Italy to England and Pesto to Beans on Toast - A Chat with Aurora from Online Language Lessons 🇮🇹 🇬🇧 #347
Rock n' Roll English
Deep Dive
What are some key differences in drinking culture between Italy and the UK?
In the UK, drinking culture often involves getting drunk before going out, especially during events like Freshers Week, where the focus is on heavy drinking. In contrast, Italian drinking culture is more about enjoying wine or other drinks with meals, and it’s less common for older generations or parents to get drunk. Young Italians are starting to drink more, but peer pressure to drink excessively is less prevalent compared to the UK.
Why does Aurora feel more free to express herself creatively in the UK compared to Italy?
Aurora feels more free in the UK because she is less judged for her appearance or creative expressions. She can wear wigs, costumes, and experiment with different personas without feeling awkward or criticized. In her small Italian hometown, she might have felt more constrained by societal expectations and judgment.
What challenges do bilingual individuals face when living abroad?
Bilingual individuals often feel they don’t fully belong in either their home or adopted country. They may lose fluency in their native language, feel like an outsider when returning home, and struggle with formal conversations in both languages. This creates a sense of being stuck in the middle, neither fully integrated into the new culture nor feeling at home in their original one.
What are some British traditions Aurora has adopted since living in the UK?
Aurora has embraced British traditions like drinking tea with milk, enjoying a full English breakfast, and eating beans on toast. She also appreciates Sunday roasts and has become more spontaneous in her social interactions, contrasting with the more planned approach of some Brits.
How does Aurora describe the process of creating her comedic language videos?
Aurora creates her videos by brainstorming situations like airport or supermarket scenarios, focusing on vocabulary and potential misunderstandings. She often starts with a joke or wordplay, such as the Ligurian word 'berlin,' and builds a sketch around it. She writes, films, and edits everything herself, constantly refining her scripts and embracing her drama background to make the content entertaining.
What cultural differences in food habits does Aurora highlight between Italy and the UK?
Aurora points out that Italians are very particular about how dishes are eaten, such as not adding cheese to pasta with fish or not cutting pasta. In contrast, Brits are more flexible, often asking how to eat certain dishes, like where to pour gravy on a roast. She also notes the British love for beans on toast, which she initially found strange but now enjoys.
What was Aurora’s experience with the British citizenship process?
Aurora’s British citizenship process involved taking the Life in the UK test, an English language test (which she skipped due to her UK degree), and an appointment to verify documents. She paid nearly £2,000 and waited eight months for approval. After the ceremony, she will apply for a British passport, which will list her nationality as British, making her a dual national.
How does Aurora describe the differences in social planning between Italians and Brits?
Aurora finds Brits overly reliant on planning social events far in advance, often scheduling meetups months ahead. In contrast, Italians are more spontaneous, preferring to arrange gatherings on short notice. She dislikes the British habit of checking calendars for every social occasion, finding it rigid and less enjoyable.
- Aurora's online language learning videos are very popular.
- She creates comedic sketches to teach English to Italians.
- The video creation process is very time-consuming and involves scriptwriting, filming, and editing.
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