Quote from: SredniVashtar on September 20, 2022, 04:33:36 AMI'm starting to worry about you, dear boy. You can't give these people an inch. The next thing you'll be telling me that that 'all men are created by equal' garbage was true as well. It sounds like you need to head back to Blighty instanter before the rot really warps you for good and all. I will choose to believe that this is all a 'deep cover' operation you are engaged in and you are really sowing mischief and discord behind the scenes prior to our long-planned invasion moving into full-swing.
Thanks for blowing my cover. My handlers at MI5, CIS, MFI, CBI, LTR and UPS will not be best pleased. But when I'm not engaging in 'deep cover' for HMG my cover employment is being gainfully employed in a technical capacity which brings me into contact with natives from all walks of life and on the whole they're okay..some are funny folk, but I'll come to that. After almost six years here I've met the lot!
Memsaab of course is above reproach but even she says the locals can be dubious. I get asked at least once a week if I'm from London. (It doesn't get trite after the first hundred times); My reply is usually; "Oi, do I look like that sloe gin swilling southerner, SV? Well, do I?" At that point their eyes dart left and right and they're trying to work out if a) they do know you, b) if there's been a police bulletin when you might have been mentioned c) Did you appear on 'The Voice' or somesuch 'talent' contest. When it's clear they haven't heard of you (I know, I know) I explain I'm from the only county worth mentioning in England, that no, it isn't near London, no it isn't near Edinburgh either, or Paris, or Dublin.
I was asked if I was Irish once, and when I said no, I'm English, she asked if I was sure...Generally if you're a Brit you get treated with more respect and it's assumed you're better educated. Seeing as the FED spend less than 1% of GDP on public education, it isn't difficult to believe. But there's no incentive to make it better because...well, draw your own conclusions. But having said that I'm working among some very capable people who really know their stuff.
The stereotype that most Americans don't really know much about anything outside the four corners of their garden (Or tarp if you're homeless) isn't without merit. And it's obvious when I meet those who have been out and about (Usually have a military background or quite wealthy). It took me a while to realise why that is. It isn't entirely a lack of curiosity or being insular and not caring, it's mainly financial. Unlike the UK, vacation days are not mandatory, and many (Not all) jobs require a full year's employment before qualifying for any leave. Sick days are not paid everywhere. And if you do get leave, it's fewer days than the 28 enjoyed in the UK. Which explains why most Americans who holiday in the UK are retired.
In California they have an 'easy in/easy out' deal with jobs, you can be fired on the spot without redress, but likewise you can leave without notice too.
The 'funny folk' tend to have a weird sense of reality and if you dare to dig down, are trumpers. I haven't met many, because it's northern CA, and the one's I have met are frequently from out of state. A few weeks ago I was at a customers place and one guy had his phone playing Alex Jones..and he was relaying to his colleague what the good lord Jones was selling, I mean conveying his wisdom. He blamed the wildfires in the state on Communists, yes really. Although most are not arson and those that are, the political leanings of the crim isn't usually made known. I didn't venture the question as to how he knew and why they would because his eyes bulged and I wasn't sure of his emotional containment. I quietly muttered 'Ooookaaayyyyy' and backed out of the room.
But fear not old man and when my boys get my private jet back into civilian configuration after it was pressed into service dropping food parcels to the peasants in Pacific Heights me and the fragrant Laura will take a visit to the home counties. I think we're still allowed to drop into Brize Norton, even though the copybook was blotted somewhat with that little jape 'Badger' Harris-White had on his thirtieth birthday bash back in 1993. Enough said.