English Customs - Discover which ones are true or false!

I have been living in Italy for the last 3 years and often people ask me about different customs we have in the UK. "Is it true that you drink a cup of tea at 17:00 everyday?" or "I heard that it always rains". In my opinion, the best way to discover a language is to go and visit the country itself! But for now, I'm going to respond to some of the most popular questions about English customs...

• "Is it true that you drink a cup of tea at 17:00 everyday?" - FALSE 

While it is true that the English love a cup of tea, you can drink it anytime of the day! In fact, I like to have one in the morning and one in the mid-afternoon. Many drink it with milk which can be strange for many Italians. Don't forget a good biscuit! 

• "I heard that it always rains". - FALSE 

While compared to the Italian climate, there are some colder and rainier days, it certainly doesn't rain everyday! In fact, something interesting is that the rain is normally very light, which we call "spitting". And of course, there are plently of sunny days to enjoy walking in London Hyde Park or sitting by the seaside in Brighton. 

• "English people always say sorry". - TRUE

English people, generally, are very polite and like to say "sorry" a lot, even when it is not always their fault! For example, if you are on the train and someone bumps into you, you automatically say sorry even though you haven't done anything wrong - it makes no sense! We also use other words like "Please" and "Thank you" many times in our conversations. 

• "The typical dish in England is Fish&Chips".  - FALSE

While Fish&Chips is one of the typical things we eat, it is by no means, the only thing! In fact, I normally eat it once a year, when I go to the seaside. We have a lot of typical food but they are mainly winter dishes like "Roast Dinner" or "Cottage Pie". If you want to try some sweet things, search for "Scones" or "Sticky Toffee Pudding". 

• "English people love queuing".  - TRUE

We love queuing, whether it's to get on a bus or order something in a cafe, it is important to "Get in line". People get very angry if you go in front of them without asking. 

• "Are you always punctual?" - TRUE

In general, when we make an appointment, whether it's meeting a friend or going to a restaurant, we like to arrive on time. Arriving after 20 or 30 minutes (without warning) is considered rude and rather annoying! In fact, in London people move very quickly to get to where they need to go. 

Learning a language isn't just about the grammar, but having a deep understanding of the culture behind it. It can unlock new vocabulary, understanding and ways of communicating. Once you begin thinking like an English person, you'll soon become a pro!