Good manners.

Being polite and having good manners are extremely important for many British people and that includes me. It's not a stereotype. Us Brits (well the majority of us), are a little obsessed with politeness and not wanting to offend people.

This can make it hard for others to really know what a Brit really thinks or wants to say. Even in urgent situations, phrases like 'would you mind' or 'is it possible' are common, so is the desire not to make the other person feel too uncomfortable.

Is it just the British who apologise for situations when it wasn't even their fault? 'Sorry' is an overly used word. You can bump into a Brit and they may well apologise too, as if to say they were jointly responsible for the accident.

Other words which are also very important are 'please' and 'thank you'. These are very important words for me as a Brit. Of course these are important for many people in many countries, but for British people they are essential. If in doubt, say it.

Punctuality is another strong British tradition and again it's very important to me. I hate being late. I get stressed if I think I might be late. I always leave plenty of extra time on longer journeys. If it's a choice between arriving early and sitting for 30 minutes or a small chance of being late, I'll leave early.

Saying 'hello' to strangers is another common action. For example if you meet someone who is doing a similar activity to you, saying 'hello' is common. I'm talking about, meeting someone who is also walking in the forest at the same time as you or walking their dog in the street as you pass with yours. Passing parents with kids when you're with your children, also deserves a 'hello'. Is it the same in Poland?

Now obviously, not all British people are like this, but I class myself as a 'typical' English man. So what do you think? Am I right? What are your opinions on British politeness based on your experiences?

Until next time.....

#nativespeaker, #britishculture, #pleasebepolite