Comments on: 10 Things That Will Make a Homesick Brit Sob – and How To Cope http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/ A Brit's Guide to Surviving America Thu, 23 May 2013 09:50:00 -0400 hourly 1 By: Lulu http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-3279 Lulu Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:20:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-3279 I agree – it’s the little things that can trigger those pangs of homesickness: a BBC English accent… a Werther’s Original… I’ve just started my own blog about being a British expat in the Middle East. Do stop by and have a look if you get a moment – http://www.homesickandheatstruck.com

]]> By: Geoff Kipps-Bolton http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-2691 Geoff Kipps-Bolton Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:58:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-2691 Much of our sense of humour relies on culture. It’s often impossible to tell a British joke in America because they don’t understand the cultural nuances. Try watching some old comedy on YouTube like, the Two Ronnies – Four Candles sketch. You’ll find that you need a lot of background knowledge to truly ‘get it’.

The other point is that America is more homogeneous, so inevitably one has to be more careful about offending people. A large part of British humour relies upon insulting. The general level of vocabulary is higher in Britain than America.

This is understandable because so many people came to the US not knowing English, people speaking to them as they learned English are bound to limit the complexity of the words they use.

]]> By: Geoff Kipps-Bolton http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-2690 Geoff Kipps-Bolton Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:45:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-2690 Thank goodness for Radio4 on-line. I listen to it most of the time. I wish the BBC would expedite the introduction of the iPlayer to the US. I would happily buy a TV license if it meant I could watch ‘the best TV in the world’ with impunity. (instead of having to finagle it.)

]]> By: WF http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-2632 WF Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:16:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-2632 Sadly, number 10 rung truest with me. Making chitchat with people is nice for public civility and can be good if you’re a regular at store or coffee shop. Brits should do that a bit more, in moderation naturally. However, I’ve worked with Brits abroad (I’m American) and find they value friendship more. And being in Britain many times, I have always felt that while the British can seem cold (but not always, and I hate how people brood about that), I know that were I to live there, I would have some good friends within a couple months. So many Americans don’t understand that friendship can’t be metaphorically put into some kind of fast food like production line.

]]> By: Georgie http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-2305 Georgie Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:29:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-2305 So true! Americans don’t have any sense of humour! That is why Friends, a 20 year old t.v. sitcom, is on everyday in the UK.

]]> By: Georgie http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-2304 Georgie Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:25:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-2304 Ask the bartender to put your beer in the microwave.

]]> By: Georgie http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-2303 Georgie Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:23:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-2303 10. And this is different in the UK?

]]> By: JL http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-2167 JL Fri, 10 Aug 2012 22:19:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-2167 After 4 years can’t say I have missed anything from the UK apart from the obvious “FAMILY”. I made a new best friend quite easily. Once went to a British pub in the US and it only confirmed why we left!!!

]]> By: Jess http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-2128 Jess Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:25:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-2128 I get so homesick that this year I flew home for both the Queens Jubilee (4 day bank holiday and everyone’s off work?! I’m coming home!) and again for the Olympics. I wasn’t missing either of those stuck down here in Florida.

The British accent thing was funny. I have spoken to many a Brit who thinks I am a bit weird as I strike up conversation with them. I forget us Brits don’t tend to talk to strangers.

]]> By: dw http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/31/an-expats-guide-to-tackling-the-homesick-blues-10-things-thatll-make-you-sob-and-how-to-cope/#comment-1896 dw Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:06:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=727#comment-1896 In case you didn’t realize, I myself am a Brit.

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