I'd certainly agree that some of our behaviours are odd by international standards - but then perhaps everybody's are in one way or another. I know Scandinavians find our aversion to directness odd - and we can find them direct to the point of rudeness. We probably are the only people in the world who apologise if someone treads on our foot - and we really, really do.
But there is a part of our stand-offishness that represents real concern for others privacy. As a crip I appreciate that compared to the experience of friends in some other countries - and they've been pleased with their experience of the English - no OTT nosiness but abundant helpfulness when they needed it. (I say "English" but I don't know whether we differ from the rest of the British and Irish.)
I wonder if it's partly our aversion to showing off. But I know it drove me round the bend when I've worked on the Christmas post or delivered leaflets. First find the house - then work out by telepathy whether the dog is safe - then hunt for the letter box if any - then make sure you shut the gate. Hunting for gites in France etc hasn't seemed any easier, though.
Okrawrites Okra is OK if you don't let the juice run out ie don't cut off the tops and bottoms...
Whatever the motivation, there isn't a trace of snobbishness among people I know who try diets etc for health problems - whether they're right or wrong. Nor about food in general, come to that. But I probably don't move in the right circles - or perhaps I just edit them out of my experience. I like a nice rice salad - sweetcorn and all.
I forget the list of each nations favourite ailments and remedies. It was something like "nervous collapse" and hydrotherapy in Germany IIRC(?). -- Phil C.
