CultureShock! Great Britain

Terry Tan

Description

CultureShock! Great Britain sets out to help you understand and integrate into the British way of life. Down-to-earth and informative, the book offers insights on how to break down cultural barriers, relate with the people and appreciate the country for its worth. The book also gives useful advice on practical matters such as how to find suitable accommodation and education institutions for your family, unravelling British English and choosing from the rich variety of leisure activities that the country has to offer. Even for those who come from English-speaking countries, CultureShock! Britain is the essential guide that helps people understand the intricacies that are uniquely British.

Sujets

• Reino Unido
• United Kingdom
• Great Britain
• Royaume-Uni

Informations

• Publié par: MarshallCavendishM
• Date de parution: 11 septembre 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 3
• EAN13: 9789814435956
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

This edition published in 2008 by:
Marshall Cavendish Corporation
99 White Plains Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591-9001
www.marshallcavendish.us
1995 Times Editions Pte Ltd
2001 Times Media Private Limited
2005, 2008 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Request for permission should be addressed to the Publisher, Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd, 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196. Tel: [phone], fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]
The publisher makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents of this book, and specifically disclaims any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
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ISBN 10: 0-7614-5474-8
eISBN: 978 981 4435 95 6
Please contact the publisher for the Library of Congress catalog number
Printed in China by Everbest Printing Co Ltd
Photo Credits:
All black and white photos from the author.
Colour photos from Photolibrary Cover photo: Photolibrary
All illustrations by TRIGG
ABOUT THE SERIES
Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from one s comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country.
Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and covers a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again.
Each book is structured in the same manner. It begins with the first impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must first understand the people-where they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the first half of the book.
Then on with the practical aspects-how to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through how to find accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the pink of health. But that s not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things.
To round off, snippets of basic information are offered before readers are tested on customs and etiquette of the country. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Map of Britain
Chapter 1
First Impressions

Chapter 2
An Overview
The Land
London
Religion
House of Windsor
Chapter 3
British People
Stereotypes
The First Brit
What Makes Them Tick
Silent Commuters
Values
At Work
Of Laughter and Lament
Family
Marriage
Retirement
Pets
Institutions
Chapter 4
Fitting In
Class Consciousness
How to Behave as a Guest
The Local Social Scene
Gifts
Norms of Behaviour
Dyed in the Wool Habits
Political Issues
Fashion
Dirt
Chapter 5
The Practicalities
Finding a Home
Renting Accommodation
Standard of Living
For the Kids
Education
English as She is Spoke
Managing Your Money
DIY
Measurements
Health
Transportation
Weather
Telecommunications
Chapter 6
The British Meal
British Food
Ethnic Food
The Ethnic Shopper
Eating Out
The National Cuppa
Punctuality
Chapter 7
Having Fun
Holidays
Outdoor Activities
NightLife
The Very Proper English Tea
Doing the Country
Sports
Customs and Celebrations
Fairs
Entertainment
Television
Others
Art
Night Haunts
Sex and Sleaze
Chapter 8
British Talk
Accents First
Street English
Colloquialism
Touch
Park Bench Introductions
Helping the Blind
Chapter 9
Doing Business
Formalities
Setting Up a Business
Chapter 10
Britain at a Glance
Fast Facts
Famous People
Cultural Quiz
Do s and Don ts
Glossary
Resource Guide
Further Reading
About the Author
Index
FOREWORD
It was in 1968 that I first set foot on British soil, on one of those charter packages that cost a fraction of what they would today but at considerable cost to plane comfort. I think I was already enamoured of all things English, as, since a tender age, I had been drenched with the history of the British Empire and the Commonwealth, Keats, Wordsworth and Shakespeare. And it didn t end in school. Playing the board game Monopoly , I was buying and selling Park Lane and Mayfair properties long before I strolled along these swish avenues. My history, geography and literature teachers were Welsh, Scottish and Irish, and they brought to life what I learnt from books. The daily morning assemblies were raised voices in homage to the Men of Harlech, a Welsh rugby song transplanted to the empirical tropics. In this way Anglophilia had rubbed off on me at an early age.
When I actually set foot on British soil, it was with a feeling of curious excitement about seeing first hand the land I had read so much about; Monopoly come home. Primarily, it has been an extended sojourn; geography, literature and history come to life and an education process no less absorbing than one about any culture outside one s own. That four-week holiday merely skimmed the surface of touristy Britain, but it was enough to intrigue me about the whole British psyche. National pride aside, I have always subscribed to an open mind about life beyond my doorstep.
The reasons why I have chosen to live and work in Britain since 1983 were as much providence as the logical result of being immersed in British mores for the better part of my school life. Having made the decision to come here, it would have been blinkered and negative not to assimilate, observe, learn and generally be at ease within an alien environment. Britain was, and still is, essentially alien but definitely not a constant source of discomfort. You come to grips with the problems, co-exist with them and it is only with the confidence that nothing can take away your cultural heritage can you be comfortable in a foreign land.
The old adage any place you hang your hat is home applies only when you ve got your head screwed on right. Like not harbouring feelings of inadequacy, inferiority and all the other -ities that cloud your sense of identity and belonging, wherever your hat stand. In the 22 years that I have actually thrust myself into the mainstream of British life, it has been a process rife with problems, complications, cross wires, joy and satisfaction. I had to rid myself of preconceived notions, prejudices and hang-ups to make the best of my chosen lot. I try as often as possible to mix with the British, cultivate their friendship and build up my store of knowledge to understand them better. I did not want to end up as a statistic in reports about social integration problems among migr s. This still remains a sticky problem with many foreigners who have come to live in Britain by their own volition or for political reasons.
It is impossible to give a blanket statement about life in an adopted country because of the variables. In my protracted observations of the British, I have encountered many things that are at odds with my own philosophy but as much that I have embraced with enthusiasm. What s most comforting is their sense of fair play, integrity, humour, the sublime and the ridiculous. Fundamentally, it s the realisation that I am different from them rather than the other way round. I am the foreigner and most of the accommodation has to come from my quarter. The British are no different from any other race in basic terms-they just talk, live and pursue their ambitions in different ways. You either muddle through or glide with them.
I have had my nose to the British ground, my ears to British sounds and my eyes on British idiosyncrasies with the objective of understanding-not judging or changing-them. The best I hope to offer in return for getting under their skin is to let them under mine. In this light, I am better able to understand why British colonialists were the way they were, never giving up a slice of their British-ness even in the depths of a Malayan rubber plantation. It is likewise for many immigrants here. Richer are those who assimilate without clouding their sense of identity.
I have learnt to be patient the British way and not get flustered because service people don t jump when I call. I have had to handle household chores with dignity and stop moaning about the dearth of cheap domestic labour. Most importantly, I have to