7. People Here Are Insanely Nice
tumblrBritish people are grumpy. Not when we're all in a pub having a laugh, but in every other situation. Bus late - grumpy. Food cold - grumpy. Didn't win the lottery - grumpy. Parents killed by ball lightning - grumpy. When you live in the UK it's hard to see it as an outsider does, it's only when you branch out and go elsewhere and look back in that you can tell that the country as a whole is rather unhappy. America is often portrayed as fake with "Have a nice daaaay!" cited as pretensive and disingenuous but you know, it's not - Americans really do enjoy life more thank the Brits and with that happiness comes friendliness way beyond anything I've experienced in Blightey. I went shopping once and left a case of beer on my trolley and didn't realize it until I got home. I drove back to the store and of course it was no where to be seen. Americans may be nice but free beer is free beer. So just on the off chance I went to customer service to see if it had been handed in. Again, no such luck. But then something happened that simply would not happen in the UK; the nice CS lady, without any proof that I was telling the truth or even asking for a receipt, said I could go to the booze isle and grab another case. She even walked me out so I wouldn't get popped by store security. This is one of a hundred stories I could tell of the kindness of the yanks. I've broken down on my bike more than once and despite looking like Andre the Giant's love child, people stopped to ask if I needed help. Old ladies, young men, families on a day out - it didn't matter who they were or who I was. To them I was someone in trouble and it's an American's duty to help. After running out of fuel in the middle of Amish country a complete stranger stopped, went to the petrol station, drove back, filled my bike up then refused to take any money, not even for the gasoline. Americans say hello to you in the street, they smile when taking your cash in the shops and they just overall have a much nice demeanor. Yes, I know this is going to rub my fellow Brits up the wrong way. But it's true and rather than doubting it, just take a look at the face of the person selling you a pint next time you're knocking a few back.