by Gubbins on Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:14 pm
Unfortunately - and you may find yourself getting rather fed up of this - British people are very attached to things they can specifically identify as British, and there is a school of thought that considers "Britishness" under threat from many sources. For example, that culture is being eroded by the number of foreign immigrants, and that the English language is being eroded by the pervasiveness of American English throughout the world, to name but two. Many Britons will therefore be quite defensive, or even derogatory, about any Americanisms that are used.
While I'm on the subject, the majority of the Americans I know that have come to St Andrews are surprised, or even shocked, about the way America (and specifically its foreign policy) is viewed outside its borders, even by its close allies.
Just remember that we're an old Empire that used to rule half the world, we're used to having an influence, and now we're very sentimental about what we have left! Come, be welcomed, and don't pay too much attention to our grumblings.
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...but then again, that is only my opinion.
...then again, that is only my opinion.