'In England everything is typical. If your train is late, it is typical. If there are no seats on the upper deck of a bus, it is typical. If it starts to rain at five o'clock just before you leave work, it is typical (with a dot and not with an exclamation mark)'. Some ten or so years ago, Angela Kiss, born in Hungary, arrived in the UK without a word of English. All she possessed was a small bag, a sense of adventure, a willingness to work and a well-read paperback given to her by her brother. How to be an Alien by George Mikes, a 1940s classic about the peculiarities of the British, would become a constant source of wisdom and counsel in Angela's life as she learned to navigate the confusing terrain of English culture. Her modern take is a wry, often affectionate view on the English, and how to navigate our national personality. Through every dodgy flat share, low-paid waitressing job, awkward dates and office mishap, the weather and commuting, Angela held tight to George's wit and wisdom. With his help she began to understand the 21st century here, turning her astute eye to love, optimism, awkwardness, understatement, politeness, how to live amongst the English, with their eccentricity, spirit and singing train drivers, and she fell in love with a land rich in green spaces, pubs and puddings. 195 page illustrated paperback.
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