Proud To Be British

[James Hubbard]

I wanted to ask all of you who are Brits and those who have lived in the UK for a long time - or just arrived and fresh ...

--What do you love about the UK, and what are you proud of about our country?

I have lived in the Philippines for a year and I have missed a lot, ... will be going back in 2.5 weeks and I will miss my asawa but I really look forward to my country.

Let me try to start the list with 4


1) Temperate Climate
2) World Class Education
3) Stiff upper lip and politeness (in general)
4) Respect for other nations and cultures . . .


ok, over to you all now.

[triple5]

Good thread James

Likes:
Sunday roast
Music
Football

Dislikes:
The politics
Yob culture
Celebrity culture
Snobs
Weather
Prices

I'm not sure about our so called "World class eduction". When teaching our kids we seem to be lacking in one fundamental lesson - respect for elders.

For all my dislikes, I am still proud to be British... just

[Jay&Zobel]

I wanted to ask all of you who are Brits and those who have lived in the UK for a long time - or just arrived and fresh ...

--What do you love about the UK, and what are you proud of about our country?

I have lived in the Philippines for a year and I have missed a lot, ... will be going back in 2.5 weeks and I will miss my asawa but I really look forward to my country.

Let me try to start the list with 4


1) Temperate Climate
2) World Class Education
3) Stiff upper lip and politeness (in general)
4) Respect for other nations and cultures . . .


ok, over to you all now.

I'm not a british yet but been living here for three years. Things I like in Great Britain:

1) Museums are world class
2) Unspoilt nature and wildlife & (cows, horses, sheeps are fat hehe, unlike in the PI, they're so skinny)
3) Multi-Cultural
4) et al...

[marlyn&kenny]

I wanted to ask all of you who are Brits and those who have lived in the UK for a long time - or just arrived and fresh ...

--What do you love about the UK, and what are you proud of about our country?

I have lived in the Philippines for a year and I have missed a lot, ... will be going back in 2.5 weeks and I will miss my asawa but I really look forward to my country.

Let me try to start the list with 4


1) Temperate Climate
2) World Class Education
3) Stiff upper lip and politeness (in general)
4) Respect for other nations and cultures . . .


ok, over to you all now.

Nice thread S' james

[Bluebirdjones]

1) Temperate Climate .....
global warming is changing this
2) World Class Education.....
not anymore, see the recent comments from Sir Terry Leahy (tesco's boss), and echoed by the BT Chairman
3) Stiff upper lip and politeness (in general)......
mmmm.... altho' the youth of today seemed determined to change all that
4) Respect for other nations and cultures . . . I'm afraid that that world-renown tolerance & respect is fast evaporating


I'm counting down the days I can "jump ship".
There's only two things I'm gonna miss ....
a pint of Guinness &
the Bluebirds

[James Hubbard]

1) Temperate Climate .....
global warming is changing this
2) World Class Education.....
not anymore, see the recent comments from Sir Terry Leahy (tesco's boss), and echoed by the BT Chairman
3) Stiff upper lip and politeness (in general)......
mmmm.... altho' the youth of today seemed determined to change all that
4) Respect for other nations and cultures . . . I'm afraid that that world-renown tolerance & respect is fast evaporating


I'm counting down the days I can "jump ship".
There's only two things I'm gonna miss ....
a pint of Guinness &
the Bluebirds

You're a ray of sunshine:

trust me my friend, I have jumped ship, and I can't wait to jump ship back to good old blighty. This was about why you're proud to be british, or what your favourite things are about britain. As for your points ...

1) Global warming - Looking forward to it

2) Oxbridge. Compare a graduate from cambridge to a graduate from university of the philippines and you will see the educational disparity.

3)English gentry still exists, unless you go to liverpool . Yob culture exists everywhere. In uk, they use small blades and handguns, in the Philippines they use bollos and pickpocketing. Trust me, in the UK, people are too proud to charge a foreigner more. It's a dignity thing.

4)Bluebird said I'm afraid that that world-renown tolerance & respect is fast evaporating Nope, not whilst occupational rules are in place and not whilst we are a welcoming environment for other cultures, I don't buy it. Compare a Filipino family's life in mid-england with their life back home in Philippines.


To get this thread back on track ...

Good thread James

I am still proud to be British... just

Thanks trips

Nice thread S' james

Thanks MariKen!

If you all want to you can green blob me

What things do you LIKE or LOVE about the United Kingdom?

[GaryFifer]

I wanted to ask all of you who are Brits and those who have lived in the UK for a long time - or just arrived and fresh ...

--What do you love about the UK, and what are you proud of about our country?

I have lived in the Philippines for a year and I have missed a lot, ... will be going back in 2.5 weeks and I will miss my asawa but I really look forward to my country.

Let me try to start the list with 4


1) Temperate Climate
2) World Class Education
3) Stiff upper lip and politeness (in general)
4) Respect for other nations and cultures . . .


ok, over to you all now.

1 The variety of flora and fauna here and the beauty of the landscape I would miss. Except for wasps. They can die. There is no evolutionary purpose for a wasp.
2 Trust me our education is world class. It is there. Try do an Open University course. Do not listen to the newspapers. We are still good leaders in many research areas
3 Well I would assume that applies to queing. Noone ques like the British. That is a perfect social example. I have heard in China, they beat each other up to get into trains.
4 Respect no. Tolerate yes.

[James Hubbard]

1 The variety of flora and fauna here and the beauty of the landscape I would miss. Except for wasps. They can die. There is no evolutionary purpose for a wasp.
2 Trust me our education is world class. It is there. Try do an Open University course. Do not listen to the newspapers. We are still good leaders in many research areas
3 Well I would assume that applies to queing. Noone ques like the British. That is a perfect social example. I have heard in China, they beat each other up to get into trains.
4 Respect no. Tolerate yes.

1) Yes, totally agree
2) It is world class comparitively. I am very proud of british education
3) In Hong Kong I sustained quite a few injuries trying to get onto the MTR. Very selfish people the Hong Kongies.
4) Respect NO, Tolerate YES, still, that's better than "abuse the foreigner to get his money whilst you're nice to his/her face" right?

[James Hubbard]

Also, in MOST parts of the UK (don't flame me, i said MOST) ...


we don't need signs like my avatar, "Bawal Umihi Dito" . . . our UK British people urinate in toilets, not pee all over the street.


Also

We have a great sewerage system ... it isn't open in the streets.


Also

People in UK use the Bins in which to put their litter!

Also

The quality of the products and services we offer in UK is much higher (compared with Philippines)

Also

Most people are not lazy and have some kind of work ethic (Apart from lazy dole-hoppers)

Also

Maybe I should file this one under "rant" section, but ...

In the Philippines, many many people have 6 children with an income of 200 Pesos per day without thinking about the kids. I find this morally reprehensible, when you think that there are free pills and condoms being handed out, and free community family planning seminars, that they don't bother to go to because they just want to play basketball, drink tanduay and chikka chikka. Then many of those choose to get their children to beg off me, because I'm the rich white man, and I should supply their kids with food and I should be the one to provide for them! I have just two words for those people ... ... but the swearing rule prevents me from expressing that thought

In the UK, that doesn't really happen so much - people are educated, til they are 16 and learn about condoms and pills etc (and don't talk about the chavs, as they are a minority)!

[GaryFifer]

[Also, in MOST parts of the UK (don't flame me, i said MOST) ...

we don't need signs like my avatar, "Bawal Umihi Dito" . . . our UK British people urinate in toilets, not pee all over the street.

British people do pee out in the streets, just when they are drunk, (just do not get caught doing it)

Also

We have a great sewerage system ... it isn't open in the streets.

Ya whats up with that James? I mean Filipinos have mobile phones, television, but no sewerage.


Also

People in UK use the Bins in which to put their litter

Yeah. I wish they'd do the same with dog s**t, its like turd terrace outside my house to the shop. I hate that!.

Hmm some of our high school kids have bad habits eat outside bakers the dirty little beggars never use bins.

[James Hubbard]

Free Medical treatment I ADORE the NHS

[Pepe n Pilar]

You're a ray of sunshine:

trust me my friend, I have jumped ship, and I can't wait to jump ship back to good old blighty. This was about why you're proud to be british, or what your favourite things are about britain. As for your points ...

1) Global warming - Looking forward to it

2) Oxbridge. Compare a graduate from cambridge to a graduate from university of the philippines and you will see the educational disparity.

3)English gentry still exists, unless you go to liverpool . Yob culture exists everywhere. In uk, they use small blades and handguns, in the Philippines they use bollos and pickpocketing. Trust me, in the UK, people are too proud to charge a foreigner more. It's a dignity thing.

4)Bluebird said I'm afraid that that world-renown tolerance & respect is fast evaporating Nope, not whilst occupational rules are in place and not whilst we are a welcoming environment for other cultures, I don't buy it. Compare a Filipino family's life in mid-england with their life back home in Philippines.
To get this thread back on track ...



Thanks trips



Thanks MariKen!

If you all want to you can green blob me

What things do you LIKE or LOVE about the United Kingdom?

Nice thread James. Not a Brit yet but I love everything about UK and i love many things about the Philippines as well. I Cannot make comparison because one is in the Northern part and one is in the South Far Eastern part of the world. One is considered as one of the richest country in the world and one belongs to the 3rd world country.
Can you please elaborate a bit on statements numbers 2 & 4?
Regards

Cheers!

[GaryFifer]

4) Respect NO, Tolerate YES, still, that's better than "abuse the foreigner to get his money whilst you're nice to his/her face" right

With regard to 4. I have been on the recieving end of mr johnny foreigner who will refuse to give money back with faulty, damaged products. That relates to politeness of Britishness too! Noone else would put up with that. American are good at complaining though.

[James Hubbard]

Nice thread James. Not a Brit yet but I love everything about UK and i love many things about the Philippines as well. I Cannot make comparison because one is in the Northern part and one is in the South Far Eastern part of the world. One is considered as one of the richest country in the world and one belongs to the 3rd world country.
Can you please elaborate a bit on statements numbers 2 & 4?

Cheers!

Yes. I can,

Number 2)

ok, compare a Cambridge educated ... teacher to a UofP educated teacher. The difference will be immense. Generally the educational standard, the scholarly standard and the research standard in the UK is immense ... particularly within the Russell Group of Universities, compared to the rather ramshackle Universities in the Philippines. I checked the site of a certain Cebu Med school which hadn't been updated for several years. Lazy web developers, but does that mean their research isn't current? Possibly.


Number 4)

We are a kind people, the British. I mean, in civilised company, we treat people as individuals, and so if it's Dr Rashid Khan, or Dr Robert Kennedy, we think nothing of the difference, whereas in the Philippines, people see a white guy and they jump to several erroneous conclusions

-I am american (I am NOT)
-I am rich (I AM NOT)
-I wish to pay for their child's food/their education/their bus fare/their beer/their baby's nappies/their cigarettes etc (I don't wish to pay for any of these, because I am not rich)
-I am stupid eg: I will pay 500 peso for a 5 minute taxi ride, coz I'm stupid and rich ...


As for what G2J said


With regard to 4. I have been on the recieving end of mr johnny foreigner who will refuse to give money back with faulty, damaged products.

Actually, all the time I lived in Birmingham, I never got scammed once by a foreigner, and I lived in little pakistan area at the time

[GaryFifer]

Where are the library and Museum in Philippines? I tried hard to find many library but only came across their overpriced National Book Store. Noone could afford any of the stuff in there.


I have heard that Philippines main problem with college graduates, is that the government imposes compulsory Philippine subjects, which is mainly useless material about Joze Rizal. I sure it is fascinating material to read but what use is it? I am sure the dead man would not approve of this, and wish for diversity, which was what he was purported to do.So to inflict this on students does not give them the tools needed for the modern world.

[Arthur Little]

Free Medical treatment I ADORE the NHS

Now here, totally, James ... it's world-famous; frankly, I'm surprised no one else has thought fit to mention it! It should be at the top of the list.

[James Hubbard]

Where are the library and Museum in Philippines? I tried hard to find many libarary but only came across their overpriced National Book Store. Noone could afford any of the stuff in there.


I have heard that Philippines main problem with college graduates, is that the government imposes compulsory Philippine subjects, which is mainly useless material about Joze Rizal. I sure it is fascinating material to read but what use is it? I am sure the dead man would not approve of this, and wish for diversity, which was what he was purported to do.So to inflict this on students does not give them the tools needed for the modern world.

That's right, I have seen nothing and heard nothing about any museum or library here. My wife was amazed when I told her I could take her into a local museum for free. .... As for the compulsory info in Philippines studies - not much good if you're doing a Physics degree ha? . . .

[James Hubbard]

Now here, totally, James ... it's world-famous; frankly, I'm surprised no one else has thought fit to mention it! It should be at the top of the list.

Yes, I should have mentioned it first, you're right Arthur. I am intensely proud of our medical care facilities, and the lack of costs associated with them, when I think about family friends who have passed away in the Philippines because they didn't have the money to pay for their medical treatment or medicine. In a place where birthing mothers and babies die because they can't pay for a Cesarean section, I am definitely Proud To Be British!

[James Hubbard]

Let me add to the list of things to be proud of:

-Pub Grub
-Variety of beers and spirits
-Stephen Fry
-Birmingham (heavenly place)
-Tesco
-Christmas hoopla with snow
-Chicken tikka massala (created in scotland)
-BALTI (created in birmingham)


Yes, we make nicer indian food than indians

-British cheese
-Chocolate Fingers (ya, ya, someone will make a dirty joke)
-Creme eggs
-Fish and Chips
-Scotland
-The queen and all that pomposity
-Our wonderful history
-Our ruddy great language that all the world wants to speak

[Pepe n Pilar]

Yes. I can,

Number 2)

ok, compare a Cambridge educated ... teacher to a UofP educated teacher. The difference will be immense. Generally the educational standard, the scholarly standard and the research standard in the UK is immense ... particularly within the Russell Group of Universities, compared to the rather ramshackle Universities in the Philippines. I checked the site of a certain Cebu Med school which hadn't been updated for several years. Lazy web developers, but does that mean their research isn't current? Possibly.


Number 4)

We are a kind people, the British. I mean, in civilised company, we treat people as individuals, and so if it's Dr Rashid Khan, or Dr Robert Kennedy, we think nothing of the difference, whereas in the Philippines, people see a white guy and they jump to several erroneous conclusions

-I am american (I am NOT)
-I am rich (I AM NOT)
-I wish to pay for their child's food/their education/their bus fare/their beer/their baby's nappies/their cigarettes etc (I don't wish to pay for any of these, because I am not rich)
-I am stupid eg: I will pay 500 peso for a 5 minute taxi ride, coz I'm stupid and rich ...


As for what G2J said


With regard to 4. I have been on the recieving end of mr johnny foreigner who will refuse to give money back with faulty, damaged products.

Actually, all the time I lived in Birmingham, I never got scammed once by a foreigner, and I lived in little pakistan area at the time

Number 2) There are many Universities in the Philippines that are accredited with foreign universities and one of them is the University of the Philippines.

Number 4) Yes you are kind and so are filipinos. It is just a matter of being in the right company.. Same... Same..

Some filipinos thought foreigners are all rich..no...no....
Some filipinos know they are not... those who have been abroad and/or those who have knowledge of the life in other countries(either by reading the books, or watching the news or heard stories from their relatives/friends). Compare the lifestyle of a middle class/upper middle class Brit to that of the middle class/upper middle class filipino.

As to scammers, thieves or robbers they are in every country huh!. Just the other day a Brit lady said there was a teenage bloke came in the store and picked one of the t-shirts and rolled it and hid in his armpit and off he went out of the store....
And an old Brit lady asked for a refund of her coat bought 3 days ago insisted even without a ticket. Refund was made and Manager noticed the item was exchanged with her old coat bec of some stains on it. Huh! an old lady cheating??... As i've said it is everywhere. We fiipinos look up and has high expectations about this country. We learn to love, adapt and accept the culture. It is just that sometimes we are astonished, stunned.... because that is not what we expect....

[Arthur Little]

Not so sure about our *Education System(s) though [best if I refer to *them in the plural sense, as the state-run establishments we have in Scotland vary a great deal from their counterparts in the rest of the UK ... and, to the best of my knowledge, always have done since schooling became compulsory in the 1870s].

It is well-documented that these days, there's an ever-increasing number of school-leavers with far more A-Levels/Highers/Standard Grades, whatever, tucked under their belt than at any time in the past. Yet, how many of those youngsters have sufficient grounding in the so-called '3-R's'? Indeed, it's much the same story with university graduates ... a goodly proportion of whom can neither spell nor count properly. Sure, they're whizz kids with computers and the like. But their basic command of the English Language can be abysmal, thanks to the ubiquitous practice of phonetic texting. And their constant reliance on electronic calculators takes away the need to work out the simplest forms of mental arithmetic in their heads.

So much for progress. In my opinion (for what it's worth) Modern Technology has a lot to answer for! But then, perhaps I'm just an old "fuddy-duddy" and ... I'd better stop NOW - lest I begin to seem like a carbon-copy of our "late" (un)lamented contributor, Ayjay!

[James Hubbard]

Number 2) There are many Universities in the Philippines that are accredited with foreign universities and one of them is the University of the Philippines.

Number 4) Yes you are kind and so are filipinos. It is just a matter of being in the right company.. Same... Same..
Some filipinos thought foreigners are all rich..no...no....
Some filipinos know they are not... those who have been abroad and/or those that has knowledge of the life in other countries.Compare the lifestyle of a middle class/upper middle class Brit to that of the middle class/upper middle class filipino.

As to scammers, thieves or robbers they are in every country huh!. Just the other day a Brit lady said there was a teenage bloke came in the store and picked one of the t-shirts and rolled it and hid in his armpit and off he went out of the store....

Problem is, due to the financial disparity, perhaps 80% of Filipinos are as I have described, and desire to be like the upper echelon you have described above. All I'll say is ... don't make a rule based on exceptions. Most filipinos who are not legally made to receive an education, think these things I mentioned.

Scammers: not so much in the UK. The law is enforced too much to make it an issue for britain. Again, ask yourself, who gets shafted more ... a filipino in the UK, or a Brit in the Philippines?

As for university, all I'm saying is ... look at any list compiled on the top 500 or 1000 universities in the world, you will see that UK and US lead these league tables. Philippines is nowhere to be found.

I think those corrupt in-charges want to keep the masses minds dumbed down so that they'll accept ridiculous corruption without being equipped mentally to argue the point or complain - just to say "bahala na".

tHAT'S just my 2 peso.

[James Hubbard]

counterparts ... compulsory ... sufficient ...goodly proportion...abysmal ...... ubiquitous

wotz demz wrds meen?

[triple5]

Apologies, NHS should definitely have been top of my list also.

[James Hubbard]

Apologies, NHS should definitely have been top of my list also.

maybe Trips and I are prime examples that our education system isn't what it should be

[triple5]

I think those corrupt in-charges want to keep the masses minds dumbed down so that they'll accept ridiculous corruption without being equipped mentally to argue the point or complain

Same could be said here in the UK

[James Hubbard]

Same could be said here in the UK

well, no, I mean, take a philosophy class at a good uni here and you'll have excellent critical thinking skills ...

besides, we can tell where the money's going ... "freedom of information" (i should put that on my list )

[Arthur Little]

Let me add to the list of things to be proud of:

-Pub Grub
-Variety of beers and spirits
-Stephen Fry
-Birmingham (heavenly place)
-Tesco
-Christmas hoopla with snow
-Chicken tikka massala (created in scotland)
-BALTI (created in birmingham)


Yes, we make nicer indian food than indians

-British cheese
-Chocolate Fingers (ya, ya, someone will make a dirty joke)
-Creme eggs
-Fish and Chips
-Scotland
-The queen and all that pomposity
-Our wonderful history
-Our ruddy great language that all the world wants to speak

Again, I'm 100% in agreement ... make that 101 per cent, if we can include 'Glasgow humour' - simply ra BEST!

[triple5]

maybe Trips and I are prime examples that our education system isn't what it should be

I blame the parents

[James Hubbard]

Again, I'm 100% in agreement ... make that 101 per cent, if we can include 'Glasgow humour' - simply the BEST!

True.

-Glasgow Humour

(the great Billy Connolly being one of my favourites)

...

I will not include "glasgow kisses"