- Brits are big on serving and offering drink any where. I went to HSBC to open an account. They asked me if I want coffee or tea, and they mean it. Because of UPS connection, I could open a premier account with minimum amounts waived. It's a lot, $100k or 50k pounds. I don't know if I just open a regular account, they still offer me drinks or not.
In the office, when we have outside guests. Our office assistant always asked how many people are coming. She always has cups and saucers, a pot of tea and coffee and Biscotti biscuits in the conference room. The inside joke is they judge the banks that we work with by their biscuits. One guy says, one time he went to a meeting in UPS Germany and the local UPS guy didn't offer tea or coffe to the outside guests. He, my coworker who's a Brit, was embarassed and offered to buy a drink to everyone in the meeting. I told him, don't get offended if he ever comes to the corp office in Atlanta, because nobody will offer him a drink. Go downstairs to the cafeteria and get yourself a drink.
- Brits say 'how are you?' with 'are you alright?' The first few times that question stunned me. What's the matter? Do I look like crap? But that's just their greeting. They don't really mean to ask you if you're doing okay, so don't start telling them your sob story if you have a bad day.
- Before I made an appointment to open a bank account, they emailed me and asked if I want to 'call in'? I was confused I was very clear in the previous email that I would like to open account in person. I want to come in, not calling them. Before I replied, I asked my coworker, she said call in means come in. I'm glad I asked, otherwise I was going to sound like an idiot.
- Brits say uni or university, not college or school. I was in the same lift with an intern, who seriously looked like he's 10. I attempted a small talk. I said, oh you're still school? He quickly corrected me by replying 'oh, yes... I'm in uni, second year'.
- They love to say 'sorted'. That means it's done or taken care of. Open a bank account? Sorted! Book a trip to Rome? Sorted! Buy a ticket for Once the musical? Sorted! Okay I'll stop before it gets annoying. By the way the Rome trip and Once ticket are for real. I'm doing these in the next two weeks.
- Fancy dress means dressing up in a Halloween costume, not attires like going to a ball gown. Isn't that funny?
- Random words: Way out is exit (these signs are every where in the tube stations). Car park is parking lot. Flu jab is flu shot. Take-a-way is to-go. Loo or WC for water closet is restroom. Unisex bathroom is common. They like to abbreviate words, telly for television, brolly for umbrella. Pop in is stop by (i.e. Thanks for popping in this morning). Pop out is coming out (i.e. to a bar). Out means going out but not too long. Out out is really going out like staying until the bar is closed or bar hopping. Piss is drunk. I'm sure I forget some.
- Profanity at work. People say s!$& like nothing. One time my boss in the US said something like the system is f-ing messed up on a conference call. She didn't say the whole word. One coworker said what is that? I laughed because over here, they just say it, no need to cover up.
- People love to queue or stand in line. There's a joke, I can't remember the whole thing but something like, two Irish will drink. Two Scottish will fight. What will two Brits do? Queuing.
I'm sure I can add more to this later...
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