OOC WEEK: DAY 2

What country are you from?: Let’s hear it for England, EN-G-LAND!

What is your first language? Do you speak any other languages?: My first language is English but I also speak a little German, tbh I’d like to be fluent in more languages and it’s probably something I’ll get around to doing at some point, at the very least it’d be nice to be able to speak more German ‘cause I really enjoyed learning the language.

What language would you like to learn?: Japanese.

What’s one movie from your country that you like (or recommend others see)?: Just one British movie? Hahahahahaha. Don’t want to be controversial but tbh we make some of the best movies... ever. I would actually though, out of all the British movies in the world, recommend everyone watch Paddington. That may sound ridiculous but there is something so positively charming and British about the whole film, it really does have what I’d call genuine British comedy in it, it’s multi-layered so people of all ages can enjoy it and the Brown family are just so very British, it’s wonderful. Not to mention Ben Whishaw voicing Paddington, that man is an actual angel, his voice is ridiculously gentle and soothing so he makes the perfect Paddington bear.

Pick a song from your country (or in your language) and talk about why you like it: One British song... Again, we make some pretty great music. I’m actually gonna go with good ol’ Take That, ‘Never Forget’, because I think tbh it’s like a ridiculously good song. It’s cheesy as fuck, it was actually written before I was born but whenever I hear it it puts me in a good mood, tbh I just have a soft spot for Take That like gimme my boys, though if you wanted to miss out Robbie I’d be alright with that. I’d actually put this song down for the next question too but I’ve got many in mind pffftttt

Pick a classic song from your country - aka one that everyone knows, one that’s representative of your country, etc: Would it be too devoted to my own country to say I think ‘We Are the Champions’ by Queen represents us :’) TBH I think it does though, I think not necessarily because we’re the best country (...although...) because we’ve made some mistakes, some very far in our past and some more recent, but for a small country we’re a force to be reckoned with. I think the song speaks a lot about how in general, people from all walks of life, here in the UK we’re little fighters, we work hard at things, we go through shit times but we always come out of that and although there is communities within our country that are complete dicks and need to- in the words of Ronald Weasley- sort out their priorities, I do also think that British people, in general, can be pretty decent and want our country to be a better place in the future.

What’s a book from your country (or in your language) that you’d recommend?: Oh boy, ok, not an easy question at all because... and I must sound like a broken record... but we’ve literally had some of the best writers the world has ever known come from my small little island. I do actually think ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte is an incredible book, I think it’s sort of incredible how she can write two main characters so difficult to like and yet their story hooks you in from the start. I actually have a deep hatred for Heathcliff and Cathy, it irritates me every time how their own denial and selfishness leads to them **spoilers, sort of** destroying the lives of another family, but somehow you can’t help get drawn into this intense obsession and feud of love and hate that they have for each other, not to mention the setting and general imagery is lovely.

What’s your favourite childhood story from your country or culture?: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Honestly, I still love all stories about Alice honestly, I think something truly magical was created with the idea of Wonderland and this girl becoming part of something that she just sort of gets on with and tries to make sense of, I feel like that’s a very British thing tbh, to attempt to find logic in things and look for reason in things.

Talk about a tradition from your country or culture that you love celebrating: Gosh, I have no idea tbh, I can’t think of many big celebrations that I personally attend that aren’t found all over the world? I guess I like the tradition of drinking lots of tea?

Fave food from your country/culture: A full English breakfast is always good, never pass on it, or the very traditional FISH AND CHIPS! A glorious meal tbh, heavenly.

Best season of the year in your country?: I like autumn, personally or spring, I don’t really like extreme weather so summers feel too hot and winters feel too cold.

What’s one thing that you wish you could change about your country? Why?: The party currently in charge of our government because tbh they’re just clueless dicks who make decisions to benefit one class and no one else.

What’s one thing that you’re proud of about your country?: I think, in general, we’re quite an accepting country. I think there are, like everywhere, some people who are hateful and rude but in general we’re a very diverse, multi-cultural country who do want equality and do want to head towards that future possibility.

Name a country you’d like to visit: Any East Asian country; Japan, China, South Korea or Thailand (not necessarily in that order).

Top three cities you’d like to visit: Seoul, Tokyo and Berlin.

What’s the best place in your country that you’ve ever visited?: Honestly, I love Manchester but I do also love London, our lovely capital. I think London really does have a lot to offer, it’s an incredibly busy place where really ancient and beautiful buildings are surrounded by modern culture, if you ever get the chance to go I would highly recommend it.

Have you ever been abroad (out of your country)? If so, where did you go?: Several times actually. I’ve been to Spain twice, once when I was very little and a second time a few years ago, it was the worst holiday tbh because it was roasting hot and right on the beach and that’s just personally not the type of place I enjoy. I like being busy, enjoying cultures etc. a lot more than relaxing holidays. I’ve also been to France but only to Disneyland :’) And I’ve been to Cologne, Germany, it was only for a few days but it has been my favourite holiday ever since. I went at Christmas when they had all the old traditional German markets up and it was just beautiful, the atmosphere, the food (omg THE FOOD, BLESS GERMANY TBH) and the people were all so friendly and helpful with my lacking skills in the German language XD It was great.

What are some myths or stereotypes about your country or culture that are either true or are false?: We all drink tea. True, and if you don’t then tbh get out right this second, we don’t need any of these tea haters, we’re a proud tea-loving nation, I will fight people on this ‘cause I love tea so much tbh. That we’re all super posh, completely false. I have a deep hatred for how English people are represented, especially in American media, because we’re basically all the same and all have the same accent and all seem to be like lawyers or doctors and we all tend to be pricks. Firstly, and I googled this, there are around 56 known British accents so we definitely don’t all sound the same and we definitely don’t all come from super rich families with tons of money and servants- Downton Abbey life is beaut, don’t get me wrong but unfortunately we can’t all live like that. And of course the grand conspiracy that we keep producing hot celebrities to steal the hearts of American women after WW2 as revenge is also completely true, we’re got some real hotties lined up for the future, be warned we are coming for you. That last bit was obviously a lie hahahaha it’s just a coincidence that we produce hot celebs.