Here are just some differences in language and in habits I’ve noticed since I’ve been here for 48 days. (I can’t believe it’s been that long!)
- When you sneeze here, people don’t say ‘God bless you.’ This most likely has to do with the fact that the U.K. is a secular society, while the U.S. is more religious overall.
- No bread served before meals at restaurants and smaller portions, for the most part.
- There’s more cursing and cursing isn’t a big deal. There’s obviously cursing in the U.S. but if someone were to curse on TV live in the U.S. sometimes it’s considered ‘inappropriate’ and people get offended. That wouldn’t happen here.
- The open container law with alcohol is practiced. My friends take advantage of this.
- The sandwich combinations are much more extensive. Here are a few examples of wraps available at Pret a Manger, a chain that’s popular food on the go: Sweet Chili Prawn Salad Wrap (king prawns, sweet chili mayo, cucumber, spinach, coriander, red pepper), Chicken Raita Salad Wrap (British chicken, Raita yoghurt dressing, cucumber, red onions), and Hoisin Duck Wrap (shredded roast duck, hoisin sauce, mayo, red onions, leaf spinach).
- No tax on food.
- Fries are called Chips. Chips are called Crisps. Candy is called Sweets.
- Brits overall are much more sarcastic.
- This varies from city to city in the U.S., but I’ve noticed that drivers in the U.K. are much more ruthless on the road. It’s almost as if drivers speed up as pedestrians are trying to cross the road. I’ve heard this is the case for many European countries.
- We drive on different sides of the road and thus the driver’s seat and steering wheel are on the opposite side of the car than what us Americans are used to.
- ‘Pissed’ usually refers to being drunk, not angry.
- Instead of being given essay topics for classes, we’re given essay titles. Instead of being graded, we are being marked.
- The British use ‘-our’ endings in words where we just use ‘-or.’ I.e. neighbour instead of neighbor and colour instead of color.
- The British use the letter s where we use the letter z a lot of times. I.e. realise instead of realize and organisation instead of organization.
- Boys are sometimes called blokes.
- Pretty girls are called ‘fit.’
- Your friends are your mates.
- Here, they don’t use the word bathroom, nor do they use washroom or ‘the facilities.’ They use ‘the loo’ or simply toilets.
- ‘Snog’ means kiss.
- The educational systems are different. They define educational age by years, not grades.
- College is called university.
- We would say a political candidate is running for office. A Brit would say one is standing for election.
- The British utilize the 24 hour clock (as does most of the world) while we utilize the 12 hour clock.
- Different units of measurement.
- Drinking alone and in the daytime is seen as more socially acceptable. Obviously at Penn State and being in college the latter doesn’t seem like a big difference. However, college culture is not equivalent to American culture. I went to a restaurant recently at 12 noon to grab some breakfast to go and I counted 6 people drinking red wine. I often see older people reading a book and having a beer to themselves.
I can’t wait to find out more!
Location: London, United Kingdom
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