SOME FACTS SOME FACTS THAT YOU THAT YOU

SHOULD KNOW SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BRITAINABOUT BRITAIN

Agata Adamczyk II a

Social customs in Britain Meals in Britai

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Charity work in Britain

In Britain young people do not usually kiss or shake In Britain young people do not usually kiss or shake hands when they see each other – they just smile and hands when they see each other – they just smile and say ‘Hello’ or ‘Hi’.say ‘Hello’ or ‘Hi’.

In Britain, adult friends In Britain, adult friends sometimes kiss when sometimes kiss when they see each other. they see each other. Women kiss other Women kiss other women, men and women, men and woman kiss each other, woman kiss each other, mens usually just shake mens usually just shake hands.hands.

In Britain, people hug In Britain, people hug close friends or other close friends or other people in the family when people in the family when they have not seen them they have not seen them for a while. Men usually for a while. Men usually only hug each other only hug each other during sports matches. during sports matches.

People often hold hands with People often hold hands with small children, and with small children, and with their girlfriend, wife or their girlfriend, wife or husband. They do not husband. They do not usually hold hands with usually hold hands with friends.friends.

In every country, when people talk to In every country, when people talk to each other, they stand a certain each other, they stand a certain distance from the person they are distance from the person they are talking to. People feel uncomfortable talking to. People feel uncomfortable when someone comes too close, unless when someone comes too close, unless they are in a crowded area. Different they are in a crowded area. Different countries have different ideas about countries have different ideas about exactly how close is closeexactly how close is close. .

The British stand at ‘fingertip distance’ from the The British stand at ‘fingertip distance’ from the person they are talking to.person they are talking to.

People from Central People from Central Europe stand at ‘wrist Europe stand at ‘wrist distance’ from the other distance’ from the other person. person.

Anyone from a Latin culture will be much closer to Anyone from a Latin culture will be much closer to their companion, at little more than ‘elbow their companion, at little more than ‘elbow distance’ distance’

Unless you understand this difference, you can Unless you understand this difference, you can make British people feel uncomfortable by make British people feel uncomfortable by standing too close and you can feel rejected if they standing too close and you can feel rejected if they move away. move away.

British children do not call teachers by their first British children do not call teachers by their first name. They use Ms, Mrs, Miss or Mr and their name. They use Ms, Mrs, Miss or Mr and their family name. Titles should not be used without a family name. Titles should not be used without a family name. In some schools students often answer family name. In some schools students often answer teachers with ‘Yes, sir.’/’No, sir.’ or ‘Yes, teachers with ‘Yes, sir.’/’No, sir.’ or ‘Yes, miss.’/’No,miss’.miss.’/’No,miss’.

Traditionally, adults called each other by their title Traditionally, adults called each other by their title and family name but this has changed. Nowadays, and family name but this has changed. Nowadays, adults call each other by their first names except in adults call each other by their first names except in formal or professional situations, such as talking to formal or professional situations, such as talking to your bank menager, or when talking to old people your bank menager, or when talking to old people who are not accustomed to such familiarity. who are not accustomed to such familiarity.

Daniel Dan

Katherine Kathy, Kate

Michael Mike, Mick

Robert Bob, Rob

Susan Sue

William Bill, Will

Many people use short forms of Many people use short forms of their names. Children and adults their names. Children and adults use the same short names. use the same short names. However, different people may use However, different people may use a different short form of the same a different short form of the same name, for example someone called name, for example someone called Elizabeth could be Liz or Betty or Elizabeth could be Liz or Betty or Beth. These are some other Beth. These are some other common examples. common examples.

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The British generally eat three meals a day. The first maeal of the day is BREAKFASTBREAKFAST. For most British people, the traditional English breakfast of bacon and eggs is a thing of the past. These days, people usually eat cereal and milk and/or toast and marmolade. They drink tea or coffe and/or fruit juice.

LUNCHLUNCH is eaten sometime between twelve and two o’clock. Many schoolchildren bring a packed lunch to school because lessons continue after lunch. A typical packed lunch might be sandwiches, a packet of crisps, a yoghurt, an apple and something to drink.

British families usually have their main meal of the British families usually have their main meal of the day in the evening, between six and eight o’clock. In day in the evening, between six and eight o’clock. In the past, it was always meat or fish with vegetables or the past, it was always meat or fish with vegetables or salad.salad.

These days the British diet is changing. People eat more These days the British diet is changing. People eat more pizza and pasta, Indian, Chinese and Thai food. In pizza and pasta, Indian, Chinese and Thai food. In supermarkets, you can buy all kinds of frozen ready~made supermarkets, you can buy all kinds of frozen ready~made meals which can be prepared in a microwave in minutes. meals which can be prepared in a microwave in minutes.

There are many restaurants and it is quite cheap to eat out in There are many restaurants and it is quite cheap to eat out in an Indian or Chinese restaurant. Or you can order a ‘take-an Indian or Chinese restaurant. Or you can order a ‘take-away’. Take-away is a meal that you can buy and take home, or away’. Take-away is a meal that you can buy and take home, or you can phone the restaurant and ask them to deliver it to you. you can phone the restaurant and ask them to deliver it to you. British people eat a lot of fast food, take-away food and ready-British people eat a lot of fast food, take-away food and ready-made meals. made meals.

Snacks have become big business in Britain. Only the Snacks have become big business in Britain. Only the Americans eat more snacks than the British! In the US the most Americans eat more snacks than the British! In the US the most popular snacks are hamburgers. Every day, Americans eat 15 popular snacks are hamburgers. Every day, Americans eat 15 millions burgers. Hamburgers are becoming more and more millions burgers. Hamburgers are becoming more and more popular in Britain too. Today there are nearly a thousand popular in Britain too. Today there are nearly a thousand McDonald’s restaurants. But the most popular snacks in McDonald’s restaurants. But the most popular snacks in Britain are crisps and chocolates. Britain are crisps and chocolates.

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Charities are an important part of Charities are an important part of British culture. Many charities British culture. Many charities began before governments began before governments provided help for poor people.provided help for poor people.

Barnardo’s started in 1865. A young man called Thomas John Barnardo’s started in 1865. A young man called Thomas John Barnardo visited London and was shocked to see thousands of Barnardo visited London and was shocked to see thousands of children living on the streets. He spent his life helping them children living on the streets. He spent his life helping them and the organisation he started , Barndo’s is now one of the and the organisation he started , Barndo’s is now one of the biggest charities in Britain. biggest charities in Britain.

In Royal Latin School there In Royal Latin School there was special form of charity: was special form of charity: students were allowed to students were allowed to throw wet sponge at their throw wet sponge at their teachers after paying teachers after paying ££1 for 1 for each throw. All money were each throw. All money were given to Barnardo’s. given to Barnardo’s.

There are over 185 000 charities in Britain and each There are over 185 000 charities in Britain and each charity has a different aim. As well as charities to help charity has a different aim. As well as charities to help children, there are charities to help old, poor or children, there are charities to help old, poor or homeless people. homeless people.

Some charities raise money for disabled Some charities raise money for disabled people to buy them the special people to buy them the special equipment they need. There are medical equipment they need. There are medical charities: some raise money for research charities: some raise money for research into certain illnesses like cancer or into certain illnesses like cancer or AIDS, other buy expensive equipment AIDS, other buy expensive equipment for hospitals. for hospitals.

Some charities raise money to save environement. Some Some charities raise money to save environement. Some of the best-known charities look after abandoned pets.of the best-known charities look after abandoned pets.

The traditional method of raising money is to organize a flag The traditional method of raising money is to organize a flag day. Volunteers stand in busy streets asking people to put day. Volunteers stand in busy streets asking people to put money in a collecting box. Sponsored walks, cycle rides and money in a collecting box. Sponsored walks, cycle rides and swims are also popular. Young people ask their friends and swims are also popular. Young people ask their friends and relatives to give them some money for every kilometre they relatives to give them some money for every kilometre they walk, cycle or swim. walk, cycle or swim.

Another fund-raising activity is to sell second-Another fund-raising activity is to sell second-hand clothes at a jumble sale. hand clothes at a jumble sale.

Nowadays there are also many crazy ideas for Nowadays there are also many crazy ideas for raising money: being sponsored to sit in a bath of raising money: being sponsored to sit in a bath of spaghetti, or - earlier mentioned - throwning sponges spaghetti, or - earlier mentioned - throwning sponges at teachers. at teachers.

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