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Virtual tour to Britain: Olga Bogachova, 11b

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THE HOW TO BE BRITISH COLLECTION REVIEW
By Olga Bogachova, 11b

I have read the first part of the book under the title The How to Be British Collection. It was written by Martyn Alexander Ford and Peter Christopher Legon. This book consists of colourful cartoon illustrations with accompanying texts, which describe the usual life of the British: their habits, traditions and character in a humorous way. It is a real guide on how to get around in English. In order to be British, or at any rate to pass unnoticed in British society, the visitor must learn some iron rules of behavior in society.

One of the first things to remember by the arrival in Britain is about Terms of Endearment. Like all other peoples Britons use diminutive affectionate words in speech, such as such as dear, love and darling. Also you may be called: Precious, Honeybunch, Treasure, Bunny, Angel, Teddy Bear, Lamb, Handsome, Big Boy, Star or my Little Sausage. The best respond in this case will be your pleasant smile. If you have a desire to call an English- speaker a wetleg, fish-eye or roastbeef, it can cause great offence.

When tourists come to Britain, they always pay attention to red telephone boxes. They were very popular before the advent of mobile phones. It was an opportunity not only link up to the great wide world, but also exchange news and gossip with neighbours. And what’s more, once you were inside that box everything you said was private. In any case, no mobile phones or new generation of phone boxes can replace that romance.

Another feature of the British is their Dress Sense. If you have never been to London , you will be shocked by their street fashion. In summer one person can go in shorts and a T-shirt and he or she will be terribly stuffy and just 20 meters beside the girl will go in a mink coat with a hat and she will be fine. In this way they feel themselves free and try to show their independence of fashion, weather and social convention.

Summarizing, it’s not so easy to be a true Brit, as it seems at first sight!