The How To Be British Collection One

2 Arrival (p. 4)

You can see the visitors arriving at British airports, their wide eyes and flushed faces expressing the mingled wonder and apprehension they feel. They’ve made it! They’re actually here, in this fairy tale land of knights and wizards, princes and pop idols, the birthplace of the industrial revolution, computers, human rights, pork scratchings, evolution, lawn tennis, parliament and punk.

Some of the new arrivals look a bit disorientated and confused, which is only natural as everything here is so different and, well, so much better! But life here can take a bit of getting used to: driving on the left, being ruled by a Queen, pouring gravy or custard over everything and of course getting around in English the whole time!

One thing the visitor soon discovers: although Brits come in many di. erent shapes and sizes we are united by one very important characteristic: we are all waiting for the weather to ‘buck up’.

Avoid sayingTell me — why do you have a royal family?

Expressions to learn
Hello. You must be Big Ben.
I’ve heard a lot about you.