American questions for the Brits

[Mondy]

Originally Posted by kc_artist_rocker

Tell me about your weekly work schedule. I am about to pack up and head over to Europe because I hear that some countries have 2 hour lunch breaks and workers get 4 or more weeks of vacation per year. How many hours per week is considered a regular work week?

Most people here in US get only an average of 2 weeks vacation per year and the regular work week is 40 hours (but many end up working more than that).

I am sick of working most of my life away and want to move somewhere that would allow more time off. I don't mind working, and I believe it important for society that all people work a set amount, but I would almost rather live somewhere that I didn't have to work my life away.

I work in IT.

My standard hours are 37.5. However, I regularly go over that and am expected to without any bonus. If it gets REALLY tight, then they do offer overtime, but it comes down from high up usually, and is preapproved befiorehand with you agreeing what you are going to get done.

I get 28 days holiday with option to buy or sell days at approx £100 a day.

Sounds good, but I hate my job and the IT industry, well mainly the type of people you find in there with their heads up their own arses.

However, the money is very good, and allows for my wife not having to work and look after the baby...

I wish I was skilled in plumbing, plastering, decorating, electrics, etc. as that is where the money seems to be these days...

[Mondy]

Originally Posted by Riff Addict

My favorite comedy show has got to be Monty Python. Occasionally on a late night talk show here we'll see an interview with one of the guys....my question is are there any ongoing Monty Python related TV shows on British TV with some of the original cast members that maybe we don't see in the states? Do you see Cleese and the other comedians regularly on other TV programs?

Michael Palin is on the TV the most, but doing travel documentaries. Pole to Pole, around the World in 80 days, etc., etc. His commentary has his own quirky style with you realising that he had a big hand in a lot of the way Monty Python was shaped.

John Cleese pops up at award ceremonies by live feeds from America, and he once said that we didn't get his type of humour anymore.

I think that it's just all been "done" over here now, so the money's over in America, where it hasn't been "done" so extensively.

That said, Python were ahead of their time, and absolute geniuses, but no, not as popular over here anymore...

[Riff Addict]

Do you think the Austin Powers movies were funny, offensive & stereotypical, or did you say to yourself "I hope Americans don't really think thats what Brits are like!"

[Mondy]

Originally Posted by Riff Addict

Do you think the Austin Powers movies were funny, offensive & stereotypical, or did you say to yourself "I hope Americans don't really think thats what Brits are like!"

Austin Powers films were hilarious, cuz Mike Myers poked fun at every bit of British Spy film and aspect of British life and humour. As well as many other films and film techniques.

Absolutely spot on, and timeless films, always guaranteed a giggle.

I didn't think, "I hope that's not what Americans think us Brits are like !"

I just watched the film and thought it was piss funny !

As for how we perceive each other, well, threads like this bridge the gap, but everyone's just going to form their own opinions at the end of the day, aren't they ?

[nroberts]

Originally Posted by Riff Addict

Do you celebrate Halloween in England?

Well, correct me if I am wrong but I believe Halloween has its roots in Europe, and I'm thinking mostly England. It was a "pagan" holliday having to do with the end of crop season and the beginning of winter. It was closely related to death probably because of the way the world starts to sort of shut down for a while. This was the time to communicate with dead loved ones and to show them respect. Crops that had not been harvested were left in the garden for the spirits. Really there was a lot to the whole festival and I don't even recall all the little bits I knew at one time. I think this might have been one of the times when they did the calling of the dragon...which was basically building a great big huge fire and dancing around it and having a really big party.

Then the Catholics came in and had to convert everyone. They adopted many of their festivals, gave them a new name and new face, and were then able to get people to stop going to the "other" parties that were probably a lot more fun until going to them was a death sentance. In fact, Christmas itself is just such a holiday and the keeping of the tree in the house is not only pagan in origin, it is actually in the bible (new testament but can't recall where) that you are not to do it.

Many of our biggest holidays are pagan in their roots. In that way, we never left the woods.

Of course now they are all just more reasons for Halmark to sell cards and various other commercial entities selling us a bunch of garbage we only use once.


And here is a question for you brits: Why can't you guys spell anything to save your lives??!! I mean hell, you even spell color wrong!!! WTF is up with that??!!

[Riff Addict]

Originally Posted by mondola

Austin Powers films were hilarious, cuz Mike Myers poked fun at every bit of British Spy film and aspect of British life and humour. As well as many other films and film techniques.

Absolutely spot on, and timeless films, always guaranteed a giggle.

I didn't think, "I hope that's not what Americans think us Brits are like !"

I just watched the film and thought it was piss funny !

As for how we perceive each other, well, threads like this bridge the gap, but everyone's just going to form their own opinions at the end of the day, aren't they ?

I thought they were hilarious too...its funny how we perceive others from different countries just from what we see in the news or in movies...I live in Texas and I hate it when those who have never been here, think we all are cowboys, wear boots and big hats and live on ranches...LOL...John Wayne times are gone for the most part and I can't say I've seen anyone wearing a cowboy hat here in Waco for a very long time. Well, maybe an old man on a tractor might be wearing one while mowing his yard.

[nroberts]

Originally Posted by mondola

I work in IT.

Well, IT is a pretty broad term, what exactly is it that you do do?

Right now I do a little programming, a little networking, a little of everything, but next week I start my new job where I do programming pretty much exclusively. I'll be writing code in C++ using the Win32 API...no MFC, no .NET...

This is basically an entry level position and I'll be getting 48k. What does an "IT" guy over there get? I think 48 is a good, fair amount but I know some other people make quite a bit more for the same type of work.

[nroberts]

Originally Posted by Riff Addict

I thought they were hilarious too...its funny how we perceive others from different countries just from what we see in the news or in movies...I live in Texas and I hate it when those who have never been here, think we all are cowboys, wear boots and big hats and live on ranches...LOL...John Wayne times are gone for the most part and I can't say I've seen anyone wearing a cowboy hat here in Waco for a very long time. Well, maybe an old man on a tractor might be wearing one while mowing his yard.

Oh come now. You're all a bunch of back woods, good ole boy, rim hat wearing, rodeo riding, rootin' tootin', shoot 'em all republicans and you know it.

[serpant]

Originally Posted by nroberts

And here is a question for you brits: Why can't you guys spell anything to save your lives??!! I mean hell, you even spell color wrong!!! WTF is up with that??!!

Now hold on remember you speak ENGLISH ! we spell it correct COLOUR

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by mondola

I work in IT.

My standard hours are 37.5. However, I regularly go over that and am expected to without any bonus. If it gets REALLY tight, then they do offer overtime, but it comes down from high up usually, and is preapproved befiorehand with you agreeing what you are going to get done.

I get 28 days holiday with option to buy or sell days at approx £100 a day.

Sounds good, but I hate my job and the IT industry, well mainly the type of people you find in there with their heads up their own arses.

However, the money is very good, and allows for my wife not having to work and look after the baby...

I wish I was skilled in plumbing, plastering, decorating, electrics, etc. as that is where the money seems to be these days...

Im right there with ya! I am exe desktop support for BP here in chicago. Once again we are going through a contract change. Same job , different name on the pay check.
How are you judged out there in terms of qualifications? Certifications used to be the big thing here but now its more about have some kind of business back ground or Bachelors Degree.

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by nroberts

Well, correct me if I am wrong but I believe Halloween has its roots in Europe, and I'm thinking mostly England. It was a "pagan" holliday having to do with the end of crop season and the beginning of winter. It was closely related to death probably because of the way the world starts to sort of shut down for a while. This was the time to communicate with dead loved ones and to show them respect. Crops that had not been harvested were left in the garden for the spirits. Really there was a lot to the whole festival and I don't even recall all the little bits I knew at one time. I think this might have been one of the times when they did the calling of the dragon...which was basically building a great big huge fire and dancing around it and having a really big party.

Then the Catholics came in and had to convert everyone. They adopted many of their festivals, gave them a new name and new face, and were then able to get people to stop going to the "other" parties that were probably a lot more fun until going to them was a death sentance. In fact, Christmas itself is just such a holiday and the keeping of the tree in the house is not only pagan in origin, it is actually in the bible (new testament but can't recall where) that you are not to do it.

Many of our biggest holidays are pagan in their roots. In that way, we never left the woods.

Of course now they are all just more reasons for Halmark to sell cards and various other commercial entities selling us a bunch of garbage we only use once.


And here is a question for you brits: Why can't you guys spell anything to save your lives??!! I mean hell, you even spell color wrong!!! WTF is up with that??!!

Really?? I thought it was like the Simpsons episode where everyone dressed up in scary costumes to trick any Ghouls, witches etc. That and the Salem Witch trials. Just plain ignorance and fear.

[nroberts]

Originally Posted by serpant

Now hold on remember you speak ENGLISH ! we spell it correct COLOUR

It has always made me wonder. You sound out that U?

Come now, you're all really trying to sound French aren't you...

[Figs]

Interesting thread.......

[nroberts]

Originally Posted by sweeps

Really?? I thought it was like the Simpsons episode where everyone dressed up in scary costumes to trick any Ghouls, witches etc. That and the Salem Witch trials. Just plain ignorance and fear.

Well, there may have been some dressing up. I don't think it has anything to do with the witch trials though.

These pagan religions were all pretty much shamanistic. Lots of superstitions. The whole dressing up to scare the spirits is the standard school taught story and it might have a lot of truth to it. It wouldn't surprise me any.

[Mondy]

Originally Posted by nroberts

Well, correct me if I am wrong but I believe Halloween has its roots in Europe, and I'm thinking mostly England. It was a "pagan" holliday having to do with the end of crop season and the beginning of winter. It was closely related to death probably because of the way the world starts to sort of shut down for a while. This was the time to communicate with dead loved ones and to show them respect. Crops that had not been harvested were left in the garden for the spirits. Really there was a lot to the whole festival and I don't even recall all the little bits I knew at one time. I think this might have been one of the times when they did the calling of the dragon...which was basically building a great big huge fire and dancing around it and having a really big party.

Then the Catholics came in and had to convert everyone. They adopted many of their festivals, gave them a new name and new face, and were then able to get people to stop going to the "other" parties that were probably a lot more fun until going to them was a death sentance. In fact, Christmas itself is just such a holiday and the keeping of the tree in the house is not only pagan in origin, it is actually in the bible (new testament but can't recall where) that you are not to do it.

Many of our biggest holidays are pagan in their roots. In that way, we never left the woods.

Of course now they are all just more reasons for Halmark to sell cards and various other commercial entities selling us a bunch of garbage we only use once.


And here is a question for you brits: Why can't you guys spell anything to save your lives??!! I mean hell, you even spell color wrong!!! WTF is up with that??!!

I thought it was All Saint's Eve. So all the evil were safe to come out the night before All Saint's Day ? But what do I know ?

We just spell things properly (read : difficultly). You guys just economised everything.