This comes via the BBC show called From Our Own Correspondent. BBC Reporter Justin Webb has been living in the USA for the last 8 years as the BBC North America correspondent.
He’s now moving back to Blighty and has some interesting thoughts on leaving America and the prospect of living in the UK again.
From the article:
The woman who is to sell our house is a prime specimen. She is perky. Nothing gets her down, not even the fact that we are selling in the midst of the biggest depression since the Great Flood. In this area it is different.
“You have a lovely home!”
But she thinks we have too many books. She does not say so but she talks of creating spaces on the shelves – for snow-globes, perhaps, or silver photo frames with perfect children showing off perfect teeth.
This is a cultural thing. When selling a home in America, you have to pretend that you do not live there.No, you have to pretend that no-one lives there. Or ever has.
Previously owned homes are of course the norm for us Europeans. We understand that previous generations have made their mark. This means – as we English know, having grown up with rattling windows and mouldy grouting – that a home will be imperfect.
They do not make such allowances in America.
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Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia was started to get us back to the UK for a trip and it did that in 2009. Now, the goal is for Anglotopia to make our dreams of traveling to the UK whenever we want a reality.
A very illuminating article, and very interesting that, while he paints his disgusting portrait of America, he reveals those qualities that I most despise in the British. That haughty disdain for all things common by those of the “educated” classes. The article drips with his hatred of the trappings of the lives of ordinary people. It must have pained him greatly to spend 8 years here. Oh well, he’s back in the land where the common people aren’t troubled with questions like how they should live their lives or how their country should be governed. He’s there to make that decision for them. Good luck!