British People

British people are cool no doubt. Not the cold and quiet cool kind, but is the amazing and fascinating cool kind! For starter, I once saw an old man driving an old car which broke down at a junction. A guy in a huge Audi queuing behind the old car got down and offered his assistance to push the car aside. If this still doesn't impress you enough, you'll be when you get to witness the employees working in the shops next to the junction also came out to offer their assistance!

In the first week of arriving in Sheffield, we were looking for Aldi (a supermarket) but were a little confused by a cross junction since we are still not so familiar with the routes. A British guy, who noticed us debating which route to take, asked us whether are we lost and need some guidance or not. 

After a month staying in the UK, we learnt the basic manners and courtesy that most British people has! We understand and learnt their culture, and executed it. British people tend to add in the word 'please' at the end of a request, especially when ordering their food. So, guess what? "Can I have a cheese bacon and egg sandwich, PLEASE?" 

They are gentlemen indeed. No matter male or female, they tend to open and hold the door to allow you, who is behind them, to pass through without any obstacle. If they are coming from the opposite direction, they will open and hold the door for you and let you pass first! Giving us a feeling of warm hospitality. Everyone was also standing on one side of the escalator to allow those in a rush to pass through on the other side, something that Malaysia SHOULD learn!

British accent! Ahhh!! I would love to have some, British accent sounds deep and manly for a guy. Moreover, it will give people an impression that you are speaking the right English tone and words. Some British have simple accent which is easy for us to listen and understand. But some British people in, for example, York gave us a hard time trying to figure out what they were talking about due to their heavy British accent. Thankfully, Jeremy Clarkson's accent is quite British but still can be heard clearly!

Saying "cheers" is a way British people say "thank you". So, saying "cheers" is not only during drinking time but also a kind of good manners. We were not used to it at first, but in the end we were also influenced by this and said "cheers" instead of  "thank you" in multiple occasions!

British people enjoy alcoholic drinks. They will visit a pub for a beer even in daytime. Unfortunately, a very small portion of British people are drunkards. Some zombie-like drunkards will appear in some alleys after 5pm. We've encountered once where a drunkard yelled at us for no reason while we were taking photos of the beautiful Sheffield Botanical Garden. We didn't provoke him.

I didn't experience this myself but some of my friends shared that some British people, especially elderly, shouted some foul words at we Asian on the street. Perhaps their bad experience with World War II (Japanese?) created their prejudice to Asian?

Generally, British people make the UK a wonderful place to stay in. Their generally slower pace in daily activities and also the soothing weather (in the summer) make the UK a good place to live in after your fifties, or after retirement.

NEXT: Day trip 9 - Castleton, Peak District