American Who Has Lived In The UK Shares 10 Differences That Make Them Look Like Night And Day
Imgur user Chimichanga007 is from the United States. They've lived in California, Chicago, NYC, have driven across the country 5 or 6 times, and have also stayed in Jersey and Connecticut... But they liked the UK most of all!
Recently, the Imgurian had the opportunity to spend some time in London, between Kilburn and Queens Park stations, and they absolutely loved it. In fact, Chimichanga007 even made a post on the platform when they got back, comparing the two countries. In their opinion, the US doesn't even come close.
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Went to the ER and i got emotional because they treated me like a human being and i wouldn't go into debt. (Getting emotional makes them embarrassed tho so don't recommend)
Feeling that's hard to explain but imagine you know that everyone you know, your neighbours, random strangers, kids, moms, grannys, everyone you see everyday is covered and can go free to a doctor or ER, taking care of each other.
I actually feel very proud that some of my taxes go to pay for the NHS (National Health Service), they provide a fantastic service, and I remember to be grateful and thankful every time I need to use them.
Sophia Mitrokostas, who grew up in the United States but eventually moved to the United Kingdom where she now lives with her husband, thinks that a lot of things that are common in the US aren't so common in the UK, such as celebrating Halloween, going on trips to enjoy the fall foliage, and tipping bartenders. You can see the cultural differences in everyday life too.
"The first time my husband and I ate together at an American restaurant, he was alarmed when the server took his credit card away to swipe it after the meal," Mitrokostas wrote on INSIDER. "He was also totally perplexed by the need to sign a receipt, which apparently isn't the norm in the UK."
In UK restaurants, the server typically brings the entire card machine to your table, and with their supervision, you insert your card and follow on-screen prompts before grabbing your receipt and leaving.
Cops that seem like servants not lunatic power trippers (most can't "accidentally" kill you cuz not packing)
British police don't want to carry guns (I have family that have been in the force). They know full well how much less likely they are to get shot this way, for a start.
"My husband [also] finds it strange to tip bartenders and buy your own drinks at a bar," Mitrokostas continued. "The UK is famed for its pub culture, or the socializing and social drinking that happens in its many cozy bars and pubs. Although buying a round of drinks is an optional act of generosity in the US, it's standard practice in the UK. Members of a group will rotate who is responsible for each round, and skipping your turn is seen as rude."
Lyndsey Reid, who moved from the UK to the US, also experienced a cultural shock after crossing the Atlantic. "The UK and the US may share a common language, but the cultural differences can make the two places feel as if they're worlds apart," Reid explained on Business Insider.
"The biggest culture shock came when I entered the workforce. It's well-documented that the American office culture is pretty different from the way we work in the UK, in part fueled by the notion of the American dream, that unwavering belief that anyone can be successful if they're determined and willing to work hard. And it seems that an all-work-and-no-play mentality has bred a workplace underpinned by a sense of fear that you're never quite working hard enough."
Modern and plentiful public transit
I live in NY. Public transit here is actually pretty good, but people who have't tried it in other states still complain.
Public right of way walking paths all over the place.
And an extensive, countrywide, footpath system with historic rights of way (look up UK Ramblers Association, you'll be amazed !!)
Reid said that nowhere was this quite as obvious — to her at least — as Americans' attitudes toward vacation days. "In the UK, almost all full-time workers are legally entitled to at least 28 days of paid vacation a year. Most employers will include the eight bank and public holidays into that figure, leaving the average British worker with about 20 days of vacation," Reid explained. "At my previous job, I had 25 days of vacation, eight paid bank holidays, a day off for my birthday, and the opportunity to buy an additional five days off. We worked hard. But we were given adequate time away from the office to rest, reset, and rejuvenate."
Free ATMs everywhere. Banks aren't making loot preying on the poors with fees like USA
10 dollar prescription drugs.
Not sure what is charged to non-residents, but all prescription medicine has a flat charge of £10. Some things can be bought over the counter, so it is not worth getting a prescription for say paracetemol or ibuprofen. If you need more than about a dozen prescriptions a year, then it is cheaper to buy a pre-payment certificate - this costs just over £100 and covers as many prescriptions as you need - and can be obtained free for some medical conditions or for people on low income. Prescription charges are free for over 60's. One important one that Americans will hardly believe is that diabetics get free prescriptions - yes, all insulin, needles, pens, test kits, everything is free. Only a few things like modern blood glucose sensors are not free, but even that is changing for people with diabetes that is not well controlled.
So you can imagine Reid's horror when she was offered her first job in the States and found out her paid time off was an accrued total of 10 days — "a measly two weeks, including vacation and sick days." The worst part, she said, was that the employer seemed to think that was generous, prefacing the section about PTO with: "We know how hard you work and recognize the importance of providing you with time for rest and relaxation."
As for Chimichanga007, they said the immigration process was quite difficult, and they went through a lot to get to the UK, but they plan to return when everything with the world goes back to normal.
Here's what people said about the comparison
Us Brits, as a whole, are very hard on ourselves. It's so nice to read something positive about our country.
Take this, then: my husband and I visited London in 2018 and loved it there. The people were friendly, the public transport was outstanding, we saw many nice museums and even took a hiking trip one day. We only stayed for eight days but Britain was nice to us. On a more cultural level, I also deeply love Red Dwarf series, IT Crowd, Monty Python's, Black Books, Les Miserables (the musical), CI5 the Professionals (the original series), plenty of books, and number of things I can't list off the top of my head because they are so many. You have a lot of good going on on those islands.
Load More Replies...That is nice about UK. But I would say that these things are pretty much the standard all over EU, even in the more poor countries (like mine) in eastern EU. It is sad that that many americans relate the universal health care for example, with Communism and socialism.
Canada has univeral health care, too. The USA seems to be an outlier in a number of ways. That said, a poll from 2019 showed that over 60% of Americans are in favour of univeral health care.
Load More Replies...I'm proud to be British. We whinge a lot about our government and how 'f****d up' we are.... but seriously could be so much worse and I for one am grateful for what we do have.
I'm Czech. Even Boris Johnson seems like a reasonable guy here...
Load More Replies...Us Brits, as a whole, are very hard on ourselves. It's so nice to read something positive about our country.
Take this, then: my husband and I visited London in 2018 and loved it there. The people were friendly, the public transport was outstanding, we saw many nice museums and even took a hiking trip one day. We only stayed for eight days but Britain was nice to us. On a more cultural level, I also deeply love Red Dwarf series, IT Crowd, Monty Python's, Black Books, Les Miserables (the musical), CI5 the Professionals (the original series), plenty of books, and number of things I can't list off the top of my head because they are so many. You have a lot of good going on on those islands.
Load More Replies...That is nice about UK. But I would say that these things are pretty much the standard all over EU, even in the more poor countries (like mine) in eastern EU. It is sad that that many americans relate the universal health care for example, with Communism and socialism.
Canada has univeral health care, too. The USA seems to be an outlier in a number of ways. That said, a poll from 2019 showed that over 60% of Americans are in favour of univeral health care.
Load More Replies...I'm proud to be British. We whinge a lot about our government and how 'f****d up' we are.... but seriously could be so much worse and I for one am grateful for what we do have.
I'm Czech. Even Boris Johnson seems like a reasonable guy here...
Load More Replies...