Why Are the English So Bloody Nice?
Having just returned from a Rotary trip to Bangkok, I’m asleep right now. Whenever you’re reading. So, here’s a repost to honor my last big overseas trip with Rotary, a Friendship Exchange with District 1070 in England.
Why are the English so bloody, freaking nice? The thing, I think, that I will miss most about being immersed in England is the sing-song “thank you!” they attribute to almost every single minor event; the blissful “good mornings!” I received from my hosts, all of them; and the genuine kisses of “hello” and “goodbye.”
If I started going around kissing everyone, people would probably think me affected, but I wondered whether or not I could try to be nicer in some miniscule way. The English en masse made me aware of what a boorish prat I really am, in spite of my Southern-ness.
So, since I woke up entirely too early this morning, I decided to get my 5 mile Ravenel Bridge walk out of the way. What better way to test my English courtesy skills than on my first bout of exercise after three weeks of trying every cider I could find in the United Kingdom? Dragging my extra weight across the bridge in the hellish heat that I’m now not used to would certainly test my mettle, no?
In an effort to be completely aware of my surroundings, I left my i-pod at home and instead carried a big bottle of water. I charged up the bridge and immediately fell upon three victims of my booming “good morning!” As I continued up the incline, I sang “good morning!” to each person I passed, whether they acknowledged me or not. It felt liberating to be so nice.
Until I was about a third of the way up, with a stitch in my side, already sodden with sweat, and lugging a water bottle that felt like it weighed 10 pounds. My “good morning!” probably resembled a snarl more than a song by this point, but I kept at it, each recipient probably wondering about my sanity. The few regulars I saw likely thought I’d snorted something before I got out of bed this morning, because I normally don’t speak to anyone up there.
On the Mt. Pleasant side, I filled my water bottle at the fountain, as it was easier to gulp the dang thing down than it was to carry it. I stared back at the steep incline that was my return and felt defeated. Now, I had to go back and remember which people I’d greeted with “good morning!” so that I could say “have a good day!” to them, all while hiking uphill in a breeze that feels more like what happens when I open the oven door after it’s been on a while. My brain felt like hot mush.
I bared my teeth and persisted, all the way to the other side. While I may’ve looked more like a puddle who’d peed her pants by the end, I was actually strutting when I came off the bridge. I’d been nice to everyone, and most of them had been a surprised manner of nice right back to me. It felt really good to be more aware of the people around me up there than I normally am.
Maybe the English are on to something.
Yes Andra, we are nice: we can’t help it. The sideline of this, is an extraordinary talent of finding out a strangers life history; before they manage to bat an eyelid.
Yes, Helen. I’ve been asked some very direct questions, and never minded answering them.
A friendly “good morning” is how I try to start each day at the gym, at the office, wherever. It is so much easier to be friendly than to avert your eyes and pretend that a person is not there. The reaction I get when I say Good Morning to a stranger is almost overwhelmingly positive….a bit surprised, perhaps, but very positive.
I still try to greet people on my walks, almost two years later. It isn’t always easy when your burning up…..
Speaking of that, who one earth is at the gym with you at 4am??
There are a couple of folks that come in around 4:20 or so and then a few more about 4:45. We’re all cwazzzzy.
Good Morning.
Ha. Yes. It was an early morning. Good morning to you. I think I flew over your house yesterday. Know we hit Idaho.
I work with two British gentlemen, neither of whom is extraordinarily polite. Nice, yes but overly polite…nah. Maybe they’ve been stateside too long. I really enjoyed your travelogue. Welcome home.
It was certainly one of the big surprises of the trip two years ago, Jill. Not that people were nice, but how warm they were. And witty, which wasn’t a surprise.
Yes, both of our English gents are very witty – a dry, sarcastic wit which I dearly love.
Top of the morning here, Andra. Rest up from your trip and thanks for the repost.
I just mopped the floor. Definitely not resting, Penny.
Welcome home!
Thank you. It’s good to be home.
Welcome back Andra and MTM. Your post made me laugh out loud several times this morning. I can certainly relate to this post. (giggle). Congratulations on going the extra mile (literally) and figuratively as you were nice to those around you. I bet you made someone’s day. Hugs
This one was the easiest repost I could find that dovetailed with the Rotary experience. It was pretty funny to see myself trying to do the bridge after all that cider.
Haha! I can just imagine you snarling “GOOD MORNING” to the people on the bridge
I never managed to get the song quality of the English version, either.
Hello Andra – getting the train back from London this afternoon I dropped my phone. A nice bloke tapped me on the shoulder and handed me the phone. It was a member of our royal family (Princess Anne’s Son). He was in second class and didn’t boast a crown (even a cardboard one) although he looked a touch inbred. He knighted me as well so it is Sir Gingerfightback from henceforth. He took his rubbish off the train too. Nice Chap as we ennobled types say. We’re not all nice all of the time – but most of us are nice nearly all the time. Off to polish me lance.
Jim, this comment was just what I needed today. Thank you. I woke up laughing.
*Great big English grin*
I love that National Lampoons scene where Chevy Chase knocks Eric Idle over…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsM0CwqGrBs
Hilarious, Kate. Another laugh I needed to wake back up today. Thank you.
I’m laughing so hard at both ginger’s and Kate’s responses! I try to say hello to each person I encounter on walks and in general and I feel better, even if I do get some odd looks. More than one might believe, Californians are pretty friendly…rude in other ways, but friendy
I always generalize that the British are better mannered, but I don’t precisely know where I get my facts for that! Hope you get acclimated back to life in Charleston very soonm Andra. quite a trip! Debra
Their answers were very amusing, weren’t they? And, I’ve never encountered anything but friendly in CA. It’s one of my favorite states to visit, and not just for the drool-worthy scenery. I usually return to places where I feel welcome, and CA gets at least one visit from me per year.
Hope you are overcoming the jet lag.
Hugs,
Kathy
Ha. All things come to an end. Eventually.
I can get postively grumpy if people don’t say hello to me back if I’m on a walk
(i’ve just popped over from Debra’s blog – hi there! )
Hi! Thanks for coming over. I was just reading Debra’s blog.
I still try to emulate the English almost two years later. I even stop sometimes and chat with regulars if I have been away for an extended period. Some people still never acknowledge my greeting, no matter how many I give them, but I stopped caring about that a long time ago. It feels good to be nice.
To be honest I think the French are even better at the good mornings than we are. Oh well, I’ll say good afternoon
I have to agree with you. For all the stories of rude French people, I have never encountered one in my travels there.
When we first moved to Florida a year or so ago, people kept saying things to us like, “You’re not from here, are you?” We tried to figure out why they kept saying that to us. Did we have some kind of accent that stood out? Did we dress outstandingly different than Floridians? Finally, we asked a couple of people, and each of them said the same thing: “You’re too nice to be from Florida.” Unfortunately, we have found that to be true more often than not. I, myself, rarely say “Good morning” to anyone as I go for my morning walk, knowing most people will not respond. Ah…how I long for a kinder, gentler, friendlier world!
Rebecca, I have never understood why people are compelled to say things like “you aren’t from around here, are you?” to others, unless they just want them to feel strange and excluded. Keep right on being you, regardless of your surroundings, and you will find others just like you.
Notice that Amanda hasn’t posted on this one….
I did note her absence.
If she remains absent, we can just talk about her all we like!