Coming up to the 4th of July now, one of the two holidays that never fails to make me nostalgic for the States (the other is Thanksgiving).  I supposed that’s because, unlike a lot of the other holidays, rather than being celebrated, but in a different fashion, they are totally ignored: no parade, no Independence Day barbecues, no pool parties … [Read more...]

I might have titled this post “2012 Olympics-Bound” or something similar, but I didn’t want to be sued.  Seems the UK Olympic committee has copyrighted the term “2012 Olympics” (darn, now I owe them another fiver). (Editor's Note: I'm not afraid to use 2012 Olympics) (Side Note: As I write this, it is 407 days until the, um, Big Event … [Read more...]

What’s the use of having a column if you can’t use it to your advantage once in a while. I don’t have much to say these days because I’ve been busy working on another book. Just for you (yes, you). This book covers the second half of my first decade in Blighty. If you liked the first book (Postcards From Across the Pond) you’ll … [Read more...]

It has been no ordinary week. The wedding, as you are well aware, went off with nary a hitch and I was able to sit and watch it in the comfort of my own sitting room (drinking tea out of our commemorative Kate and Wills tea mug) while Jonathan braved jet-lag (as well as a crowd of more than a million revelers) not 30 north of where I was. As … [Read more...]

I understand. You're an Anglophile, you've been dreaming of visiting Britain your whole life, now here you are on your first trip abroad, delighted to be in the company of real, live Brits. So why do they seem annoyed with you? Maybe it was something you said. In order to avoid spending most of your vacation on your own, take note of the … [Read more...]

I'm standing outside my kitchen door trying to imagine American-sized appliances in there. Currently, we have a washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer and a stove in there. The reason I'm standing out here trying to imagine it is, if they were all American-sized, I can't imagine being able to fit in there with them. And my kitchen is unusual only … [Read more...]

I have just passed my eight-year anniversary. On February 28th 2002, I left the US with no home, no job and a new appreciation for what it means to be homeless—as if most homeless people are flying off to Europe on a trans-Atlantic jet. My fiancée's parents took me in, so I didn't actually have to sleep on the street, and things began … [Read more...]

It's always a crap shoot when you agree to meet up with another blogger.  I'm happy to say, however, that I have a good track record (and still regret not being able to meet up with Jonathan) and that today was no exception. I used the last of my 2009 holiday allowance (25 days a year, oh yes!) to travel up to London to meet up with Brit Fancy … [Read more...]

I don't generally do reviews, but this was something special: War Horse is a book by children's author Michael Morpurgo. The book was made into a West End play and my wife and I went to see it this past weekend. You must see this play. It was, without question, the most dramatic, moving, thought provoking and technically dazzling piece of … [Read more...]

Mike Harling - our excellent American Expat columnist living in Britain who writes Dispatches from the South - was featured on BBC Oxford on Friday. Mike talks about the differences between the USA and the UK and how they celebrate Halloween. Very interesting talk! Click below to have a listen - it's about five minutes long! Congrats … [Read more...]

One of the unexpected side effects you will discover if you become an expat is that you will often feel as if you are adrift in a sea of uncharted idioms. After seven years, I now know where most of the reefs are, but there is still the overall feeling that I am, ultimately, an outsider, both because I occasionally find myself not understanding … [Read more...]

To me, one of the best, unexpected side-effects of living in Britain is that memories from my youth are often confronted with their reality here. And while reality can sometimes be disappointing, it is always a thrill to find myself walking down Drury Lane (where, if anyone had any sense they would open a pub called “The Muffin Man”) or … [Read more...]

Okay, let's get this out of the way from the get go: the biggest difference between cops in the UK and cops in the US is guns. It really mystified me when I came over here and saw cops without any side arms. It still does. The result of this disparity is apparent if you watch those “Cops With Cameras” shows currently populating our … [Read more...]

We interrupt our regularly scheduled dispatches to bring you this special bulletin. Your dispatcher from the south was on BBC Oxford today (25 August) for a five-minute interview on the differences between the way American and the British celebrate. Click the link and move the counter to 32: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00437cj It's … [Read more...]

When people ask me what is different about Britain and I tell them, “everything,” they think I'm exaggerating. But when something as simple and ubiquitous as a sandwich can cause confusion, you know you are dealing with decidedly disparate cultures. First of all, the British have no concept of the Peanut butter and Jelly … [Read more...]

When I moved here, I expected a lot of differences, and assumed these differences would follow me into my place of employment. But my move from a US to a UK work environment was not nearly as much of a culture shock as my move from a public sector job to private industry. After 25 years as a civil servant, private industry came as quit a shock. … [Read more...]

If you've been paying attention (and if not, why not), you will have noticed my regular column has not been here for the past three weeks. That was my son's fault; he got married. And insisted I attend. As is generally the case when my wife and I attend North America, we flew into Canada—both because we like exploring our neighbor to … [Read more...]