As South African immigrants to the UK (since 1990), we often amuse ourselves at the 'way of the locals' here and ponder the paradoxes of the decrepitude of this first-world country's vital institutions, such as public transport, national health, law and order, and of course the once-great economic backbone of this country; manufacturing. Probably just like the locals amuse themselves at our African bush-ways and the paradoxes that we brought along.
After 15 20 years on and off here in the UK, I suspect that we are slowly becoming more British, since I now find myself complaining about the public transport as well, tutt-tutting about the weather, having an opinion about those funny royals, and watching the occasional game of football on't telly. So, does this mean that we have become British, then?
Here is how a British expat in Switzerland answered the question about quintessential Britisher-ness:
"Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV. All this while being suspicious of anything foreign."
Except for the last bit, I think that we have now become British in our ways. I guess that the time has now come to stump up the circa £500 £1100 each and apply for British citizenship.
