...about Brits:
- They are very anal about "cueing" (standing in line). So much so, that during rush hour at the tube (subway) station - people line up, single file in front of where the doors to the train are going to open. Can you imagine that in Boston? We know that would not work...with the likes of the Quincy residents posturing and elbowing themselves to the front of the line! It is so incredibly organized, it's amusing.
And even better is the sense of humor of the train drivers. A few weeks ago, during an incredibly crowded commute, the driver was encouraging people to move "to the middle of the carriage" to make way for additional passengers. After repeating himself 3-4 times, he finally said "I think you'll find that the air in the middle of the carriage is much more fresh...because your face won't be in someone's armpit". And today, after a train stopped due to the emergency brake being pulled by a passenger...he asked everyone who was standing near the emergency levers to stand clear and make sure their jackets, purses, etc. were not at risk of catching on to the lever to stop the train...and if you have any children who tend to like big, red, shiny levers - please be sure they control themselves.
- They smoke and they drink A LOT. Almost every pub or restaurant has outside seating...and people are still sitting outside in 50 degree weather! At first I didn't get it...thought their skin was thicker than mine and more insulated or something. But i realized it's cause they all smoke. And drinking...well let's just say the pubs here will never go out of business. I don't know how they all do it! The country has recognized that it really has a binge drinking problem and therefore started a law that shuts down pubs fairly early - last call i think is 11 - thinking that would deter binge drinking...but I think it just made people drink faster :) They call drinking it "getting pissed" - isn't that great? I'll have to start a chart of my favorite British-isms...there are some good ones.
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