Going back the "Englishman Abroad" theme for one entry.... I always have trouble with the "coolness" thing here. Now in my native culture, this extends to the outer reaches of the teenage years, after which is replaced by a world weary "being reserved" for the rest of the repressed life of said people. The US cool, reached an all time high the other day while in a new store. The entire staff acted as though no-one else existed, and yet managed to conduct a "normal" days business. Everyone was walking about with permenant expressions of disinterest, seemingly deaf, and oblivious to any other living entity on the planet. Is this a positive way to live your life?

Who knows?

It was as if marooned on planet "13-19" with no hope of rescue. And try as I might I could not figure out how on earth anyone, attracted anyone elses attention (as it seems you are not supposed to make any effort in this area), let alone RESPOND to anyone else. Just try and imagine not being able to, or for that matter WANTING to, catch anyones eye, but needing to do so to carry out your assigned daily tasks.

While being extremely confused by the whole issue, it always looks (from an overseas perspective) that everyone here seems to choose to look miserable, all day, every day, mistaking it for being "cool". Am I wrong? Other countries would probably issue a good swat around the ear, to the offending personage, and tell them to snap out of it/grow up, as it makes them look as if they have soiled themselves!

Extreme perplexment ensued...