Etiquette in English Society: ( Tips for Bangladesh going to Britain )

Welcome to you for Visiting our country.  Come and see………

The British have a reputation for keeping their emotions private and for being reserved in their public behavior. There are some obvious things that people from overseas notice in British behavior. For example, on public transport, people do not usually talk to other passengers. On meeting, people do not embrace and often simply shake hands on a first introduction. In theatres, concert halls and cinemas, audiences are quite during performances and reactions are often restrained. None of these behavior traits, however, need to be interpreted by visitors as unfriendliness and in general, if a visitor makes the first move to start a conversation, they will find that British people are friendly and very considerate. On the other hand, some aspects of British behavior might seem too informal for foreigners. An example is the informal use of first names among staff holding different status at work. Although if would be a blasphemy for a student to call his/her teachers by their first names in Bangladesh, it is quite common in British College and Universities.

Britain lies in the temperate region. In winter it is very cold and windy. You should carry warm clothes with you. Moreover, there are a number of significant differences in norms and behavior. Here are some useful tips for those visiting Britain.

·        People in Britain often socialize at home, but unless you know someone very well it is not usual to just ‘drop in’ without at least telephoning first to make sure that it is convenient.

·        If you accept an invitation for a meal in someone’s home, it is regarded as a definite appointment and it would be considered bad manners not to turn up. If you really do have to cancel an invitation, do let your hosts know as soon as possible, before they start making preparations.

·        If there are certain foods that you cannot or do not eat, do let your host know in advance, in order to save embarrassment in the day.

·        Whether you are visiting just for a meal of for a longer stay, it is customary to take a small gift for your hast-flowers or chocolates, for example.

·        If you stay with a British family, you should act thoughtfully at all times. Be in time for meals. If you need to miss a meal let your host know if you are going to be staying out late so that they won’t worry about you. Offer to help with household chores-your offer will probably be turned down but will still be appreciated.

So, please come in our country (Britain) and enjoy your life peacefully and more happily…. Thank you….