DIFFERENT STROKES
CULTURE UK / USA
DIFFERENT STROKES A look at the differences in character between the British and Americans. This is the second part of our series on America and Britain. This month we are looking at the British and American character. As you will see, there are many similarities, but also many differences.
Meeting Americans and Brits In general, Americans are very friendly. When they meet you, they’ll give you a loud “hello”, a firm handshake, a wide smile, and good eye contact. They’ll immediately start using your first name (even if you’re fifty years older than them), and they’ll open themselves up to you with information on their family, education and personal life. You’ll immediately feel like their friend. Many Americans have casual relationships that are loosely termed as “friends at work” or “friends at school” and so on. The British, on the other hand, may come across as colder, more distant and less friendly. When they meet you, they’ll probably make some sarcastic comment about the weather, boast about how much they drank the night before, or ask you where you’re from and what you’re doing there.
Time “Doing” is very important to Americans; and “wasting time” is viewed negatively. For business and most meetings, punctuality is very important. Many Americans organise their activities according to a schedule. As a result, they always seem to be running around, hurrying to get to their next appointment. The British are similar, and have a great obsession for punctuality, which
44
they value far above human kindness and charity. Strangely though, British trains are some of the least punctual in the world.
Image Most Americans are obsessed with image. The cultural message for both men and women is, “Look 20 years younger”. Old Americans try to stop the ageing process by dyeing their hair, wearing blue jeans, and having their faces lifted and their tummies tucked. The definitive remark on ageing was made by Ivana Trump, who said, “I’ll always look 35, but it’s going to cost Donald [her husband] a lot of money.” The British have started copying this American trend, although not to the same extreme. They are generally worried about their personal image, but usually can’t be bothered to do anything about it. Generally, in Britain, it is considered vulgar to try too hard - you have to keep it a secret.
Character Americans admire strong, self-reliant, individual people. American heroes include outlaws such as Jesse James, successful entrepreneurs like Sam Walton (the founder of the Wal-Mart superstores), and tough guys like Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne. They hate being dependent on other people, or having others depend on them. Other cultures who like to depend on family or friends may view this as “selfishness”. The British are similar in the sense that they like to be independent, but this is mainly as a way of avoiding confrontation. British heroes include James Bond, Mr Bean and Benny Hill.
/ www.learnhotenglish.com / Looking for a quality English-language course abroad? Contact classes@learnhotenglish.com
