HISTORY AND CULTURE

So that you can join in conversations with locals it wouldn’t hurt to learn a bit more about the history of the country. The Royals is a good place to start:  https://www.britroyals.com/rulers.asp

The Royal Family assembled on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

Perhaps a more interesting study is that Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are essentially their own countries and have cultures very different to the English.  More importantly the Welsh, Scots and Irish do not like the English very much because of the way the English have historically imposed themselves – often violently – on the other nations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Wales

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Scotland

A man plays the bagpipes on Westminster Bridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Northern_Ireland

The English in the northern part of the country – say north of about Nottingham – don’t particularly trust the southerners from London and surrounds.  The southerners get all the good infrastructure and investment, while the northerners struggle and do a lot of the dirty work.  Mrs Thatcher, as Prime Minister, left an industrial relations legacy that is still felt today.  (Although there is some negative feeling about Mrs Thatcher, she was voted the fourth-greatest British prime minister of the 20th century.)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher

The British Empire that expanded out of the explorers into the Atlantic in the 15 and 16 centuries, right up through the peak and demise in the 20th century, has had a massive influence on the shape and culture of life in the UK today.  From setting up London as a major commercial centre (and the riches that brings), to the multitude of wars and conflicts in and around the colonies, to the cultures and opportunities brought back to the UK by the immigrants from the colonies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire

While London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities anywhere in the world, once you get out into the towns and villages, generally speaking, the ratio of English to “foreigners” swings.  Be careful though, just because someone doesn’t look like a person we would traditionally call “European”, doesn’t mean they are not British.  There are many people whose legacy may have been in the colonies (and beyond) that have resided in Britain for many generations, and hence are more British than me.  Think twice calling a person “Indian” – they may be Bangladeshi or Pakistani. It is much better to say “Asian”.

https://civilservice.blog.gov.uk/2019/07/08/please-dont-call-me-bame-or-bme/

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