, then at least until you know your hosts a little better.
It is acceptable to...
use your fingers when eating a piece of chicken.
blow your nose in public (providing you use a tissue or handkerchief).
eat alone in a restaurant if you are a woman (however, many like to read a book while waiting to be served).
discuss the following with somebody you have recently met: English weather conditions; television programmes (Coronation Street is a great favourite); vacations (the English call them 'holidays'); or indeed, any type of innocuous and non-personal topic.
All information from...
http://englishculture.about.com/culture/englishculture/msub101.htm?once=true&
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A black cat! |
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