The day we choose to leave Serrig, after our two month stay with Nicole’s parents, was fantastic weather. I had been told all week that if it rains on Saturday it will be because the clouds are crying when we leave. I liked this image – so was upset to see that the clouds had not even bothered to turn up let alone cry.
I think I have mentioned before but one of the things most people associate with the British is bad weather – within 5 minutes of meeting someone new there is usually a joke about raining Cats and Dogs. I try to do my best to get rid of this stereotype – by pointing out that we have less rain in London than there is in Rome each year. Telling people that it is just a perception and that it is not true – this never works – they look like they believe me – but next time I see them – A British weather joke again. (Incidentally I have found this stereotype is so strong that even the British believe it – there is no way to get rid of it – yet if you actually write down and notice the weather over a month I think you will be surprised.)
It has been great for me that the weather in Germany has been awful the time that we have been there – I think that there were only 4 sunny days – the rest cloudy and rainy (there really has been a lot of rain!). So I have managed to convince people that perhaps the weather is the same in Germany and the UK – an achievement over two months!
In the future I will work on other silly stereotypes that still get taught at school:
- The British have a cup of afternoon tea each day at 4pm
- Policemen are referred to as Bobbies and wear those hats with nipples on
- We are very traditional people with lots of heritage who don’t like change
- Everyone has perfect stripes on their lawn
Finally a mention of a couple of things the British are referred to in Germany. We are called “The Island Monkeys”, Tommies and Beefeaters among others.
[...] previously mentioned we had great weather on the day we [...]
Hello, very interesting about the weather in Germany and England.
I´m half English half Catalan, and I also have problems with the weather in Catalunya or Spain. Again people use stereotypes, like that it´s always sunny and warm, and that there is no snow (except on hills) or some people are suprised that we have central heating in my town Manlleu, which is inland, from Barcelona.
We have cold winters, with temperatures that can go down to -10ºC sometimes even more, like the -17ºC in 2001!!!!! Many garden plants and wild animals died, birds etc.
Adam.