10 things the US can learn from the UK
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- čas přidán 5. 08. 2024
- 10 THINGS US CAN LEARN FROM THE UK
After living here in England for a few years as a dual national I’ve come to learn the pros and cons of living on both sides of the Atlantic! Both countries have great qualities but I think our American cousins can learn a few tips from the UK on these topics.
And of course I’ll have the flip side to find out what the UK can learn from the American viewpoint in my next video.
1. gun control - Dunblane - learn the lesson
2. putting people ahead of profit - ex NHS, maternity leave and adequate vacation time
3. don't allow sprawl and unchecked growth and zoning to spoil countryside - use preservation
4. value traditions that create national unity beyond the 4th of July - ex Royal family,
5. preserve historic buildings instead of tearing them down
6. maintain a better work/life balance
7. sense of humor, wit and self deprecation
8. travel beyond the US borders to experience cultures and lifestyle outside the American experience
9. the value of a simple please and thank you - courtesy goes a long way
10. how to make a cup of tea
Can you move to the UK? What it's like living in England. www.hipoverfifty.com/
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Move abroad with style - what I like www.hipoverfifty.com/my-style/
In the UK, bragging is considered to be overcompensation for mediocrity, while self-deprecation is an indicator of true greatness
SO true. An American friend with her 10 year old son was visiting an English friend of mine over here and her son launched into a boastful litany of the top marks he’d got for all his work at school. After he’d finished my English friend turned to the boy and said witheringly; “It is considered extremely bad taste to boast about one’s accomplishments over here young man.” Her American friend laughed her head off as she completely understands the English mentality. Poor kid!
I’ll never forget the response I got from my uncle when I came over bragging about how things were in the US 😆of course I was only 17 so that explains it 😉
@@HipOverFifty Absolutely. I would say that one becomes more wise with age, but my parents retired from the UK to France in 1999 and for quite a few years, it was a constant litany of everything that was wrong with Britain and everything that was right with France, but after a while that all stopped, and they have a more balanced approach now.
I was in a restaurant in Ohio , and had a ' hot ' tea. When i had finished it , and was still eating my meal, the waitress came over and asked if i would like a refill . Yes please, i replied. She proceeded to fill up my almost empty cup with hot , not boiling , water from a coffee percolator. I almost choked on my food. When i recovered, i explained that that was not the way to make tea. It was quiet in the diner , a midweek lunchtime, so she invited me into their kitchen , so i could show all the staff how to make a ' proper ' cup of tea. I felt like Gordon fecking Ramsey :).
It was explained to me in Philladelphia, when I complained about the unpleasantly tepid and frothy 'hot tea' served in a cafe, that boiling water is not allowed to be served in hot drinks in many parts of the US. People tend to sue there if they scald themselves. 'Hot water' may be OK for coffee, but you need boiling water to make tea properly. Advice to tea-loving British travellers going to the USA - get a travel kettle for your hotel room. Take your favourite teabags if you like, but you can buy perfectly good Liptons teabags in most big US stores. Even then, ime, British tea never quite tastes right Stateside. I'm never sure if it's the water, the milk or even the sugar.🙂
@@frglee Agreed :)
My wife and I found ourselves in Provincetown MA and decided to go into a little cafe on a Pier (?) I had coffee but my wife decided to ask if they had Earl Grey tea, which I decreed was ridiculous. Well, to my astonishment they said yes and served it in a pot, with BOILING water and a choice of lemon or milk!!! Mind you, it was also a town where the waiter in a restaurant we went to seemed to think the way I pronounced "water", was hilarious.
It used to be the same when Americans visited the UK&wanted a decent cup of coffee ( or shower!) all that was available was that instant Coffee crap!! So times change& it all depends on which State ur in!
@Jerry O'Shea I beg to differ worked and travelled in America more times than I care to remember, I am a coffee hand each time I go to America I have to ask for a stronger brew as the USA version is far too watery with no body.
One of the greatest examples of British black humour was when HMS Sheffield was hit during the Falklands Conflict. The surviving crew sang, whilst awaiting rescue, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from the brilliant "Life of Brian"........
There was another, from the Falklands, in the book, Don't Cry For Me Argentina, where a wounded soldier was screaming, "I've lost me leg, I've lost me leg." The medic treating him said, "No you haven't mate, it's over there. I'll fetch it later."
Typical squaddy gallows humour, whuch civvies don't understand.
Correction. The book I referred to was: Don't Cry For Me Sergeant Major. Sorry about the brain fade.
@@wasp6594 I was just about to correct you on that. A great book (with some slightly outdated opinions and jokes, I’m an ex squaddie myself so I’m conflicted when I laugh at them). I still have my original copy
An even better example, a medic was treating a marine who had been shot in an intimate area and lost some tissue. He told him he was going to be fine but he would have to leave the marines. "Why?" "You have to be a complete pr*ck to be a marine!" Made the guy laugh when he understandably feeling a bit low.
My Grandad was on The Somme. As a young soldier on one his first days in action he jumped into a shell hole to avoid a German counter barrage. When he took stock of his surroundings he saw that it was already occupied.
Firstly by a human skeleton with flesh hanging off it, and secondly by an old sweat of a soldier calmly smoking a cigarette.
Seeing my Grandad transfixed at the decaying corpse the first dead body he had ever seen, the old soldier remarked. “Know his problem don’t you? Bone idle.”
If someone accidentally bumped into an English person, the English person would apologize!
Strangely, I was in Oxford Street & Regent Street today... On two occasions 'tourists' did that annoying 'sudden stopping' for no apparent reason, causing me to bump into them... AND I apologised both times for 'their' mistake - LOL! 🙄😂
Standard procedure is for both to apologise. It's our way of acknowledging that neither is to blame. Failure to apologise is anaccusation.
My mother apologised to a lamp post she walked into. 😁
Sorry. I was going to say the same thing myself and I apologise for not not seeing your comment before I started to type it. Thank you for being the first to say it
@@LiveDonkeyDeadLion
I DO so hope that your apology WAS intended? Otherwise the irony is so delicious... Just saying LOL!
Humility is something the US could learn
So how long did u live in the U.S for?..
The U.S and it's Culture have developed in a totally different way.The 2nd Amendment is what it is& there's an reason why the U.S isn't part of the Brit Empire..And this lady appears to be ignoring all of the issues bedevilling the UK at present!.p.s And I've lived in both countrys!
@@jerryoshea3116 she did say she is making another video showing the other side of the story i.e. what is better about America.
@@susanjohn6506 Thanx for the comment..I just don't get new arrivals, dissing their own country when they move abroad,because like it or not u usually will remain seen as apart of the society u left behind!(or sometimes u get the reverse,that certain individuals become ever so Patriotic & nostalgic about the country they left behind in the rear view Mirror)
And as I've mentioned I've lived in both& there's just no comparing the two..
They both have their plus's & minuses! .And constructive, accurate observations&insight can be useful,but should always remain respectful!
@@jerryoshea3116countries*
I immigrated to the US as a child from Trinidad & I'm still shocked as the lack of manners everywhere. I spent summers visiting family in Canada & the people are so friendly & polite. I haven't been to the UK yet, but hopefully in the near future.
I grew up in Canada and it would be interesting to go back at some point.
I've been in Port of Spain(not the best example of T&T) but most people i encountered over there were nice!
.But wherever u go in this World u will find rude people,the U.S doesn't monopolize that trait!
Come on over! We'd love to have you! 😁 🇬🇧
Hi Tessa, all things I love about the UK. Over the years I’ve picked up some of your habits from my English friends. I enjoy a cuppa of Yorkshire Gold every afternoon in either my Dunoon cup or my portmeirion mug and yes the water is always boiled in my kettle! 🤗❤🇬🇧
Not surprised you know how to make a proper cuppa Tina!
When it comes to pageantry, the UK has the best dressing up box in the world.
Great description 🙌
On the subject of basic courtesies, I often travel in mixed groups (e.g. cruises). When ordering a meal, It is very obvious that Americans tend to simply state their requirements, whereas British tend to say ‘please May I have…’ or some such formula. It doesn’t change the order, but it sounds so much better.
As a old brit what a load of nonsense
I noticed that in London last year. I was at a restaurant and the American family who came in always went for "I want", "Get me" etc and didn't acknowledge whoever put said items down on their table. Meanwhile, the Brits (and a couple who I think were from Eastern Europe somewhere - not sure where) were all saying "Can I have a... please", "Please can I get..." etc and saying thank you when an item arrived.
@@PolarBear4 I find Americans very polite. Far politer than Continental Europeans.
Waldorf Salad................
@@paulwild3676 I think it probably depends on where you are/who you speak to. Pretty much everyone I encountered in Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Cyprus were lovely. France however seemed to be split - the more touristy areas in the south were mainly full of polite people but the French people I encountered in the north - not so much! Not sure if that's a regional thing, or I just had bad luck all week.
As someone who has recently returned to the UK from living in the USA for 15 years, I can add a few to the list that Americans could learn from Brits:
1: Correct use of a knife and fork.
2: Not wearing a hat indoors or at the table.
3: Do not take your plate until all diners have finished their course.
4: A simpler tax system - I shouldn’t need a CPA or H&R Block to complete my taxes.
5: Camping in the overtaking lane and general road courtesy.
6: Phone use while driving.
7: A national health system.
8: MoT’s on cars
9: Exhaust noise limits
10: Junk mail
11: Smaller / optional receipts from stores
12: Re-usable shopping bags
13: Less waste, more recycling.
14: Smaller food portion sizes at restaurants
15: Embrace renewable energy.
Why do y'all care how we live our lives? It's not a thing of being rude, what's considered rude in one country isn't in another. We are not like you, get over it!
When someone in the US is asked if they want a coffee and the answer is, "sure", it just sounds rude, "yes please" is the polite response
Also one that you missed, P.A.Y.E. that means PAY AS YOU EARN. Your employer takes all the legal payments from you before you get your wage. So that includes a % of tax depending how much you earn, and National Insurance also depending how much you earn. These stoppages only come into effect when your wage becomes higher than a certain set amount. Your employer is responsible for submitting your stoppages to the government, therefore the wages you receive are completely free of anything. Those stoppages fund mainly the Police Force, the Fire Service and the National Health Service (NHS) which means the doctors, ambulance service and our hospitals cost ZERO.
I'm sure I missed many. Thanks for the FYI!
VAT on the price before you pay, so that you know how much something is, I often hear people from the US use the excuse/reason as being that the price varies from state to state, of course I understand that, but the shop owner/workers will know the price of each item before it is bought, the work is already done for each place so I don't see why it can't be on the ticket or price on the shelf.
It’s so sad watching a once great country destroying itself from the inside. No 1, gun control will NEVER HAPPEN, and I believe most sane Americans also believe 7:42 that because it’s common knowledge that large numbers of politicians in both parties are on the N.R.A. Payroll. No 2, rioting and looting in major cities has become “popular” recently. No 3, the amount of homelessness all over the United States is frightening and the authorities seem unwilling to help them. No 4, the uncontrollable DRUG EPIDEMIC is gathering pace at an alarming rate. We as a family have been coming to Florida for the past 35 years in fact we had a lovely house built there in 2004 so each year it became a “pilgrimage” to visit the place. But we have sold up now and returned to the safety of the U.K.
UK gov doesn't make a big deal of paying you back if you have paid too much tax - rebate. Usually happens if you are on the wrong tax code for example. They'll send you a letter at end of tax year, and will paid into your bank account.
@peterdavidson3890
The police & fire service are not fully funded through income tax revenue at all.
A precept is added to council tax to partially fund these services and if you check your council tax bill you will find out exactly how much YOU pay locally, this has been the case for the past 13 years.
National insurance contributions do not fully fund the NHS either, the majority NHS funding is from general taxation revenue.
I think the reason Americans don't like tea, is, it doesn't taste nice made with cold harbour water!
I always say we overreacted to them getting the recipe wrong.
That's a British response
Hahahahaha
Actually, that was the best tea we ever made for ourselves...mmmm, victory!!😋😂
Things Americans could learn from Britain:
1: How to spell
2: How to make edible chocolate
3: How to serve beer that doesn't freeze your throat
4: Geography
Fellow Pagan here! Agree with all.....except 3...well, I don't like beer anyway, but I like my cold drinks to be COLD! I have my fridge freezer on MAX all year round...and WHEW right now it's a blessing indeed! Typical English woman here....I LOVE Spring and Summer....but it's almost at 80° and any higher I'll be melting. Time for a sorbet smoothie....🥤😘
O what a load of nonsense you say the stupidest things
Yes, most US chocolate sucks. After watching many US movies featuring Hershey’s I was excited to try it. Just awful, as bad as low quality cooking chocolate, as are all the American “Cadbury’s” bars which are manufactured by Hershey’s under license.
@@gizmo5601 Belgium and Switzerland make the best chocolate 🍫
@@fionagregory9376 Yes, I agree.
It’s very nice to hear someone talk about the positive reasons for living in the UK because in recent years it’s own citizens have only focused on what they don’t like not realising it’s one of the best places to live in the whole world!
In my view it is one of the most beautiful places in the world on many levels
10 days paid holiday per year 😱 and there was me thinking my 35 days was bad. Most Brits I know wouldn't be able to cope with just 10 days paid leave per year.
And yes you are right we have so many beautiful places on our doorsteps. Where I live in the south west of England (Cornwall) we have stunning coastlines, beautiful sandy beaches, crystal clear sea water. And lets not forger our Cornish pasties and cream teas (always jam first)
Great video, i enjoyed that 👍🏼
'your' isn't short for 'you are'.
Of course it's jam first, that's a basic construction principle: Heavy, dense stuff on the bottom and light, fluffy stuff on top. 😋
@@SpiritmanProductions Try telling that to our neighbours in Devon they do it cream first then jam 😱
@@wayner1786 Absolute fartwafters. Do they also make trifles with the jelly on top of the cream? 😜
It’s not that “they couldn’t cope with it”....they just wouldn’t have it.
You are so funny and right on about the topics you just mentioned. One of the 1st things I did when I came back from the UK was to get a kettle for my coffee and tea. 😅
Thank you! It's hard to believe kettles aren't more commonplace in the US. So handy!
Crap 110v system ! Kettle takes about a millennium to boil....
IT ‘S not only you can learn from the U.K. THE U.S can learn from the the rest of the world.
I think Europeans look at the UK with the same exasperation as as we in the UK observe the United States.
On the topic of humour I have noticed that American comedy programmes tend to rely more on show stopping 'one liners', which are so clever and witty that nobody but a script writer would think them up. British shows, on the other hand, rely much more on the situation itself being funny and the script containing lines which anyone could say but are just really funny in the context.
Good observation! I find myself laughing out loud at the late night show hosts in the US, but otherwise I prefer British humour, dry and witty.
@@HipOverFifty British people are better at ad Lib. My London born friend was driving through North Carolina with her American Marine husband in the dark, when they heard something land on the roof of their car. They decided to carry on to a petrol station as they were in a very isolated place before checking. When they parked they looked at the roof and a very tiny deer was holding on for dear life(No pun intended) My friend’s husband looked white,”What the hell is that?” He said, she looked at him and calmly said, “It’s a Klingon.”
@@paulwild3676😂😂😂
As George Bernard Shaw said , " Politeness is like a air cushion , there is nothing in it , but it does makes life easier" .
Bill Bryson’s book Notes From a Small Island is a great example of an American appreciating the U.K. And the notes from a Big Island (might have the title wrong), but he talks about British humour when talking to his neighbour driving to his house and joking about them chartering a small plane when they go shopping. His British wife had to keep telling to stop as they just didn’t get it, like when they were putting tree branches on their car to dump them, and he asked if they were camouflaging it
Obviously I’ve heard of Bill Bryson but I have tried to read his books and for some reason they bother me I feel like he’s making fun of the British! Taking the pi$$ as it were.
Roger, I couldn't agree more. One of my favourite authors, I've read all his books and there's times I've had tears running down my face from laughter. I re-read them often!
He was standing on Waterloo station waiting for a train. He asked a man with a beard down to his chest if he had been waiting long, the reply, “Long! I had bum fluff when I first came to this platform.”
We Brits can laugh at ourselves.
@@HipOverFifty I don’t think so, I think he loves the U.K. as much as the US. He was the president of an organisation that was trying to protect rural England (I can’t remember the name, but it was about trying to make sure we retain our unique Britishness rather than the slow march of globalisation)
These are some of the exact reasons why I want to move to the UK, to be honest. I’ve always enjoyed my time visiting there and I’m so thankful to be a US-UK dual citizen! It was even better when I was part of the EU, but that’s for another conversation 😁
I wish our top two political parties would have that conversation! Does nobody read opinion polls anymore?
@@benlee8436 I think there'd probably be justifiable outrage about ignoring the will of the people as expressed in democratic process if the Government attempted to re-enter the EU. And I very much doubt we'd be accepted without some considerable "payback".
No we didn't get out pf the eu properly thstcwas the problem.the netherland franceand Italy are upset with the eu and their interference in their affsird
We haven't had brexit properly all the UK government's done is get rid of the good bits ie free trade and kept the bad bits ie rules on immigration iam not against immigrants but legal immigrants not the boat people
We agree!
There is also, including tax within the purchase price.
Most of these things are everywhere but the US , however tea and politeness are very British as a baby the first words taught are mum , dad, please and thank you !
and how to eat with a knife and fork
Yes. As a half Brit who was born in the US it was drilled in me to say please, thank you, and may I. So much that I couldn’t even leave the dinner table without saying “may I please be excused from the table” while putting my knife and fork together on the plate. Looking back now, none of my American friends would EVER have to do that! 😅
@@ThisAlexia as a military brat i was raised like you. behave or else......
@@mickell241 now that I think about it, yes…it was kind of militaristic. Oh dear lol
Yes I agree, I was brought up by British parents and still remembered having table manners drilled into me!
Many thanks. Love these type of videos. Both countries are fabulous in different ways.
I 100% agree with you - both have so much going for them
Saying sorry when someone bumps into you , very British 😊
True!
Thanks for another great video. You put together a wide-ranging list of things that I think encapsulate very well some of the great charms of life in the UK. Thank you again & please keep up the great work :)
You're too kind. Wait until I do the flip side ;)
@@HipOverFifty !😂
Agree with most of what you say. Had to laugh at the self-deprecation thing, Americans don't really do that do they? Taking the piss out of yourself to an American, would somehow be seen as a weakness.
I’m American but half British and grew up with the self-deprecating humor. When I would make remarks to my friends, they would be genuinely concerned and tell me to stop talking down to myself. I don’t know why, but having someone compliment me while I’m not doing well is more depressing than if someone were to make a good-spirited joke 😄
I think Americans just don't generally have a well developed sense of humor especially when it comes to making fun of themselves. I love that when I crack a joke or make a smart remark I get a whipsmart reply here... most of the time!
@@HipOverFifty If you were to ask me for a double-entendre, I would definitely give you one 😂
@@HipOverFifty I met a lot of American soldiers while serving in the army got on well with them but Texans could be really hard work they seem to takelife way too seriously
@@binary10balls 😂😂
Very well put over. Not condescending, just a simple, straightforward list of differences.
Thank you ☺️
I really enjoy your videos. You represent the best of both cultures.
Thank you for that. :)
Also a good up of tea is like meditating, makes everything a little better & reminds me of my Grandmother.
True. It fixes a lot of things.
Nice list - thank you.
I would say TV news in the U.K. reflecting more on what is happening in the wider world. My experience of TV news in the USA is especially outside major cities it focuses on what’s happening in the US ( and even sometimes much more locally), very little is reported about outside US events, unless it directly affects the US.
Good point
This is true, but let's face it the news here doesn't give much of a worldview either. I think newspapers here are much better at that.
@@HipOverFifty ...oh gosh, what newspapers do you read, as most are so far right they love sensational headlines there forever getting into trouble for...I can't remember who said it, but a popular American many years ago said "Britain has better TV news, whilst America have better newspapers" ...British newspapers on the whole are like American TV news, mostly trash talking and incredibly bias , ...I challenge you to name just 2 or 3 good papers in the UK...
@@HipOverFifty I take it you haven't watched the BBC News channel in the evenings lately? Very little UK news on it. The presenters are now based in either Singapore or the USA and report worldwide, mostly US news. They even give amounts of money in $US instead of pounds.
@@Poliss95 Probably makes more sense what with Britain heading fast towards 3rd world status. 😉
Please & thankyou are in our way of being brought up. My late mum & dad always insisted on it. Manners cost nothing. Actually i have agreed with every point you have brought up. : )
That's the way I was brought up also. Thank you.
I remember reading a quote from some famous man that went something like; "I learned to be a gentleman across my nanny's knee". It was pretty much the same in a lot of families growing up in the sixties, but with Mum instead of a nanny. Good manners were insisted upon and, although the methods of instilling them in children have changed, they still are important in most British homes.
I remember a school teacher who had at the top of the blackboard ( yes it was that long ago) which said in capitals
MANNERS MAKETH MAN.
Nuff said.
its true i live in a village in liverpool, my house was built in 1890, its just a terrace cottage, but there are rows of them, then around us we have parks, 4 of them in walking distance, also new housing from the 1930`s
This reminds me of a young man just back from travelling in Europe…in England they have houses stuck together in a row….being from there along time ago…it made me laugh….
We really enjoyed your take on this. I think the U.K. is becoming less people ahead of profit! Spot on with the rest!
Thanks for the 👍🏻😁
Hi, thanks for your videos, what a lovely lady you are, glad you have come back to the UK, we are lucky to have you, good luck to you :) Cheers Chris
Thank you so much!
Another great video. Very interesting. I’m looking forward to the things the UK can learn from the USA. I’m sure there are many 😂
Thank you. An equal number of course! ;)
Thank you so much for your perspective.
Many of the items that you touched on reflect attitudes developed out of the quick western expansion of the United States - the need for self-reliance, individualism, hard work, economic insecurity, separation and/or escape from established traditions, etc.
Americans can absolutely learn from all the things you said. Now that the United States is out of the “frontier” phase, things are starting to change. Because the United United States is a culture of many cultures it will be done in its own very unique way.
I really appreciate the part about the United Kingdom’s sense of humor and wit. Because the country is so steeped in language and literature, the wordplay is highly developed. It can be dry, and also quite bitting, even politely insulting. The Cockney rhyming slang is very witty. Also, self-deprecating humor is a great way to maintain humility.
As a cinephile, I particularly appreciate British movies, and those by British directors. Many of them are not appreciated by Americans due to cultural differences.
Very well said! 👏
Thanks for your thoughtful response. I especially appreciate British authors and yes film making. Have all of my life. There's a unique voice that is unlike any other.
Let's hope the US doesn't revert to its frontier stage - it seems in danger of slipping back to the wild west.
A nice, gentle set of observations.
Why thank you
British guy here that has travelled to the states many times, the Americans are always so friendly , the thing that has always bothered me is is the lack of medical care for people that are obviously mentally ill that I encountered on the streets of L.A last time I was there . They need some kind of nhs like we have here that treats everyone in society rich or poor .
Great idea 👍🏻
Good morning, I'm new to your channel and as you were talking about community it just dawned on me that we have "Britain in Bloom" competition. I'm so used to it that I literally realised that it's for the WHOLE country! Not sure the USA would even bother!
Very good point! One of the things I appreciate about being here are the gorgeous gardens and how the country supports gardening and nature.
Simplistic with some sensible bits
So interesting! And I couldn’t agree more. (Almost) like you, I was born in Germany, lived some years in Italy, and the later to the US where I spent so far most of my life. So, I’m a bit a citizen of the world. And before saying anything else, I love the Uk. I love the UK for the ten reasons you’ve mentioned. But I also love the US, the beauty I saw while drive three times 😁cross country. Road trips in the US are just fabulous. Long walks along the Pacific Ocean. I can’t wait to hear what you like about the US.❤
Love hearing your story and like you I really appreciate what both countries have to offer. Each very different but worth exploring! Glad you made it over here for a visit 😁
@@HipOverFifty 💗
Loved this video but I think your follow-up will be quite short. Also some of the comments are superbly humourous!
Glad you enjoyed it! Followup was not well received 🤣
Lol! Tea!! I converted so many of myAmerican friends to tea after I showed the how to make it properly. I still remember when I first came to the US and ordered a tea. The waitress asked if I wanted my tea hot or iced?!!!! WTH???!!! The thought of I ced tea at the time was just mind boggling to me.
Oh yes and if you order tea in the south it will be "sweet" or "not" - iced that is.
Regarding travel, I have heard many Americans on you tube say that they don’t travel abroad, because America is so big there is no need, they just travel to another part of America. It always makes us laugh, I wonder where that thought process came from, and if they are told that from an early age just to make family holidays cheaper 😂.
It's also the fact that in the USA people are not encouraged to take Holiday leave and especially two weeks together, where in the UK everyone by law has 24 working days paid leave per year, plus Bank Holidays. Americans also save their Holiday leave for emergency sick leave days because they don't get paid sick leave, in the UK we get paid sick leave and only pay a nominal fee for medications, regardless of the nature of the medication.
I don't understand that attitude at all. Yes the US is big but no way does it have the variety of culture, food, history and architecture that makes traveling and discovering new countries so interesting! Maybe the problem is a lack of curiosity?
@@lynwratten9857 It's actually 28 days a year paid leave.
A great video.. fair and balanced. I am sure there is A LOT that the UK could learn from the US.. ie. being more assertive, being more aggressive/intent on what they want/believe in. A great example is in sports.
I am Irish but grew up in England - we are taught to play 'fair' and 'compete', but we are not taught to 'WIN'. What I do find fascinating is that we have 1/5 of the population of US but somehow we still end up in the top 5 of Global Olympic medals???? Imagine if the UK had a cultural shift from 'ooh, sorry..' to 'I was here first'.. how that would trickle down to sporting/competing mentality?
I enjoy your insights... I do hope you continue to enjoy and prosper here. You are most welcome! :)
Interesting and yes I totally agree! I think a little more assertiveness would go a long way. I'm so proud to be British but wonder if we've lost the will to fight for what we have.
Not taught to win? You just have to look at the complaints from fans of football clubs if they don't win the premiership. Sack the manager. All the players are rubbish. Sit in's at stadia. Look at the years of complaints about Mike Ashley at Newcastle United because they didn't win anything. Winning is everything these days.
@BPS&D yes totally agree with that. I am a Blackpool supporter and we have had three managers in the past season which caused us to be relegated back into League 1 again. A part of the problems Blackpool has had is not purchasing good players when we were in the Premier League in due to no investment in the club also by the club owners at the time who spent the money in their own personal businesses instead of the club. Blackpool relies on loaned players at the moment and any of the good players we have are snapped up by much bigger clubs when their contract ends which many other small clubs have to deal with also. Hopefully our luck will change next season and we will once again get promoted back in the Championship under Neil Critchley.
I think that’s a myth. The Olympic medal tables would suggest otherwise. We are not taught to brag about winning, that’s a totally different concept. British people are very clever at less is more.
So true, people outside the U.. forget or do not realise is the UK land mass is barely bigger than the U.S SMALLEST State! and is the 6th biggest economy in the World 🌎
"Please", "Thank you" & "Excuse me" are my go to's. I always use them. Sadly, I have noticed some British people do not. Strangely some are scumbags and some are well-off.
But I'm going to stick to my standards as that's how I was brought up.
Can't go wrong with having good manners. The true sign of a gentleman.
@@HipOverFifty Or of a truly successful wolf in sheep's clothing! 😁
Nice video, thank you
Glad you liked it!
Thank You for this ,I was surprised when it pop up for me to watch. I've met many Americans over many years whilst I've been on holidays and have always been surprised how little time off for holidays they have, and yes your right they should travel more and see the world. I did read at one time the only a small % of the Senate held a passport, and there trying to influence the rest of the World.
You're welcome! With only 10 paid days off per year (if you're lucky) it's no wonder people don't have the time to travel further than the States, but it also seems only the wealthy have a penchant for international travel.
@@HipOverFifty But surely that's a much better scenario for the tourist sharks. Quicker and more efficient to milk 1 El Rico Gringo for $100 than 100 for $1 each. 😉
Ha! It was at the tip of my fingers - I was poised to type, "How to make a decent cup of tea!".
I think it actually says a lot about "patience" vs "instant gratification". It seems to me that these opposing attitudes underscore our differing approaches in many areas of our respective cultures.
Interesting concept. I can see that patience is a virtue when it comes to making the proper cup!
It's the ritual of making tea. You take time out to boil the kettle, brew the tea and sip the hot beverage. Give a person time to think, calm down or plan their next move.
@@dinastanford7779 Exactly!
A certain differance in values and a recognition that what's good for All is actually good for one's self, i.e. a stoic willingness to sacrifice for the good of all.
I agree, what's good for all is the goal.
I have spent a lot of time in the USA, my son married an American girl and I have American grandchildren. There are many things that I like and admire about the USA, but the one thing that I would not forgo is the ability to access all the services I need without getting in a car. The vast majority of what makes up my daily life is within walking distance with no personal risk involved. In the USA, collecting the granchildren is like a military operation, in my town the mothers push their strollers and wait outside the school while they chat with other mothers. Gun crime, to all practical purposes, is not a risk in British towns.
I can travel by train to London and see world-class ballet, opera, concerts and drama - and still be home the same night. The equivalent trip from my son's house would involve a two hour flight and an overnight stay in a hotel.
Yes, but it is a much, much larger country.
@@petejones7532 I know, I have been there 150 + times over the last 40 years. That's not tthe point, the point is the urban sprawl referenced in this video together with the lack of personal safety, also mentioned in this video.
I wanted to walk to the mall near to my family's house in South Carolina last summer. It is about four miles from the house and Google maps predicted it would take me 5 hours and 20 minutes each way. The reason was that there is no sidewalk on most of the maiin roads so I had to make a huge detour around Myrtle Beach.
I totally get what you’re saying it’s one of the things I love about living here although trains can be frustrating to use at least there’s an option to not have to have a car!
No gun crimes you just got thousands of death though stabing without you having the right to depend yourself I'll carry my gun to protect myself from criminals like most sensesble people do if they don't want to be dead don't talk for me
Me and my American wife moved from the uk to USA and I spent 12 years there. The biggest things for me was the work life balance was non existent. The second thing was eating out in the USA it’s a very quick experience whereas in the uk it can be a long affair. Another thing was the education system , I remember arguing with my daughters teacher as my daughter was being taught that WW1 started in 1917.
I think I know what the confusion was.
The war in Europe started in 1914 but the Americans didn't join in until Dec 1917.
Similar thing with WW2. For us Brits and most Europeans the dates are 1939-45. However, the Americans didn't join in until Dec 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbour.
Similar thing in Russia. I remember when I first visited Russia and saw all the war memorials with the dates 1941-1945 written on them. I used to think, much as we recognise the huge part the Soviet Union played in defeating the Nazis, for the rest of us the war started in 1939!! Russia didn't join until they were attacked themselves. At least, to our credit, the UK joined when Poland was attacked.
Yes I still can't get over how you can just stay at a table as long as you want. Although recently when I've made a booking, they'll say they only allow 1.5-2 hours per so maybe things are changing!
great vid girl
One thing we Brits could learn from the US is putting on a bit of a show. Hampton Court is great as being the exception where the guides dress up in period costume and teach the public how to do various things such as a dance move of a certain period or how to bow. Typically in the opposite situation, a new Mexican themed bar opened up in Croydon some years ago and the only Mexican thing about the place was some of the decor and the bar name plaque.
Interesting 🤔 so you don’t think the coronation was a “bit of a show”? I agree that neither country does well at representing the other ….for example a US pub is a very sad pale comparison to the real thing!
@@HipOverFifty it probably was but I didn't watch it. Some years ago when France's rock singer and actor Johhny Halliday died, he had a full State funeral by the looks of it and that went on for more than a week with all the documentaries and TV news. That Croydon based Mexican style bar I frequented didn't have a Mariachi band, nor 'gringo' sitting at the bar, nor atmospheric music. It could have done, but didn't.
I really like the States but could never live there. Just doesnt feel safe enough especially if you have children. It's really sad. Hope they can sort it out. I also love the fact that, for all its faults, the UK is still one of the most tolerant countries in the world. The work/life balance is better. I get 27 days holiday a year, plus flexible working, and I feel happier in life.
I think it's so sad that children have to be afraid of going to school in the US.
You need a Russell Hobbs kettle to make tea.
Great video
Thank you!
Such a classy lassy!
I used to think Americans were ignorant as only 18% of them have passports. I know some very misguided Americans think there's no point in travelling outside of the USA because they have it all [so much for Africa, Switzerland, Venice, Rome, Prague, London, Paris, Vienna etc.] and I've seen them say it. However, I recently learned something. Many Americans don't travel because by the time they've flown across the USA to get out of the USA they've already flown across the Atlantic. The vast distances in the USA make it hard work for them to get to the rest of the world...although that doesn't explain why they don't fly to Canada, Mexico or S. America more than they do. The Brits are the world's greatest travellers. In Britain even the humble roadsweeper has been on holiday to far flung places all around the world and I love that about this country. Millions of Brits fly out each year just to go to Spain.
I honestly think they dont travel abroad because they dont know where anything is!! theyre not taught to think globally, way to insular
Plus Americans only get an average… if they’re lucky ….of 10 paid holidays a year …which cramps your holiday spirit if nothing else!
@@bonvoyage5377 That's a nasty stereotype
Just had 2 week cycling holiday in France (Provence). My holiday allowance is 25 days + bank holidays (4?) I still have 10 days holiday remaining - and I had sold 5 back to our company on our flexible benefits system. Next year I will be buying 10, so will have 35 days + 4 (BH). Not sure I could live where you get 10 days a year - seriously !!!
Yes it’s a problem. I quit my US job so I could take a 2 week holiday here… otherwise it would have been a no go
Very nice video Like 🙋🏻♀️👍☕💯❤
Thank you.
Dual Nationality ,best of both worlds , you lucky lady 😁
I think so 😁
As for history in the UK a great number of our historic buildings in cities and the countryside where lost durring the 50s 60s and 70s. You'll see major developments in many cities removing the worst of the 20th century development opening up the city centers and refurbishment more sympathetic to cities history.
The civil war took care of a lot of castles and big houses etc , the attacking forces usd to knock them down or make them so that they couldn't be used again
@@lawrenceglaister4364 since 1900 1,200 great country houses have been destroyed the highest number of any centry. Since 1945 200 country houses of great architectural importance have been demolished. These would now be grade 1 star listed building.
These figures don't include the Georgian Edwardian and Victorian buildings demolished in town and city developments durring the 1960s and 1970s redevelopment replacing them with miultistoy carparks, road widening scheme, office blocks and shopping centers many of which are now being removed to create a better environment
They are supposed to be presured but nothing matters anymore there destroying everything to build homes for the foreigners in thev70tys it was so hard to build to keep England buitifull before the invasion I couldn't go back and see the distruction done to my buitifull country
Thank you for a most enjoyable video. I wonder whether manners vary in different states. I lived in Texas for 17 years, and while I always thought that we British are very polite, I thought that American manners and courtesy were genuinely exceptional. (Is it a class thing? I worked in a professional fundraising job in the hospital and charity sector, so was probably around "the better angels of (people's) nature".)
I agree they can be very friendly in Texas not sure it’s always genuine but at least it makes you feel welcome!
I have my lovely French wife from Minnasota USA. I can pick out things between us. Humour being one of them. Now I can delight in the difference between not only USA but France too. And living in both the UK and France expands the mind. The French can't make tea, and the British can't make tradition baguette. I find the general USA much more French than English. Bonne journee, for example have a nice day. But I love the USA, I love France, and I love the UK.
Lucky you to appreciate and enjoy all three cultures. I love France! I agree in some ways France reminds me a little more of the US - especially the roads and super stores!
French way to make tea: boil water, put in cup, drop in a few flakes of tea, catch them before they hit the water, serve. I was a student In Caen for a year!
There are MANY more than ten things America could learn from the UK and in fact the rest of the world.
Interesting vid, i love these UK vs America vids. I have friends from the UK who live in America and they struggle with the difference in sense of humour. Also ( and this is a mear observation and not intended to offend anyone ) i always admire the patriotism that Americans have, we do in the UK as well. But Americans seem to push it further. I also noticed that religious beliefs are different as well. Americans seem to be more into religion than us. Niether are negative points by the way.
Thanks for your comments. I agree with most of what you said and yes religion is a huge difference between the two countries that’s probably a future video ha ha ☺️
0:33 1. Gun Control
1:12 2. People Ahead of Profit
1:59 3. Urban Planning
2:37 4. Historic Preservation
3:20 5. Tradition
4:15 6. Work-Life Balance
4:32 7. Sense of Humor & Wit
5:18 8. Travel (especially abroad)
6:08 9. Courtesy
6:51 10. How to Make a Proper Cup of Tea
11. How to speak English.
@@TheRealRedAce I always tell people that Kate Winslet doesn’t do a very good English accent.😀
@@barryrobbins7694 Probably spent too much time hanging off the front of boats with a Yank! 🙄😉😁
@@theoztreecrasher2647 I actually like her natural speaking voice. However, her American accent has a nice resonance to it.
Clementine: Nice?
Because in the UK we have the green belt laws that prevent urban areas expanding any more.Think it's called the "town and country act" came into effect after the 1950s.
Thanks for that.
Fab!
If you want to hear Please and Thank You, come to rural Wisconsin!
Yes the midwest is famed for it's friendliness and good manners!
population density USA - 96 per square mile, UK - 275 per square mile, so in our determination to preserve open spaces people are forced to live in cramped conditions
In the USA people don't get time to celebrate or have holidays, In the UK we get 24 working days paid leave per year and if you don't take that paid leave you lose it. We also have Bank Holidays, always on a Monday, which gives most people a long weekend off work. The work life balance in the USA is pretty bad.
Agreed.
@lyn wratten 24 days paid leave? Is that what your boss told you? You've been done. You're entitled to at least 28 days paid leave according to the government. Bank holidays aren't included in that figure. Bank holidays do not have to be given as paid leave.
@@Poliss95 wrong minimum hols 20 days , bank holidays are eight but only three are a legal requirement rest are on the employer discression
Good Friday!!!
Good Friday/Christmas day/Boxing day/ New Year’s Day/ are public holidays that are not specifically on a Monday.
Only yesterday I took some American visitors to the UK to Camden Market in London. What became obvious was the traders raising their prices as soon as they heard the American accents and their justified confidence that the Americans would never dream of negotiating. It reminded me of a Caribbean vacation I was on in 2015 when a cruise ship full of Americans docked. The exchange rate was roughly Four Eastern Caribbean dollars to One US dollar and an American at a nearby restaurant table ordered a seafood main course costing US$12. I fancied the same dish, so I gave the waitress my order when my time came. When I asked how much, she asked: "Are you paying in EC or US dollars?" I had both, so I said: "How much for EC?" When she replied: "Twelve Dollars" I immediately repeated: "No, how much in EC dollars?" since I knew the American was paying US$12. She smiled and again said: "Twelve Dollars". I quietly asked her the obvious question and she equally quietly confirmed that Americans gleefully pay 12 Dollars or basically 4x what she charges "locals" for the same meal! So it's as though Americans on vacation are compelled to give the impression they can afford anything. I joked with some of the Camden traders that their tactics were being wasted on this canny Brit but they weren't amused.
Not sure why you would think it’s cool to make fun of people of any nationality….. so they’re naïve ….so what?
For the most part, Europe has the tendency to try and preserve old buildings that are considered either important or just beautiful.
A friend of my Father was distraught whilst working in Romania. The then president Nikolae Ceausescu ordered a lot of old buildings destroyed so he could rebuild with ugly modern buildings.
That is a shame. I think it makes us here in Britain so fortunate to keep our history.
I think we have a better understanding that to be productive workers we need to have a good home life/work life ratio. If you are over worked you make mistake's same thing will happen if you're going into a work situation ill and not at home or hospital recovering, these factor could cost a company a huge amount of money in the long run. If you are ill and have something that other's can also catch that's not productive your whole work force will be ineffective. It's simple really and it's the same with mental health issues also.
Very well said.
"We use something called a kettle here." Having to explain a kettle explains the whole culture divide between US and UK. You can guarantee a full 100% of British (and Irish) would not even consider a kettle as something to be explained. It is like the Sun and the Sky. It is just there.
Yup.
There are countries like Switzerland and Finland that have a high percentage of personal gun ownership but do not have mass shootings so something else is going on, Britain has gun laws but has high knife crime especially in London where the Metropolitan police are in special measures, crime such as burglary/vehicle theft/robbery are rarely investigated.
Interesting. Everyone must agree be civilized in those countries!
There is the same, or more, knife violence in the US as the UK, but it is hidden behind the gun violence. There are very high levels of recorded knife crime in the UK, but that includes possession that would be legal in the US.
The only point I disagree with (but understand why you said it) is with suburban sprawl. I am in the US but have you seen southeast England? It is green, but suburban it is. From the south coast to Northamptonshire. Suffolk to Bournemouth. Trees hide a lot from a road. London would be the second largest urban sprawl in the US after New York (larger than LA or Chicago, Boston and Atlanta even!) Manchester has recently boomed and also covering much of the formerly green only country of Cheshire turning it also into suburbs with Lancashire and all the cities from Liverpool to Leeds, down to Birmingham - all connected together in a sprawl. I think you feel this way because over there smaller cities and towns do prevent sprawl and have the character of villages...but the medium size cities do not, and London, well that;s just a giant - why does it work? Because their rail transportation system is so damn good and the second largest in the world (after Tokyo). 2,500 route miles with over 1,300 stations covering the entire area. Over in the UK they don't realise how good they have it. They moan a lot but out of 193 odd countries in the world, the UK is joint number one with Germany and Japan - they just don't realise it.
I've been all over the US and while there's unavoidable congestion here on this tiny isle, it doesn't get as ugly as seeing one concrete shopping mall and parking lot after another.
England somehow manages to make the most of it's small size and I never feel I'm far away from somewhere green and lovely. Thanks for your comment.
The kettle vs microwave thing is bizarre and makes no sense. As a scientifically minded guy I could never understand the passion some people have about this... until recently when my kettle broke and I had to use the microwave until I could replace it! I don't understand it, but it is noticably worse! How? Why? I wish I knew, but I don't. It's true though.
I had a lot of trouble buying a replacement. The first leaked, the second was a cheap kettle in a more expensive box (!) and it took ages standing around to resolve as the store managers were all missing, but I got £8 compensation and a cool glass kettle with blue lights that looks like a lava lamp and is super efficient.
Still, I love to know why microwave tea or coffee tastes worse!
Great answer, but I also believe microwaving doesn't heat the water to the proper temperature. Plus there's the American habit of putting the tea bag and water in at the same time before heating!!! Oik.
The tea doesn't get a chance to brew in a microwave, but when you pour boiling water onto a teabag it releases all it's flavour. Kettle wins hands down every time Lol
To squeeze or not to squeeze, that is the question!
Being from the UK, if I am offered a cuppa, and the bag has been "squeezed"
I actually die a little bit inside!😁😁
@@scendalbymodelrailway I was microwaving it in a jug then pouring, so it's not just that, but a good point.
@@HipOverFifty I microwaved it in a jug, so it could boil without spilling, then poured as usual, so I'm still baffled. Also not being hot enough and microwaving the bag... OH NO!
What is the Best City to live in UK from ur experience
Ooh that’s a tough one… depends on what you’re looking for! Maybe check out my Where to live in England vid 🤔
About 20.000 People move to the US each year from The UK, so Americans must be doing something right.
God only knows why . Last country on earth I would move to. They worship the dollar above everything else !
@@markfour2841 Takes a lot of money to live in the US
Not to mention corrupt law enforcement and public servants, horrendous terms and conditions of employment, vast camps of the homeless and the fear of their children being murdered at school.
Some of the joys of life in the U.S.
No thanks !
@@fannybusterWouldnt move there even if they paid me..🥴🇬🇧
@@Ionabrodie69 You'd rather die of Boredom in the UK
I am a Brit, but I reside in Denmark - everything that you say is good in the UK is ten times better over here.
Edit: apart from the tea! can't get a decent cuppa over here to save your life!!!
I'm a Brit and I live in Spain with my Spanish wife and I promise it is not ten times better here. Recent banking bailout, the economy is run for the benefit of Germany or we will get punished, unemployment at an all time low of around 18%, no seriously that wasn't sarcasm, it really is an all time low.
Thanks for sharing!
Why is it you hear people in the USA say I am Irish America,Italian America and so on but never hear anyone say they are English America 🤷♂️
I think the main issue in America in regards to gun control, is that the American people are allowed to bear arms. As it’s in their constitution to do so.
Teabag in cup, pour over boiling water, leave to brew for 5 minutes, remove tea bag, add a drop of milk, (add sugar if you want) stir and drink. There you are.
NEVER put the milk in first 👀
I go for 3 minutes if I can wait that long.
The thing I notice about the difference between the USA and the UK is in the outcome of a heated discussion between an American and a Brit. When an American feels as if they are losing the upper hand in an argument they almost always declare “We won a war in 1776 so that I don’t have to take notice of what you say!” But they never say that the French supported and fought along side of them🤬. When Brits use irony or humour in an argument with a foreigner it’s because we’d be falling out with the other two thirds of the world if we reminded them of the times they’d been beaten in battle.🤗
I was reading a poll in the paper the other day, probably the Telegraph and it asked "do you still think the US and UK have a special relationship?" The vote was primarily no, which is kind of sad. I think we should all appreciate that we are much stronger together than apart.
@@HipOverFifty I agree. You have an easy persona and you’re easy to listen to.
The French supported the US during the American revolution because it was 2 fingers up to the British Empire but when the French had their own revolution they were kind of hoping the US would reciprocate . Guess how that went lol
They conveniently forget that the 'American Revolution' was English colonists vs the British army and that they wanted representation in the British parliament over an argument about tax.
On the whole TV used to be way better in the UK than the US.
Sadly it's gradually getting worse - particularly the amount of bad language - but there are still a lot of great programmes produced by the BBC and ITV.
I agree British TV is some of the best, but I'm not a fan of having to pay for the license as I rarely watch BBC! Would rather a subscription model.
one thing USA can learn from Me : " Respect others "
I read a post a few years ago from an American saying that the British didn't make tea properly because they used boiling water. 😲
Philistine 😂
I live in the place where they not only dumped lots of tea into a harbor, they made an exhibit about it
I love frosty beer.........,nah, l love all beer ............x
Knowing that Wales is not England, that's top of my list
aside from Independence Day, you also have Thanksgiving.
Yes we do
How can anyone live a good life with only 10 paid vacation days per year ? I get 30 days + 8 public holidays all fully paid. That’s 6 whole weeks off + 8 long weekends. I think nothing of taking 10 days off sometimes just because I feel like it 🤷🏻♂️😂
Regarding the use of "Please" and "ThankYou" I found it very noticeable that it was virtually never used in the USA. Instead of "please may I have..." or "may I please have..." it was almost always "I need....." or "gimee..." and "thank you" simple didn't exist.
My late mother in law had visiting mum.snd chdren distant relatives and the children just helped themselves to biscuits without asking just took them
In the 1980s the late actress Dame Diana Rigg compiled a book of contributions from her actor friends which were cuttings from the very worst reviews which they had ever received in their careers. Although she had many US friends in the profession she had to explain that that country was not very well represented in her book because in the USA admission of being less than perfect at any stage in your career is admitting weakness, and that is apparently to be avoided at all costs! Frankly it was amusing to read of some famous British actor perhaps once being a humble spear carrier who trips up the leading man as he makes a dramatic exit. I hasten to say that some Americans contributed, but most didn’t.
I think when you have a population as large as the US you have much more room for all types of people to exist and it’s too easy to generalize. But on the whole I did not find myself as a reader in good company so perhaps that was the problem here in your example!
you could say gun control was an item on the list but removing hand guns after Dunblane was dealing with a problem that wasn't there, there hasn't been a school shooting since but also there wasn't any before that either
But I think it set a standard that needed to be set.
@@HipOverFifty No appetite in the US for repealing the Second Amendment