I have questions for all the UK peoples, Forgive my american Options

[97celiman]

Alright so it being the end of my senior year and my dad a pilot, we are talking about an end of the year trip overseas to europe. I'm not really in to the whole, tour all of europe in 14 days deal, this will probably be one MAYBE two countries and i'm pretty sure i get to pick. obviously since i am american i am not fluent in any other language, unlike a certain german exchange student friend of mine who makes me feel retarted everyday with his tri-lingualness.

Anyway, my dad has been to both france and italy with his parents a few times. My whole family crazy opera, wine, and dem. loving people (in texas! i know, its crazy) I however didn't really want to go to either (not because i dont like them i would just rather go elsewhere) My heritage is almost perfectly divided 3 ways between Welsh, French and Irish-hence the interest

So basically i have questions about the "UK" i put it in quotes b/c im confused as to what is considered the "UK"
1) Am i correct in saying it is England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales?

2) Why is it Prince Henry of Wales and not England?

3) What are some of the ahhh rivalries? within scotland england ireland etc.?

4) Is wales a part of england or the uk (as in Mexico being part of US or north america)

5) If i go to England, is there really that much of a language barrier, we say coupe with a silent 'e' that sort of thing, my dad says there still would be even though it is both english (compared to me going to france although i should mention my stepmom is fluent in spanish, french, japanese, probably some other i cant remember so this would be a plus in france that sort of thing)


7) The other big reason i want to go to the UK is just the history, the norman, roman, anglo-saxon, beowulf history surrounding it (and braveheart! jk)
I find the british conquests interesting the scottish independence that sort of thing. can anyone recommend and good books to read that would explain this more? (i liked guns, germs and steel but that was very broad)

8) finally, please forgive me if i offended anyone, but i figured i'd ask now before i go there. im doing this as part of my research(ing) just wanted opinions from the natives.

9) if anyone can think of anything else write it up

10) thanks, i have a snow day (well ice day) here so i had to do something (i know snow day in texas!!!!) im sure people up north would scoff at this weather

This post has been edited by 97celiman: Jan 27, 2009 - 8:10 PM

[97celiman]

Dont worry i dont smoke (yay i'm not completely incompetent!) How do you get American accent confused with Australian or Canadian??? America has the laziest vowels ever. (Plus we dont say Crikey!!!!) honestly though australia was my first choice but the whole being winter when its my summer kinda throughs a wrench in the whole plan.

so England is sort of the "Head Honcho" of the UK? but all of these countries (other than Northern Ireland) are part of the UK?

Is the northern ireland bit the whole deal back in the 80's and 90's with the IRA? (this is the book part of this whole equation) I thought this ended and ireland was now united (more or less)

Scenery wise i think ireland and scotland have england beat (seriously how much rain does one country need?) Although i would like to see stonehenge, and mind you, this is just internet and nat geo magazine picture looking.

So Wales operates under the same Parliament as England (ie-same govt, not two different types) when concerning more than local matters? Im assuming the Welsh assembly has limited power when it comes to national matters?

Military wise, Each country has a seperate Armed Forces (navy, army, air force, marines? i know england is royal everything what is scotland etc.)

So yes im going to reference braveheart just because thats all i can think of- if you take that time frame and what was going on, (when scotland wanted independence from british rule) scotland was able to obtain FREEEEEEDDDDDOOOOOMMMM however now they are sorta under british law?

Ex. When Britain decides to send troops somewhere, do scottish troops go or just english troops? I dont understand the limits of England amongst the other countries.

So ireland seems to have alot alot alot of civil unrest, is this currently going on? i realize its not jerusalem but is it dangerous say in northern ireland or do they just have different political ideals?

Thanks again, i know i wanna go somewhere in the UK and honestly im thinking of either Scotland or Ireland but i dunno yet. (i mean scotland has kilts and bagpipes )

Also should be mentioned that while i've been most everywhere in the US i still havent been to NYC so maybe there although i think we are for sure overseas somewhere.