British Myth vs Reality

Like every other country on Earth, the UK is subject to many stereotypes. Some true and some, a little bit less true.

But hey, where there is smoke there is fire. I had a few of my own before arriving here and having lived in the UK for a while now, I think I can help debunk a few.....

It's not always raining

First, the WEATHER! It’s a hot topic, everybody talks about it, a Brit’s favourite conversation starter. I know that for about 90% of us, when we hear UK, we see RAIN. Non-stop rain, awful winds that humble our umbrellas and straight up grayscale over the whole country. To be honest, that is one of the things that worried me the most when coming here, as a Sahelian.

So, while this can be true, that is not the reality of the UK all year long, guys! I know, shocking. But we do have lovely sunny days out here. Days where I wonder if I accidentally teleported myself to Spain. You have gardens in bloom, people having little treats on the terrace, ice cream vendors, and lemonade stands everywhere, it is lively and lovely. So please, be a bit more optimistic, will ya!

British mannerisms

”They say sorry for everything and anything.” Well, ladies and gentlemen, you would be right on this one. And I have fallen into it too "Sorry" is undoubtedly one of the most used words in British English. You hear it all the time and say it all the time. It becomes a reflex, you don’t even have to think about it. And while it might be politeness, sometimes it can get a little passive aggressive, I am still trying to figure out which is which, so please bear with me. I shall report as soon as I make new findings. In the meantime, do get into it. It is highly appreciated and it goes a long way.

The food

Lastly, for this series, what I’m sure we have all been enjoying, is…. THE FOOD. Of course. How could I talk about British stereotypes without talking about the food. All I hear is "British food is bland", "British food is disgusting", blah blah blah. Chances are you have not even had it yet. And if you have, well you didn’t go to a good spot. In my unbiased opinion, British food can be amazing and comforting. Do keep in mind that each region has its own specialty. But to me, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, chicken pot pie and the ubiquitous fish and chips, are excellent in my books. Now now, I am not saying it would be everybody’s taste, but I do think British food has been maligned for too long and deserves a fair shot. Silence the preconceptions in your head and give it an actual try, you might like it!

Right! I have talked an awful lot. I hope you have enjoyed reading this, and that it will be helpful to you.

Until next time!