England

[Hovallax41]

So one of my best friends asked me if i wanted to go to England during the summer. My parents said yea and everything, and his mom is from England. His aunt (who we will being staying with for some ammount of days) lives in Cornwal (sp) its right near the ocean. But his grandparents live in Manchester so we will go there to. We might take a day trip to London.

So what im asking is
1. What is there to do in England.
2. What is there to eat (like what kind of food)
3. How do i be polite, a hand shake, dont touch them what?
4. If you have gone did you like it?

[FitzGoalie]

So one of my best friends asked me if i wanted to go to England during the summer. My parents said yea and everything, and his mom is from England. His aunt (who we will being staying with for some ammount of days) lives in Cornwal (sp) its right near the ocean. But his grandparents live in Manchester so we will go there to. We might take a day trip to London.

So what im asking is
1. What is there to do in England.
2. What is there to eat (like what kind of food)
3. How do i be polite, a hand shake, dont touch them what?
4. If you have gone did you like it?

My mom was born in england to english parents;

1. Plenty...theres always something interesting going on. london is a cultural mecca of the western world, and england has such a rich history that even if you're not into learning on vacation, theres bound to be some cool museums to hit up, heck you could even hit up a Castle. Also, Cornwall has among the most beautiful countrysides in all of the world. if nothing else, just kick back and look at the scenery. And there's always the Pub scene (drinking age is 18 and unenforced)...

2. England is not known for it's cuisine, but i personally think it's delicious. Fish and chips, Bangers and Mash, Shepard's Pie, and a Ploughmans lunch are safe bets. Stay away from Blood Pudding, Tripe, or Mincemeat (which is delicious, but disgusting). Breakfast is usually bigger and involves more vegetables. In most parts of england, Tea (delicious, but always pour the milk in before the tea) is served each afternoon with crumpets, scones and various other pastries and sweet snacks. If all else fails, you'll be able to find a lot of American cuisine, especially in town. A few notes about terminology: "Chips" are fries, "Crisps" are chips, "Biscuits" or "Digestives" are essentially cookies, and "Pudding" is a general term for dessert.

3. SImply reciprocate what they do to you. A Handshake will not be looked, down upon, even if it isn't neccessarily a local greeting. In some rural parts of England a high to low (palm up, palm down) high five is a standard greeting, but it's really a coloquial thing, and varies from region to region. Remember, these are English speaking Westerners just like you; despite minor differences, there is not major cultural or language barrier to contend with. Sp long as you don't go kissign people on the lips or grabbing their cojones, you really don't stand in danger of breaking taboo.

hope that helps.

[tobin4]

i went when i was like 4-5 so i cant really tell you much.
but i'd say just don't be a stereotypical american tourist.

[Hovallax41]

thanks fitz goalie.

tobin i will try not to be.

[Titanoh]

A fanny pack and a camra hanging around your neck, some short short's, and the hawiian flower shirt, pale legs, oh, don't forget the 80's style sunglasses, maybe a little sunscreen on your nose.
Thats you right?

[Hovallax41]

ahaha i role up out the plane like that,....

[Titanoh]

Omg, this is so you!
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh3.google.com/_ep2RzLc0MrY/RzmUCJfwOaI/AAAAAAAACKs/iQ-TaFaWmv8/s800/DSCF0794%2B(Medium).JPG&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/66qIp3yGkNrYI84yXtLgLQ&h=601&w=800&sz=84&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=ZmzFJccFXmY7OM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtypical%2Btourist%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den %26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX

Oh, and the fanny pack looks like this:
http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/fanny_pack.jpg

Haha, the one on the left.
http://www.kimrichter.com/Blog/uploaded_images/tourists-772108.jpg

[ML_LAX09]

Yeah, make sure you have an American flag on the fanny pack too.

[Kr3wLaxUno]

Omg, this is so you!
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh3.google.com/_ep2RzLc0MrY/RzmUCJfwOaI/AAAAAAAACKs/iQ-TaFaWmv8/s800/DSCF0794%2B(Medium).JPG&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/66qIp3yGkNrYI84yXtLgLQ&h=601&w=800&sz=84&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=ZmzFJccFXmY7OM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtypical%2Btourist%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den %26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX

Oh, and the fanny pack looks like this:
http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/fanny_pack.jpg

Haha, the one on the left.
http://www.kimrichter.com/Blog/uploaded_images/tourists-772108.jpg

HEY! those top ones r my parents

haha jk but has that ever happened on here? Like someone posting a funny picture and it be someone that someone on here knows?

[Titanoh]

Dunno...
My friend was looking at "stuff" at my house (if ya know what I mean) and there was an advertisment for "stuff" (some kind of dating thing) and one of the pictures looked just like my Mom at first glance, we were cracking up so hard after that.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

So one of my best friends asked me if i wanted to go to England during the summer. My parents said yea and everything, and his mom is from England. His aunt (who we will being staying with for some ammount of days) lives in Cornwal (sp) its right near the ocean. But his grandparents live in Manchester so we will go there to. We might take a day trip to London.

So what im asking is
1. What is there to do in England.
2. What is there to eat (like what kind of food)
3. How do i be polite, a hand shake, dont touch them what?
4. If you have gone did you like it?

1. alot. touristy stuff is a given (london most likely requires more than a day to do all you'll want to do (i've never been tho)). depending on how old you are, pub. drink is pretty big in England. Cornwall will be great, nice beaches. If you can go to the Cotswolds for stereotypical England.

2. food has pretty much gotten to be about the same as in America over the years depending on where you go. try an English breakfast ('fry up') atleast once. there are different names and such for food.

3. the English are very polite. basic politeness (please, thank you, excuse me) is a must. also, you cannot say sorry enough. if someone bumps into you say sorry aswell.

4. i haven't gone, but i hope to in the next year. the summer is overrun with tourists. i just know alot about the English.

[laxman656]

dont go i was stuck for 32 hours in that damn airport, and still havent left the country!!

[NorthernViking]

Manchester is the English "hotbed" for lax. There are a number of sports clubs that play lax in the area, Timperly, Brooklands, Heaton Mersey (sp?), Sheffield and several more. Not necessarily the quality of the lax here (Before our English friend get upset there are plenty of exceptions). Visit Old Trafford (Man U's stadium) the tour is pretty cool.

Cornwall is absolutly beautiful!

Liverpool (home of The Beatles) is not far west of Manchester and a cool place to visit ,as is Chester which is kind of between (though a little south) Liverpool and Manchester. If you are a football (soccer) fan, the preseason usually starts in mid-august I think. Don't try and watch Cricket, it will just hurt you brain!!!

Oh and take LOTS of money. The current exchange rate is 2:1, dollars to pounds, meaning everything is expensive.

Bottom line is definatly go! It's a great county and the people are great! Too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Last, if you don't have a passport, apply now as it will take some time, 4-12 weeks, to get it unless you expedite the process which costs extra.

[Hovallax41]

Thanks northernviking it sound so sick i can't wait.

[gtodude]

i absolutely lovvvveeeee england. if youve been to boston its like that. heres some lingo u need to know. a fag is not a gay person, it is a cigarette, the lou is the bathroom, the lift is the elevater, and the tube is the subway.

there is a lot to dom there are stores that sell pretty much anything, if you go into london there is the eye (big ferris wheel) and some pretty sick site seeing.

the british dont really care about etiquite as much as you would think, its the same here. just good god, whatever you do DONT MENTION THE FRENCH!!!!! they hateeeeee the french soooooo much but its not considered racist there because they alllllll hate them

[uklaxx]

I laughed reading some of these england generalisations.

1. Manchester - wicked night out as in london, but london is ridiculously expensive / cornwall will be quieter but much cleaner air, croyde is a standard beach and worth a look if you can get to devon which is close
2. Same as you. Lol. This isnt some third world country we are talking about.
3. Just dont be rude and a verbal greeting is fine, handshakes may be seen as a bit wierd...

[abomb]

Dont be loud.

If you want water (in a resteraunt), ask for tap water, or they'll give you freaking Evian and charge you 2 pounds for it.

[Hovallax41]

My friends mom who is taking me asked me what are two places that i would want to go.
Can't be super far no more north of Manchester.
I know that i want to go to London but anybody else have ideas. I am 13 and can get antsy so make it some what fun (interesting)