- Grocery shopping is done daily, in most cases. As most shoppes don't have carts, one is limited to what they can carry. Upside? All the food is fresh!! I've never ate so well.
- Garbage cans are typically small, think bathroom trashcan size. Reason? The garbage drop is around 2 foot by 1 foot. Anything larger and you must carry it down several flights of stairs.
- Medicine is really cheap. Think .40 cents for 20 tablets of Ibuprofen. Nice, considering I've given up caffeine.
- Catalogs with home delivery are quite common. Since most people don't have cars, buying anything large like furniture or appliances is a huge hassle.
- Gas appliances are VERY common. A lot of flats have boilers with radiator heating. Electric appliances and floor or central heating are only found in detached homes or newer properties.
- "Hanging out" doesn't really happen. We live in a flat with 4 other people and it is rare that they chill in our room even though were are all friends.
- Hot water comes out of one tap, cold from the other...good luck not burning/freezing your face off.
- Gratuity is included on some bills and not on others...there seems to be no set reason why.
- Never buy more at the store than you can carry... there is a long, miserable walk home if you do.
- If you watch TV after a certain time at night there is nudity, f-bombs and all sorts of tawdy humor. No bleeping. I don't mind it, per se... just unusual.
- You can walk around the mall with a beer in your hand. Hell, you can walk just about anywhere with a beer in your hand.
- You can't buy beer till 8am. Damn. :P
- You have to turn the power on at the outlet. There's a switch.
- You know a train is coming down the tube when it get windier.
- Cobblers make a good living. Everyone resoles shoes.
- Iphones and blackberry's rule. Haven't seen a lot of androids.
- There are wild animals in London.... foxes, swans and the like.
- Fashion is a big deal here, but to the outsider it looks like you just threw on everything in your closet. Stripes with checks or paisley...who cares.
- London rain is more of a drizzle or mist, most days.
- You can't tell by looking at someone where they are from. Don't try to guess.
- The day you forgot sunglasses will be the one day its bright enough to use them.
- There are gardens EVERYWHERE. Even next to port-o-toilets.
- There are graves in the floor tiles of churches. Everyone else is stepping on them, so I'm sure they are used to it by now.
- Every flat seems to have wood flooring in most of the house. I've only seen carpet twice.
- UK buses run in a straight line. They don't loop around like in the US. You will get on the wrong bus many times.
- Escalators are organized. In the US, everyone clogs the step their on without regard for people behind them. In the UK, you must stand on the right so people can pass you on the left. Very nice.
- Clothes dryers are RARE. If you have one, it is not a separate appliance. Clothes washers take about an hour per load.
- Wardrobes are SMALL. Good luck fitting an American-sized clothing arsenal in them.
- A little bit of walking is from one station to another- about 30 minutes total. A decent amount of walking is several blocks each way and well over an hour. A lot of walking means you are not taking public transport... hope those heels are comfortable.
- Mobile phones can't dial specific phone numbers...unfortunately that includes most government numbers.
- A pint or two at lunch is not frowned on... it's quite expected.
- Libraries, museums, parks and churches are free to enter, for the most part.
- Times are listed in 24hr format and 12hr format seemingly willy nilly.
- No physical bill exists for a 1 pound note... your pockets are going to get heavy.
- Other immigrants find American accents annoying... Brits seem to find them cute.
- You have to pay 150 pounds per year to watch tv... Netflix it is, our tv is too small to make that worth it.
- American banks will freak out when you start using your card in the UK... doesn't matter that you told them.
- The "W" in Southwark is silent... as is the "h" in Fullham.
- Trash= Rubbish, Boot=Trunk, Bonnet= Hood, Loo/toilet= Bathroom, Lorrie= Delivery Truck
- Prospective employers are VERY interested in your immigration status, age, gender, religion and ethnicity.
- When one is with friends, drinks are bought in rounds...too bad if it is your turn and you're not thirsty.
More to come...
