Interviewer: So, Terry. You’ve been in England for quite a long time now.
Terry: Hmm.
Interviewer: What differences do you notice between England and the United States?
Terry: Obviously the biggest difference is the people. The average Englishman is …mm cold and not very open.
Interviewer: Oh !
Terry: In the United States it’s very different. We start conversations with people in the street, in the subway; we’re a lot more outgoing than people here. You know, when I first came, I couldn’t understand why I was getting so little reaction from people, but now I see that they thought I was overpowering and too friendly too soon.
Interviewer: But, tell me; does the Englishman improve as you invited know him?
Terry: Oh yes.
Interviewer: Oh good.
Terry: Once you have made a friend, it’s a friend for life, but it takes a very long time. I’ll tell you something that I think is very important. An Englishman in America is respected. Everyone wants to talk to him. We’re inquisitive, we love his accent and his country. But Americans in England are thought to be a little inferior because of their loud behavior and their language. One thing I’ve learned is that English people like a certain distance. When I was talking to someone, he would move away, , you know, move backwards, and I thought “Do I smell? Am I boring him?” The reason was, you see, Americans stand closer when they’re talking. Again, English people like a certain distance.