Tag Archives: American culture
Driving in England and the U.S. Posted by Gary Locke on Feb 15, 2018
By now you probably know that drivers in the U.S. drive on the right-hand side of the road, but in the U.K., they drive on the left. As someone who has driven in both countries, believe me when I say that it is not an easy adjustment to make. Everything just looks wrong, not least…
American Culture – Super Bowl Sunday Posted by sasha on Feb 1, 2018
Sports are an important part of a country’s culture and can tell you a lot about it. The most popular sport in the USA is definitely football. I’m not talking about the football that you see in the World Cup, though. I’m talking about American football. The biggest event of the year for American football…
20 Great American Cities (Part One) Posted by sasha on Jan 29, 2018
There are many great cities in the USA. From the capital of DC all the way to the glitz and glamor of LA, there are incredible cities all over the country. Most cities in the US have their own unique nickname, such as the Big Apple for New York or the Windy City for Chicago…
Songs of the Season – The Christmas Song Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 21, 2017
Of all the songs of the holiday season which belong in The Great American Songbook, one is unique for not being known by its actual title. When jazz singer/songwriter Mel Tormé composed The Christmas Song, he could not have imagined that its opening line would be mistaken for the song title. And yet, far more…
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 14, 2017
I have a very personal connection to one particular song of the holiday season. 25 years ago, I directed a stage production of Meet Me in St. Louis, a classic film about a family in Missouri at the turn of the 20th century. It was a huge undertaking, spanning several months of planning…
Songs of the Season: White Christmas Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 8, 2017
I don’t know about you, but for me, the best thing about the holiday season is probably the music. There’s something for everybody, from choral to jazz to carols from all around the world. You might hear Kwanzaa chants or Chanukah songs for all ages. But, of course, in English-speaking countries, the most common songs…
The American Cranberry Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 17, 2017
Consider the cranberry. Grown primarily in North America, the cranberry, with its vibrant ruby color, is the festive, decorative heart of the Thanksgiving table. Many, if not most, American homes will have some representation of the cranberry present during the final six weeks of the year. Despite its high acidity, it will be consumed by…