Margaretha – Norway

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Kimiko – Japan

Many Japanese families now live in London. Kimiko came to Britain as a bride six years ago. 'There is much more freedom for women here, ' she says. 'It is sometimes difficult for Japanese women to adjust. ' For Kimiko, the change was easy because she is a translator and speaks English fluently. Also, she has an English husband. 'Attitude to women is very different, ' she says. 'Japanese wives come to Britain and after a while they find out they can have a life of their own outside the home. They don't have that kind of freedom in Japan.'

In Japan it is unusual to see men shopping with their wives, helping in the house, or babysitting. But Kimiko's husband, John, a shipping engineer, happily lends a hand with the children. John says that Japanese women soon adapt in Britain, and can relax more with their families. Education is one thing that worries Kimiko. In Japan, children go to school six days a week and work much harder than English children. Another complaint is that shops don't have many clothes for small women!

Xavier[ksavie]– France

When Xavier came to Britain, his friends in Paris said he would hate it. However, Xavier, a 26 year-old chef, says they were wrong. 'French people imagine that Britain is a cold, miserable country where everyone dresses badly, you can't see anything because of fog, and the food is the worst on the planet. I don't agree.'

Xavier insists that the British look good because they don't follow fashion so seriously. He enjoys shopping in Britain because there are so many fresh things in supermarkets. He likes the street markets as well.

However he has some complaints. He thinks that British men don't show enough appreciation to women. Also, he feels that shops and restaurants close too often and too early.

Margaretha – Norway

In Britain, Margaretha Simons can be a full-time housewife, at home with her four children. This, she says, is unusual in her native Norway because almost all Norwegian [nɔ ː ˈ wiː dʒ ə n] women go out to work, partly because there are more kindergartens. It is also unusual in Norway to have more than two children.

'I find British people friendly, ' she says. 'New neighbors invite you for coffee, introduce their children, and take you to the shops.

However, she doesn't like everything. She thinks British houses are not built well - even modern houses have a lot of draughts. Also, there is too much litter on the streets. She likes fresh British food, but at first she did not like the tea because it looked cloudy and grey. Now she is addicted to it, and has cups of tea all the time!