To the UK and back with Kreinik thread
"No, we are not from Scotland." This was our response to the Pakistani cabbie during our recent trip to Birmingham, England. (I
did not realize that my accent was so strange.) We shared a laugh about
it, but the conversation epitomized how culturally diverse any trip
abroad can be in our times. We were quite surprised that most people
recognized West Virginia when we were asked, "Where are you from?"
While they couldn't place it on a map, they could sing a song about it
(John Denver's reach is still far and wide…).
Traveling
overseas can be an adventure, and traveling overseas for a trade show
can offer incredible challenges. Finding your way, eating the food,
walking down the correct escalator, making sure that your product
arrives on time and learning new words can add to the experience. A
favorite word was travelator, which means a moving sidewalk. Polite is
how we found the Brits. I asked about a "flapjack" and the clerk pointed
and said the fruit ones and the chocolate ones. Actually they were
rolled oats with sweets. If we looked lost, everyone made sure that we
knew the proper direction, and then we had to figure out what was said.
Often
we would head for the escalator and realize that everything is on the
opposite side, down was up and up was down, right was left and left was
right from that which we were accustomed. We learned to watch for
oncoming cars from a different direction and listened to the charming
British lady (a recorded voice) reminding us that the lift doors would
be opening or closing. Riding in autos was a little unnerving,
especially sitting in the "driver's seat" without a steering wheel.
The
food was quite good and diverse. We had Balti (Indian food originally
from Punjab), piri piri in a Mozambique/Portuguese restaurant, fish and
chips with mushy peas at a cute little English pub, plus sandwiches and
crisps, and one night Italian food. At the Italian restaurant, the food
was great, but since we were very tired and not the most willing
customers in ordering the full course (no wine, no salad, no after
dinner drink, no coffee), the owners took a particularly lengthy time to
bring the bill. Basically we were told, when you come back to town, do
not bother shopping here. As a time traveler though, you sometimes
feel like falling asleep during and after dinner, so we were watching
what was consumed.
We
were treated well at the border, almost did not get my product through
Customs for the show, and the attendees were again polite. We met people
from all over the UK and from other countries. The stand next to us was
a Ukranian company selling ribbon embroidery. Other vendors exhibited
decoupage; maybe Mod Podge® will cycle back to the States.
Overall
the trip to Birmingham was fun, interesting and added to our knowledge
of British hospitality. This week we head to Nashville, Tennessee, for
another trade show and another adventure no doubt. Have thread, will
travel!
Cheers,
Doug
To see more photos from the Birmingham trip and show, visit the album on www.Facebook.com/Kreinik.
