United+Kingdom+Facts

 **__United Kingdom Interesting Facts__**      __Population__: 60 million __Life Expectancy__: 78 years old __Social Customs__- It’s rude for men to wear hats indoors. When meeting someone shake their (right) hand. Avoid talking loudly in public. When eating the fork is in the left hand, and the knife in the right hand. Always arrive on time! If invited to someone’s house for dinner bring a gift (flowers, chocolate, wine) If at someone’s house for dinner, don't talk about business unless they start the conversation. __Family Structure__- Mother and Father about two children, Single Parent Families Many adults have children and live together but are not married. Women usually wait until late 30's to have children when they have established their career. __Political Structure__- Monarch -Queen/Royal Family (Head of State).Prime Minister (Head of State)- elected member Parliament divided into two houses. The House of Lords, and the House of Commons. __Currency__- A few years ago they changed to the EURO. Euro = $1.37 (U.S.Dollars) 1 U.S. Dollar = .5814 Euros __Imports__- Manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, food, beverages, and tobacco. __Exports__- Manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, and foodstuffs. __Physical Geography__- Mostly rugged hills, low mountains, rolling plains in East/Southwest. (info structure)- Highways- 338,008 km  __Waterways__- 3,200km __Ports/Harbors__- Bristol, London, Manchester Southampton are the main ones, there are many others __Communication__: Telephones- main lines in use: 32.943. million (2005) Cell phones- 61.1 million (2004) Radio Broadcast stations: AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998). Radios: 84.5 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 228 Internet Hosts:6.1 million (2006). 37.6 million internet users __Time Zone__- Coordinated Universal Time __Government/Regulations__: National Wage is 5.73 Euros. __Workday/Hours/Holidays__- Usually work from 9 am. To 5:30 pm. __Holidays__- Good Friday. Easter Monday. Early May Bank Holiday (May5th). Spring Bank Holiday (May26). Christmas Day (Dec. 25). Boxing Day (Dec. 26). __Standard of Living__: Minimum income will cover food, and warmth. A single person would need to earn 13,400 Euros a year before tax, and a couple with two children would need to earn 26,800 Euros a year. __Climate/Weather__: Temperate, prevailing SW winds over North Atlantic Current, more than half of the days are overcast. June - August about 14 -25 degrees Celsius. December - February about 1-4 degrees Celsius. Average rainfall: London: 24.2 inches Scotland: 44 inches Wales: 42 inches __Education__: Required between ages 5- 16. Primary school ages 5 -11 is like our elementary school. Secondary School (12-18). Literacy Rate- 99%, Attendance- 100% Over 40 universities including Oxford. __Native Foods__: Bangers and Mash- a dish made up of mash potatoes and sausages. Fish and Chips- a dish made up of cooked fish with fried potatoes. Yorkshire Pudding – which is made from batter, and usually served with roast beef or chicken. __Flag/Colors__: called the “Union Jack” Combination of three flags. It was first used in 1801. The three flags are the Cross of St. George (England), Cross of St. Andrew (Scotland), Cross of St. Patrick (Ireland.)