British bars are elegantly dubbed as bar culture and are famous all over the world. I once suggested that students can go to English bars to make some local friends, which can create a language environment for themselves and help them integrate into British culture.
Bars in China are basically new and labeled as entertainment places. In Britain, there are countless bars with various flavors, each with its own characteristics, and many of them have a history of hundreds of years. They have become a resting and social place for the British people, representing the British tradition and reflecting the characteristics of the British people. It can be said that bars are an indispensable part of British culture.
In China, friends may go to bars mainly for revelry. In Britain, people go to bar owners to have a quiet chat. British people seldom visit and chat at home like China people, and all neighborhood exchanges and friends' gatherings are basically held in bars. People call it a pub (short for public house), which may play the same role as cafes in other European and American countries and teahouses in China.
Most people in China will think that English people are polite but cold. Indeed, the British don't like being too affectionate and think it is superficial and insincere. Too much enthusiasm and attention will make the British feel strange and uncomfortable, so it really takes some time to establish friendship with them.
Privacy is very important to the British. Personal problems, such as marriage, love relationship, finance, health and other topics, unless the other party is a good friend, try to avoid them. In addition, the bar is a social center where British people like to get together with friends. China students may be invited to go out for a drink as the beginning of their relationship with British students.
Common sense of British culture II: Eating and chatting alternately.
Visit British families, be punctual, neither early nor late, and prepare some small gifts. It is polite to finish all the food on your plate when eating; If there is food left, it means that the guests don't like English food.
British people like to talk while eating, but we should pay attention to the alternation of eating and talking. It is impolite to open your mouth when eating, so it is best to put only a small amount of food in your mouth when eating.
If you have to open your mouth wide, you'd better cover it with one hand. In British culture, it is considered polite to stay for social conversation after dinner, so the party may last for several hours.
Common sense of British culture 3: I must make an appointment.
In Britain, people should also pay attention to the fact that you should inform your friends in advance before visiting them. Uninvited guests will be annoying. We should try to avoid calling other people's homes after 10 in the afternoon, and calling after 1 1 in the afternoon is likely to be regarded as an emergency by the British.
Many services in Britain need to make an appointment in advance, such as seeing a doctor, getting a haircut, getting a facelift and getting glasses. If you need to cancel the reservation, you must inform the other party 24 hours in advance, otherwise you may have to pay for it yourself.
Common sense of British culture 4: It is very useful to learn more common sayings.
Living in Britain, China students may encounter many unfamiliar or even incomprehensible idioms. When you first arrive in Britain, knowing some proverbs in advance will bring great help to your life.
For example, Loo means WC, Tube means subway, Tea means dinner in some cases, Pants means underwear. People say apartments, not apartments. Tolet means to rent. In informal situations, cheers are usually used instead of thanks. When people say lovely, brilliant and magnificent, it means yes.
Common sense of British culture 5: tip, don't bargain
In British restaurants, tipping the waiter is very common, because the service charge is not included in the bill, and is generally paid at about 10% of the bill. In the self-service fast food restaurants in Britain, customers should pick up the leftovers themselves, instead of putting them on the table as in China.
People in China are used to bargaining when they buy things, but in British shops and markets, even in street stalls, bargaining is not common. Because the prices of things on stalls in Britain are already very cheap, stall owners generally won't agree to lower prices. If you bargain, it will be considered unreasonable.
Common sense of British culture 6: Answer the phone to see the situation.
At a party, an English friend complained that China people always answer the phone anytime and anywhere, even when they enjoy relaxing moments with their closest family and friends.
At home, we are used to answering mobile phones anytime and anywhere, while the British don't answer the phone when chatting or eating. They think this is a rude behavior. So when eating or having a party, try not to let the mobile phone disturb others. We can mute the phone and use voice mail.