Ask a Briton....

[Laura Corin]

Many of you have been very kindly explaining to me the cultural composition of Americanness and ancestry on another thread.  If there are any questions you have always wanted to ask a Brit, I'm happy to take them.

 

Do you want to know why:

 

- Princess Diana never existed

- The Union Jack doesn't fly over Buckingham Palace

 

Or anything else.....?

 

L

[maize]

I'd be interested in knowing how strongly most people identify as British vs. English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, etc. (are there et ceteras?)

[indigomama]

Was/is the British class system like racism was/is here in America?

[Laura Corin]

I'd be interested in knowing how strongly most people identify as British vs. English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, etc. (are there et ceteras?)

 

Most non-English identify as Scottish, Welsh, N. Irish only or first.  English are more likely to self-identify as British first.  This directly represents the historical balance of power.

 

ETA: Cornish are probably Cornish first and English second.  Not sure about other counties.  Cornwall had it's own language, related to Welsh and Breton.

 

L

[Kathryn]

I was thinking in your last thread about a woman I was friends with for a while. She was from Scotland and identified very strongly as Scottish. Her mother, though, was from Ireland and she spent every summer in Ireland with her maternal relatives. She absolutely, in no way, identified as Irish. That was what her mom was and had nothing to do with her it seemed. I always found that interesting given how long Americans hold on to their ethnic heritage/ancestry.

[Laura Corin]

Was/is the British class system like racism was/is here in America?

 

Can you tease out what you mean by 'like'?  Do you mean 'as entrenched', 'as pernicious'.....

 

L

[Angie in VA]

 

 

Do you want to know why:

 

- Princess Diana never existed

- The Union Jack doesn't fly over Buckingham Palace

 

OK, I'll bite. 

 

'Splain, please. (And that "'splain" is from an American television show, I Love Lucy. Lucy's DH was Cuban and would often say, "Lucy, you've got some 'splaining to do!" See? This goes both ways. But I doubt you'd ever care about an American, or any other, television show!)

 

Angie in VA, the best state in the United States ;)

[Laura Corin]

OK, I'll bite. 

 

'Splain, please. (And that "'splain" is from an American television show, I Love Lucy. Lucy's DH was Cuban and would often say, "Lucy, you've got some 'splaining to do!" See? This goes both ways. But I doubt you'd ever care about an American, or any other, television show!)

 

Angie in VA, the best state in the United States ;)

 

 

You can only be 'Princess so-and-so' if you are born a Princess.  If you become a Princess by marriage, you are something like, 'Diana, Princess of Wales'

 

Most people say (there is some dispute about this) that the flag should only be called The Union Jack when it's flying on a boat (I think only at the stern of a boat, but I might be wrong about that).  Otherwise, it's The Union Flag.

 

L

[happyhomemaker]

What degree of power and influence does the aristocracy hold today? Where does their wealth come from? I know a long time ago the land they inherited guaranteed a certain amount of income, but I'm assuming this is no longer the case. Do they work like normal people? Do they get preferential treatment like rich, white men get in America?

[indigomama]

Can you tease out what you mean by 'like'?  Do you mean 'as entrenched', 'as pernicious'.....

 

L

 

Yes, by "like" I mean was it as invasive in society? DId it cause as many problems? As much hurt to people and life direction and it used to be for people of color here in the US?

 

Does it still exist like racism does in certain places here? Or are things fairly balanced? 

 

I'm afraid all I have to go on is Downton Abbey, which was from 100 years ago, but there was such a class distinction, and i was wondering if it really meant someone of working class could never be more and if there is still such a separation?

 

Thanks for letting us pick your British brain:)

[Angie in VA]

You can only be 'Princess so-and-so' if you are born a Princess.  If you become a Princess by marriage, you are something like, 'Diana, Princess of Wales'

 

Most people say (there is some dispute about this) that the flag should only be called The Union Jack when it's flying on a boat (I think only at the stern of a boat, but I might be wrong about that).  Otherwise, it's The Union Flag.

 

L

 

Thank you re: the Union Jack. And I knew that about Diana! Shame on me. 

 

Not that you'd be impressed, but I foretold George's name - once I learned William and Catherine had a boy, that is. 

 

Thank you!

[Jean in Newcastle]

Ds wants to know about the British school grades.  He is 16 and is in our grade 11.  Would his friend that is the same age be in the same grade (ie. would it also be called grade 11 or a junior)?

[wendyroo]

My husband will most likely be going on a business trip to London for a few weeks next year and the kids and I will probably be tagging along.  My boys will be 5, almost 3 and 9ish months.

 

I've never been to London and will probably want to do a bit of sightseeing, but mostly I will be looking for fun, yet not too expensive or overwhelming, things to do with the kids during the day when I am on my own with them.  I'm not sure I will feel comfortable driving; how will I fare with three small kids on public transportation?

 

Suggestions?

 

Thanks,

Wendy

[Laura Corin]

Yes, by "like" I mean was it as invasive in society? DId it cause as many problems? As much hurt to people and life direction and it used to be for people of color here in the US?

 

Does it still exist like racism does in certain places here? Or are things fairly balanced? 

 

I'm afraid all I have to go on is Downton Abbey, which was from 100 years ago, but there was such a class distinction, and i was wondering if it really meant someone of working class could never be more and if there is still such a separation?

 

Thanks for letting us pick your British brain:)

 

Well.  The big difference is that you can 'escape' your class, but you can't 'escape' your colour.  In Britain, the usual way to move out of your class is not through money but through education.  Rich people will still refer to themselves as working class; educated poor people, or educated working class people will refer to themselves as middle class.  

 

Because of the possibility of movement I don't think that it was as pernicious as race in the US.   There were never laws to exclude working class people from particular restaurants, or to ban inter-class marriage.  And as far back as Jane Austen, there was movement up and down: the Bingleys - who socialise with the gentry - made their money in trade.  The young Bingleys whom we meet are a few generations after the making of the money, however, so the money has been 'sanitised'.  Class is no picnic however.

 

These days, there is much more acceptance of different background and accent.  However: the current government is overwhelmingly made up of people who went to a few expensive private schools.  So the changes may be more style than substance.

 

L

[mommymilkies]

1. Can you adopt me so I can move there?

 

2. How can you cope with hearing that lovely Scottish brogue every day? I would be fainting with some creepy fan girl zest.

[Laura Corin]

Ds wants to know about the British school grades.  He is 16 and is in our grade 11.  Would his friend that is the same age be in the same grade (ie. would it also be called grade 11 or a junior)?

 

Talking about the English system (with which I'm more familiar): we don't have the Junior, Sophomore etc. designations.  We number the Kindergarten year, so he would be in year 12.  The last two years of school (years 12 and 13) are often called 'sixth form' for historical reasons: you moved from form to form (bench to bench) in a one-room school until you reached the sixth form.  Our 'high school' is divided into the GCSE years (age 14-16, ending in GCSE exams) and sixth form (age 16-18, ending in AS and A2 levels, collectively A levels).

 

L

[Caroline]

My husband will most likely be going on a business trip to London for a few weeks next year and the kids and I will probably be tagging along.  My boys will be 5, almost 3 and 9ish months.

 

I've never been to London and will probably want to do a bit of sightseeing, but mostly I will be looking for fun, yet not too expensive or overwhelming, things to do with the kids during the day when I am on my own with them.  I'm not sure I will feel comfortable driving; how will I fare with three small kids on public transportation?

 

Suggestions?

 

Thanks,

Wendy

Not Laura, but I will answer your public transportation question from an American's point of view...

 

My sister lived in London for a year with kids who were about those ages. She took the tube with them constantly. She drove the car once the whole year she was there. They took public transport everywhere. She never had a problem navigating it at all.

[Alessandra]

I'd be interested in knowing what 'Britishnesses' surprise your dh.

 

And any comments you have about regional accents/word usage, not U vs. non U, not posh vs. working class, but regional. I was thinking about this recently, when I was reading some book or other which said that, until relatively recently, people of all classes spoke with regional dialects/accents. I think the book was referring to Tudor/Elizabethan periods specifically, but was also making the point that BBC changed the way people spoke. The book also said that regional accents were gaining in popularity again.

 

I think this is what I am referring to. (But book was from public library and is no longer with me.)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Story-English-Third-Revised/dp/0142002313/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381159289&sr=1-1&keywords=story+of+english

[Laura Corin]

My husband will most likely be going on a business trip to London for a few weeks next year and the kids and I will probably be tagging along.  My boys will be 5, almost 3 and 9ish months.

 

I've never been to London and will probably want to do a bit of sightseeing, but mostly I will be looking for fun, yet not too expensive or overwhelming, things to do with the kids during the day when I am on my own with them.  I'm not sure I will feel comfortable driving; how will I fare with three small kids on public transportation?

 

Suggestions?

 

Thanks,

Wendy

 

Public transport: the tube is fairly easy to manage - I have done it with two small children, but I would recommend a sling rather than a stroller.  The Tube is 150 years old and isn't wheelchair accessible.

 

What I would actually recommend is using a tourist bus tour.  You buy a ticket (for one or more days) and get on and off as you like.  You could just see London from the bus, or get off where you like.  The parks are good and you might like a river trip - dress warmly for the latter, even on a warm day.

 

L

 

 

[Laura Corin]

1. Can you adopt me so I can move there?

 

2. How can you cope with hearing that lovely Scottish brogue every day? I would be fainting with some creepy fan girl zest.

 

1. Sure

 

2. Not all Scottish accents are lovely.  The Fife accent can be really harsh and - to me - hard to understand.  My boss is from Aberdeen and, if he were a different person, swooning might be possible.

 

L

[Laura Corin]

I'd be interested in knowing what 'Britishnesses' surprise your dh.

 

And any comments you have about regional accents/word usage, not U vs. non U, not posh vs. working class, but regional. I was thinking about this recently, when I was reading some book or other which said that, until relatively recently, people of all classes spoke with regional dialects/accents. I think the book was referring to Tudor/Elizabethan periods specifically, but was also making the point that BBC changed the way people spoke. The book also said that regional accents were gaining in popularity again.

 

I think this is what I am referring to. (But book was from public library and is no longer with me.)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Story-English-Third-Revised/dp/0142002313/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381159289&sr=1-1&keywords=story+of+english

 

Accents: until quite recently, people who wanted to come up in the world would change their accents, either by themselves or through elocution lessons.  This is as much to do with class as it is to do with region.  In general, working class people have stronger local accents than middle class people: I grew up in Bristol but I don't have a Bristolian accent.

 

Husband and I have been together so long that our expectations are all mixed up, so he doesn't get surprised.  We met in 1988.

 

L

[Laura Corin]

What degree of power and influence does the aristocracy hold today? Where does their wealth come from? I know a long time ago the land they inherited guaranteed a certain amount of income, but I'm assuming this is no longer the case. Do they work like normal people? Do they get preferential treatment like rich, white men get in America?

 

It depends on the land.  The Duke of Westminster owns a large chunk of London.

 

Many others do work - often in jobs that rely on their contacts, like fund-raising, PR.  

 

Our local aristocrats in this area have large amounts of farmland, but I think there's an income from London property too.

 

Power - not much.  Influence?  I suspect a fair bit.  A name opens doors, I would think.

 

L

[HappyGrace]

Thanks for doing this!

 

Can you plz speak more about British accents---like was (is?) Cockney lower class? When I listen to Royals speak, I can hardly understand them-is that an upper class accent? What makes the accent different-is it class or region? I'm not understanding all that. How many different accents are there, generally, or is it too regional to define that way? (ie-in New York State alone there are many different regional accents!) Do you sound different to each other there, even just within the British language, and if so, do you say, oh, you must be from Bristol, or is it more, oh, you must be higher class?

[Laura Corin]

Thanks for doing this!

 

Can you plz speak more about British accents---like was (is?) Cockney lower class? When I listen to Royals speak, I can hardly understand them-is that an upper class accent? What makes the accent different-is it class or region? I'm not understanding all that. How many different accents are there, generally, or is it too regional to define that way? (ie-in New York State alone there are many different regional accents!) Do you sound different to each other there, even just within the British language, and if so, do you say, oh, you must be from Bristol, or is it more, oh, you must be higher class?

 

 

One recognises the location that the accent comes from.  But the fact that the person has an accent makes it more likely that they are working class.  This is certainly the case in Southern England.  The further you get from London, the more likely it is that middle class people will also have a local accent.  Even in Scotland, however, upper class Scots sound like their equivalents in England.

 

And yes, Cockney is a working class accent.  And there are many accents: each county has at least one distinct accent.

 

The older royals have an upper class accent.  The younger royals have a middle class accent, in general.

 

L

[Caroline]

How important is football? I think I have a skewed vision of it because most of the English/Welsh people I know are former footballers. (My kids play for a soccer club with mostly English (and one Welsh) coaches, directors, etc.)

[Laura Corin]

How important is football? I think I have a skewed vision of it because most of the English/Welsh people I know are former footballers. (My kids play for a soccer club with mostly English (and one Welsh) coaches, directors, etc.)

 

Very.  A lot of male interaction takes place around football conversations.  It gets in Husband's way that he doesn't like football.

 

L

[HappyGrace]

Thanks, Laura! I wouldn't have guessed that the younger royals have middle class accent-why is that? I assume they've mainly been around upper class at home, with friends and at school.

[Kathryn]

What are the chances of Scotland voting for independence and what will that actually mean both as far as people's day-to-day lives and how we learn geography?

[Caroline]

Very. A lot of male interaction takes place around football conversations. It gets in Husband's way that he doesn't like football.

 

L

I totally understand your husband's position. I teach in a majority Hispanic school, and I have had to learn a lot of soccer. I have a former Barnsley manager and a former Celtic player that I can text when I get in too deep. I can speak Gareth Bale with the best of them, now.

[Laura Corin]

Thanks, Laura! I wouldn't have guessed that the younger royals have middle class accent-why is that? I assume they've mainly been around upper class at home, with friends and at school.

 

Accents are changing - the fashionable accents have shifted 'down' the scale over the last fifty years, from the swinging sixties onwards.  All the young royals' friends at school are likely to have had, or affected, less exalted accents.

 

There was an interesting piece of research into how the Queen's accent had changed over her reign.  She gives a speech every year that is broadcast on Christmas day.  It gave the researchers excellent material.

[Kate in Arabia]

A question that's been in my brain for a number of years...

 

We're around a lot of nationalities, and a lot of native English speakers from different areas.  When my dd (now 8) used to watch the Little Princess on tv, I found her accent unusual?  It's not exactly like any of the other British English accents I've heard.  Is there some specific regional accent she's got going on, or is it just a quirky thing that was made just for her character (or part of the voice actor's normal speech patterns)?

 

I've always been curious...

 

Here's a link to a YouTube clip, if needed.

 

[Laura Corin]

A question that's been in my brain for a number of years...

 

We're around a lot of nationalities, and a lot of native English speakers from different areas.  When my dd (now 8) used to watch the Little Princess on tv, I found her accent unusual?  It's not exactly like any of the other British English accents I've heard.  Is there some specific regional accent she's got going on, or is it just a quirky thing that was made just for her character (or part of the voice actor's normal speech patterns)?

 

I've always been curious...

 

Here's a link to a YouTube clip, if needed.

 

It's a Northern English accent.  I'm not good at distinguishing them, but it could be Yorkshire or Lancashire.

 

ETA: I looked it up.  It seems to be Jane Horrocks, who is from Lancashire.

 

L

[saraha]

We have been watching Monarch of the Glen on Netflix.  Is that an accurate picture of the Laird class?  For example, the Laird and estate are broke, so they are trying to come up with money making schemes, like leading paid hunting tours and paid overnight guests.  I figure the characters are not typical, but are the problems the estate faces accurate?  The whole village wants them to sell the tenants the land, and it would be all better, is probably a simplified answer, is there a benefit to the land holder keeping the land?

 

Or am I way off and that this is just a tv show and not even a satire of real problems?

 

Also, we recently had lunch with a young man visiting from Scotland, and he sort of mentioned the mixed emotions Scots have toward independence.   How does that difference look statistically, like old/young, rural/urban, some other distinction?

 

Thanks for answering all of our nosy questions!

[Laura Corin]

What are the chances of Scotland voting for independence and what will that actually mean both as far as people's day-to-day lives and how we learn geography?

 

Who knows and who knows?

 

There are a lot of people who would instinctively vote for independence but who a) don't like the personnel or the policies of the Scottish Nationalist Party (currently in power) or b ) are not convinced that Scotland could make a go of it on its own.  On current showing, it looks like a 'no' vote.

 

In practical terms, Scotland would probably carry on being a member of the EU, but as a separate country, just as Eire (Ireland) is.  

 

L

[Laura Corin]

Is it hard to find fruits and vegetables at the stores there? Sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

Snort!  Yes, we all have scurvy.  Hang on, aren't we called Limeys for a reason?

 

L

[Laura Corin]

We have been watching Monarch of the Glen on Netflix.  Is that an accurate picture of the Laird class?  For example, the Laird and estate are broke, so they are trying to come up with money making schemes, like leading paid hunting tours and paid overnight guests.  I figure the characters are not typical, but are the problems the estate faces accurate?  The whole village wants them to sell the tenants the land, and it would be all better, is probably a simplified answer, is there a benefit to the land holder keeping the land?

 

Or am I way off and that this is just a tv show and not even a satire of real problems?

 

Also, we recently had lunch with a young man visiting from Scotland, and he sort of mentioned the mixed emotions Scots have toward independence.   How does that difference look statistically, like old/young, rural/urban, some other distinction?

 

Thanks for answering all of our nosy questions!

 

I haven't seen the show.  It looks as if it's set in the early 20th century - is that right?  I'm sorry, I don't know anything about that time period.

 

Estates these days survive by hospitality, I think - many people all round the world will pay an awful lot of money to shoot in Scotland.  This is a guess though - I don't mix in those circles.  Where I live is farmland rather than moorland.

 

I wrote about Scottish independence in my previous post - I'm not sure about how it breaks down.

 

L

[saraha]

The show was filmed in the early 2000 to reflect that time, for example the lack of cell reception and what could the Laird do, etc. 

Is the farmland privately owned then? Is there still a lot of land held in these big estates?  Do the Lairds have any more pull government wise, or are they pretty much just regular people with fancy titles?

 The young man we met, his parents were tenents on a big estate.  Not that that means the whole country is like that I understand, just curious since I doubt I will ever get to leave the US, this is a fun way to get some curiosity satisfied.  That and I can impress my dh with all my up to date info about Scotland next time we watch Monarch of the Glen

[HappyGrace]

Thanks, Laura-that was a fascinating article about accents!

[Laura Corin]

The show was filmed in the early 2000 to reflect that time, for example the lack of cell reception and what could the Laird do, etc. 

Is the farmland privately owned then? Is there still a lot of land held in these big estates?  Do the Lairds have any more pull government wise, or are they pretty much just regular people with fancy titles?

 The young man we met, his parents were tenents on a big estate.  Not that that means the whole country is like that I understand, just curious since I doubt I will ever get to leave the US, this is a fun way to get some curiosity satisfied.  That and I can impress my dh with all my up to date info about Scotland next time we watch Monarch of the Glen

 

Yes, Scotland is largely owned by big landowners.  My area is a bit different: it's split up into farms - very small by US standards.

 

I suspect that the lairds have relationship-influence (going to the same clubs as the local MP, etc.).  They have no official role in government.

 

As an aside: Scotland has right to roam legislation, so you can walk straight over those estates.

 

L

[LibraryLover]

What is the current relationship re Catholics/Church of England (ers)?

 

And why is the 27 Up etc documentary getting more and more boring?

[saraha]

Oh, yeah our young guest was telling us about the right to roam, how you can camp anywhere, as long as you don't leave anything behind etc.  We thought that was fascinating, and I personally thought, how scary.  The kids and I are here on the farm by ourselves a lot and I wouldn't like people just camping/ walking around at their leisure!

 

Thank you so much for answering all my questions!

[LibraryLover]

Thanks, Laura.

 

 

[Ellie]

You can only be 'Princess so-and-so' if you are born a Princess.  If you become a Princess by marriage, you are something like, 'Diana, Princess of Wales'

 

 

HA! I have always known this. I guess I read the good stuff, lol.

 

I have wondered about being Queen, though. If Charles and Diana had stayed married, when he became King she would have been Queen (which I understand is sort of an honorary title and does not make her a ruling monarch). But if a woman becomes Queen in her own right (as Queen Elizabeth), her husband does not become King. I don't think he even gets to be Prince unless (as with Prince Phillip) he is already a Prince because of his birth. I know there's no explaining this because it is such a long-standing tradition. It's just something I pondered, lol.

[Laura Corin]

What is the current relationship re Catholics/Church of England (ers)?

 

And why is the 27 Up etc documentary getting more and more boring?

 

I haven't seen the documentary, so I'll have to leave that one.

 

The personal relationship between CofE members and RC church members is good, as far as I know.  There are pockets of sectarian trouble, where ancient tribal loyalties are expressed in religious terms (not only in N. Ireland but also in parts of Scotland), but these are the exception.  I believe that some conservative CofE congregations have negotiated to join the RC church under special rules, in order to avoid having female priests or bishops.

 

The legal restrictions on Catholics marrying into the Royal Family are likely to be relaxed - I've not be following this closely, so I don't know the details.  Prince Charles has also stated that he wants to be Defender of Faiths rather than Defender of the Faith.  Which could be interesting if/when the time comes.  

 

Religion really isn't my specialist subject.....  I will say that religion in Britain is a much more private matter than it seems to be in some parts of the US.  Generally, I only discover that someone is a church goer through tangential events: I might ask how they know someone, and they will say it is through church; I might suggest a play date, but it turns out that that is the day of the church picnic.

 

L

[Laura Corin]

Oh, yeah our young guest was telling us about the right to roam, how you can camp anywhere, as long as you don't leave anything behind etc.  We thought that was fascinating, and I personally thought, how scary.  The kids and I are here on the farm by ourselves a lot and I wouldn't like people just camping/ walking around at their leisure!

 

Thank you so much for answering all my questions!

 

I don't want to sidetrack the discussion too badly, but the low ownership of fire-arms leads - I believe - to reduced anxiety about wandering strangers.  I'm happy to discuss fire-arms further, but I just don't want this aspect to take over the whole thread.  

 

We have three acres and, in theory, people could have free access to two of those.  It's unlikely - as there's no obvious route out - but it's legally possible.  People can't come through the immediate curtilage of the house, so there is a buffer.

 

In general, I have learned from my time on these boards, people are much less concerned about trespass/privacy here than some are in the US.  I don't know anyone who phones me before dropping round, unless it's just to find out if I'm in.  And I can't imagine worrying about someone turning in my drive - I'd be curious, but no more.

 

L

[Laura Corin]

HA! I have always known this. I guess I read the good stuff, lol.

 

I have wondered about being Queen, though. If Charles and Diana had stayed married, when he became King she would have been Queen (which I understand is sort of an honorary title and does not make her a ruling monarch). But if a woman becomes Queen in her own right (as Queen Elizabeth), her husband does not become King. I don't think he even gets to be Prince unless (as with Prince Phillip) he is already a Prince because of his birth. I know there's no explaining this because it is such a long-standing tradition. It's just something I pondered, lol.

 

I think that it's more that the title of 'Queen' (which after all just means 'woman') was normally used for 'wife of king' and only exceptionally used for 'ruler'.  Whereas the title of 'King' always meant 'ruler'.  If you think of the speech of Elizabeth 1 at Tilbury, she borrows the title of 'King' to express her right to rule and be followed.

 

L

[wintermom]

Are universities in the UK private or publicly funded? Are there specific universities which are very expensive and/or admission is highly sought after? In the US, there are 8 Ivy League universities, but we haven't anything really comparible in Canada. Large Canadian universities are all publicly funded, and tuition fees are relatively low. The standards for admission are quite similar among them as well.

 

I know that historically, some universities in the UK have been very prestigious, and was wondering whether this is still the case or if things have changed dramatically in the last 50 - 100 years.

[Laura Corin]

Are universities in the UK private or publicly funded? Are there specific universities which are very expensive and/or admission is highly sought after? In the US, there are 8 Ivy League universities, but we haven't anything really comparible in Canada. Large Canadian universities are all publicly funded, and tuition fees are relatively low. The standards for admission are quite similar among them as well.

 

I know that historically, some universities in the UK have been very prestigious, and was wondering whether this is still the case or if things have changed dramatically in the last 50 - 100 years.

 

Almost all universities in Britain are publicly funded - I think that there are a couple of private ones.  The most prestigious are still Oxford and Cambridge, followed by a self-selected group called The Russell Group and a few others.  All of those will charge £9,000 per year, which is the maximum that any university is allowed to charge.  Fees are repaid through the tax system over the graduate's life, and written off after thirty years if earnings have been inadequate.

 

This prestigious bunch is much harder to get into than other universities, some of which may also charge less.  For comparison, to get into Oxford you would need at least three A grades at A level, plus you have an extra exam to pass, you have to submit essays written at school, and attend an interview.  To get into the University of the West of England you would need BBB grades without all the other requirements.

 

L

[Joules]

 

 

In general, I have learned from my time here, people are much less concerned about trespass/privacy here than some are in the US.  I don't know anyone who phones me before dropping round, unless it's just to find out if I'm in.  And I can't imagine worrying about someone turning in my drive - I'd be curious, but no more.

 

L

 

Does it "feel" safer there than the US?  I'm not talking about just statistics of crime rates, but it seems that unless you are in the big cities, crime doesn't seem to be a constant worry.  My first thought was that crime rates are lower, but then I wondered if the culture is just more laid back and less stressed.

 

[Laura Corin]

Does it "feel" safer there than the US?  I'm not talking about just statistics of crime rates, but it seems that unless you are in the big cities, crime doesn't seem to be a constant worry.  My first thought was that crime rates are lower, but then I wondered if the culture is just more laid back and less stressed.

 

 

As far as I remember, our murder rate is much, much lower, but our burglary rate is higher.  As most burglaries take place in empty houses, I don't think people get too scared about them.  We've never been burgled, but the flat in London where Husband lives during the week for work was burgled when he was absent at Christmas.  It was irritating but not frightening.

 

L