Wednesday, August 22, 2007
HOLIDAYTo the two or three of you who are actually reading this blog, apologies for my month-long silence. I've been on holiday. Well, first I was entertaining relatives here in London, then I had the stomach flu, then I went on holiday (to America for my sister's wedding.)
The Brits take their holidays seriously. By law or custom, UK citizens are entitled to 5 weeks of holiday per year - that's 150% more holiday than the average American takes. No wonder everyone here is a little less gripey. British holidays tend to coincide with the scandalously short school terms, of which there are three per year. The fall term begins in September, is interrupted by a week off in October, and concludes with a stunning month off for Christmas. The spring term commences in January, is bisected by another week off in February, and finishes in March with a 3-week Easter holiday (yes, despite the incredible diversity of this country, Christianity still holds sway, at least as far as the calendar is concerned.) Finally, the summer term gets underway in mid-April, includes (you guessed it) a week off in late May, and terminates in mid-July. Everyone in the UK (and apparently the rest of Europe) skips work altogether for the month of August.
Now I ask you - is this not a great civilization? Okay, they suck at technology, manufacturing, customer service, and tapas, but with enough holiday time, you care less about everything else.
Labels: Community Muses
Comments:
<< Home
5 weeks of holiday and free health care? Why do you want to come back at all? Stay there. Find a teaching job in London. Then find a way to bring me out there to teach the British all about juansense.
Post a Comment
<< Home
