Vive la Différence!

I taught a class at a senior home in Houston once.  It was on spur of the moment, but I had all my material on my thumb drive, so away I went to the event room of the facility. There, I met some of the loveliest people who were beyond their travel years, but who genuinely wanted to learn about England.  I nearly burst out laughing when one elderly lady said, "my husband was over there and told me that the women had to go downstairs in the dark and use the toilet/loo in sort of an outhouse setting." England may seem backward in some ways to us, but they are charming and have modern technology (including electric lights and indoor plumbing!). It just goes to show how oblivious we can be about other cultures.

I thought you might enjoy a summary of a few of the more positive differences I see about “over there” vs. here.  You may want to add a few of your own after your visit!

1. The English have better regulation of their food sources.  According to the Library of Congress:

The growth and sale of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are permitted in England and Wales, subject to an intensive authorization process that occurs primarily at the European Union (EU) level.

They also have more humane treatment of livestock being used in the food chain. There is an extensive description on the government website here.

2. They do a better job of regulating and preserving history. This includes everything from listing historical buildings as Grade 1 and Grade 2 (depending on their link to history and the type of building) as well as making it more difficult to get planning permission for new build homes vs. refurbishing existing buildings like barns and old guard houses.  It’s also more eco-friendly, of course. 

In addition to this, there are many free historical sites to visit in GB and London, in particular, such as:

• The British Museum
• The Imperial War Museum
• The British Library
• The National History Museum

And many more.

3. This is my own, personal, experience, but I find the English somewhat more reserved at first, but once you get to know them, they’d give you the shirts off their backs.  Our thinking may be more aligned to the picture of English aloofness that John Cleese wrote about so poignantly in the movie “A Fish Called Wanda”:

Wanda, do you have any idea what it's like being English?

Being so correct all the time? Being so...stifled by this dread of doing the wrong thing?

…

You see, Wanda, we're all...terrified of embarrassment.

But, I have not found kinder, more generous people on the face of the planet.

4. The English, for the most part, have a great love for their outdoor space.  For fresh air and exercise.  Even the least athletic citizens take walks along tree-lined footpaths while the more daring climb the various mountain ranges and traverse long-distance pathways across the country’s length and breadth.  It’s ingrained in them to get outdoors no matter what the weather (because the weather isn’t great most of the time). 

They take great pains to keep national parks clean and well cared for. There are a host of public footpaths which crisscross the landscape, through pastures, and over mountainous terrain.  The government protects the right of walkers by the “right of way” laws which allow walkers to tread on private land.

5. You won’t find a more animal-centric culture than the English.  Everywhere you look, dogs and cats are being treated like family members, taken to cozy pubs, or walked along the aforementioned public footpaths. Indeed, one of their most cherished authors, Alfred Wight, became famous writing about James Herriot, a veterinarian who cared for animals in the series “All Creatures Great and Small.”
6. As for dining, England originated paper-lined baskets of fish n chips, Sunday roast lunches, and afternoon teas.  At Christmas the English enjoy steamed puddings (fruit cake) and at other times, sticky toffee pudding (which is delish) or a nice Victoria Sponge cake.
7. There is a lot of whimsy to the English, but they only seem to show it when they think you’re not watching!  At Christmas, they celebrate by pulling Christmas crackers to obtain paper crowns which they wear at the dinner table. Their authors have given us Peter Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Monty Python, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
8. The English are better at seeing what is possible and allowing it to happen. Their culture has provided some of the most incredible female leaders and role models in history to include: Boudicca, QE1, Victoria, QE2, Margaret Thatcher, and Princess Diana.
9. Beyond that, they’ve given us Isaac Newton, Winston Churchill, Richard III, Shakespeare, Stephen Hawking, Henry VIII, and a host of other notable historical personalities.
10. English radio, television and stage productions run high on my list of things that make me “heart” England. Even now, I can turn on BBC 4 radio from my office in Austin and can listen to everything from historical shows to soap operas.  The English gave us Monty Python’s Flying Circus, All Creatures Great and Small, Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom of the Opera, and Downton Abbey. No one can produce quality programming like England.

The world would not be the same but for this tiny country that I love so much. From its vast, rolling hills to the seaside towns and thatched cottages.  From the Shambles in York to Camden Market in London.  From Glastonbury Tor to Buckingham Palace – exploring England is a bit like coming downstairs on Christmas morning. You’re not sure what you’ll find, but you’re very sure you’ll be happily surprised!