Funny American Article about the English

I wonder how many people believed this.

Advice for Tourists

The Brits have peculiar words for many things. Money is referred to as "goolies" in slang, so you should for instance say "I'd love to come to the pub but I haven't got any goolies." "Quid" is the modern word for what was once called a "shilling" -- the equivalent of seventeen cents American. Underpants are called "wellies" and friends are called "tossers." If you are fond of someone, you should tell him he is a "great tosser" -- he will be touched. The English are a notoriously demonstrative, tactile people, and if you want to fit in you should hold hands with your acquaintances and tossers when you walk down the street. Public nuzzling and licking are also encouraged, but only between people of the same sex.

Habits
Ever since their Tory government wholeheartedly embraced full union with Europe, the Brits have been attempting to adopt certain continental customs, such as the large midday meal followed by a two or three hour siesta, which they call a "wank." As this is still a fairly new practice in Britain, it is not uncommon for people to oversleep (alarm clocks, alas, do not work there due to the magnetic pull from Greenwich). If you are late for supper, simply apologize and explain that you were having a wank -- everyone will understand and forgive you.

Universities
University archives and manuscript collections are still governed by quaint medieval rules retained out of respect for tradition; hence patrons are expected to bring to the reading rooms their own ink-pots and a small knife for sharpening their pens. Observing these customs will signal the librarians that you are "in the know" -- one of the inner circle, as it were, for the rules are unwritten and not posted anywhere in the library. Likewise, it is customary to kiss the librarian on both cheeks when he brings a manuscript you've requested, a practice dating back to the reign of Henry VI.

One of the most delightful ways to spend an afternoon in Oxford or Cambridge is gliding gently down the river in one of their flat-bottomed boats, which you propel using a long pole. This is known as "cottaging." Many of the boats (called "yer-i-nals") are privately owned by the colleges, but there are some places that rent them to the public by the hour. Just tell a professor or policeman that you are interested in doing some cottaging and would like to know where the public yerinals are.

The poles must be treated with vegetable oil to protect them from the water, so it's a good idea to buy a can of Crisco and have it on you when you ask directions to the yerinals. That way people will know you are an experienced cottager.

Food
British cuisine enjoys a well deserved reputation as the most sublime gastronomic pleasure available to man. Thanks to today's robust dollar, the American traveler can easily afford to dine out several times a week (rest assured that a British meal is worth interrupting your afternoon wank for).

Few foreigners are aware that there are several grades of meat in the UK. The best cuts of meat, like the best bottles of gin, bear Her Majesty's seal, called the British Stamp of Excellence (BSE). When you go to a fine restaurant, tell your waiter you want BSE beef and won't settle for anything less. If he balks at your request, custom dictates that you jerk your head imperiously back and forth while rolling your eyes to show him who is boss. Once the waiter realizes you are a person of discriminating taste, he may offer to let you peruse the restaurant's list of exquisite British wines. If he doesn't, you should order one anyway. The best wine grapes grow on the steep, chalky hillsides of Yorkshire and East Anglia -- try an Ely '84 or Ripon '88 for a rare treat indeed.

When the bill for your meal comes it will show a suggested amount. Pay whatever you think is fair, unless you plan to dine there again, in which case you should simply walk out; the restaurant host will understand that he should run a tab for you.

Transportation
Public taxis are subsidized by Her Majesty's Government. A taxi ride in London costs two pounds, no matter how far you travel. If a taxi driver tries to overcharge you, you should yell "I think not, you charlatan!", then grab the nearest bobby and have the driver arrested. It is rarely necessary to take a taxi, though, since bus drivers are required to make detours at patrons' requests. Just board any bus, pay your fare of thruppence (the heavy gold-colored coins are "pence"), and state your destination clearly to the driver, e.g.: "Please take me to the British Library." A driver will frequently try to have a bit of harmless fun by pretending he doesn't go to your requested destination. Ignore him, as he is only teasing the American tourist (little does he know you're not so ignorant!).

Speaking of the British Library, you should know that it has recently moved to a new location at Kew. Kew is a small fishing village in Wales. It can be reached by taking the train to Cardiff; once there, ask any local about the complimentary shuttle bus to Kew. Don't forget that buses are called "prams" in England, and trains are called "bumbershoots" -- it's a little confusing at first. Motorcycles are called "lorries" and the hospital, for reasons unknown, is called the "off-license". It's also very important to know that a "doctor" only means a Ph.D. in England, not a physician. If you want a physician, you must ask for an "MP" (which stands for "master physician").

For those traveling on a shoestring budget, the London Tube may be the most economical way to get about, especially if you are a woman. Chivalry is alive and well in Britain, and ladies still travel for free on the Tube. Simply take some tokens from the baskets at the base of the escalators or on the platforms; you will find one near any of the state-sponsored Tube musicians. Once on the platform, though, beware! Approaching trains sometimes disturb the large Gappe bats that roost in the tunnels. The Gappes were smuggled into London in the early 19th century by French saboteurs and have proved impossible to exterminate. The announcement "Mind the Gappe!" is a signal that you should grab your hair and look towards the ceiling. Very few people have ever been killed by Gappes, though, and they are considered only a minor drawback to an otherwise excellent means of transportation. (If you have difficulty locating the Tube station, merely follow the signs that say "Subway" and ask one of the full-time attendants where you can catch the bumbershoot.)

One final note: for preferential treatment when you arrive at Heathrow airport, announce that you are a member of Shin Fane (an international Jewish peace organization -- the "shin" stands for "shalom"). As savvy travelers know, this little white lie will assure you priority treatment as you make your way through customs; otherwise you could waste all day in line. You might, in fact, want to ask a customs agent to put a Shin Fane stamp in your passport, as it will expedite things on your return trip.
 
England Expects (RAF Cdt) said:
I wonder how many people believed this.

Probably more than you would believe, if my experiences with foreigners in my own country are any indication (I convinced a French kid that we had lawless bands of indians running around in the mountains who would scalp you as soon as look at you :lol: ).
 
I have a feeling that the first american tourist to take this one seriously is in for a loooooooonnnnggg stay at the britsh goal...thats if he survives the drawing and quartering! :D
 
I think i might take it seriously the next time i go to England. But under an alias, and have a steel butt plate of coarse.
 
I have to agree with Redneck(against better logic though), more people believe that then you would think. There are so many people around that would buy anything. Make it appear official or as an actual article and thats it.
 
England Expects (RAF Cdt) said:
One final note: for preferential treatment when you arrive at Heathrow airport, announce that you are a member of Shin Fane (an international Jewish peace organization -- the "shin" stands for "shalom"). As savvy travelers know, this little white lie will assure you priority treatment as you make your way through customs; otherwise you could waste all day in line. You might, in fact, want to ask a customs agent to put a Shin Fane stamp in your passport, as it will expedite things on your return trip.

They spelled Sinn Fein wrong.
 
A guy in UK even believed that I would take him on icebear safari.. Since when did Sweden get icebears? :lol:

People buy anything these days..
 
Redneck I know exactly what you mean about gullable foreigners, I was in London for a day and walked past Buckingham Palace, a group of Canadian tourists overheard me talking about the Coldstream Guards outside the Palace and began swarming around me. Before I could do anything or say anything they were having photos taken of me and them shaking hands, I couldn't really say I wasn't a member of the Royal Family after all that, they were so happy and I liked tha attention really.
There was also another incident with a group of Japanese tourists, I was walking with a friend of mine and immediately a group came up to us and started taking photographs, the friend resembles John Major the British Prime Minister before Tony Blair came to power, again I thought it heartless to inform them that he wasn't in fact John Major and I wasn't a Member of Parliament.
The joys of tourists.
 
Lol !!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
We make lots of fun of the Japanese here ( figure out how many millions of Japanese tourists we have here in the summer ) because they always tke photos of virtually everything, from monuments to houses to streets to people. We get the giggles when we see some of them. Last time a couple was taking photos of Milan Central Station's stairs. I mean how the heck can you just take photos of stairs ??????

BTW when I was in Canada somw yrs ago people were very surprised to hear that we do have blond girls and guys, that we are not all darkhaired and browneyed and some of them ( not all to be honest ) were unfriendly because they suspected every Italian for possibly being a Mafiaman or something.
Which yeah I definitely am.... 8) :2guns:
 
:lol: Those folks probably still talk about the British celebrities they met on their vacation.


ItalianGuy, I sh*t you not, I was in a McDonald's once when a busload of Japanese tourists in track suits showed up, and half a dozen of them started walking around filming the interior and exterior of the building (and all of the other customers). I know it wasn't the first McD's they'd seen, but it was awful special to them for some reason.
 
Its that camera gene they have spliced into their DNA when they are conceived...they must record or die :D

Actually, this is their way of preparing for their second world conquering tour. Each tourist is given the task by the government of taking photos of everything they see, and once back in the country, giving the second set of photos from Wal-Mart to the secret organization buried deep under the bowels of the Nikon building. There, select teams catalogue ever structure of military significance for possible use later...including the rest stops and the McDonalds (remember, an army marches on its stomach).

Oops...now that I have exposed their insidious plot...I hear a knock on the door...: D
 
Yeah your not supposed to know that, and that im part of it.... :shock: oh **** you werent supposed to know that. Well before the FBI, SBI, and CIA come for me, *knock* :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: ... to late. Well it kinda comes from use living in a soft society compared to the old days. If you think about it. *Fuzz drags me out after long hard battle* REMEMBER MY NAME, LT COL NULLI "HAWK" SECUNDUS.
 
Redneck said:
:lol: ItalianGuy, I sh*t you not, I was in a McDonald's once when a busload of Japanese tourists in track suits showed up, and half a dozen of them started walking around filming the interior and exterior of the building (and all of the other customers). I know it wasn't the first McD's they'd seen, but it was awful special to them for some reason.

"Oooh tik- eh look! An oreegin'l american MekDunald's..oooooh tik photo, tik photo ! ooooooooooh let us tape thet bewtiful weytress.... Click!Clik! :D

I know you might edit this, but hey it was too fun to do it, sorry pal-
 
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