Floridared

Culture Shocks? Pfft, just imagine moving to a real foreign country where nobody speaks English, and you can't make yourself understood? Its amazing how many British people come to the States and think it should be just like the UK. My friends and family are just as bad. Little Englanders I call them!!

Steerpike

Homesickness for me is always cured by a trip back to UK! Actually going/being there is a lot different from thinking about it (and by that I mean, actually going back there kills all the desire to ever return there permanently!). I last went back to UK in '04, and I'm nowhere near ready to go again!

Anyway, I have come up with the perfect solution for me - I now go back to Europe (to get a good dose of culture, architecture, 'european values', etc) but instead of going to cold, damp, drizzly, negative England, I go to Italy, Spain, etc. Gobs of history/culture, but with better weather and better food. I even invite family members to come down and join me - so I get to see family at the same time! Works a treat. I've had a week in Rome, a week in Tuscany, and a week traveling around Spain with my mum - best of all worlds (plus of course other trips there without inviting family to join me).

Gezza

I had lived in Canada before so not keeping smiles on or not holding the doors open is fine with me. What I find is an "addition" here in US is the "very early" and blatant: "Where are you from?" If only I could have a Dollar for each of these.

Hopefully after this election the trend of letting off a little on this issue, will become more popular.

Ingurland

not sure if it's already been mentioned, but it still irks my nerve that minutes are used to *receive calls (to mobiles)

Chrissywissy100

With you on that one!

Have only live in the US since April, so fairly new and not m,uch has irritated. biggest culture shock / difficulty in adjusting has been identify what the best brands are to get in the shops for food, cleaning products etc, and making new friends. Both overcome I am glad to say!

And yes, I would be a millionaire if I had a $ everytime I was told "I lurvve your accent!" Its nice really! Everyones very friendly and helpful.

smckinleyf1

[QUOTE=Saff_London_Girl;6731813]What were the biggest culture shocks you experienced when first moving to the US?

Steerpike

But doesn't it bug you that, if you call a UK phone number, the cost varies depending on whether it's a mobile or a landline? I have no idea which ones are which, but if I call a mobile it costs a LOT more. That's because in the UK the mobile owner does not pay for airtime, and the cost is passed onto the caller. Personally, having started with mobiles here, it seems perfectly legitimate and reasonable to pay for 'airtime' whether the call is incoming or outgoing, but I can see why this would be a surprise here.

Chrissywissy100

[QUOTE=smckinleyf1;6945880] Welcome smckinleyf1!

Culture shocks... hmm. Im not sure as we fitted in really easily as we live just outside SanFrancisco the feeling compared to SE UK is very similar, and makes me feel very at ease.

Sometimes this country feels a little backward in that you have to request to pay by direct debit for everything compared to the UK where its automatic. Be prepared to do everything with cheques and have to give deposits to get utilities (phone tv, internet, water. electric, garbage removal etc)to start with.

But they way other things are set up makes much more sense.

Setting up bank accounts, and getting anything that requires passing a credit check takes a while, but then it probably would if you were new to any country and didnt "exist" until 4 weeks ago!

Getting your head around how the healthcare system works with insurance takes a while.. no more luxurious (!?) NHS where you can just walk through the door and get treated, no questions asked. However, you do get to see specialists MUCH quicker!

The way the US is a less employee first, benefit driven society compared to the UK is gonna take some getting used to!

Oh and Steerpike, - all UK mobile phones start with 07 (I dont think there are any exceptions), and landlines start 01 or 02

Steerpike

Welcome Crissywissy! Which direction 'just outside SF' are you? N, S, or E? How long have you been here? I've been in the bay area 25 years and I"m still loving every minute of it. It's a very easy place to feel at home in (unless you miss rain and grumpy people ).

I do know how to interpret UK area codes, but the same concept applies to all European mobiles, and I don't have a clue how the numbers work in other European countries. (I also like the way, in the US, that mobile numbers and landlines share the same number pool - you can even port from land to mobile and back). My point is simply, the US system of mobile owner pays for airtime seems perfectly fair to me.

Chrissywissy100

Well, we are relatively new to the US.. nearly 8 months now.. moved over here in April! We lived in SF for 1 month while we found something other than an apartment, but we are suburban people at heart so moved out to Pleasant Hill! We are loving it!

When it started raining we though "oooh, whats that sound?" then realised it was rain! We got excited at first, but now the hubby keeps saying he's going to punch the next person that asks him if it makes him feel at home! Lol! Bring back the sun I say!

I guess the cell phone charging does make sense, it was just a little odd to start off with, and more so for me as I noticed it more with my pay as you go cell phone!

surly

[QUOTE=Chrissywissy100;6947746] ???????????????

Tracym

[QUOTE=surly;6950977] What's a cheque? I never do anything with cheques (checks).

surly

I always get a little bemused when I hear the how US banks are behind those in the UK. It's never been explained.
I can use cash, credit, debit, check or even barter.

Steerpike

Go to your local American Express office, and ask for some Travelers checks; you will find that they are called 'Travelers Cheques', even here in the US.

That's it for today's trivia

Chrissywissy100

Just to start with!! Because it took about 2 months before all my utilities were set up for direct debit, probably since we had only just opened our bank account. Having siad that, my expereince has been that to pay bills online you have to set up online accounts for each of the billers, rather than doing it through your online account.. unless its just me being dense again ;-)

Also (personal grumble here), HSBC who are supposed to be a global bank right(?) took 8 weeks to get us a credit card, and were "unable" to access our HSBC UK bank account, and therefore transfer money to us from the UK or give us a bankers draft for our deposit for our rental! Only way we worked round it was the bank manager personnally stepped in and give us the money in good faith, seeing as we were opening an account with them that day.

And I dont know why, but it took us being in the bank 3 hours to open an account. Im sure it never used to take that long in the UK? Still, banks are useless everywhere!

I figured use of checks were more common here when the bank sent us 12 (!) check books when we opened the account!. In the UK I had one check book which lasted me 4 years!

And we still have to pay our rent by check, but I think thats the landlords personal preference.