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wonko3fc
Verbum sat sapienti
join:2001-06-02
UK
 ·BT Broadband
| reply to Sparrow
Re: [Serious] UK developers in the EU +
said by Sparrow  :Being straightforward is one of my liabilities in life, and I would sincerely appreciate some input and general opinions about the average British attitude toward being upfront and transparent.
Hello Leah and welcome.
General comments and none directed at you as I'm certain you've learnt this already.
Typical causes for concern of Brits in the form of 'merkins goes like this:
Cut the vol of your voice) by about 98% when talking and DO NOT yell across the room because there is someone you also want to talk to over there - tip try moving closer!
Try not to compare everything with what you have 'back home' diff country, diff culture and rules - suck it up
If you are lost, uncertain or needing assistance whilst traveling, do not stand in the middle of the through fair proclaiming to non existent persons unknown that you don't know what/where/how etc. Do use eyes and ears to ascertain the information or help kiosk/poster/map or, in the event there are other English speakers on the bus, train what ever, try listening to where they may be going and then follow them if appropriate.
Try not to be to defensive of US foreign policy or even domestic one for that matter. Most Europeans (IMHO) tend to secretly think to 'the land of the free' as something of a joke and the more you tell us about it, the funnier it gets - the joke of course being upon you as you've not spotted it yet. 
Oddly (although you have probably found this out already) not everyone in the world buys everything on Visa/Amex/Master card and Dollar$ are not universal - although that in turn depends upon where you are.
Chat with your Brit buddies over there and ask them what they find irritating about 'merkins too! I'm certain they will enlighten you, especially if you buy them a few drinkies...
Other than that you should be fine for the most part.Oh, learn and keep in mind what Irony is too! | |
Sparrow
Crystal Sky
Premium
join:2002-12-03
Sachakhand
| Thanks so much wonko3fc , for making my day. Your comments helped a great deal.
1. Cut the vol of your voice by about 98% when talking and DO NOT yell across the room because there is someone you also want to talk to over there - tip try moving closer!
1a. Perfect! For years I have been asked to "speak up" as I happen to be very soft spoken and abhor speaking across large tables, let alone screaming across rooms.
2. Try not to compare everything with what you have 'back home' diff country, diff culture and rules - suck it up
2a. Don't miss a damn thing back in the US, except band-aids that stick for more than 15 minutes, and the ex-pats import their band-aids from the UK as I do from the US.
3. If you are lost, uncertain or needing assistance whilst traveling, do not stand in the middle of the through fair proclaiming to non existent persons unknown that you don't know what/where/how etc. Do use eyes and ears to ascertain the information or help kiosk/poster/map or, in the event there are other English speakers on the bus, train what ever, try listening to where they may be going and then follow them if appropriate.
3a. Real men NEVER get lost - even though I am female, I follow the male rule. 
4. Try not to be to defensive of US foreign policy or even domestic one for that matter.
4a. What is there to be defensive of?
5. Most Europeans (IMHO) tend to secretly think to 'the land of the free' as something of a joke and the more you tell us about it, the funnier it gets - the joke of course being upon you as you've not spotted it yet.
5a. It is a joke, and I am not laughing...
6. Oddly (although you have probably found this out already) not everyone in the world buys everything on Visa/Amex/Master card and Dollar$ are not universal - although that in turn depends upon where you are.
6a. Hmm, I had a credit card once - about 30 years ago. The first time I used it was the last (and I shall never forget this). I purchased 3 dresses for $35 each that I certainly did not need, and when the bill came in, I very quickly realized that credit cards could be dangerous to one's pocketbook, and promptly cut the card in two. Never had one since. I am of the mind set that if I can not pay cash, I don't buy it. I have two bank (debit) cards, one American, one Bulgarian, and use them only to withdraw cash from an auto-teller. With the fluctuation of the dollar and the lev pegged to euro, I think in levs and euros. I believe the "almighty dollar" lost its sanctity when the gold standard of $32 an ounce suddenly became history in the early 70's.
7. Chat with your Brit buddies over there and ask them what they find irritating about 'merkins too! I'm certain they will enlighten you, especially if you buy them a few drinkies...
7a. Good. I thrive in an atmosphere of constructive criticism .
8. Other than that you should be fine for the most part. Oh, learn and keep in mind what Irony is too!
8a. Ironically, there is one thing I miss from the US - the BBC comedies that I looked forward to every Friday night on the local public television, and the BBC mystery series.
My husband has a collection of P.G. Wodehouse that I curl up in a chair with to compensate for the above loss. Just finished, "Carry On, Jeeves" and about to begin, "Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit."
♣ [My kind of humor...] ♣ and ♣ [  click me] ♣
Okay, running late here and have an appointment in 45 minutes - 15 minutes away and not dressed yet!!
Ciao!
--
"Be simple, be earnest and spread that simplicity throughout everything you do." | |
wonko3fc
Verbum sat sapienti
join:2001-06-02
UK
·BT Broadband
1 edit | Hey Leah,
N1ce
It is difficult in this medium sometimes to identify the wisdom and experience of the participants - please forgive my somewhat condescending approach there.
With the additional info there, it sounds to me like you are almost cured form your previous incarnation. Congrats!
JV there is nearly home but still can't quite let go sometimes must be the frequent return trips he makes...
Still, we have high hopes for him. Maybe you could pass him a few tips
[Ed]
Oh forgot about P.G. Wodehouse that's a tricky one. Very funny indeed yet alas he made a few errors of judgement between 39 & 45 and this has somewhat soured his reputation. As such I think we (brits) are a little uncomfortable with him but we do like his work. Jurys still out on that one... | |
Sparrow
Crystal Sky
Premium
join:2002-12-03
Sachakhand
| Heavens, nothing condescending at all. JV may be able to shed light on what raises my hackles! Remember Randy, JV?!
I hold to the theory that at birth I was misplaced during the stork delivery routine somewhere between the east and west.
See, you gave me invaluable insight into Wodehouse. Now instead of raising a toast to him and making a fool of myself, I can rather inquire of the chap next to me, his opinion on such-and-such of Wodehouse. Good tip.
--
"Be simple, be earnest and spread that simplicity throughout everything you do." | |
jvmorris
I Am The Man Who Was Not There.
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-03
Reston, VA
| reply to wonko3fc
Hey! How'd you manage to sneak this in without my noticing it?
said by wonko3fc :. . . JV there is nearly home but still can't quite let go sometimes must be the frequent return trips he makes... Still, we have high hopes for him. Maybe you could pass him a few tips Well, it's true that I can walk into Wales from Quarry House, but I've yet to find a place over there with decent public transport to the railheads necessary to get down to London (or even into a decent-sized town). And, since my Better Half doesn't drive, that's a bit of an impediment.
Actually, you probably should be just as happy that I go back to the States occasionally. I do all my serious hell-raising in the US at the moment.
[Ed]
Oh forgot about P.G. Wodehouse that's a tricky one. Very funny indeed yet alas he made a few errors of judgement between 39 & 45 and this has somewhat soured his reputation. As such I think we (brits) are a little uncomfortable with him but we do like his work. Jurys still out on that one...
And Chesterton? (Got a hard-copy compendium of the Father Brown stories last autumn.)
--
Regards,
Joseph V. Morris | |
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