'Follow that car'....

[Mups]

I haven't been to London for around 50 years,  and wouldn't want to go now either.

[klondike]

I worked in the City for about a year in 95/96. Don't think I've been there since.

[Mups]

I worked in the City for about a year in 95/96. Don't think I've been there since.

I lived there for about 18 years.    I have never, ever wanted to go back, not for all the tea in China.

[JBR]

I have never lived in Londonistan, but have visited occasionally for some events.  I think we even stayed overnight once, but that was when it was a pretty safe place.  Now, it's becoming a foreign city.

[klondike]

Now, it's becoming a foreign city

I think they pretty much all are. I've noticed that few foreigners speak to their small children in English. It's quite possible that the first experience those children have of the language of the country they are in and probably citizens of is when they start school. No wonder many schools these days have poor educational outcomes - they must spend half their time teaching those children English.

[Raven]

My first visit to London was in 1965, my mother was visiting some friend or other and I begged to go with her, she was surprised but agreed and she kept giving me sideways glances as she knew I was up to something.
I was too, I was a saver and had a good bit of money stashed away and this was my chance to get some great clothes from Carnaby St. A classmate had been there a while back and came home with some wild stuff, it made me determined to visit the place.
We were out shopping and I was able to visit the Street and get the clothes I fancied but my mother's face I'll never forget it when she first saw the young people there, she was horrified. Nothing like that in Perth, London was a different planet. 

[JBR]

I think they pretty much all are. I've noticed that few foreigners speak to their small children in English. It's quite possible that the first experience those children have of the language of the country they are in and probably citizens of is when they start school. No wonder many schools these days have poor educational outcomes - they must spend half their time teaching those children English.

I have mentioned this before on here, but this reminds me of a Chinese girl (age 9) who came to my class in a junior school (which I shall not name) and who could speak no English, not a word.
Her father spoke English, but her mother knew very little.
The only help I had was a woman from the local authority who could translate and who attended once a week.  Of course, her father helped her at home as well.  Naturally, I did what I could bearing in mind that she was one of 30 for whom I had responsibility, but a very helpful classroom assistant (also no Chinese) who would help her often on a one-to-one basis.
At the end of the academic year, when all were tested, she proved to be the best of the lot generally, and her English was sufficient to be of practical use.
I don't claim to be responsible for this.  After all, I attended to 30 children and of course, I could not speak or understand Chinese.
In my opinion, the real reason for her making such astounding progress was the daily help she received from her dad.  I have always had a high regard of the Chinese, and this confirmed my feelings.

[klondike]

He'd have helped her more if he had spoken to her as an infant in both languages. Children are pre wired to learn language.

[Diasi]

He'd have helped her more if he had spoken to her as an infant in both languages. Children are pre wired to learn language.

The problem is that many of our enriching cultures don't want their children or wives to integrate.

I'll lay odds that there are still thousands of Asian wives who don't speak or understand a word of English.