Cheers Mate: A Lesson in Pub Etiquette

“Experienced native pubgoers obey the unspoken rules, but without being conscious of doing so. Regulars will mutter and grumble when an uninitiated tourist commits a breach of pub etiquette, but may well be unable to tell him exactly what rule he has broken.” – The Guardian

Pubs are a cornerstone of English life. They are abundant in London and draw a lot of “regulars” as they do tourists. Generally, the pubs in London emit a similar vibe to American bars, they are welcoming, but they expect you to adhere to their rules. Similar to the states, one can grab an after work drink or hang out with their “mates,” but there are some differences to get accustomed to.

1. Tipping

Personally, I have experienced both the “American bar” and the “London pub.” The most noticeable differences about these establishments involves tipping. Coming from America, you are taught to tip waiters and bartenders 15-20%. Europe in general is not as centered on the “tipping” culture, resulting in delayed service. Although it isn’t required, English bartenders are more appreciative if you tip them, but they’re even more grateful when you tip them with a drink. This isn’t something that I would think to do back in the states because tips are always expected when purchasing a drink.

2. Eating at a Pub

*Important* – Not All Pubs Serve Food! So don’t go to a pub on an empty stomach, unless otherwise noted. In America, it’s expected that a bar serves food, it’s actually weird when they don’t. English pubs that serve food will normally have menus out on their tables or a menu board. There are also pubs that serve food during specific times. When I had first come to London, I went to the local pub with my flatmates and we were starving. Upon hearing that they were no longer serving food we flipped out (partially because we were starvinggggg).

3. Buying a Round

This is a normal thing when people are out and about with their mates. It’s accustom to buy everyone a drink of their choice in your group and everyone will return the favor. There have been instances where people will buy rounds in America, but I often find that Americans are stingier with their money. In England, going to a pub helps to bring you closer to your friends, so it’s a nice gesture to buy a round.

4. Last Call

Bars tend to stay open until the early hours of the morning. Pubs, however, close around 11 pm. The sound of the bartender calling, “last orders!” and the ringing of the dreaded bell, means that it’s time to finish your drink and head on out. Pubs give you at least a fifteen minute leeway to get yourself together, this involves flashing the lights and closing down the bar. It took a while to get accustom to this schedule because we would arrive to a pub around 10 pm.

Overall, pub culture is something to experience in London. While it is important to abide to their rules, pubs want you to enjoy their atmosphere and have a good time with your mate. Cheers!

Uprooting Religion

Christianity was embedded in my upbringing. We went to church every Sunday, I sang in the choir, and my Mom was a Sunday School teacher. This lead to me participating in Vacation Bible School as well as the Christmas Paegants. When I turned ten, we moved to a town far away from where I was raised. My mom had enrolled my siblings and I into the local elementary school prior to our “big move” so we could get acquainted with new kids. It was also during this time that we had looked into fellow Methodist churches in the area, eventually settling on Salem United Methodist Church.

Every few Sundays we would show up for service and then gather outside of the church to talk with the other members. Soon we had skipped a few services, missed a Sunday school or two, and before I knew it we stopped going altogether.

What had changed?

Well, for one thing we weren’t at Essex United Methodist. There, we were surronded by my entire family and people that I grew up with. At Salem, we were welcomed and accepted with open arms. We were encouraged to participate in church events among other things that our previous church had provided. It was also during this time that my parents started to evaluate their spirituality. My mom in particular, had formed the stigma that church is solely for a community atmosphere. She also believed that through prayer you can establish a connection to God outside of the church.

I haven’t attended a church service in over eight years. When my Mom decided to leave, we left with her. I agree with my mom that church offers a social atmosphere and that you can practice your religion outside of an establishment.

Attending the field trip to the East London Mosque gave me insight into the importance of religion in the daily lives of others. People who practice Islam pray five times a day and know segments from the Quran. When I was little, I used to pray before I went to sleep. Today, I rarely pray or read scripture.

Ultimately, I think that by moving to a different town my family became uprooted from our religion. It’s crazy how something that was embedded in my daily life was removed from my routine in a short time. Yet, at the same time I think that by stepping aside I was able to make my own judgments and form my own opinions. Personally, I’m not entirely sure what I believe in. I think that there are external forces, like God, and an afterlife, but I’m not clear on the configuration.

Head. Body. Heart.

“Cultural Intelligence: an outsider’s seemingly natural ability to interpret someone’s unfamiliar and ambiguous gestures the way compatriots would.”

The article Cultural Intelligence by P. Christopher Early and Elaine Mosakowski allowed me to reflect on my intercultural communication competencies. Divided into three parts, cultural intelligence combines the cognitive (head), physical (body), and emotional (heart). The purpose of this piece is to reevaluate our strengths and weaknesses as an individual when dealing with different cultures. While reading this article, I drew a lot of connections to my experience with yoga. Yoga helps individuals improve emotional and physical intelligence which related to the themes throughout Cultural Intelligence. There is also a similar importance in understanding the head, body, and heart.

Head:  When approaching a new culture, it is important to look at it analytically. Devising learning strategies can help one succeed in their field because it promotes cultural understanding. In relation to yoga, you enter each practice with an open mind. It’s always different from previous sessions and its important to maintain focus and balance throughout. My Cognitive score came to a 3.5, which is a slightly above average understanding of other cultures. This tells me that I need to develop my own set of learning strategies and to keep an open mind.

Body: Nonverbal communication is a big indicator of how well we understand other cultures. It can also signify power, respect, and even discomfort. By understanding and participating in another culture’s habits you are showing that you “have entered their world” (pg. 142). The position of the body in yoga is integral to mastering the positions and increasing physical strength. For my Physical CQ I received another score of 3.5. I think I do a good job at adjusting my body positioning when interacting with other cultures, but I have never had an experience with a culture that required me to “alter the tone or accent of my voice.”

Heart: In order to successfully adapt to a culture you have to accept yourself. “A person who doesn’t believe [themselves] capable of understanding people from other cultures will often give up” (pg. 142). Self confidence and understanding are integral elements in order to achieving emotional success. While the head and body are largely important in yoga, the true emphasis is on the heart. Throughout a variety of positions the hands always come to heart’s center. In turn, my Emotional CQ was my highest score. The results coming to a solid 4.75. This is obviously my biggest strength in cultural intelligence and I was pleased with the end result.