An American meets you and acts as if he has known you for ten years; an Englishman knows you for ten years and behaves as if he has just met you.

It is easy to mistake the reserved attitude of the English towards people they don’t know for unfriendliness when it is nothing of the kind. Often, we are dying to talk to someone but are afraid to make the first move in case the other person thinks we are imposing on him or her. In fact, it is quite common for two people to see each other almost daily without speaking. Paradoxically though, if someone needs help, the English are among the best in the world, both as a nation and individually, for offering it.

Don’t be surprised if, even after you have got to know an Englishman reasonably well, you don’t receive an invitation to his home. This isn’t a slight on you. It is just that many English like to keep their home as their own private space and prefer to meet their friends in more neutral surroundings.

I don’t know why we are like this. One theory has it that it is due to the density of population and the need to create our own personal space. Especially in towns and cities, one is often forced to make a virtual rather than a real space, hence the avoidance of eye contact or conversation. The strange thing is that it is not in the towns and cities where the most extreme examples of British reserve are met, but in small villages. Although things have improved due to increased mobility of population, there are still communities where someone is considered an outsider until he or she has lived there quite a few years.

If you visit Britain and want to start a conversation with one of us, go ahead. Say hello, make a comment about the weather - our sense of politeness means that we will feel obliged to acknowledge you. Don’t try to find out too much personal information and don’t expect them to ask too much about you in the early days. Let the friendship grow slowly and you’ll find that you have a true friend for life.

I haven’t made any comparisons with other cultures and nationalities because I don’t feel that I have enough experience to do so. As far as I am concerned, the important thing is to respect the practices of others, even if it is different to yours.