Be nice and carry on

Whenever my parents came to visit us in Liverpool they exclaimed with surprise several times a day: Everyone is so nice in here! And they can’t even speak English, so this is just the impression they got through smiles, gestures and my conversations with locals that they watched.

If I could name only a few things I love about this country, it will probably be the first one: strangers smile, greet each other and start small talks in the street, shop, park etc. Being nice works as a boomerang, and they seem to know it.

Some of my friends from other countries say that it’s artificial and is not about real relations with people. No, it’s not. It’s only about being nice and friendly. In Eastern Europe we are definitely more about real and deep relationships, but if you ask me, they don’t contradict giving a smile and a ‘good morning’ to a stranger passing on the street, or having a funny small talk in a queue at the supermarket. Actually, holding small talks is something I mastered when living in the UK. They turn out to be really useful in professional life too.

I am not sure if what I’ve written here is true about the whole country, I’m sure it is true about Liverpool and North-West of England. In Liverpool, which recently was voted the kindest city in the UK, everyone calls you ‘love’ or ‘hun’ – you definitely feel loved! Small acts of kindness to strangers are widespread and if you trip on the pavement, you can be sure at least one person will run to you to ask if you are ok.

Customer service in both commercial and public places everywhere I’ve been in the UK are also at the highest level of politeness, and staff are usually nice, smiling and patient, even if the customer isn’t. It actually only struck me when I travelled to other countries or back to my home country after a few years spent in the UK that I tend to get a rude customer service there much more often than in the UK. It doesn’t mean the services in the UK are more professional or faster, usually they’re not. But again – being nice and polite is what makes a difference!