England much more like us now

British author George Bernard Shaw observed that England and America were “two nations divided by a common language.”

After visiting England recently, I have concluded that phrase is less true now than ever.

Even though the English still have those funny accents, and they have for a far longer time than the U.S. has been around, I found much more commonality between the two countries than differences.

McDonald’s, KFC and Starbucks are everywhere, especially at English Welcome Break centers along the motorways, the equivalent of U.S. Interstate highways.

Commuters on London’s “Tubes,” the subway system, like U.S. train commuters, spend their travel time absorbed in cell-phone screens.

The most common offering in the most English of pubs these days seems to be burgers, served, as ours are, with “chips,” or French fries.

Pub menus now highlight “gluten free” items as U.S. menus do, although I see no more reason for gluten-free designation there than here.

Since pub menus now also list calories, like U.S. restaurants do, I know that the English dishes I sampled, like “bangers and mash” (sausages and mashed potatoes), meat pie and fish and chips, are no better for me than the burgers at home.

A pub meal, however, is more likely to include generous portions of vegetables than most American restaurant meals. That may have something to do with why I didn’t see as many overweight Britons as Americans per hundred observed.

When we walked along the Thames in London at rush hour, however, we passed or dodged a constant stream of joggers, and the bike lane beside us was a river of bicycle headlights, even in the damp, near-freezing chill. Keeping active in the cold might also explain why the English seemed a little fitter overall.

The English seem also to share our obsession with celebrities. When ’80s pop star George Michael died on Christmas Day, London’s Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail splashed it over their front pages as if he had been royalty.

Overall, the most difficult adjustment to England for my wife and me was the long flight there. The longer flight back also required some adjustment.

If you get a chance, I would recommend a visit to England, as long as you don’t drive until you get used to facing the other way. You may be surprised at how much you feel right at home.

Steve Hansen writes about our life and times from his perspective of a retired Tucumcari journalist. Contact him at: [email protected]