5 Things I’ve Learned Since Moving to the UK

1. People are very individualistic

When I tell you that people do not care, they do not. Everyone is doing their own thing and paying no mind to others. Remember in my last post when I said that I had to carry my suitcases all by myself when I arrived? Well, to continue the story when I arrived to accommodation it was the same thing. People literally walked past me struggling with 4 bags and offered no assistance. No one even opened the door at reception when I went to check in. I was shocked, like where is the compassion? I felt like this was something that would never happen in The Bahamas and I was mind blown. With this level of individualism it does bring some positives though and the one I appreciate the most is freedom. People are free to be whoever they want and do whatever they like. It’s so refreshing to see the creative self expression through fashion and makeup while walking the streets of Manchester. Additionally, I’ve found a new level of confidence in participating in activities solo. Whether it’s dining alone or even going to a concert, more than likely, you’re going to see someone else enjoying their alone time.

2. Kiosks are everywhere

This was really surprising to me. I have definitely seen ordering kiosks when traveling to the States, but there are even kiosks at sit down restaurants and online ordering is prevalent. My first day in the UK, I waited for at least 10 minutes for someone to come and take my order at Nando’s then the waiter instructed me that I had to order through the QR code. A few weeks later when I went out for my birthday, we had to order through a tablet. I constantly have to remind myself that this is a first world country and with that technology is rampant. I do believe that this does foster the individualism and further emphasizes the lack of community here. But I guess it’s just one of those things and for people that don’t like interaction this works out great.

3. Breakfast foods are usually hot drinks and pastries

I really miss steamed sausage & grits, tuna & grits and oh my goodness sheep tongue souse! I could cry. Breakfast has not been the same since I’ve moved. I usually order groceries twice a month from Asda and occasionally stop into smaller shops (Tesco Express and Sainsburys Local) when I need to pick up a few things and yet I still can’t seem to find grits anywhere. The restaurants close to school usually only sell coffee, teas, other hot drinks and pastries and that’s it. Like what am I supposed to do with that? I was an advocate for always getting breakfast before work, so now I’ve found myself making egg bacon and cheese bagels before 9am classes because I need food. One day, I was so tired and didn’t wake up in time to cook and decided to get an egg and bacon “barm” from a food truck near school and it was honestly one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten. There was not one speck of seasoning, the egg wasn’t throughly cooked, the bacon was burnt and the sandwich was so dry. I couldn’t finish it, eating it felt like I was literally suffering.

4. There is always something to do

Greater Manchester is one of England’s largest counties and with that comes the opportunity for so many activities. With a diverse population of more than 2 million people, it’s no surprise that there is always something to do. During my first few months I did not take advantage of living in a big city and didn’t venture much further than home, school, the mall and the surrounding areas. I’m now quite settled and longing to explore. In March, I realized that my program ends in 6 months and there is still so much more that I want to do. So in usual fashion, I’ve made a list and so excited to start checking things off. I have already made some progress and realized that attending concerts has become a new hobby of mine. I’ve been to two concerts so far and have another two booked for the summertime. It’s just so great living in place where artists visit all the time. I wonder who I’ll see next.

5. Primark has almost everything

Picture this, it’s your first day in a new country and you need bedding, towels, a rug and warmer clothes. I was familiar with the Primark brand because I had visited one in Florida before but did not know that they had a home section. I was so happy to be able to get so many of the things I needed from one store at a reasonable price. Since my first day, I’ve visited Primark for lounge wear, pajamas, earrings, an umbrella and a vase. I even get my nails done there. It’s just so convenient. The only thing they don’t sell is food, but that’s okay because there’s usually a grocery store and numerous restaurants nearby.

Have you ever visited the UK before or moved away from home and had to get adjusted to a new life? If so, what was it like for you? Do you have any tips?