Roll With It

Brit-Think, Ameri-Think: A transatlantic Survival Guide, By Jane WalmsleyA commonly used quote to describe the relationship between Americans and the British is one by George Bernard Shaw, which reads, “American and Britain are two nations divided by a common language.” After reading Brit-Think, Ameri-Think: a Transatlantic Survival Guide by Jane Walmsley, I can confirm just how relevant Shaw’s quote really is. Walmsley, not unlike Sarah Lyall, author of the first book I read, came to London first when she was in college, married an Englishman, and has now lived in England for over twenty years. Her book, written in 2003, is a short guide of some of the cultural differences between the US and Britain. Each chapter covers a topic or aspect of daily life, and presents the generalized perspective of the American and British psyches. Here is a sampling of her ideas: Ameri-think: Death is optional, new is good, choice is a right, a big desk defines your importance, always over heat or over cool rooms, and always look for a home with a walk-in closet. Brit-think: Stay cool, tradition is good and new is bad, stay on your own turf, wear a sweater when it’s cold, and small portable wardrobes are far more appropriate and cozy. As I went over this book in one of the reading rooms of the British Library, I had to physically restrain myself from laughing out loud and breaking the silence. A couple giggles escaped, which not surprisingly was followed by a couple detesting glares. All I could think was, leave it to the American to disturb the peace. Yet, I was so excited by how I could think of a number of times in which I had experienced these different behavioral tendencies of Americans in London. First, Walmsley asserts, “the right to substitute a tossed salad for French fries is enshrined in the constitution. Americans like to live life á la carte “ (5). At dinner the other night, a friend who was visiting from New York attempted to ask for chicken to be added on top of her salad. She became exceedingly frustrated when the waitress told her the only way she could eat chicken was if she ordered the main chicken course, and was so unsuccessful that she couldn’t even request a side plate. The inability to substitute is a serious concern for Americans. In addition, Americans have exotic flavors of ice cream (think the plethora of the Ben and Jerry’s oeuvre). We love to sample and explore the possibilities. Brits, on the other hand, stick to the traditional three: Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla. Why? Because that’s how it’s always been. I noticed this fact when I went to the theatre recently. It appears to be a tradition that during intermission, everyone queues up along the side aisle to select one of three little cups of ice cream to eat during the second act. Finally, I totally support Walmsley’s belief about “The importance of being cute” in American attitudes about traveling. We want anything and everything to be “cute:” Hugh Grant, that cashmere sweater from Harrods, the old buildings, and quaint cafes. On a day trip to Brighton yesterday, my friends and I found ourselves describing the Royal Palace, which is designed like an Indian temple, as “cute.” Something’s wrong here. One of my favorite chapters of the book is about the importance of fingernails, physical fitness, and bettering oneself. Walmsley describes the American mentality, “After all-when life so precious, why waste a single day feeling bad about your nose?” (35). While this anecdote might appear like a silly insignificant difference, it is highlighted by an overarching philosophy held by both cultures that helps to contextualize why each culture lives and thinks the way it does. The Brit-think motto is, “Let it be,” and “let things stay as they are.” Ameri-think, on the other hand, is “we have the right to have it all, and we will stop at nothing to get it.” To me, such values explain why Brits are inherently cool, while Americans are hot. Even when Americans try to be cool, they are doing it in a hot way. To go back to that quote, women are so driven to get nose jobs, vigorously practice pilates and yoga, and spend endless amounts of money in nail salons because they’ve got to make the most of their time on earth and must achieve perfection before it’s too late. Brits on the other hand, want to get by, as long as they can establish and maintain a feeling of being the “master of their domains.” They’re either born “with it” or they are not. If a British person has it all, good for him or her. If not, too bad. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Walmsley’s text. Her sharp humor was nicely complemented by Gray Joliffe’s illustrations, which resemble cartoons from The New Yorker. The only aspect of the book that makes it more of a comical work and less one that can be considered as a serious anthropological study is that she decides to paint pictures of very specific stereotypes, i.e. the businessman or the southern waspy wife, and only lightly touches on younger generations. She wrote the text in 2003, and while her comparisons begin to give way to “New Labor” figures and young “Brit Groovettes,” she does not comprehensively address the reality that in a globalized world spurred by the unlimited access and exposure generated from the internet, all of us are becoming increasingly in touch with those of our generation in other countries. Ultimately, reading Brit-Think Ameri-Think and The Anglo Files has reinforced the idea that in order to successfully assimilate, or even travel to, London, one must first understand and embrace that these two places are not the same, and that is what makes each one special. I know that my four months here have certainly taught this to me, and it’s no surprise that now I embrace both the London approach to life and the wonderful, unique cultural values of New York.