I recently read 10 tips for American visitors to London and some of the advice given made me think if the writer had ever visited the UK, a few examples
A list of rhyming slang that Londoners use will be very helpful.
Really? I am a Londoner born and bred but I would never use rhyming slang to anyone who is not using it themselves i.e. a fellow Londoner. I can promise you that you won’t find anyone using rhyming slang in the city centre; very few Londoners live there, far too expensive.
Shake hands with everyone you meet---. NO that’s Germany. If someone offers you the right hand then shake it but it’s not going happen too often.
The English eat loads of pies== No. Actually you will find many restaurants serving a world wide variety of food in all the towns and cities across the UK and there are always a McDonald s and KFC available..
But try some fish and chips, most Americans seem to love them, but the quality varies, so put up the best fish and chips in your locality on your laptop and you won’t be disappointed.
Eel and pie shops? –NO, there for the real Londoners, an acquired taste.
The English only drink tea—NO.. Coffee shops abound in England but as a special treat it is possible to have afternoon tea at the really exclusive London hotels i.e. the Ritz and Dorchester etc and many others. Jacket and tie for the guys and for the girls a posh frock. Leave your jeans and sneakers in your room. It really is a unique experience.
To close; New York is not America and London is not England. To get a real flavour of both countries you have to explore.
Oh, and one final tip. try to leave the word ‘cute’ back home. Kittens are cute, little girls are cute but not the towering 1000 yr old Canterbury Cathedral. Yes, I have heard that expressed rather loudly and the small crowd of onlookers were in muffled hysterics.
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