After talking about what are the Italian stereotypes in the world, on the blog of "Teach me Italian" we could not but focus on those concerning the people who host us and that we love so much: the British! Nothing personal, dear Brits: as we tried to joke with those concerning Italian expats, in the same way we will try to get a laugh with this list of stereotypes about English and the United Kingdom. But are they real?
Among the most persistent stereotypes about the Anglo-Saxon people there is certainly the one connected with kindness and education, one of the first characteristics that comes to mind to those who have had the opportunity to live across the Channel or simply relate to them. It is no coincidence that the term "politically correct" has a properly British derivation.
The very orderly lines and always under control mixed with the repetitiveness of terms like "Sorry" and "How are you?" in everyday use should not deceive you: even the English know how to be wicked just like all the other peoples of the world!
"It's always raining in England". Guys, this is true! In England the climate is temperate and influenced by the currents brought by the Atlantic Ocean. Cool for most of the year, rainfall is not intense but very frequent. Have you ever tried to walk around London with a polo shirt during the day and be forced to wear raincoats and winter clothes during the evening to possibly wear a t-shirt and shorts the next day? What else to say?
England offers a great variety of culinary traditions and you can find countless cuisines, also thanks to the multicultural climate that belongs to metropolises like London. And if another stereotype is that you only eat fish and chips, maybe that's not really true. Among the British specialties, there are also some very popular typical dishes to try absolutely: from cakes to pies passing through different cuts of meat, Sunday Roast, Jacket potatoes, but above all the English breakfast: a more coronary than culinary experience! Just a warning: avoid eating pasta! "Transport in England is super efficient". It's true, guys. The famous London Underground travels throughout the capital reaching, between zone 1 and zone 10, over 8 million people. What for London is suburbs, for any other major Italian city would be more simply extreme province. And the precision that distinguishes the public mobility system, including buses and trains, is incredible. Rated 8, shame only the service is extremely expensive.
It is said that the British are extremely reserved and even a bit "cold". In reality, the British are discreet and, unless there is a confidential relationship, avoid too "intimate" questions and prefer to keep on the generic. Can this be considered as a negative aspect? You have to worry – metaphorically speaking – only if you really enter into confidence: in that case expect some "cold" with an unmistakable Anglo-Saxon flavor. It's their humor, and if they're doing it with you then it's because you like them.
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