England in the 21st Century

[upsticks]

England, famous across the world as the country of Shakespeare, royalty, fair play and manners, is a nation of "overweight, sex-and-celebrity-obsessed TV addicts", according to a new tourist guide.

I'm not sure what to make of this article on England in the 21st Century.


I mean, England isn't the dry stone walls and rolling hills and apple-country it seems to suggest that it is. It isn't the magical fairytale country, where people speak slowly and clearly, and all with the same accent - the perfect RP.

We don't wear bonnets, and complain about decency.

I'm not sure we even feel so strongly about Royalty anymore. I for one, feel particularly indifferent to it (right now, at least).


But saying we are a nation of "overweight sex-and-celebrity-obsessed TV addicts"?

You forgot the Chavs.



Tell me, flist, anyone - from England or not - do you think England is overweight/sex-obsessed/celebrity-obsessed/tv-obsessed?

Comments

[irishmagik7.livejournal.com]

Yes to the super friendly bit, although in my experience people from Ontario can bitch with the best of them. Usually not about other people though, just about all our own issues lol.
And yes to the igloos - this being from some ignorant Americans.
Sorry, the Maritimes is what we call our East Coast provinces. Don't ask me why, but it seems like anyone from either New Brunswick, Nova Scotia (where I go to school), Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland definitely live up to being amazingly hospitable.

I've only been to Vancouver once before, but it was definitely beautiful.

And I'm with you about being a bit ethnocentric in terms of being scared of having to deal with non-English speaking countries. Especially if it has no relation whatsoever to a Romantic language. I'd be able to handle France as soon as all years of French classes kick in mentally, and maybe Italy with my 1 year of Italian classes. But I would have major issues with Eastern Europe or Asia. I'm game for going to Western Europe and muddling through though.

I'm going to move onto a completely different topic now just because I have the opportunity: I'm thinking of moving to England to study law, but I was wondering if you could tell me from your impressions which are good universities. Preferably outside of London, since it freaks me out a bit with it's massive metropolitanism (don't know if that's a word, but basically I don't have a lot of experience with very large cities).

[glitterfairy25.livejournal.com]

Igloos. That still confuses me. I mean, WHERE FROM? THEY ARE A DIFFERENT COUNTRY. THEY MUST LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

I like learning stuff and not being so ignorant :)

It just felt really comfy. And there was so much to do... and, *happy sigh* I love it.

Well, we used to go to places like France and Spain and Turkey and Italy... but we haven't been to any places that don't speak English for a while, and it makes me nervous now, cos I'm an ignorant Brit who demands everyone speaks my language :'( I'm with you on Romantic stuff as well. I'm not sure I'd ever be able to get anywhere near places like Russia or Japan :S (I fear Japan more than is rational. There's just SO. MUCH. CULTURE. So much to go wrong.)

Oooh, your best bet is to look at league tables and stuff. I have friends at my uni who say this one (Reading) is very good for law. I'm not sure how they know that though, so I'll find out and get back to you *makes note*. It's also quite near London (40 mins) so it wouldn't be too far from your knowledge of England, if you like, but far away enough to not be all that metropolitanistic ;P It feels weird biggin' up my own uni, but it does seem a good uni for you.

Unless you're looking for all round good unis? A hint that may be helpful: look for Universities that are "The University of ___________". Usually, that means they are more prestigous, and better 'set up' (longer running) for Further Education, rather than many institutions which may not have "university" in the title, like, for example, "York St. John" or "Oxford Brookes" (both recently became univesities rather than "polytechnics". Here in Reading, there's "The University of Reading" and "Thames Valley University". UOR was established in something like 1928, TVU a lot later. The older universities also tend to be a bit more "academic" rather than "vocational". But it depends what you're going for.

That's a lot of info. I hope it makes sense. Feel free to ask anything more :)

And yes, London freaks me out too. I don't understand BOROUGHS and stuff.

[glitterfairy25.livejournal.com]

woah, Long comment is long.