Kayley is an American, who has recently come over to England to study at university for a year, as like a study abroad programme. Being an American living in England, more specifically London, she expressed in her video certain observations she'd made about english people, and about things in England compared to America.
The main observation Kayley made was how we english, have this kind of hatred towards scottish money. As soon as she said this I began thinking about it, and I can definitely see where she's coming from, but I don't know why. I've often seen people in shops get out money from their bags and choose to use english notes rather then scottish. I will admit, I have done this as well, but I'm not entirely sure why. Is it just something I've grown up with, do we really just not like scottish money? Whatever the reason, I know for a fact that its all legal tender and shops will take it, so I feel as though I should try and stop myself thinking this way from now on.
Another observation, not one that Kayley mentioned, but one I thought of, as my friend Matty was telling me about his trip to London, are tube trains. With tube trains you go down into the underground, you find your platform, and you wait for your tube. Whilst doing this you can see along the ceiling of the platform, displays saying that a tube will be along in 1 minute, then 2 minutes after that, then 1 minute after that, showing clearly that they come very frequently, so why is it no matter how crowded that first tube is people insist on getting on it? You know that there will be another one in a minute, probably less crowded, but no it has to be that first tube. I will make it a more accurate observation and say that it does tend to be more Londoner's then tourists, showing it is an english thing. Again I will put my hands up and say I am guilty of this, and again I'm not sure why?
I know there are certain reasons like people running late but that can't be the reason for all of the people I've seen. I don't think it has to do with being impatient either, it's just something we do, something hard wired into us perhaps as a people?
Sorry I know this hasn't been the most interesting blog, and perhaps it hasn't made much sense either, I just got really intrigued by these observations of english people, as seen by someone from another country. It makes you think what other little quirks do we have, like the fact everyone always says how the english love to queue. It also makes you think why we do these things, whether they're notions passed down to us and taught to us by our parents, or if they are more of an english instinct.
What ever the reasons for these quirks, its just nice to know what makes us different from other people. I don't mean that in a bad way, just like what little things separate us, and give us this identity compared to other people in the world.
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