Relocating from the US to the UK can be a very good move, and you’d be justified in saying that there are few cultural adaptations you’d have to make in order to get settled. However, there are some differences in the way things are done, and a few practical considerations that you should bear in mind ahead of the move and in the process of getting settled. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Healthcare is Free for UK Citizens Only
As an expat, you won’t be eligible for the full benefits offered by the National Health Service (NHS). So, although British citizens don’t need additional health insurance, you do. Shop around for health insurance in the UK before you set out. Compare policies carefully, making sure that you have sufficient cover for every eventuality. You don’t have to worry about the standard of healthcare – it’s excellent, but you will need to make provision for covering its cost.
2. Property Prices and Rents are High
Houses and apartments don’t come cheap in the UK. Whether you buy or rent, accommodation may be harder to find than you expected, and it will take a big bite out of earnings. Some cities are more expensive than others, and London leads the pack. However, public transport is quite good, so you may be able to consider housing across a wider radius than you would ordinarily consider. For example, you can commute from Hatfield in Hertfordshire to London in under half an hour.
3. You May Need a Car After All
UK public transport is relatively good, and many locals will tell you that it’s possible to get by without a car. That depends on your circumstances, however. A report from the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) says that dependency on private cars is on the rise in the UK, partly for individual reasons – like needing to get kids to school safely – and partly because of deterioration in public transport services.
If you were only planning to stay for a couple of years, you may not have factored a car into your budget. Reinvestigate what your circumstances will be to determine whether you might have to rethink.
4. It’s Wet But You Might Already be Used to That
English rain is something of a byword around the world. However, you might be pleased to discover that it’s not quite as bad as it’s made out to be. How long it takes you to acclimatise will depend on which US state you’re from, but if you’re from Seattle, for example, you won’t miss a beat. If you’re from Florida, on the other hand, it’s going to be a big change for you.
5. It’s the Same Language But…
There are words and phrases in UK English that may confuse folks from the US – there are also some things you say that could lead to puzzlement at best. For instance, if you mean that you’re angry when you say “I’m pissed,” you won’t be mollified to find that some of your UK counterparts think you just declared yourself to be drunk!
Apart from differences in the way words and idioms are used, there are also spelling differences. Fortunately, the words themselves are similar enough and most people in the UK have had sufficient exposure to US spelling to recognize that you aren’t just misspelling words willy-nilly. Nevertheless, it would be wise to use a UK spell checker for formal letters and documents.
6. Cultural Difference: Self-Promotion Versus Self-Effacing
Here’s an interesting cultural curveball. In the USA, if you’ve achieved something, nobody will frown on you for blowing your own trumpet as loudly as you can. They won’t even mind if you overstate things slightly. In the UK, however, self-promotion is often seen as boastful. There’s a tendency to understate rather than overstate. In business, this might mean sticking to the facts when talking about your achievements and keeping it brief and low-key.
7. Keep it Down
Have you noticed that people from the UK are inclined to converse in low tones? You’ve probably also heard about the stereotypical “loud” American. The reasons for this difference aren’t particularly important and amount to speculation, but it’s a real difference all the same. The main thing to remember is that you’ll be considered just a bit rude if people at the next table in a restaurant, for example, can hear everything you say.
One of the theories that seems to have some credence is that Americans have and expect more personal space than people from more crowded countries. And it’s to be supposed that, with limited personal space, comes a need to lower the decibels so as not to be intrusive.
You’ll be in For Some Surprises, but Nothing Radical
Once you’ve moved to the UK, you’ll probably still find some things you didn’t expect, a largely-unarmed police force often surprises expats, for example. But, on the whole, you needn’t worry too much about getting settled in as long as the main practicalities like healthcare, accommodation and transport are accounted for.
Your accent will make you stand out as being from “across the pond” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You’re likely to find that most people will not only be tolerant, but helpful. In fact, it’s reasonably likely that you’ll be so comfortable that you’ll join the ranks of US expats who decided to make the UK their permanent home.