The COUNTRY
The UK is situated north-west of the European continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.
It has a total land area of 244,100 square kilometres, of which nearly 99% is land and the remainder
inland water. From north to south it is about 1,000 kilometres long. The UK part of Europe and is a
member of the European Union (EU).
Britain is full of culture and traditions which have been around for hundreds of years. British customs
and traditions are famous all over the world. When people think of Britain they often think of people drinking
tea, eating fish and chips and wearing bowler hats, but there is more to Britain than just those things.
Culture:
The culture of the United Kingdom refers to the patterns of human activity and symbolism associated
with the United Kingdom and the British people. It is informed by the UK's history as a developed island
country, being a major power, and, its composition of four countries (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland
and Wales) each of which have preserved and distinct customs, cultures and symbolism.
The British are very reserved and private people. Privacy is extremely important. The British will
not necessarily give you a tour of their home and, in fact, may keep most doors closed. They expect
others to respect their privacy. This extends to not asking personal questions. The question, “Where are you from?”
may be viewed as an attempt to “place” the person on the social or class scale. Even close friends
do not ask pointedly personal questions, particularly pertaining to one’s financial situation or
relationships.
There is a proper way to act in most situations and the British are sticklers for adherence to
protocol. The British are a bit more contained in their body language and hand gestures while speaking.
They are generally more distant and reserved than North and South Americans and Southern Europeans, and
may not initially appear to be as open or friendly. Friendships take longer to build; however, once
established they tend to be deep and may last over time and distance.
Heritage:
Britain has an interesting history and is good at preserving its traditions and old buildings and gardens.
There are many museums and art galleries.
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