This blog has been a work-in-progress; a collection of various differences between living in the US and living in the UK. Now, I'm not saying one is better than the other, because there are things I like about both. I'm simply just trying to describe our journey, thus far. I'll try to arrange things in categories, but please forgive any chaos or disorganized ramblings! I thought it would be easy transitioning to a country that wasn't completely different in all things, and it hasn't been that difficult, but there are somethings that all those movies and books just can't prepare you for.
Language
Yes, we, like the Brits speak English; however, there is English and there's American. English here can sometimes deviate far from the English used in the states (as does their spelling). For example, when asking "How are you doing" as we say in American, the Brits tend to use the phrase "Are you alright". Also, just about every town has a city centre, and yes, that's spelt centre (not center or spelled as we would in the states).
At first, upon hearing the phrase "are you alright", I thought something was seriously wrong with me, like I had something on my face, looked sick (was I sick?), or maybe I was lost, even though I was pretty sure I was where I was wanting to go. I'm sure I looked confused after that question though, and had to contemplate if I was actually alright. Once I figured out the meaning behind the question, I felt a little silly, but if you know me, I thought they had probably witnessed me tripping over my own feet, almost walking into a door, or something revealing my clumsy nature.
Some other communication problems are how words are translated. For example, if you want french fries, in the UK you have to ask for chips. Well now, that's confusing. How is the person taking your food order going to know that when you say chips it's referring to french fries instead of potato chips to go along with your sandwich (or as the UK calls a butty)? Well, they call potato chips crisps!
If you ask for bacon, you'll end up with a slice of ham which is still tasty, but to order bacon bacon, you'll have to ask for streaky bacon! I ordered chicken wrapped in bacon and topped with cheese at a local pub. Needless to say, I was expecting thin bacon wrapped around my chicken. However, when I cut into the dish, it was a cut of HAM surrounding my chicken! It took me a bit to remember bacon isn't always bacon, bacon. Still, my chicken, bacon melt was totally delicious!
Here are some other words that translate differently, some are familiar and some, well, just aren't..
We'll do the American word first, followed by the British:
Breakfast = Brekkie
Sausage = Bangers
Sweets = Candy
French Fries = Chips
Potato Chips = Crisps
French Toast = Eggy Bread
Oatmeal = Porridge
Bacon = Rashers (Streaky Bacon)
Shrimp = Prawns
Ground Meat = Mince Meat
Jello-O = Jelly
Popsicle = Lolly
Cookie = Biscuit
Soda = Fizzy Drink
Cup of Tea = Cuppa
Bathroom = Loo (if you ask for a bathroom, you may be directed to a room with a bath and no toilet)
Television (TV) = Telly
Goodbye = Cheerio/ Cheers/ Goodbye
Are you sure we speak the same language? I'm going to need Rosetta Stone to come up with something for this! Is there an app for that? Interested in learning more language differences? Here are some links for more fun!
33 British Slang Words and Phrases
London Vocab
Americans try to pronounce British places
Driving
As most people know, the British drive on the left side of the road. At first, the sensation is quite weird and awkward. As an American, the biggest challenge to overcome was making right hand turns. My instinct, when turning right, was to enter the right lane. Luckily, I was able to remind myself to stay in the left lane, or didn't meet any oncoming cars if I accidentally went to right lane (I think this only happened once, maybe twice).
While there are some roundabouts in the states, I suspect they are not like the UK (or at least no one in the states follow any rules or guidelines). Before entering, look right! The cars to the right have the right-of-way. Some roundabouts have so many exits, it's difficult to navigate. I am now comfortable navigating roundabouts that have 4 TOTAL exits. Anything over 4, I'm a little hesitant as I don't often come across them, but I'm getting better and most everyone is friendly that they understand roundabouts are sometimes confusing.
Red lights also work differently that the states. The lights go from Green (Go, same as states), to Yellow (Caution, slow down, same as states), to Red (Stop, same as states), to Red and Yellow (Get Ready), to Green. Sometimes the Yellow light blinks which indicates you can go as long as there are no pedestrians crossing. Also, there are not many (if any) stop signs. There is either a triangle sign (similar to the Yield sigh) with the words Give Way or a painted white triangle on the pavement.
Some other rules to remember, as it is legal to turn right on red in the states, it is illegal to turn left on red. Bikes are to be ridden in the street; it's technically illegal to ride on sidewalks. It's okay to park in the middle of the road, other cars will figure how to get around you (okay, that's not really a rule, but it sure seems to be the thought process, especially on roads that are frequently congested).
Cars are of different makes and models. Some in the states can be found here and vice versa, BMW, Volkswagon, Audi, Ford, Honda, and Hyundai were among the few that I recognized once we arrived. But some others I may have heard before (like on Top Gear- one of my husband's favorite shows), but never seen such as Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, and Skoda to name a few.
There are other differences, and you can find out more below. I did a blog earlier that discussed some on driving and other modes of transport. You can find the link below along the UK Highway Code, and some other fun links.
Transportation
UK Highway Code
Roads in the UK
Roundabouts
The Magic Roundabout
Homes
Other than the obvious outlets being different, there are other differences, some which can be found in the states, but as I come from the south, some differences seemed unbelievable (the things we take for granted). Homes are typically smaller, there may not be any closets in the bedrooms, the light switches to bathrooms are on the outside of the room, and there are no outlets in the bathrooms as the British believe that electricity and water are NOT a good combination, rightly so.. Yes, some homes have the "Harry Potter" closet. The appliances are smaller and some homes only have a fridge and no freezer!! For all those out there (like myself) who had a mini heart attack because you LOVE Sam's Club, it's an adjustment. Luckily, we have a decent size fridge and freezer for our needs.
There is not central AC/Heat. In fact, it is uncommon for a British home to have AC (some parts of the US do not have AC either, but in the southern states, it's a MUST). In cooler temps, the home is heated by radiators (boilers) which is not uncommon in some parts of the states, However, the area I'm from it's a foreign concept. I had my doubts about its ability to warm the house, but I was mistaken. Yet, I think I deserve a small victory as I found myself pretty chilly sometimes in between the boiler kicking on.
Food
I've heard that British food is bland and that they use little seasonings, and I have had British food that is bland. They also don't use very many condiments. My friend's refrigerator went out and someone came to replace it with a new one. The man basically laughed at her for having some many condiments, saying Brits only have a few condiments opposed to American's need for condiments for everything. I'm not sure what exactly constitutes as a staple condiment to a Brit; probably ketchup and english mustard.
English mustard is a VERY acquired taste (as in I will NEVER consume it again)! Too much of it will leave your mouth with this overwhelming earthy, burning sensation that not lingers in your throat and mouth, but your nose! And the taste is hard to remove. So, if you're visiting and don't like strong flavors, avoid English mustard! Make sure it's American or French's at least. I told a native Brit my experience, and she wholeheartedly agreed with sentiments about the mustard. Her daughter disagreed and loved the stuff. To each his own.
I haven't ventured too far out of my comfort zone to talk in great deal about various kinds of British dishes. But I will say, the Brits serve peas (mushy peas) with just about everything. Don't ask me why. I do not know. However, if you're visiting, be prepared to eat some peas!
Farmer's Market. Enough said. Fresh fruits, veggies, and meats! AMAZING! And you can find one pretty much every weekend and even some during the week day. However, the supermarkets pride themselves on providing as much 100% British foods as possible which is pretty cool. The supermarket has some of the same brand name products found in American stores. I was surprised that Heinz products are more prevalent than Campbell's. There were all kinds of various Heinz condensed soup varieties, yet only about 3 different Campbell's (located on the top shelf with only a few of each kind). I also found it interesting that Kellogg's Frosted Flakes are not called Frosted Flakes, but Frosties. The UK has their own Frosted Flakes (not Kellogg's brand).
Yet, shopping at a British grocery, can be frustrating as they call some foods by different names. For instance, Something that you probably can't get many places in the U.S. is clotted cream. It's kind of like a smear for your scone. It's pretty delicious and a must to try. My favorite by far though is Watergull Apple Juice! It's amazing! Pretty much anything with Elderflower. Or Breckland Posh Pop (a fizzy drink).
Moving in general can be hard, but it's what you make of your experience that will affect your happiness. It's difficult being so far away from family, friends, and familiarity, but I could not be more blessed for the opportunity to experience life from another perspective. I greatly enjoy England. It's wonderful being able to drive a short distance and check out a farmer's market or see something that has been standing for centuries. I plan to do another blog on my favorite places and things in the near future. For now, I think I've taken up enough of your time, but I'll leave you with this last bit:
