What do you like and don't like about the UK?

[A90]

Originally Posted by jojo

You took the words right out of my mouth Sue!!

Spain hasnt yet got seriously into political correctness or the nanny state altho I suspect its heading that way and there are signs of feeble efforts being made, altho I get the feeling the Spanish people are a lot more rebellious and headstrong than the down trodden british and wont accept it easily!??

Jo xxx

Thats very nice to hear. Just one more quick question about Spain compared to England; are the Muslims in Spain as radical and vocal as the ones in England? (I am heading to my university's campus in Madrid next semester so I am trying to find out some info.)

[Suenneil]

Originally Posted by A90

Thats very nice to hear. Just one more quick question about Spain compared to England; are the Muslims in Spain as radical and vocal as the ones in England? (I am heading to my university's campus in Madrid next semester so I am trying to find out some info.)

A bit of a generalisation dont you think ??? I dont know that muslims in the UK are "vocal and radical" .... and I have to say the same about muslims in Spain .... Spain is a mix of races and religions and in my own experience its a pretty tolerant and open society.

Sue

[jojo]

Originally Posted by A90

Thats very nice to hear. Just one more quick question about Spain compared to England; are the Muslims in Spain as radical and vocal as the ones in England? (I am heading to my university's campus in Madrid next semester so I am trying to find out some info.)

Are you judging the Muslims in England by what you see on the BBC news??? The reality is that Muslims are just one of the various religious groups who live there. They're no more radical or vocal than any other group! Its the same in Spain as far as I can tell

Jo xxx

[Minuvweyna]

I would tend to think all religious groups have radicals and non-radicals in every country where they are represented. I expect the Muslims ask similar questions about radical Christians, if they are moving to places in Europe or the US!


Best wishes,
Elizabeth

[frogblogger]

Other than jojo's list - which pretty much sums up my memories of 'home' - I don't like the aggressive, look after number one, materialistic, selfish culture that was inherited from the US and added to, Maggie Thatcher style, in the 80s. Today we are left with villages that are not true communities in the rural style to be found in the likes of France, having few or no amenities. Compare two villages of similar size in the UK and France - say my local village, Malaucène, with a population of 2,500 - and you would be hard pressed to find an equivalent British community with 3 bakers, a butcher, DIY shop, florists, greengrocers, numerous cafés and restaurants, two banks, a post office, pharmacy, small supermarket, several doctor's surgeries, a physio and nurses practice, 2 dentists, ......... I could go on for at least a few more lines ....... two hairdressers, art gallery ....etc .. and it's not even a particularly touristy place.

Plus in the UK family life doesn't seem to hold the same importance as it once did, another legacy of the new materialist everyone for him/herself approach. There's not the same respect for one's elders that you still find in France (though even there it's on the decline), or indeed in another country where I've spent a few years recently, Thailand.

I'm actually thinking of making a trip back to the UK for the first time in many years, so perhaps I'm mistaken and things have improved! Somehow I doubt it, though I hope I shall be pleasantly surprised

Oh and a quick edit, I forgot something I like about the place. The Yorkshire Dales, and Theakstons Best Bitter

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by jojo

I'm from the south of England and now live in Spain. I didnt like the UK cos it was overcrowded, too many cars, too many people, too many people sponging off the state, too many buildings, few open spaces, nanny state, grey weather, grey people and grey buildings, too much PCness....... I cant think of anything particularly good about it, apart from the road markings, they seem to be very clear and easy to see, especially at night!?!

Jo xxx

Hahaha,
Hadn't seen this thread before
Love the bit about road markings Jo and absolutely agree with you. The road markings are great and it's something that Spain really loses points on, but is there anything else great about the UK??
Bad tempered, selfish people for the most part. Dismal weather, no respect for anybody, children of 8 wearing "sexy " tops and high heels, poverty and scrimping and saving just to get by, tackiness and dinginess everywhere. It's expensive to do everything, even to park your car...I could go on, but suffice to say I'm happy where I am and of course it's got it's fair share of faults too.

Good things about UK...
The beer, fish and chips, fresh cream cakes, and there are some really pretty places - to visit, not to stay

[jilkfree1978]

i live in japan now. come and live here its 200 times worse than the uk.
the whole population of japan is selfish and bad tempered,they only care about themselfs..... i am moving back to the uk in 3 weeks time.....

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

Hahaha,
Hadn't seen this thread before
Love the bit about road markings Jo and absolutely agree with you. The road markings are great and it's something that Spain really loses points on, but is there anything else great about the UK??
Bad tempered, selfish people for the most part. Dismal weather, no respect for anybody, children of 8 wearing "sexy " tops and high heels, poverty and scrimping and saving just to get by, tackiness and dinginess everywhere. It's expensive to do everything, even to park your car...I could go on, but suffice to say I'm happy where I am and of course it's got it's fair share of faults too.

Good things about UK...
The beer, fish and chips, fresh cream cakes, and there are some really pretty places - to visit, not to stay

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by jilkfree1978

i live in japan now. come and live here its 200 times worse than the uk.
the whole population of japan is selfish and bad tempered,they only care about themselfs..... i am moving back to the uk in 3 weeks time.....

Really??!!
Poor you!
Hope you like living in the UK again

[jilkfree1978]

we were going to go to australia, we were going to get our visa around about this time until they decided to change priority processing from 23rd of september,

we will probably have to wait now until after 2012!! if ever...

we are going to live in area i havent lived before in the uk,,,i dont want to go back to places i have previously lived !

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

Really??!!
Poor you!
Hope you like living in the UK again

[Priceygirl1]

The weather in the UK is yuck so if you like seeing the sun, I would advise you DON'T move here. Saying that, dull weather seems to dull the people as I have found Britian's people to be alot "gloomier" then in the states. Maybe it's from hundreds of years of being repressed with taxes, taxes and more taxes. Oh, and if you want to watch TV, be prepared to pay for the priviledge as you will need to pay a TV tax too.
The only benefit I can think of is having more holiday time off of work and some of the scenery in Wales and Scotland is breathtaking :-)