jemma
where are you originally from?
england, uk
people
how would you describe the people in your country?
diverse
on a scale of 1–10, how well do people in your country speak english?
10
how do i say hello, thank you, please, and sorry in your language?
y’alrite? – works for all of the above
what do people in your country usually do for fun?
in the cities, people love going out and partying — london, manchester, brighton, newcastle all have great party scenes. in oxfordshire, where i am living currently, it’s a lot more rural and laid back.
food
what’s the best local food to try? anything unusual?
deep fried mars bars (aka heart attack on a plate). we batter anything
what local drinks would you recommend trying?
england is well known for its ale, cider and pimms. i am partial to a glass of pimms or old rosie cider (in case anyone fancies buying me a drink)
what’s a typical breakfast like in your country?
the typical english breakfast has sausage, beans, fried bread, bacon, black pudding, tomatoes, egg and hash browns. extra points for having it in a small café with a large mug of milky tea and reading the paper.
culture
what’s the best festival to attend?
my partner is a musician so i’ve been to a large amount of music festivals. the biggest known is glastonbury, however i prefer smaller festivals. there are also cultural festivals all the time. in oxford on may 1st loads of people get up at 5am to watch the choristers sing on top of magdalen college. it’s quite a sight. there is also notting hill carnival and brighton pride which are meant to be cray and fun although i’ve never been.
which sports are people in your country most passionate about?
football cricket and rugby
what’s the craziest thing someone can do in your country?
we have some odd competitive events – bog snorkelling and cheese rolling among them.
what activities or experiences would you recommend to visitors?
come to oxford or cambridge and go punting (also see where hogwarts was filmed) go and visit the queen at buckingham palace, ride the london eye, hire a boris bike and bike in hyde park. have a proper roast dinner. go to stratford upon avon for the birthplace of shakespeare and the cavern club for the birthplace of the beatles. you also have winston churchills war rooms, houses of parliament and big ben for anyone into history and politics as well as some of the best stately homes.
places
what are some of the most incredible places to visit in your country?
stonehenge at summer solstice is pretty cool, 10,000 people turn up each year to watch the sun rise.
the lake district is great for climbing/walking (helvellyn is the best mountain in my opinion)
the isle of white has the jurassic coast where you can go hunting for dinosaur fossils
hadrians wall is great and bath too (it also has lovely spas)
where can visitors find the best beaches?
we have some amazing beaches – especially in cornwall
if i only had a few days, which city should i visit?
london
country
how would you describe your country in one sentence?
green
how many days would you recommend spending in your country?
5
when’s the best time to visit?
spring
what’s something interesting about your country that most people don’t know?
the uk claims to have ‘invented’ chicken tikka masala
what’s a common misconception about your country?
that we all are really posh, and we drink loads of tea.
travel
do you travel often? what’s your favorite place so far?
yes. i’m really lucky in that i travel for my job (i am a private tutor). often i get to stay in a country after i have finished working and have a holiday. i love turkey, everyone is so friendly, i’ve been 5 times so far.
what’s your most memorable travel story?
i’ve had some pretty amazing moments – teaching royalty in dubai, riding a camel, glassblowing in sweden, being given a homecooked meal in turkey by a random woman, travelling via husky in greenland. i also have a van (affectionately known as trevor) so i do a bit of travelling around the uk too, whilst tutoring online.
what do you love most about traveling?
i love meeting new people and exploring new places. to me travel isn’t just ticking off a list of things to do, it’s another way to learn.
about jemma
instagram: @top.travel.tutor
website/blog: https://about.me/jemma_zoe_smith
others: https://www.facebook.com/jemma.z.smith
e-mail: jemma.z.smith@gmail.com