Not Moving
I decided that moving right now would be too much of a hassle and will stay in the current place for another year.
A couple of weeks ago I was on a business trip to London. While there, some people from work, Mari and I went to have a few pints of beer in various pubs. I have to say that I admire British pub culture in general, and so my experiences in those establishments were very pleasant.
The pubs in Britain seem to be much more of communal places that the bars here in US. They may vary from small unassuming pubs where people go to after work to ornate and expansive Pubs that are frequented by fast living crowds. But in all cases, you feel like there is a sense of, oh, I don’t know, camaraderie? And even before I read Passport to Pub I noticed that people there follow “rules”. What do I mean by that? Things like going up to the bar to order your beer, follow the queue, treat bartender as an equal, etc. The Social Issues Research Institute of Oxford conducted a study of the pub habits, behaviors, and etiquette and this is the result. By all means, click on the link above, it is a very entertaining read.
Can’t wait to go to London again.
29/06/2004 at 11:02 pm Permalink
From what I hear, pubs in Ireland are like that even more so.
30/06/2004 at 12:37 am Permalink
I would go as far as to say that in U.S. the primary goal of going to a bar is to drink and socializing is secondary. In Britain it is the opposite.
30/06/2004 at 1:35 am Permalink
As you move away from the more urban areas and into the country, you’ll find that the pubs (and people in general) aren’t always quite so welcoming (http://www.leagueofgentlemen.co.uk/ !). Pubs in britain are about socializing, relaxing, maybe catching a live band, and drinking.
Ireland is similar, but more hostpitable and with more drinking
30/06/2004 at 1:58 am Permalink
I find most bars in the US incredibly boring – play pool, watch sports, play darts.
You can find some pubs where socializing is the main focus. They’re usually awkward for outsiders though.
30/06/2004 at 2:09 am Permalink
Speaking of high costs (like your rent) – I hear London is really expensive. More so than Silicon Valley?
30/06/2004 at 8:21 am Permalink
You’d have to ask one of the Londoners who’s lived in Silicon Valley as well.
02/07/2004 at 7:33 am Permalink
Taking the different value of currency into account, it’s at least as twice expensive to live in london as it is in the valley, if not three times.
03/07/2004 at 4:57 am Permalink
Pub culture down here in South Africa is similar in towns like Paarl for example. There’s a pub called Bossa Nova which I used to frequent on business trips to Paarl and surrounding areas.