Posted on 02/03/2024 8:53:22 AM PST by dynachrome
I’ll have to give that a try.
There is a guy on youtube “Across the Pond”. He is a Brit living in America (and now a citizen). He does short shows on things that are different between England and the USA. Some interesting stuff.
IIRC, his explanation for the British “He is in hospital” vs our “He is in the hospital” - he thought it might be due to America’s generally more optimistic view on things. “the hospital” implies a short amount of time. Americans do say “My son is in school” - but that implies a long time, or that is what he does. Whereas “He went to the store (or the hospital)” implies a short period of time.
Or - he doesn’t know why, and was just making something up!
I’ve often wondered about the missing article “the” in so British usage. That’s an interesting theory about expected time duration. I never thought of that.
With the British health care system, it’s understandable why they think they will go “into hospital” and never come out.
Years ago I read an article about how the Brits wanted to improve their service for hearing aids. Some politician was lambasting it, and saying how people out in the country should be able to get the same service as people in London.
The following is similar to his quote, and the timeframes are approximate but close “It is unconscionable that a Londoner can get a hearing test within 10 weeks, but someone in Sussex has to wait up to 6 months!”
10 weeks - for a hearing TEST!
Incredible, isn’t it?
We’ve all seen customer service deteriorating in the USA and the increase in wait times for basic services.
Photo of the victim and video of family at link...
LOL, and my work once suggested that as an alternative to taking a taxi from the airport to Lakewood. I had a feeling about it from earlier trips and have been on the Portland, OR light rail. Enough.
It boggles the mind, no? And think, we have to share oxygen with this kind of subhuman?
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