I would be curious to know your perspective on the value of tradition from living in the US as a Brit.

As a Norwegian I feel stuck between the American and British approach. The US is a very consumer oriented society where people seem to not care all that much about tradition and history. I think I often found myself knowing more about American history than my American friends.

Yet in Britian it can get a bit much at times. When I was younger I think my whole family was quite infatuated with Britain, and part of the reason was all the British eccentricities. Old quirky traditions and practices still kept alive. But sometimes it seems Britain can hold on a bit too tight to tradition.

On the other hand the American approach leads to cultural wastelands of stripmalls and McMansions, where the meaning of life seems to be reduced to a product on the top shelf, current on mega sale. It will totally transform your life. If it doesn't you can have your money back!

Ok this was a bit meanspirited and one-dimensional characterization. But I wrote that to get across a sense of contrast I experience. As someone from a country with such steep traditions I am imagining that you must imagine this at some level, unless you live in Boston or something.