England: "A Nation of Grumblers" and Other Observations

I wish I would have done more observations about life and my observations about the British here rather than what I was doing but alas I didn't do much of that.  But here is a bit about what I've noticed about the British so here goes it.

I love the Narnia books!  One of my favourites (though I'm really not sure why) was The Silver Chair. There was a character called Puddleglum.  He was rather a pessimistic character and gloomy.  Glum is a good word to describe him.  If someone would say something good or happy he would retort saying something bad was likely to happen.  I can't think of a decent example right now (it's been way too long since I read the book).  So that was Puddleglum, he was based on C.S. Lewis' gardener, but he is very much like a lot of British people.  For example if you mention that the weather is good today (because British talk about the weather a lot), some British people will say "Yes, but it'll likely rain later today."

When we were coming back from Cardiff this last weekend our train was delayed on the last leg of the journey.  We were cold, tired, and there were quite a few people at our platform who were also cold an tired, and complaining quite a bit.  One of them made the comment, "we are a nation of grumblers."  It reminded me of Puddleglum.

One of our first reading assignments in our INTS:Great Britain class was a chapter from a book about the English.  It was quite an interesting section at first but as it went on it was really rather depressing.  So hopefully without going into too much detail it basically talked about how Britain has some very distinct cultures and really the one mainly thought of is the English culture, being the largest and most populous.  Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have their own very distinct cultures as well but this article focused on the English.  Why it was depressing is because it talked a lot about the lack of identity that the English have.  Wales and Scotland know who they are and have their very distinct identity.  They have national songs and are very prideful to be what they are, but the English don't have that.  Basically it made the English sound like lost, miserable people, who don't know what their identity is or what to align themselves with.  They don't know how to define themselves.  I read that at the beginning of my time here and have been living in England, and now spending some time here I'm not sure if I agree.  I don't really disagree because after going to Wales and talking to people in Scotland, I feel like maybe the Welsh and Scottish (sorry I don't have much experience with Northern Ireland) have a stronger feeling and are proud to be Welsh or Scottish or Northern Irish more so than the English.  Maybe because it was match day when I was in Wales, but people seemed really proud to be Welsh, and not just because of the match.  And the Scotland independence, push has been in the news a lot.  I'm not 100% sure where I'm going with that, but basically I feel like I've love being in England and I've had a great time living here and what not, but I'd like to see what it is like to live or at least spend more time in Wales and Scotland.  I love the English but I think I'd really like the Welsh and the Scottish too and would love to get to know them.

Americans in Oxford don't surprise people.  It is such an international town though.  People literally live here or study here from just about everywhere.  People were a bit more confused for there to be Americans visiting Cardiff.  Granted not a lot of Americans even know what Cardiff is.  I may have mentioned this is my last post but people were surprised when we started talking and we didn't sound Welsh, or British.  I guess some places it's more likely for Americans to be.  Like Oxford or London.  And there were a ton of American tourist in Paris.  But sometimes it's fun to go other places and not just do the touristy things.  So one piece of advice I'd give people studying abroad or travelling Europe is to go somewhere a bit more random.  In Norway we were just outside of Oslo so we did go see the touristy things in Oslo but we also got to see the more typical Norwegian life.  Which I loved.  In Spain we went to the big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, but we also went to Avila.  Though some people didn't like Avila because  there really wasn't much to do and we were there for quite a while, I though it was great!  It provided for me a real look into Spanish life and getting to see a smaller town and having to use Spanish and such.  Also in Spain we stayed in Santa Coloma (I believe) outside of Barcelona and on the way to the metro station to go into Barcelona someone heard us talking, asked if we were North Americans and wondered what we were doing there.  We went to Lille in France and it maybe was a bit boring and sure not as fun as Paris, but it was great to see that part of French culture and to get to see a quieter town which would be much nicer to live in.  Germany too we were in Wiesbaden and spent a day in Karlsruhe.  So that was long for what I have to say but I loved getting to see that.  That's one reason I'm glad I'm in Oxford rather than London.  It's still close enough to London though that it is easy to go in for a day trip (not that I really have much, but it's being able to say it).  Besides it's the people who make places like Asker, Avila, Lille, Wiesbaden, and Karlsruhe fun.  And even Oxford.  I would never really think of being a tourist in Oxford.  Maybe because I live here.  But I feel like all a tourist would need to do is see a couple of the colleges, C.S. Lewis' house, and The Eagle and Child.  Which I really haven't done since I live here.  I mean I've loved being in Oxford and taken advantage of my time here but if I were to visit Oxford again I wouldn't go to those places.  I'd go to Canterbury Road, On the Hoof, University Parks, Oxfam, G&D's, the Covered Market, places that are a part of my everyday life. They're places I frequent and that make Oxford home.

Well this time next week I'll be packed up and it'll be my last night here.  Which is quite sad.  But it's good to be going home to Texas!  This semester is about over as I knew it would but I'm going to miss these people so much.  I mean after next semester we will still be in Abilene together but it's just not the same.  I've made some great friends and have really been able to experience what it's like to live in community.  Though at times it can be tough it is great and I've been so blessed!