Have you also been wondering why the british flag is called "Union Jack"? Or why it looks like it does? Here are the answers:
The Union Jack how we know it got it's looks in 1801 when the Union
of Great Britain and Ireland was formed. All in all it practicaly unites
three national flags. The red cross on white background of St. George
which still is the flag of England and the white altire on blue
background also known as St. Andrews cross that still is the flag of
Scotland already formed the first union flag beginning from 1606. Later
on in 1801 the the red saltire (x-shaped cross) on white background of
St. Patricks flag that used to be the flag of the Island of Ireland
joined the other two.
The name Union Jack first came up in 1674. Before that the word
"Jack" was used to refere to the maritime bow flag. After 1627 this
usually was a small version of the union flag. So while it officially
was called "his Majesty's Jack" people started calling it simply "the
Union Jack".
Since today my brother in law arrived at home
looking like an '80ies film star I started researching on the phenomenon
"Movember". This is the period of time formerly known as "November"
during which men all over the world at least try to grow a moustache.
They don't do it just for fun, but to raise money and awareness for
prostata cancer and other serious men deseases. This man with the
moustaches can be called Mo Bros and the women supporting them Mo
Sistas. Some of them really celebrate the "Movember" really big. For
example by throwing a Movember-Party by the end of "Movember" or
crowning a Miss and a Mister Movember. All this had it's orrigin in 2003
in Australia and since that the idea of the "Movember" has conquered
the world. Happy moustache-growing! :-)
Inspired by our lesson about stereotypes I started to browse through the internet a little bit. Here is my result:
Daily routine of a common Brit:
He/she get’s up in the morning and after the first cup of
tea he/she leaves the house. At the bus stop is everybody waiting in a
queue until it is his/her turn. Then finally in the office he/she is
having the second cup of tea and starts working. At lunch time he/she
goes to the nearest pub to have fish and chips and a third cup of tea
before it goes back to work. In the afternoon he/she either just has a
fourth cup of tea or goes to a local tearoom to have a traditional
English tea party with cucumber sandwiches and cake and tea of course.
On his/her way back home he/she chats politely with his/her neighbor
about the weather (usually the rain or drizzle that occurred during the
day) before he/she enters the terraced house and has a nice roast for
dinner. Afterwards he/she either goes to the local pub to have some
beers or they stay at home to watch a nice Monty Python film. In the
weekend they go out to the local pub and drink until the barkeeper calls
last round at around 11 and then they lurch home. On Sunday they watch
or take part in traditional cricket or football games before in the
evening right before they go to sleep they have their fifth cup of tea
just to fall sound asleep and dream from Marry Poppins.
An ordinary day for a Homo Austriacus:
First of all everybody is called Maria, Heidi, Lisl, Rolf or Friedrich. He/she get’s up and first thing in the morning: he/she climbs into th e
Lederhosen/Dirndl. Afterwards he/she goes out to the pasture to milk
the cows. During that work he/she either listens to Mozart or starts off
yodelling. At a later time he/she starts his/her job which usually is
skiing-instructor or hiking guid. At lunchtime he/she enters the local
Inn also known as “Wirtshaus” and while having his/her beloved Wiener
Schnitzel they complain together with everybody else in the room about
everything and everybody. In the Afternoon after a view more hours of
hiking or skiing he/she enters a cafè and orders a “Melange” – a typical
Austrian coffee with milk – and a Newspaper. The waiter of course is
particularly grumpy. In the Evening he/she goes out to dance Waltz and
the men are giving the women kisses on the hand before everybody climbs
back up his/her mountain. Later in the bed we are all dreaming from
Maria and 'raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens'.
As my title already hints I spent the last summer in Britain. From
May until September I worked as an Au-pair for a very nice family in
Winchester, Hampshire. But I did not just take care of the two sweetest
an loveable kids ever I also tried to get to see as muchfrom the
country as possible.
For this purpose I couldn't imagine a better time than the past few months. Not only was I allowed to celebrate the queens Diamond Jubilee
together with her and all the citizens I also was able to be in London
when the Olympics where there. I was engrossed in britains battle for
the European Football Cup, I saw the Olympic Torch on it's way through
the country and I at least "tried" to see the great Thames Pageant.
Beside the big and historical events that took part in the UK this
summer I also visited Oxford, with it's important and well-known
colleges, I stroked wild pony's at the new forest, I explored some of
the old castles, I took part in a real british tea-party, by bathing in
the ice cold water of the british channel I got an idea about how Jack
from Titanic must have felt and I learned a lot about the british
history by visiting many other places.
All in all I have to say, that it was not only a great summer for britain but also a great one for me.
