10 Culture Shocks of Living in the United Kingdom

When my plane touched down in London, I was expecting black-and-white buildings, old-fashioned cars driving on the other side of cobbled streets, and traditional pubs. The reality was crowded and full of color. The sun shined warmly and I tried to keep my footing while tourists and Londoners sped by me. It was like everyone was chasing Alice in Wonderland's White Rabbit, and I got pushed down the rabbit hole. I was jet-lagged and exhausted, but we were in London and it was time to explore.

The reality of the United Kingdom had me calling cookies "biscuits" and long lines "queues". I drank hot tea in the afternoon and learned how to properly put custard and jam on a scone (although this can be disputed depending on where you live in the United Kingdom). I was getting used to everything feeling historic and buildings that pre-dated the Vikings. While many quintessential things make England unique, it is still one of the most magical places in the world.

Below is a list of cultural shocks that I experienced after moving to the United Kingdom. Some are pretty obvious, and others are just meat-flavored chips (or, more accurately, pronounced, crisps).

1. You alright?

Is the British way of saying "hello" and the American equivalent of "how you doing?". The first time someone asked me if I was alright, I hesitated and didn't know how to respond. Did I have something on my face? Did I look like I was about to cry? Was my eye doing that twitchy thing again? I have since learned it is a polite greeting and doesn't mean you have mustard in your hair or a speck in your eye. My go-to response is a warm smile and a nod. I haven't gotten around to mastering the art of the greeting, but I'm alright.

2. Driving on the left side of the road.

In a small pub on the outskirts of the Yorkshire Dales, an older man explained to me that the reason that the English drive on the left side of the road was to keep their sword arm free. It was easier to defend themselves (considering the majority of the population was right-handed) and after decades, it became ingrained into society and the structure of the roads. Read more here.

Honestly, I haven't tried to drive on the left side of the road, but I still haven't gotten used to the narrow windy roads and roundabouts that have a law on themselves. Although Derek easily got the hang of it, it feels worlds away from Texas' speeding limit and highways.

3. The eggs are not refrigerated.

The first time I got baffled in a UK grocery store was finding the eggs in the baking aisle between the bread and the cooking mixes. British authorities discourage refrigerating eggs on the theory that chilling and then warming could create condensation, which would allow salmonella to penetrate the shell. Although this practice is completely fine for the UK, different production practices don't make this possible for the US. Read more here.

Truth be told, I haven't shaken the habit of immediately refrigerating the eggs when we get home.

4. I like your pants, erm … I mean, trousers.

There are many words that have different meanings in the UK, but I never imagined that pants would be one of them. I found out that pants are known as undergarments when I complimented someone's floral-printed pants. She laughed and kindly explained the different meaning to me. I was aghast and surprised, one of the few times I managed to compliment someone's outfit, I did it wrong.

Lesson learned pants are trousers in the UK.

5. Forecast, windy with a chance of rainfall.

I used to LOVE the rain. There is nothing as cozy as reading by the window, wrapped in a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa nearby. However, there is something to be said about it raining all the time. Walking the dog, going to the store, and waiting to see a glimpse of the sun. A raincoat and umbrella became a wardrobe staple. I even had to get Faith a little raincoat and rain boots.

That being said, England has some of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen.

6. No ceiling fans or AC.

Honestly, England doesn't need ceiling fans or air conditioners. It doesn't get that hot here. However, there was a rare heat wave shortly after I arrived, and it was the same level of national emergency that happened when it snows in Texas. It was then I noticed that there were no ceiling fans or any way to cool down a house besides opening a window.

I never have been a fan of air conditioners, bring on the heat.

7. You can take the train, everywhere.

I know you can take the train in the States, it is just expensive and time-consuming. In England, you can take the train everywhere and sometimes, it can be faster than driving. We took the train from London to Edinburgh and all the small towns around the way. Honestly, it is more expensive to drive in England. Gasoline (or petrol) costs are almost quadrupled to that of America.

Save time, take the train. Just make sure to mind the gap and have your ticket way in advance.

8. There is no fluoride in the tap water.

The first time we went to the Dental Hygienist she recommended that we don't rinse our mouth immediately after brushing. She further explained that there is no fluoride in the water, which means rinsing will wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste. She also dissuaded us from using mouthwash immediately after brushing our teeth since that can also wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste.

I couldn't picture what that looked like. How does one not rinse after brushing? Aren't foamy bubbles everywhere? Don't ask me. I still lightly rinse.

9. To tip or not to tip.

Tipping is generally optional in the UK. By law, all staff in the UK must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. Sometimes, an optional tip is included in the bill. There are so many things that caught me off-guard when dining in a restaurant. Firstly, they don't take your card away to pay, instead, they bring the machine to you. Secondly, "splitting the bill" is often left up to you to tell them how much you want to pay. Lastly, going out to eat is a social activity so your server won't rush you by bringing your bill to your table, usually we asked for it when we were ready.

Pro-tip: Eat local, have fun, leave a tip.

10. Dogs are let off-leash in parks and gardens.

There aren't any free dog parks in England, but there are plenty of parks, walkways, and gardens where well-trained dogs are left off the leash to play ball, roll around, and have fun. This blew my mind, but it also made me so happy to have groups of dogs playing with each other and running up to me. Very rarely did I see any altercations between the dogs and if there were, they were quickly broken up. On the other hand, this scenario always sets Faith (my dog/leash-aggressive dog) on edge. Having leash-less dogs happily run up to her (hoping to play) is usually met with aggressive barking and growls. Often leaving me, with my head down, ushering Faith away while people openly stare at such an unusual aggressive sight.

Overall, England is a dog's paradise. I shih tzu not.