Weird London

One of the first things I do when I hear that we’ll be moving to a new country is to collect as many books about the country as possible. For the UK, it was very easy. I first got a The Rough Guide to London, the A-Z London Street Atlas, and Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson. I also happened upon Watching the English by Kate Fox, a social anthropologist who documented in excruciating (and often boring) detail the daily tickings of Brits, specifically the English.

The main takeaway message I got from Dr. Fox’s book was that Marv and I are decidedly middle class because, among other characteristics, we do most of our grocery shopping at Sainsbury’s and mid-week shopping at Marks & Spencer. We also say sofa instead of couch, napkin instead serviette, lunch instead of dinner. Other curious behaviors she documents include complicated pub etiquette, British humor, and a high tolerance level for annoyance translating to pessimism (”typical” is purportedly a favorite understated exclamation).

I have also observed a few shocking (to me) British behavior in the two short months I’ve been in London.

1. One morning on the way to school, Stephen and I passed the bus stop. Since ours is the terminus, bus drivers take a short break there before going back up the route. Sometimes, there are two or three buses parked but none are ready to go so the passengers have to wait until one of the drivers finishes his break. That morning, there was an unsual number of passengers waiting and when the second bus finally opened, they filed on quietly as usual. Except for the last woman.

She got into an over-the-top argument with the driver of the first bus. Both were shouting and I think she must have said something to him about why he wasn’t driving when there were so many people waiting. The bus driver’s face turned red and spit flew out of his mouth as the two of them cursed each other. It was not a great way to start out the day and I was just the passerby!

2. Speaking of cursing, the Brits curse way more than anyone I’ve ever met. I have nothing against swearing and do it myself but only when I’m very frustrated and upset. When other people do it in jest or simply out of habit to emphasize a point (think Gordon Ramsay), I usually think it’s funny. But sometimes it seems a little too much esp. when the “C” word is used.

3. From what I read in Dr. Fox’s book, I thought the British tend to mind their own business and not interact much with strangers. This doesn’t appear to be true.

Last Friday when Stephen and I were on the way home from school (a lot happens to and fro), he squatted down on the sidewalk and complained about walking. As I was trying to coax him along, a woman in her 50’s with perfectly coiffed blonde hair drove by in her magenta Mercedes. She stopped her car right next to the sidewalk, stared straight at us, and opened her window. Thinking she needed directions, I looked at her and said hello. All of a sudden, she called out to Stephen and said, “Little boy! Listen to your mummy!”

HUH?!?!

I laughed nervously and said he was just tired from school, but quickly picked him up and hurried home in case she was some kind of psycho looking to kidnap naughty boys and cook them for dinner. ;)

So those are my three weird London experiences so far. I’m sure there will be many more.

Have you observed anything weird or out of the ordinary lately?

*Picture courtesy of my dad.