5 Things I Like About Britain

I feel obliged to say that there is quite a lot I dislike about Britain: This ranges from the jingoistic flag-waving to the weather, from the horrible "Proud to be British" attitude to the (and this is unfortunately still  the case) fatty stodginess of the food.
Still, there are things I'm fond of. So here goes, in no particular order, but without the dulcet tones of "God Save the Queen":

1. The Language
Whilst I'm a lover of all languages, English is my favourite. Why? Because it can be anything you want it to be? Its range of register is second to none. You can express the same sentiment in at least 10 different ways, high, low, vulgar, ironic, condescending, old-fashioned, street. The vocabulary is endless, it adopts to any new situation, it is malleable, relatively easy to learn, beautiful - and it is the language I feel most comfortable in.
2. Sandwiches
Was there ever a better invention, food-wise? A sandwich can be whatever you want it to be. Any type of bread, any type of filling, as small or as big as you like it. Cold, toasted, vegetarian, opulent...Sandwiches are tasty, practical, healthy (well mostly). You can take them with you, share them, re-invent them. I honestly can't think of anything nicer. P.S.: They can be soggy, too.
3. Political Correctness
Don't laugh - I like it! It doesn't have to be authoritarian, or ridiculous. It's just a way of dealing with one another that is fair, even-handed and non-threatening. It helps to avoid conflicts of all sorts, makes life easier and prevents pub-bores to vent their spleen. And yes, you're still allowed to laugh about people: The ones that enforce it to a ridiculous degree! :)
4. (Change of Topic, when I come to my next point:) Oxford
Somebody said that if you enjoyed Oxford, everything afterwards is just a big let-down. If that's a slight exaggeration, Oxford is certainly the most profoundly life-changing experience you can have in modern times. If you're unconvinced you could just visit the town, stand on Magdalen Bridge and look at the willow in front of the college. It would still just be a tourist experience, but you'd gain a tiny insight of what I'm on about. (And no, Cambridge with its bus station and its higgledy-piggledy architecture doesn't really come into the equation!)
5. Jamie Oliver
Now, is this man a genius, or isn't he? He's single-handedly guided the British public towards olive oil, lemon juice and herbs, told them that vegetables are actually edible, and no, they don't need an hour in boiling water. Furthermore he took up the mettle with fierce Northern mothers who want to feed their offspring  chip-butties, and iffy mince for breakfast. He's unfussy, loveable, and eager to change things for the better.


I realise that not everybody will agree with my choices of what I like, so go on - tell us YOUR faves!

10 Things I Like About Germany

I will probably have to disappoint those avid Interculturalists amongst you who are just waiting for the words "clean" and "efficient" to crop up  in order to respond with a lofty "oh yes we all know about the ruthless efficiency and the penalities of Germany". It's just a personal little tour of what I like and a bit of why. It's very subjective, in no particular order, and you probably won't agree. But still.

1. The smell in chemist's shops (Apotheken). It's not really medicinal -  more herbal, fresh and aromatic. I've never smelt it anywhere else, and it's intoxicating!

2. The fact that women (of a similar age-group) tend to smile at each other on the streets, or in shops, or trains. Rather than glower.

3. That people at neighbouring tables in a restaurant ackowledge each other with a smile or a nod, and say good-bye when they leave, rather than pretend there's nobody sitting next to them.

4. That there is a market in every town, even the very small ones. Not an artficially created Farmers' Market but a century-long established one, with brilliant fresh produce, seasonal flowers - and that everything is so nicely presented, in baskets, wooden boxes etc.

5. The fact that Germany is so centrally located within Europe. I have this thing about not liking marginal locations. It makes me feel cut-off and side-lined. (I also don't really like islands, sorry.)

6. That (whilst they do exist) there isn't a "mall culture" when it comes to shopping. Shops are strewn about the whole town and are plentiful and varied. I'd hate having to drive to some out-of -town shopping centre and loading up the car with everything in one oh so sensible trip.

7. Its variety. Big modern towns (like Hamburg), strange towns (like Berlin), picturesque towns (like Munich). Wonderful seaside, (North Sea, and Baltic), the Alps, the wonderful lakes, both Alpine and in the North. Heaths, rivers, vinyards. It's so much more beautiful than other countries which constantly blow their own trumpet.

8. Which brings me to my next point: Its modesty. Germany is probably the most affluent, economically successful country in Europe. People are generally wealthy, there's no major strife, integration is voluntary and painless. Its politics is mostly consensual.Yet it doesn't boast of its assets. Probably all due to its history, but right now, in 2012, I find that  a very sympathetc trait.

9. That it's still governed by middle-class values. Many people might not like this, but I do. I'm not keen on seeing people do their shopping in pyjamas, and don't want to get used to it either. Or being asked, threateningly "And what's wrong with that, eh?" I don't like seeing people face down in the gutter on a Friday night. Or ramshackle little houses with huge expensive cars in the driveway.

10. And finally, yes: That is has a functioning infrastructure which -it has to be said - functions because a lot of money is being poured into it. What's so great about trains being late and rubbish not being collected? Or fast-lanes for rich drivers? Sorry, not for me!

My next blog might be about 10 Things I don't like about Germany....