flâneur

The United Kingdom

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Since the summer of 2023, I've spent about eight months and counting in the UK. This note records some of my recommendations, warnings, and observations about this country, which seemed to me so similar to the US but turns out to be very different. I was surprised at how culturally distinct Britain feels from the rest of western Europe. Orwell told me so, but I didn't quite believe him until I came and saw for myself. The most striking differences are that the British speak English and drive on the left, but there are a thousand subtler things that make them different from their neighbors. British roads are much worse maintained than roads on the continent. British people dress roughly the same way Americans dress—that is, carelessly, or else excessively well in a conscious attempt to display high status. They don't have the same polished sense of style you see in France or Germany. Their work culture is un-European. Especially in southern Europe, you see lots of adults at leisure out

The United Kingdom Home About The United Kingdom Since the summer of 2023, I've spent about fifteen months living in the UK. This note records some of my recommendations, warnings, and observations about this country, which seemed to me so similar to the US but turns out to be very different. General observations I was surprised at how culturally distinct Britain feels from the rest of western Europe. Orwell told me so , but I didn't quite believe him until I came and saw for myself. The most striking differences are that the British speak English and drive on the left, but there are a thousan

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