Hello, beta, what’s up?
Maasi, I need your help. it’s urgent. You know Papa-Mummy are in London? I’m joining them tomorrow. Now they’re saying Brexit has happened. What does that mean? Will there be trouble for me at the airport?
No, it’s got nothing to do with you. All it means is that the United Kingdom has decided to withdraw from the European Union.
Don’t joke. As if England was ever in Europe!
What makes you say that?
I know you need the Schengen visa to go to Paris and all, but not to London. Which is sad really, because the London visa is so expensive, and it lets you go only there. With the Schengen visa, you can visit so many places. Also, we pay in pounds when we shop in England. I know because I buy all my clothes from Ebay UK. In Europe, you have to pay in euros everywhere.
So which continent is Britain on?
I’m not sure. Maybe Scandinavia? It’s close by, isn’t it?
Never mind.
But you’re not telling me what I really need to know. What’s Brexit?
That’s slang for British exit from the EU.
Are you serious? They really are in Europe?
They meaning?
I don’t know… United Kingdom, Great Britain, whatever you call it?
Those are very different animals, actually. Because the British Islands fall within the British Isles, alongwith Ireland, while the United Kingdom has only Northern Ireland and Great Britain has no Ireland at all. And Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey fall within the British Islands but are not in Great Britain. In fact they’re not even in the United Kingdom, though the UK is technically responsible for them.
Eh? How’s that possible?
Because they are something called ‘Crown Dependencies’, which means they have a relationship only with the Crown.
It’s all very confusing.
That it is. Because British refers to things that relate to the UK, Great Britain as well as the old British Empire. You’ve heard of Bermuda and the Cayman Islands? One’s in the North Atlantic; the other in the Caribbean, but both are British territories.
Maasi, you’re confusing me further. What does this have to do with me?
I’m just messing with you. Ok, the truth is though they’re calling it British, it’s the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that was asked if it wanted to stay in the EU or not. That’s England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. And though the regions voted very differently, the overall decision is to leave. And, yes, before you ask again, the UK is in Europe, even if it’s not on the Continent. And it is/was a member of the EU. Brexit does not affect you since you have an Indian passport and visa. But with the pound down, you will be able to buy more with your Indian rupees. And one last thing, Scandinavia is not a continent, but I’m impressed that you know its location. Happy?
shampa@newindianexpress.com