Questions for non-Brits.

Re: Andy's reply to Dennis' post a few pages back:

As for what you mentioned, Andy, the "diversity" of culture - well, the US has always been referred to as a melting pot.  Trouble is, it isn't a melting pot anymore.  It's more of a salad now, than a melting pot - a lot of different identities, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  But I think what the citizens of a great nation fear and don't like is the loss of a national identity.  I think Sue G.R. mentioned that on here somewhere.  3 out of 4 of my grandparents were from the "old country" (all the immigrants of their generation referred to their home countries as the old country, no matter where they were from).  When they arrived here, they left the old ways behind and wanted nothing more than to become Americans.  Now when people arrive from elsewhere, they want to make it New (name the country).  I think it's important for immigrants to not lose the best of their culture and language, and maybe even pass along a pride of heritage to their children, but if you move to another country, you are doing a disservice to yourself and your adopted nation by not assimilating.  And the more people who don't adopt the ways of their adopted land, the more the national identity seems to slip away.  I found England to be very "English," or at least what my perception of Englishness is.  But a lot of what's wrong with this issue is the price we pay for what the immigrants come to the UK and the US for - FREEDOM!

PS - We got a great meal from a most excellent fish & chips shop on the main drag going south from York city, Andy, in Fulford, just down from the Best Western (creepy US hotel chain lol). I believe it's called Miller's.  That's how I found out about mushy peas.

I wish I didn't type so fast - I have a tendency to ramble.  Sorry.

It's been really great to read all of your posts.  Thanks for the good advice Andy.  I do hope I can afford to come back and do it right one day.  As it is, our dollar is Lilliputian over there, so I'm either going to have to strike gold here in California, or wait until the pound shrinks.

 It is enlightening to read such similar sentiments there as exist here.  Our cities are suffering from the same maladies as yours,  Our country folks tend as well to be so much friendlier and respectful to others that you might find in the cities (though to be fair, I have met wonderful people in American and in British cities, and in fact, I found that if I stop someone and show them a little respect and kindness, I am rewarded with kindness in return.  I so enjoyed striking-up conversations, particularly with what I judged to be slightly older (than me), professorial English gentlemen on the streets in Oxford - just the kind of conversations I expected and hoped for: brief, polite and so "matter-of-fact.").  And believe me, I was under no illusion that I was going to take-in the "true English experience" in a few short days.

And Andy, like it or not, the London subway is a English as it gets for an American like me.  Yes, I do love your green fields, and some of the pictures on this site bring tears to my eyes to be sure, but if I visited your country and didn't get into one of those old, rickety trains, well, I'd have to say that I would be a little disappointed.

Dennis

b.t.w...  Great analysis and commentary Ruth.