6 Culture Shocks - Moving from the US to the UK

Moving is never easy, especially moving from one country to another. While America and England may share many similar aspects, there are quite a few differences that can cause culture shock for any new American arriving in the United Kingdom.

Shelbey and Rachel take some time to discuss six things they found "shocking" when they moved to the UK from the US.

UPDATE: this was originally filmed to inform our American friends of some differences we have discovered in the UK when we first came here but have found that an overwhelming amount of people who have watched this are British! Just to clarify, culture shocks are negatives or complaints, they are just differences that can be surprising and no matter of research can prepare someone for all the new things they will experience when they move.

#UK #USA #Culture

♫Music By♫
Intro Song
●Wernoir - Nighttime Balcony [Bass Rebels]

End song: "Sorry" by Comfort Fit
Sorry by Comfort Fit is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Germany License.

[williebauld]

There is only one currency here and that’s pound Sterling, what you are mixing up is the fact that banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland can print their own notes but they are still £ Sterling

[alexcampos]

American here living in the UK for over 20 years. There is loads of variety in supermarkets here as much as in the USA. It’s just that people here want other types of variety. I can get pretty much anything I can think of that I missed from across the Atlantic. If the supermarkets don’t sell it, Amazon or other online retailers will. My top tip would be try the local version or something similar. You’ll soon get used to it and most likely discover loads of new things that you’ll come to love.

[radioguy]

As an English person I have no idea why I find Americans on youtube moving to the UK so amusing.

[adem-Savs]

You got to remember that many Anerican foods contain ingredients that are banned in the EU and UK.
Especially breakfast cereals, there are flavourings and E-numbers that are just not allowed here.
American foods tendt to be over processed. But you guys will get it, you only been here a couple of years.

[England-Bob]

The reason you had problems finding eggs is simple.
In the US eggs are washed removing a natural protective layer and so have to be kept in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.
In the U.K. we don’t wash off the natural protective layer so our eggs do not have to be refrigerated.
Meaning our eggs are the home bakery isle US eggs are in the chiller section.

[jennyk]

We Brits have mulled wine in the Christmas season. We are not in to eggnog.

[brian]

As a Brit when visiting the USA, my culture shock is not being able to buy passable artisan quality food at reasonable prices in regular grocery stores. So for example, bread - ALL the bread in regular grocery stores in America is plastic packed low quality mass produced stuff. In the UK, we have that too but you can also go to the in-store bakery where they make the at least half decent fresh bread every day and pay just a little more for it. In the US, you would have to go elsewhere and find a specialist artisan bakery store.

[kevinwhite]

My culture shock when returning back to the UK, was the overwhelming feeling of feeling safe, safe in the knowledge I wouldn't be shot for accidentally strolling onto private land,

[hackdaniels]

"British people have been drinking inadequate eggnog..."

No. British people have not been drinking eggnog.

[robertwilkinson]

No multiple currencies in the U.K. Different notes but all pounds sterling!

[darryltelka]

As a real American native American I came to the UK at the age of 14 to be with my Welsh father I love this country the history culture and living in Wales it's fantastic also my family back in my native American country can't get over the fact my health care is free, I told them all about Wales and the UK they loved the history and I've even taught some of Them Welsh and my Welsh family my native language,

[bxbomber]

These 2 make Americans look bad, and have the whole “America is so much better in every way” vibe instead of just being informative. They also sounded dumb, and didn’t bother to fact check their assumptions they just sat back and laughed at. Plus I didn’t really gain any insight at all after watching this. I am American planning to relocate, and am genuinely curious about the topic.

[nicolapicola]

So interesting because I am from NZ and I had the opposite experience! I found the USA had less variety than NZ, but the UK had more in their supermarkets... weird!

[gregmadison]

I'm from England and moved to the US when I was 17. The cultural shock was unbelievable. Gun violence, drugs, and overall crime just to name a few. I lived in NJ. NJ and NY people are not the most warm and friendly.

[graceygrumble]

The 'variety' thing, in supermarkets, is weird. American supermarkets have oodles of the same stuff ie different 'brands' of the same stuff.
British supermarkets, on the other hand, have loads of stuff, but fewer brands.I have an allegiance to very few brands: Lurpak butter, Andrex toilet paper, Tetley Tea (I prefer Ringtons but can't afford it) and Heinz Ketchup.
So, I found American supermarkets to be limited.
Like I said, 'weird'!

[sgldn]

I’ve heard the variety thing said before in regards to shopping. I think in the U.K. there’s more of a focus on variety of items, rather than variety of brands

[robmcd]

We do not have different currencies in the U.K., we only have the Pound Sterling, we do however have lots of different pound notes in circulation in each country within the U.K. for example, each country is allowed to print its own bank notes to reflect the culture of the country. But each country can not just print money without any control. All money is regulated by the Bank of England. All bank notes are designated pounds and have exactly the same value across the entire U.K.

[eleven]

As far as I'm aware, eggnog wthout alcohol is not commonly drunk here in the UK. However, it can still be a tradition at Christmas to buy a bottle of advocaat, which combines egg, sugar and brandy into a thick creamy liquid, usually diluted by lemonade to your taste. It's often called a 'snowball'. It looks innocent, but it can get your granny quite squiffy drinking it. Robert, UK

[ivylasangrienta]

Never even tasted eggnog. I don't think it's common or easily found in all of Europe. We drink mulled wine at Christmas, lol.

[peterdavidson]

We found in the U.S.A. Supermarkets that so much food & cookies (biscuits) are crammed FULL OF SUGAR. That’s why there is so much variety on American shelves.