Hail Brittania!

Enroute Auckland, New Zealand

Before entering New Zealand we really should take a moment to recognize something we have grown to realize in our travels.

Play this while reading:

When people ask us what we think of USA & UK relations, we, without fail say the same thing:

“Britain and the US have exactly the same relationship as Greg and his sister. Allow us to elaborate: During times of peace, no one fights more with each other than the US and the UK…but the second someone else steps into the fight to attack either side, both siblings immediately turn and jump the new threat, providing each other their full and unequivocal support. Once the interloper is decimated and we’re both sure the other is alright, the two immediately turn back on each other.”

Though we’re sure the UK would like to think of itself as our “parent” we see us more as siblings. Britain the older, more established 45 year old who’s found their place in the world and America (YES, I know, our country has no real name apart from the continent it resides on…neither does Australia, so lay off) the younger 33 year old sibling. We’ve made some cool stuff happen, from time to time we’ve shown up big brother, right now we’re running the show but really, we’re still looking to see what we can pull off, our ‘true potential’ if you will, and how to make it all fit together. We’re also worried because we really don’t want to bone this up. (It should be noted that we have not reached either of these age milestones and am completely talking out of my butt at this point).

People talk about how China is taking over the world. No disrespect to the significant accomplishments of the Jade Empire but the Chinese language has 1 continent…ONE! Do you realize that if you can read what we are writing right now that you are among the lucky chosen? Do you understand that, because of the collective bad-assery of those who spoke your language before you, that there is not a continent on this planet that you could travel to where there is a country who either:

a) Has a de-facto / predominant language of English (the “angloshphere” They have a world for it!!) 

OR

b) Has English as an official language

 

OK, well there’s Antarctica and there are no countries there…oh wait, American and Australian research bases! I bet they understand English there! Kiwi might be a push, but I bet those PhDs can handle it!

Do you understand how powerful that statement is!? Do you realize that your linguistic progenitors kicked more butt, explored more dangerous places and just basically were more awesome than anyone else. Period. Exclamation point! Captain Cook, George Washington, the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, victory in WW1 and 2 and the Cold War, Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the Prime Meridian, airplanes, the light bulb, telephones, airplanes and freaking spaceships, the internet that you are using to read this article while posting about your high school friend’s new cat (we could go on)…this is your heritage!!! Our ancestors are the only ones who could ever truly lay claim to the fact that “the sun never sets on the empire!”

 (Look Portugal and Spain, you were close. We give you props. But come on, fess up. Britain owns this one.)

The British Empire in 1919

Let’s get something straight: we’re no royalists. We served in the US military and we’re American darn it, though and through. It may not be perfect, but our country is the best one standing. Also, Greg’s patron saint is Jean d’Arc, who aside from keeping an eye on him and protecting him from evil (in and of itself an significantly difficult task) is also the patron saint of France and a young woman who made it her God-ordained mission in life to kick the Brits’ teeth in. We bow to no crown but give respect where respect is deserved. English is an awesome language with a glorious (if, granted, at times not all too pretty) history and we’re proud to be a small part of it. Thanks for blazing the trail Britain. Hail-freaking-Britannia and God save the Queen…darn skippy…

…and if any of you Redcoats take this as an opportunity to jump our stuff about war, politics or anything else, we will so own you. 😉

　

To give you an idea how unspeakably awesome the British were at exploring the globe at a time in world history before things like the “globe” were even invented, much less commonly accepted click on “Badass of the Sea“

　

About the authors

Greg and Tiffany are traveling around the world on sailing yachts and keep a video blog of their (mis)adventures. If sailing to Tahiti on a 44 ft sailboat, getting pooped on by seagulls, opening coconuts with dull machetes, sailing past tornadoes and ukulele Christmas carols are for you, then check them out at www.CoastGuardCouple.com!