10 Reverse Culture Shocks as an American Returning from Britain

In this video I share the "reverse" culture shocks I experienced returning to Texas after living for the third summer in England. Because we lived in the UK for 5 months straight, I was surprised to find many things feeling unfamiliar back in my familiar home in the Dallas area!
I love living in Texas, and I also love living in Gloucestershire. But there are also things that seem weird in one place vs. the other once I get used to where I'm living!
Let me know what you find surprising and what culture shocks YOU have experienced! Thanks for watching, and please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun and adventures. Cheers! XX Dara
Important links:
My UK Culture Shocks - • American Culture Shock...
My "Scared to Drive" in the UK Video - • Driving in the UK is S...
Comparing Cost of Groceries in US vs UK - • Cost of Groceries in B...
6 Things I Love about Living in Britain - • Why I Love Living in t...
15 MORE Things I Love about Living in the UK - • 15 Things I Love About...

[@KenFullman]

One of my collegues suddenly discovered her bank account had been raided. As she was talking to the police she mentioned that, a few days prior she'd been at a petrol station and the cashier had taken her card out of her sight for a few seconds. It stuck in her mind because, as a Brit, any time anyone removes our cards from our direct view, it seems suspicious. The police raided the petrol station and discovered a card cloning machine.

[@Poliss95]

My bank account was raided. I suspect my card was skimmed at a cash machine in the railway station. If I draw cash out now I only do it inside the bank where they have lots of cameras and can see if someone puts a skimmer on the machine.

[@fizzyridertoo]

@@Poliss95 I had this happen to me in Oregon. Fortunately the bank security kicked in before they could do any damage, but it's a constant worry in the States.

[@Poliss95]

@@fizzyridertoo You get your money stolen electronically but to get it back you have to fill out a lot of paper forms and send them by snail mail. Takes weeks. 😝

[@glastonbury4304]

In the UK if your card is used without your knowledge you can claim a charge back and the retailer has to prove that it was you who used the card...which most of the time they can't...the scary ones are the fake atms and pdq's as the thief really wants your pin number 🤷‍♂️...as getting your credit card number is so simple there's not a huge amount you can do with it without the cvc number but that's pretty easy to get as well

[@margaretflounders8510]

My bank had a fraud clause, so when they rang me all I had to do was give my mothers' maiden name..My card had been declined 12 miles away!I So got my money back straightaway@@glastonbury4304 Check if your bank has the same protection for you

[@martinwyke]

Talking about the weather is a social lubricant in the UK. It's a safe topic with anyone, something even strangers have in common.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, there's always something to complain about! Lol 🤣

[@dyutibaxi6659]

Yes, a conversation starter at the bus stop (yes, we travel by bus in U.K.), at the waiting room in surgery/hospital/dentist.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@dyutibaxi6659 and it's very relevant if you are waiting outside at a bus stop!

[@what_im_eatin_uk]

Every time I went to a restaurant in the US I made sure I had cash as I didn't want somebody walking off with my card. They could accidentally take the wrong amount or worse such as card cloning

[@nevillemason6791]

I remember this happening years ago to a work colleague. It was when they put your credit card in a machine and swiped a paper copy across the top which you signed. In a restaurant in Greece they swiped an additional copy out of his sight and forged his signature. He got defrauded of £100+. Often people on holiday use the same restaurant several times so they can't remember the exact number of visits/dates. Near impossible to prove then.

[@tonysheerness2427]

Taking away ones credit card is a serious security breach, how they get away with it is madness.

[@marydavis5234]

When I use a credit card in restaurants, I don’t give it to the server, I take it to the cash register and watch it being used, so it’s can’t be copied.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I agree!

[@glencahalin4786]

@@MagentaOtterTravels If you read the terms and conditions of the credit/debit cards in UK ( not that anyone ever does and I haven't for 20 years ) it actually did state that you are not allowed to give it to someone to take out of your sight.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@glencahalin4786 oh, that's really fascinating!

[@cjuk81]

@@glencahalin4786 yea, I thought there was something like that. I bet there's zero excuse for anyone restaurant in the states to do this now, wireless terminals will be available from the likes of Worldpay etc

[@kevak1236]

I spent a few years working in Florida as a brit and, quite literally, the only bread I would eat there was the 'artisan' bread. Eating a US packaged loaf was like having a sandwich made of cake. Like you, we also bought a breadmaker and used it a lot.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, there are good food items in the US, you just have to work to get them. And pay a bit more usually 😉

[@nickmail7604]

I enjoyed the summer well here in East Anglia, June and even late May were lovely, yes July and Agust were a little unsettled but thats one of the plus point of living on a little island - its rare we get bored of our weather! Enjoyable video thanks.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I agree. Always something to talk about when it comes to the weather! Lol Thanks for watching ! Dara

[@The_Brit_Girls]

Hi Dara, I agree with EVERYTHING you mentioned - 100 percent! The differences between recycling, food prices, driving, saying cheers, tapping to pay, and taking your credit card away to pay are so evident. I hope that a lot of Brits who watch your video will be pleasantly surprised at how good the UK is with all these things. As a nation, we always think everyone else is doing far better than we are. Congratulations on the number of views you are getting on your videos now. We're really pleased for you, and it's thoroughly deserved. Btw, love your magenta sweater/jumper from Primark! 🩷

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh, THAT old thing?! 🤣🤣 It actually is really old... but I love it. Thanks for your kind comment. I'm so glad you could relate. And thanks for the encouragement with my channel! I'm riding a bit of a wave now... so I plan to just enjoy it while it lasts 😉. We are still in NYC... sorry I haven't been able to watch any videos. I'm anxious to see your latest!!!

[@randomxnp]

Britain is terrible for recycling! It costs time and money and most of it is either just not worth it, and landfill is a better option (with much sent to developing countries and discarded there, with very poor environmental standards) or the wrong thing is done (paper and card should be burned in incinerators for energy). Only aluminium and steel is really worth recycling (the former is expensive and energy-intensive to produce, the latter is easy to separate magnetically and easy to recycle). The rest is 100% politics, and the mandates are due to lack of landfill in the Netherlands leading to EU mandates to even out the market and stop countries like the UK, which had plenty of landfill sites, from having a competitive advantage!

[@oorya1780]

@@randomxnp I don't know where you live in Britain but we have 4 bins for recycling at our house. Also we recycle large and sometimes heavy items at our local council tip and they have a board when you enter stating each month how much of the total tip is recycled and it is regularly around 70 to 80%.

[@randomxnp]

@@oorya1780 yes. Exactly the same here. What is your point?

[@danowen79]

I really don’t understand why the US - who love convenience and consumerism - are always so slow to adopt technology related to banking and shopping. Bizarre.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I would like to know why that's the case! It does seem surprising

[@theelmonk]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I think they have a lot more banks to agree between. Once our so-called Big Four (Is that still the nunber ?) have decided, the rest have to tag along.

[@Poliss95]

Paper bags are nowhere near as green as people have been led to believe. Here's just a couple of many problems with them Causes pollution: Paper production emits air pollution, specifically 70 percent more pollution than the production of plastic bags [source: Thompson]. According to certain studies, manufacturing paper emits 80 percent more greenhouse gases [source: Lilienfield]. And consider that making paper uses trees that, instead, could be absorbing carbon dioxide. The paper bag-making process also results in 50 times more water pollutants than making plastic bags [source: Thompson]. Consumes energy: Even though petroleum goes into making plastic, it turns out that making a paper bag consumes four times as much energy as making a plastic bag, meaning making paper consumes a good deal of fuel, according to a Northern Ireland Assembly briefing note.

[@blotski]

I really relate to the 'cheers' thing. I'm Slovenian but have lived in the UK for several years. Every time I go home, even though I go a couple of times a year, for the first couple of days I keep saying words like 'thanks', 'bye' and even 'yes' to people in English. It's sort of brain muscle memory. It sounds really pretentious though. Then I've been known to do it the other way round when I come back to the UK. You can't win.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha that's funny. But at least you're saying polite things!😉

[@stephennewton2777]

When I lived in the US the difference in food quality was very noticeable. Meat in the delicatessen section of the supermarket in the US tended to have been mashed, mixed with salted water, and squirted into bags, from which they were then sliced. It was only around Easter and Christmas that spiral ham became available in Kroger‘s (which is more like fresh ham in the UK) and I could load up my freezer. Fresh vegetables, where nearly always tired, looking like they’ve been sitting in a warehouse for a couple days before being delivered to the supermarket. Bread wasn’t great either. This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy my time in the US, but there were some downsides .

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes I understand 😉

[@richt71]

The only time I've had a major issue with my credit card was in the US. I travelled in 1990 with family to Orlando and used my credit card extensively in the old swipe machines. About 10 months later while working back in the UK my credit card was used 10's of times across Orlando to about $2000 total. I only knew when I got my next statement. I still had the credit card with me. Spoke to my credit card company and could prove I wasn't in the country and at work.Said a dishonest shop worker or waiter had obviously made a new card from my details. So I'm always wary of anyone taking my card away!

[@MrDaiseymay]

I would NEVER part with mine.

[@kiwiandrew]

I'd completely forgotten about the old zipzap card swipe devices. I'm trying to remember when they finally disappeared here ( Aotearoa). Cheques, on the other hand, were still available ( but barely used) here until a couple of years ago when the last bank finally stopped accepting them

[@lindahayes2335]

I still have my cheque book and as far as I know they are accepted at banks. In fact if you use a banking app you can pay them in by taking a photo of it.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's awful! Yes, it is really best to always keep your card in sight and not let go of it ;-)

[@revbenf6870]

"Cheers" for this video, very interesting! I must admit I had wondered how you got on with the weather in England this summer, very hot in May and June, terribly wet in July and August, then warm again as soon as schools went back! Glad you enjoyed it. Have a great time back in Tx.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We just liked that you could walk around outside every day of the summer... never TOO hot or impossibly wet. As opposed to Texas... when it's 41 C nobody spends time outside!

[@kennethfishwick4061]

Hello Dara I have watched all your excellent vlogs in the Cotswolds but I have never seen you climb any of the hills. if you are missing England's green rolling countryside may I suggest you watch a series of vlogs by a lovely young couple from Florida who decided as they were approaching thirty they needed a challenge, and decided to walk the Cotswold Way. They were extremely fortunate with the weather and have captured the walk looking its very best. I can thoroughly recommend them as the picture quality is first class and their humourous banter makes me smile. Amazingly, the only thing they have complained about is the heat. If you watch their journey I think it may go some way to stop you missing your home in Cheltenham, and just maybe, will inspire you to do some walking in the hills yourselves. The channel is called Off Day Adventures. Kind regards Ken

[@caromurray6152]

I’ve also been watching Off Day Adventures. Came across it by chance & really enjoying each episode. Though the weather was pretty hot, especially for the uphill climbs I think they’re been fortunate not to have had torrential rain of a typical British summer.😊

[@kennethfishwick4061]

I agree. I walked it forty years ago and the last few days were very wet. It definitely spoiled my enjoyment. @@caromurray6152

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We love hiking, but because Ian has had chronic plantar fasciitis for 9 years, we don't go on really long hikes like we used to. But we have started doing more and more... and are headed to the Lakes this coming summer as well!

[@davidhamilton2214]

A friend of ours has spent the last 5 months in the UK from NC ( passed 2 years) she misses USA but so loves everything uk. She often commented on the quality of fresh foods and additives in the US version. It's a lot easier and cheaper to get quality food in uk. But like everywhere you can get junk. Enjoy your insites in to us.we are lucky to have such a variety of countryside in a small island.

[@ians3586]

With us spending about half the year in each place there are definitely pros and cons to both places. I'm grateful to claim both countries as mine and being able to enjoy the positives in both places.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's interesting to hear about your friend! Our friends from North Carolina came to visit us last year for two weeks and they're coming next summer for a month!

[@davidhamilton2214]

@@MagentaOtterTravels our friend is back again next year again! From Durham,

[@JJ-of1ir]

It was lovely to watch your video about 'culture shocks' now you are back in Texas. I am used to learning about them 'the other way round' so it was interesting to hear how you got on when you returned to the USA. Hope you come back to us soon - love from the UK

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for watching! We return to the UK in about a month! SO EXCITED!!

[@MsSpiralmonkey]

I remember many years ago the confusion caused by handing over my chip&pin credit card in a Florida store. The assistant had never seen one before so fetched the manager, he had heard about them so gathered a couple of staff and explained to them it was OK to accept.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's funny!

[@dianakidd4219]

Not sure what you mean by chip and pin credit card as mine has the same in Florida

[@MsSpiralmonkey]

It was around 2004, before chip & pin were common in the US. @@dianakidd4219

[@JohnPilling25]

@@dianakidd4219 except there is no PIN -

[@keithknight6521]

It call chip and pin because the card has chip, and card reader read this chip and you input 4 digits PIN number to complete purchase. We now have contactless, limited to $120, just tap the card reader. Above $120 then input the PIN.

[@dprid]

My wife is American, lived in the UK for 24 years, so we made regular trips to see her family. We usually rent a car and combine visiting family with a driving holiday, where we avoid big cities, stay off the freeways and see small-town America, and it's always been a reasonably priced holiday. This year was our first trip since 2019 due to the pandemic, and we visited family in California first, then spent a couple of weeks driving right across to New York, visiting other family in New Mexico and Pennsylvania along the way. And the prices this time were quite shocking, especially in California. The cost of food in both shops and restaurants was so expensive, higher than the UK in many cases which we've never seen before, and combined with the increased fuel and hotel costs it was no longer a reasonably priced holiday - it was expensive!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Wow, that sounds like some trip if you drove from California to New York! Yes I can imagine it was pretty pricey! Always nice to meet another British/American couple! Have you seen my video comparing the cost of groceries in the two places we live? Thanks so much for your comment! Dara

[@brucebello2049]

Hi, I’m American who has lived in the UK for the last 39yrs, last summer we traveled to the states for the first time in almost 20 years, I also noticed the cost and quality of food, particularly in restaurants, fuel was much less expensive but you paid at the pumps, that lead to a couple of hilarious experiences, in Durango I found in both coffee shops and local shops the staff were very helpful and friendly but in national stores the staff were not trained or helpful, even rude which really surprised me, airports like LAX was so disorganised although I found the TSA quite professional and helpful, but there were two standouts for me, I loved the space, particularly driving from Durango to LA and in LA the homeless, really found that upsetting, but do love the States and look forward to visiting again in a few years.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, driving from Durango to Los Angeles you would definitely see lots of wide open spaces! I lived in the LA area for five years, in fact that's where Ian and I were married. But going back and visiting in recent years I was shocked at how places like Santa Monica beach area seemed to be a large homeless encampment. Very sad that we can't find a way to help those folks get off the street...

[@DarrenLamb-on3py]

​@MagentaOtterTravels they often say you can judge a society by the way they treat their most vulnerable.

[@paulm2467]

The airports seem to vary by state, Dallas/Fort Worth was excellent, staffed by polite, friendly and helpful staff, Miami was horrible, rude and aggressive staff and filthy facilities.

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Lovely intro video Dara. 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! I have new subscribers so I hope it's a good intro for a few people. ;-)

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

@@MagentaOtterTravels That must give a great feeling of satisfaction Dara. I am going to renew my intro too- been working on it. 👍I also re-sorted my home page so my most recent video in the playlist comes up. Don't want to loose people by them getting lost 🤣🤣🤣

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@IamaDutch-Kiwi it's good to have a nice tight intro that is around a minute or so. Mine is three minutes, and if I had it to do over I would make it even shorter.

[@fizzyridertoo]

Nice to have you back Dara. I've been here so long that many of my colleagues say 'cheers' too. Doing my bit for civilisation one word at a time. I've got a really good and simple Scottish bread roll recipe if you would like it. The only sugar is used to help activate the yeast, otherwise it's a pretty simple bread that always goes down well with my friends and family.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Fun! You can email it to me at [e-mail]

[@tobycollins1636]

Thank you for your comparison between UK and US. I realised differences between the obvious ie health care, paid holidays etc.....i didnt realise that food was so much more expensive. The heat I do without.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, people always tell us we're crazy to come to Britain in the summer because they think it's too cold. But then I remind them how hot it is in Texas, and they understand! Lol

[@jeanlongsden1696]

Dara, I am not sure if you saw it in chat, but Jersey was hit by a storm on Wednesday night. the wind was 110 mph and we had hail as big as a fist. it ripped roofs off of houses and brought down loads of trees. one of our Parishes (St. Mary) was left isolated, as trees blocked all the roads in and out.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's awful!!! Sounds like a Texas hailstorm!

[@jeanlongsden1696]

​@@MagentaOtterTravels even yesterday, the whole Island was warned to stay indoors. all the streets in town were littered with broken roof tiles/slates, guttering and even the odd TV aerial. it was only roofers, builders, street cleaners and chainsaw crews out there making everything safe. all the shops were closed too. on a happier note ... I just saw the Christmas advert for Waitrose and the music that they are using is "just can't get enough" by Depeche Mode.

[@TheCornishCockney]

Same in Cornwall,where trees were down over most of the lanes but the main roads were ok-ish. Flooding was the problem here with so much rain and a very hilly terrain,the run off was everywhere. Happening too regularly these days,coupled with record temps in summer last few years.

[@jeanlongsden1696]

@@TheCornishCockney the flooding wasn't too bad here, with us being an island.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@jeanlongsden1696 oh my goodness, I love Depeche Mode! They were my favourite band back in the 80s, and I saw them perform in LA in Dodger's Stadium! I'm really sorry to hear about how badly the island was hit. That sounds quite treacherous and alarming!

[@ajn2370]

Im glad you enjoyed the weather this year! Many people were complaining but I honestly thought it the most beautiful summer I can remember. There were no scorched fields or lawns, everywhere was bright and colourful. Cheltenham was gorgeous this year!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I totally agree! It's wonderful to be able to walk around outside every day of the summer! And we have to have some rain to keep those hills green and the flowers blooming! It was a great year for open gardens!💖

[@SimpleScottishLiving]

I enjoyed this! Thanks for sharing:)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SimpleScottishLiving]

random question...did you ship items to the UK or buy all new. We're looking into our options from CA. @@MagentaOtterTravels

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@SimpleScottishLiving we don't ship anything. We keep a fully furnished flat in Cheltenham that we rent out while we're in the states

[@SimpleScottishLiving]

Thanks so much! @@MagentaOtterTravels

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@SimpleScottishLiving let me know what other questions you have 👍

[@colin101981]

Thanks for this, it's so interesting to hear a different perspective - I'm in the UK. Thank you for sharing.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks your watching and taking the time to leave a comment! Cheers! Dara

[@davefrench3608]

Love that you are able to compare our different life styles. One thing that really upset me on my work trips to Utah with work was just the culture of waste - no recycling, cars doing 5-10 mpg, massive plastic waste, AC usage. Speaking of plastic bag waste, that was the first thing I noticed when setting foot in Morocco was plastic bags everywhere, stuck to fences and trees Supermarkets here until comparatively recently gave out single use bags. The law here changed here to charge 5p per bag. The use of these bags dropped dramatically, one of the few times a tax has had a positive influence on behaviour And yes, sorry about the dreadful July and August

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We thought the summer was fine! No need to apologise 😉 The states do have a culture of waste, but I hope that is changing... my brother and my son live in Utah, and we have a lot of friends there. Places like that as well as Texas where there's a lot of wide-open spaces and people driving pick up trucks... burning lots of fossil fuels 😩. What part of Utah did you visit? I hope you watch my "crazy Utah scones" video. If you are a Brit and have visited Utah, you might find it amusing

[@davefrench3608]

@@MagentaOtterTravelsyea I’m a Brit, live in the New Forest I worked for a US company based in SLC so only know that area. I spent a month in Connecticut in 76 and have holidayed several times in various parts of the US I’ll have a look and see what I think. Love your channel BTW

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@davefrench3608 thank you so much! I really appreciate your support of my channel. The last time I went to visit the Salt Lake area was in April of this year. There was a huge snowstorm, so it made for an eventful trip! They had a record amount of snowfall this year, and the blizzards continued well into April! I hope you watch the scone video because you are one of the few British people I've met who has actually been to Utah a few times! I mostly do videos about Britain, but when I occasionally do a video about another place not very many people watch it lol 😆

[@grannery123]

Loved your video, I live near Cheltenham now and lived in Texas and the US. Thanks for such a friendly post of both.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Wow! That is a coincidence! Are you British and just lived in Texas for a while? Do you enjoy living near Cheltenham? I think it's a great area. Thanks for your comment! Cheers, Dara

[@michaelbiggs1254]

I love your videos. And I love Ian's drone photography skills!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thank you so much! We plan to get him a nicer drone with better signal next year before we come back to Britain. He needs to get a lighter drone because the regulations are changing...

[@ians3586]

Thank you! I'm hoping to get a new (used) drone before we head overseas next year that will be easier to control than the one I've been using.

[@Distant394]

There’s good and bad in both cultures but you and Ian are able to get the best from both cultures and it seems to work perfectly for you Dara , have a great weekend 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! I consider us to be very fortunate. 🙏

[@Greenwood4727]

at least we in the UK know we can be better, we can do better. unlike the "america" is best

[@Distant394]

@@Greenwood4727 can understand what your saying , but I meant personally as in their personal lives all their family and long term friends and loved ones are in the states and memories of growing up I can understand why they wouldn’t want to give up on that , and of course things like Christmas , but the pull to Britain is so much they spend spring / summer here 👍

[@Greenwood4727]

yeah i used to live in texas, and i am british, the thing i experienced was we are the greatest so we dont need to change, whereas in most other countries we know we can and do better. thats the thing i see most of all. i loved living in texas,

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Greenwood4727 yeah, it's good to be patriotic and all that, but bad to be so proud that you're not open to learning how to be better.

[@lynnenolan3484]

Love your videos. We’re so lucky to have your company in the uk every summer. Xx

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for much! Very kind of you to say! 💖

[@ItsArtByDonna]

Lovely video, rewatching now....got here in the ending!...lots of differences I am sure!!!

[@IAmDavidHello]

For some reason I’ve recently become addicted to watching videos about culture shocks between the UK and US so this video was recommended to me - glad it was as I love your views on stuff! New subscriber 😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Well, I'm sorry to hear about your addiction, but... glad to hear that you found my little corner of the internet! Welcome to the Magenta Otter Tribe! For the most part we are a pleasant little band of folks who love to discuss Britain! And occasionally I toss in vlogs to other places (like Germany next Tuesday). My channel is not a small niche... sometimes I do culture videos, sometimes travel vlogs, or taste tests or even occasionally cooking videos! Please click the bell so that the stuff you do like gets recommended even when you don't click on the types of videos you don't fancy. Thanks so much for your support of my channel. Nice to meet you! Dara

[@douglasmcclelland]

I think the best way to learn to drive in the UK would be to do it on your own, without passengers... that way you would not have the stress of passengers watching / be nervous around you.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I have decided I'm best walking or taking public transport 😉

[@Poliss95]

@@MagentaOtterTravels But not public transport in Germany or New York. 😂

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

@@MagentaOtterTravels. Honestly driving on your own is confidence building.

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

Mid 80’s. Noo. I’d fry 🥵

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@phoenix-xu9xj as long as I don't have to stand in the hot sun with no breeze blowing, I think it's lovely ☺️

[@TravelingTramps]

We enjoyed your video Dara and Ian. Many different things between the two. We do tap here in Illinois and Arizona though most of the time.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I'm glad to hear! Definitely more stores are starting to do tap to pay, but Kroger and Walmart still don't, which bugs me!

[@andrewgardner9615]

19 degrees C is a balmy warm summers day in UK-Shorts, T shirts and sandle weather!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

haha, not for me!

[@NotoriousWar]

19C isn't just a nice day in Scotland, that's heatstroke weather...I was most definitely born in the wrong place .

[@TychoCelchu]

Where you mentioned paying for food in a restaurant, Wagamama in the U.K. now has a new payment system using your phone. Either you download their app or you scan the QR code on the placemat. So you don’t have to wait for the server to come over in order to pay

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I'm starting to see that more and more in restaurants. In one way it is a great convenience, and definitely more secure! On the other hand, I'm annoyed by having to download hundreds of apps on my phone! 🙄

[@rumbarrels1183]

Just got back from Florida to the UK today, have to say the credit card bit is spot on! There was a few contactless payment points around but most places were still chip and pin. The first time I paid in a restaurant and the server tried to take my card I held on to it, the poor girl looked so confused! I always think it's the fun little differences that make travelling so great!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha, I have to ask... did you follow the server to the till and watch her process your credit card? It really is the only option if you don't want to pay cash!

[@gamingbytetv665]

@@MagentaOtterTravelsYou’d think productivity would be better if you had a portable terminal. No running back and forth ringing up this and that etc

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@gamingbytetv665 I agree. But I have been amazed how slow companies are to embrace changing over to new technology...

[@picklelily1]

Hi Dara, really pleased you enjoyed your time in the u.k.! I mean, home is home, but lovely that you found so many things here that made it a positive experience!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's the difference between just visiting a country and buying a home there where you establish yourself. I truly feel like Britain is a second "home" 💖... we now have not only family but a lot of great friends there

[@picklelily1]

@@MagentaOtterTravels even better! You have the best of both worlds!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@picklelily1 we are extremely blessed 🙏

[@rupertorgan7749]

Interesting comparison about the recycling, when Britain is still way behind the rest of Europe. In Finland we have seven different bins for recycling in the home, plus a composter in the garden (backyard) for food scraps.

[@richardperks7366]

it does depend on the local area - our recycling covers metal cans, glass, plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, food waste, garden waste - which extra ones does Finland have?

[@terry9325]

I think the real recycling is done at the recycling centre so we don’t need so many bins piling up outside our houses and fleets of vehicles picking up all these bins ,I think the UK as got it right .

[@rupertorgan7749]

We have a separate bin for the deposit return bottles and cans, which we feed into a machine at the local supermarket for a credit note on our next shop.@@richardperks7366

[@liamperry7095]

Only 7 recycling bins, how primative. Where I live, we have 8 recycling bins collected on Monday and a further 5 different recycling bins collected on Friday. Plus, we also compost our food scraps, and our dearly departed in our back gardens as well.

[@CoiledBooties]

Yeah I'm in a town in Northumberland and our recycling is abysmal. You have to drive to a tip to recycle yoghurt pots, glass and tetra-paks which is incredibly frustrating as not everyone drives.

[@Rodaportal]

I love how you explored those 'reverse' culture shocks! It's fascinating to see the contrasting norms between the US and the UK, especially in banking and day-to-day experiences. The card payment system is quite a contrast-chip and pin versus swiping the card away or dealing with carbon paper. It's those little differences that make you appreciate the nuances of each place! 🏦💳🛒

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! I love both England and the States, but it's interesting to see how they are different in day-to-day living. Cheers for watching! Dara

[@gamingbytetv665]

Here, it would be unthinkable to hand anyone your card when paying for a transaction. In fact, were you to be scammed as result they’d tell you it was your own fault. Obviously this doesn’t apply to people skimming cards etc, but it just would not happen thanks in no small part to chip and pin. Most cards here don’t even have your details printed on them for security.

[@JarlGrimmToys]

Here in the UK we used to have plastic bags flying around and getting stuck in trees. Because we used to have the same really thin bags that were free. Those thin bags float in the wind. But that’s now been practically eliminated. Now that they charge for bags, and the bags you buy are much thicker and reusable. So you just bundle you bags together and put them back in the car for next time. I have a small foldable bag in my coat pocket, and a larger one in my car. I use them all the time. Then I have shopping bags in the back of the car.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I agree. The bags in the UK are thicker and much more reusable. Much better to charge people for them because they typically get reused. And most people really do bring their own sturdy cloth or other reusable bags.

[@JarlGrimmToys]

@@MagentaOtterTravels my mothers theory of why in the UK we are a very environmental concerned nation with respects to recycling etc. Younger generations are concerned with climate change, carbon footprints etc. But older generations that grew up during WWII or with parents alive during WWII. They grew up with food rationing, and shortages of all sorts of goods. You didn’t throw anything away, that could be reused. Food waste was unimaginable during food rationing. Scrap metal was collected by civilians and children, that would be melted down and turned into ammunition or spitfire fighter planes, or used as shrapnel to fire at German bombers. Old pieces of rubber were collected and recycled into gas masks etc. My mother long before they charged for bags. Would have a drawer of free bags from the supermarket. Just in case they came in useful. In the 1980’s my grandmother would save her cigarette boxes. For me to play building blocks with. I have this memory of building things from cigarette boxes like they were Lego. It’s both heartwarming and inappropriate. Whereas in the US at the same sort of time. Disposable items for convenience sake was becoming a sales pitch. Just a hypothesis.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@JarlGrimmToys that makes a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing your memories. Although the cigarette box comment made me smile 😊

[@missharry5727]

I have a lightweight nylon bag that lives in my handbag in case I have a sudden urge to shop. Being nylon it's very durable and scrunches up really small. I go in for big handbags so I can also get a small folding umbrella in there if the weather looks at all dubious.

[@patmf2000]

I think we led the way here in Ireland on the plastic bags issue by charging for them. Due to our horrible littering habits, every hedge in the country had shredded bags hanging. They became known as "witches' knickers" 😂

[@michaels640]

I love how the weather here changes. I can’t do with heat. I also love how it’s light in summer from 4am to 11pm, but in winter from 9am to 4pm…

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, we LOVE those long summer days!!

[@artgreen6915]

In Britain 19°C is almost considered a chance to get the summer clothes back out and certainly not requiring woolly garments! But we know the southern states have a different idea what cold is!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That is absolutely true!

[@mr-nobody-on-youtube]

This! The first 15c of the year and you will see some youth walking down the street with their top off 😂

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Dara, yes, adapting between countries is a thing. I so get your frustrations or slight irritations. When I've been in NZ for 3 months I have the same- one is, looking 👀 left and right at pedestrian crossings 🤣🤣! The grocery shopping thing is the same, own bags. The NZ society is fast becoming a non cash society like Europe. Food scrap mini bins in NZ as well. We, living in an apartment, only have the underground drop in bin. Paper, glass and recyclable plastics are collected separately - but my compostable unfortunately goes in the furnace. Great comparisons Dara. Have a great weekend. 👌🩷🇳🇱🙋‍♀🇳🇿

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

In the furnace? Please explain

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

@@MagentaOtterTravels we have a huge Furnace or incinerator complex to which refuse goes, This is 'burnt' and the heat is recycled as hot water. The system ( goes a bit beyond me technically) provides hot water for 'our' heating systems in homes in a huge area. By that I mean other townships not just suburbs. Our apartment now no longer needs a water tank/cylinder on gas to heat our homes. Dara, I'm no expert but that's about it in layman's language. Our burnables are our heat source. 🤣

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@IamaDutch-Kiwi I think that sounds fabulous! 👍

[@misolgit69]

Hi Dara quick tip if you wish to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius subtract 28 then divide by 2 it's generally accurate to 2 or 3 degrees of course it only becomes vital to be accurate if you are at one extreme or the other

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I think I forgot how to do arithmetic in my brain since I started using a Calculator! Lol

[@garylancaster8612]

I was one of the British people apologising to you for the crappy summer.😂 I always feel a strange sense of guilt when I see people from overseas enduring our weather so thanks for saying it was okay. I agree with you about the plastic bags, it's so much better here now that their use has decreased so much. Those roads by you are bigger than the M25!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Lol, lots of people apologised! But we thought it was a great summer!

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

My husband and I spent a month 'across the ditch' your weather was awesome 🩷👌!

[@garylancaster8612]

@@IamaDutch-Kiwi That's good to hear. It can be lovely I agree but if we get a Jetstream blocking event it just drags Atlantic low pressure systems over one after the other. But when it's nice it is lovely and it stays light until pretty late in midsummer.

[@kevinrakow380]

I always tell my British friends that 'I don't come for the food and I don't come for the weather'. I come for the atmosphere and the culture and the scenery and all of what is on offer. The biggest thing - a great conversation at the pub with people who are clever and informed. Yes, I fly 4,000 miles for that alone. In fairness, food in the UK has gotten so much better since I first started coming and I have had incredible luck with the weather on many trips.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@kevinrakow380 I really enjoy the food! And we have had tremendously good luck with the weather the last few years as well.

[@liamperry7095]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for watching!

[@georgecooksey8216]

I very much enjoy your videos and your perspectives as a dual resident. Your fear of driving in the UK is humorous as something I can relate to. On my first trip to the UK from Florida I rented a car and drove from London to Brecon Castle. By the time I reached Brecon I was mentally exhausted having never been accustomed to the driver's seat situated on the right side of the car and having to drive on the left-sided lanes. Your instinct is telling you that you are sitting in the wrong seat and driving on the wrong side of the road yet your mind is constantly having to override those impulses. I survived the drive and it was certainly one of the best excursions of my life. Such a beautiful and magnificent country - and dare I say awesome? As we have done in the past, I am sure that from our differences - which in the grand scheme of things are really quite trivial - we will always be able to learn from each other better ways of doing things and making life better for everyone.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Feel free to say "awesome" to me, LOL! The thing about the word awesome is that it is meant to convey true "awe" or shock at how wonderful something is. The problem is overusing it so that it loses its meaning. But if you were discovering the lovely English countryside for the first time, I'm sure it WAS truly awesome! But I'm also certain it was mentally exhausting. I can relate! Even worse when you aren't used to driving manual transmission and then are forced to do it with your left hand for the first time ever... so unnerving! Thanks for your comment, Dara

[@georgecooksey8216]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Indeed I agree wholeheartedly in our guilt of misusing and overusing words with specific meanings such that the words no longer retain their original meaning - “awesome”, “literally”, "genius", "heroic", “brave" - and my favorite, borrowing from the French: “déjà vu”.

[@stephentaylor1476]

It's twelve degrees here in England 3rd November.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Right now it's 12 in New York as well! But 15 in Texas. And next weekend in Texas it will be 30°C!

[@ABPhotography1]

Tescos have these big gated containers outside the entrance for soft plastics recycle, it's always used. I bag ALL soft plastics and tie it up when it's full ready for recycle.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, same here. You can tell by how big those containers are that lots of people recycle their bags! The things at Tesco are four times as big as the ones at Kroger.

[@fm369]

It really is interesting to get your perspective. I am British and I live in Mckinney TX. I have very much the same experience but from the other side.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I probably live 3 miles away from you! I would love to hear more about your experience with culture shocks. What do you miss about Britain, and what do you like/dislike about living in North Texas?

[@fm369]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Oh gosh where do I begin? What do I like about living in North Texas? Well, I like having so much space. I am from Manchester and it is a pretty crowded city, I can be out into the countryside here in less than a half hour. I think you said you were in Cheltenham back home, traffic can be an issue there but here in the Dallas metro, you can be an hour drive from Dallas. What do I miss from home,? pub culture. Bars are just not the same as a pub where you will know most of the staff and a good proportion of the clientelle. The food is something else I miss, savory pie, fish and chips and good quality fast food. I have lived in the US for 24 years but in the Dallas Metro for only 4 I satrted out in Mass which is much more like the UK and then moved to the Midwest. Texas in general andDallas specifically is very, very different. Not better or worse just different. I could definitely do without the summer heat, this past summer was brutal

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@fm369 yes, the heat this past summer was relentless. Which is why we lived in Cheltenham from April through the end of September! I do like having more space. While we manage just fine in our Flat in Cheltenham, it is nice to have more room in our house here in Texas. I feel like the traffic has become so much worse here in the suburbs than how it was even 10 years ago. We have lived here 30 years. When we live in Cheltenham, we often drive into the Cotswolds and we can be out in the "countryside" in no time at all. I really like that. We only explored Manchester for the first time last summer. We really enjoyed it, especially the architecture. I did a fun video with a local man who's really into architecture and that was a fun Vlog . My oldest son lives in Boston, so I understand what you mean about Massachusetts. We visited him two years ago and I made a short video about "ways that New England is like olde England"... because yes, New England is really so much more similar to Britain than Texas! As they say, it's a whole Nother world here 🌎🤣 It's nice to meet you! Dara

[@jasmineteehee3612]

Great video as always Dara, I wish I could have some of that Texas warmth,it’s cold here in the UK. I will think about your comment on the produce tomorrow morning, when I’m having my porridge, blueberries and strawberries. We do ha excellent products available here. We do moan about the prices, when in reality we have it good compared to the US.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I feel very fortunate that we still get to have a lot of warm days in the winter. We are lucky to avoid the worst weather in both countries 🤣

[@unamary57]

Here in Ontario Canada plastic bags are not used anymore. Everyone has to use reusable bags. The streets and roads are much tidier now.

[@ians3586]

That's good to hear. Unfortunately here in Texas a number of cities have tried to implement rules that require supermarkets to charge for bags but the state government has overruled them every time.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Excellent! Glad to hear.

[@tenniskinsella7768]

I used my own shopping bags for years.years ago and I mean years and at one time cashiers wanted to give y a bag. Of course not know

[@tenniskinsella7768]

That's wrong

[@andyhughes5885]

Its mid October in Texas ? WOW ! I never knew you even had a time machine when you go back home. You should patent it and transport us all over the pond straight into next summer, minus the 40C heat though - that you can keep.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It was mid October when I batch filmed the three videos that have me all wearing the same fuzzy pink jumper from Primark! Lol And next week, second week in November, it will be 30°C in North Texas! Perfect 🤩

[@vjpearce]

When the tap-to-pay technology first came out, I had the option to opt out with my bank, which I did. I thought the banks were pushing the new technology too much, and far too quickly and I just imagined people scanning your card with a card cloning machine as they passed you (I called it too) as it was a problem. No idea if it's still a problem now.

[@andrewryder9642]

Excellent summary and pretty much all resonates with me. Interestingly my wife recently travelled to Memphis and OKC and was surprised that handheld CC machines are still not a thing. Especially as she would use her Apple Watch. Some servers looked puzzled when she asked to pay but clearly had no card or cash in front of her. She then had to explain she will use her watch but of course the machine was not portable. On one occasion she had to hand her iphone to the server to take away to tap behind the counter. Ironic as Apple is the largest company in the US!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I know that must've been so frustrating! There are definitely more contactless payment options these days, but I still feel like the majority of time you have to pay with a credit card...

[@gallivantinggalantes]

Hi Dara, loved your video, I couldn't believe Texas not using the tap and go system in supermarkets, I a. Yes i think we were all annoyed when they stopped the free plastic bags but we have all got used to it n ow and it is much better for the environment. Take care and have a lovely weekend x Julie and Tony x

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much for watching! Sorry it has taken me a week to catch up with comments! We were running all around New York City for the past seven days 😉

[@Starmongoose]

So interesting to me as a Scottish person. I'm learning a lot. You have a great personality too!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much for watching! I was born in Elgin and grew up in Dundee... Illinois though, not Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 😉

[@Starmongoose]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I'll have to visit Dundee Illinois and compare :D

[@glastonbury4304]

Your channel is going to zoom now...such a lovely channel, like a favourite TV series ❤

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Jamie, you are too kind!💖

[@glastonbury4304]

@@MagentaOtterTravels ..only speaking the truth 😉👍♥️

[@MrDaiseymay]

Thanks for sharing your experiences; I guess we all could list the pluses and negatives in every country we might visit; paradise is yet to be creatd. No matter where we may Roame, theres no place like HOME.

[@Peterraymond67]

Hello Dara. Welcome back home. Recycling: here in South Wales my general rubbish now gets collected every 3 weeks, food waste in my green bin and glass, tins, and plastic in one bag and paper and cardboard in another gets collected every week. My local council has decided that to reduce waste and increase recycling that it decided that it would be every 3 weeks rather than 2 weeks collections for general rubbish. In summer there is a weekly grass & garden cuttings bag collection. Again, here it’s kerbside collection. I’m not sure about England, but here in Wales since 2011. If you want a bag, plastic, or paper then you are charged 5 pence (paid to local charities). My local Tesco was having a problem with missing shopping carts/trolleys. They fitted two devices. Ine requires a £1 coin (or token) to take a cart which when you return it you can recover the coin or token. The second device is a brake that automatically comes on if you leave the car park! The second device really means that the first one is redundant but it’s still there because it keeps the used trolleys in the park unit rather than dumped around. Apart from home online deliveries Tesco & Sainsbury’s offer “Click & Collect”, order on-line, they will pick it for you and it will be ready at the specific time in a unit in the car-park. Pay at collection with your card. In Wales we have just banned single use plastic and Styrofoam containers and utensils.

[@gillian3168]

We do the same in Scotland, moved to Chester last year and I was horrified there are no communal recycling facilities for city centre dwellers! We’ll be on the move next year and North Wales (Wrexham/Mold) are top of the list for this reason, Scotland too has banned single use plastics 😊 9:59

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Sounds like Wales is doing lots of things right! Good to hear!

[@RichardWells1]

And we always have the impression that the USA is streets ahead of we humble straw-sucking, five-bar-gate-leaning yokels here in England!! Fascinating comparison, Dara - cheers! There has been so much positive pressure here about recycling, over several decades, it was good to hear you lauding the British systems. OK, so the air around the commercial anaerobic digesters, which gobble all our foodwaste, can really hum but it's a 'smell' price to pay for being able to generate so much energy from waste. (It's said that our local Energy from Waste plant generates enough electricity to keep the lights on in every home in the county!) Thanks again for such an interesting vlog!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I never knew that about how the food waste was used! That is fantastic! Although probably a bit stinky...

[@RevStickleback]

For more of a shock, go to the supposedly technologically advanced Japan, and find that a huge number of places are cash only. And they still use fax machines.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@RevStickleback madness! 😯

[@matpk]

@@RevSticklebackwhy anglophone countries so bad at high speed rail?

[@RevStickleback]

@@matpk It depends. In the USA and Australia poplation density is a big factor, with cities being very far apart, and not much between them. In the UK, the rail network is extensive, but the tracks typically follow the same routes laid out close to 200 years ago, and towns and cities built around them. This means there are many sections where trains have to slow down a lot for curves and points where tracks cost, and it becomes very expensive and difficult to lay new routes. The UK also has a terrible way of organising its railways, with different companies owning different parts of the network, and another company owning the track.

[@geemo4284]

I can moan about the weather with the best of them, after a winter of constant battering on the West coast of Cornwall, but I actually love living in a temperate climate and love our Summers - rain included. I would love a colder Winter, sometimes, with proper snow, but it makes it easier to swim all year round with out milder climate.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

True! 🌊 ☀️

[@christopherbentley5216]

I'm English. In 2022 I did a road trip of the southern civil war battlefields and the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Hotels don't have tea or coffee in the hotel room. You can't fill up with gas( petrol) and then pay cash. You have to say $50 pump 4 and pay the cashier first. In Chattanooga there was a sign. No soliciting as the Walmart gas station, You don't walk from shop to shop In the states. The gas was cheaper in the states,the people seemed to love my accent. My friend is American and she told the park ranger at Point Park Chattanooga that we were disabled. We got in for free and a card for it her parks.I think u.k food is less fattening, we don't fry a lot, the US there are so many fast food outlets. But,We both loved Culvers.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Interesting hearing your perspective! What did you like at Culver's? The butter burgers? The concrete milkshakes? The fried cheese curds?

[@Arghans]

Petrol stations were notorious for card skimmers. It took long enough for chip and PIN to arrive in the UK but the rule is your card is never handled by anyone else. Sometimes if the reader doesn’t read the card, the cashier might instinctively take it from you and do it but the card will never be out of your sight and assume that’s because the retailer would be liable. In the early days of adoption, stores didn’t have to have the new machines but they were liable for any fraud and so they didn’t take too long to switch over. When abroad I have the app open and can see what is charged before I leave otherwise I’d be panicking.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's a good idea to use the app to monitor your charges! I'm glad that virtually all petrol/gas stations in the US now have "pay at the pump" where you can use your card/phone at the pump and not have to interact with handing a person your card. It's also a lot faster!

[@stepheng9607]

Very interesting. We have just spent a few days in Florida on holiday. As a European I noticed that things seemed more expensive in the USA and that the quality of the food was not as good. However the biggest shock was the general use of plastic and the lack of facilities to recycle. Even when we bought food in a cardboard box which could easily be recycled, there were no bins for recycling items

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I feel your pain! I hope you had some nice weather and other parts of your trip were nice! Cheers for your comment. Dara

[@missharry5727]

I was in New Jersey last year and we ate at several restaurants but to my surprise most of them had card readers which the waiter brought to the table. You're finally getting to grips with 21st century technology.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We are currently in NYC and have been here 5 days... still haven't seen any card readers brought to the table. But we have done tap to pay at the counter of a lot of fast food type places.

[@kittoetk]

Hi, Just came across your channel. Really love your content, especially as I am British (London) possibly considering moving to Texas. Im not sure if you already have a video explaining this but would love to know: 1. How are you able to move and live back and fourth 2. Would you recommend a brit moving over?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, more magenta please!

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

Driving oh my goodness I get anxious just thinking of driving in the UK. Groceries YES..we just shopped at Kroger and dropped $150 and we had one of the SMALL carts! Agree on the plastic bags we travel with our reusable bags and they came in handy when we were in Canada no plastic bags. Great video Dara. ~Cara 😊

[@davidjones332]

You really shouldn't be worried about driving in the UK. The USA has the worst road safety record in the developed world, partly because the driving test in most states is a joke, and few states have any proper system of vehicle inspection. The UK is one of the safest places to drive, and the casualty rate has been decreasing for years, despite the huge increase in traffic.

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

@@davidjones332 Oh David I’m not worried about the other UK drivers I’m worried about ME driving on wrong side of the road or hitting a car on the narrow roads. 😊~Cara

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cara , I can't believe I missed your comment until just now! Thanks so much for watching, and I'm glad you could relate to some of my Culture shocks 😉

[@ruk2023--]

It's the cost difference in fresh bread and fruit and vegetables that always blows my mind when I shop in the USA. This is mainly in Rhode Island for reference but spinach is like 8 bucks and 3 in the UK. Milk as well come to think of it.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes it really would be nice if those lovely healthy foods were more affordable!

[@user-mn4cc6bb7t]

That is an amazing difference but sometimes different countries have different diets. I remember trying to find a can of baked beans in France some years ago in a big supermarket and they were about double the price of a can in the UK.

[@ruk2023--]

True but at least in my experience bread, milk, fruit and veg are just as popular in England as the USA.@@user-mn4cc6bb7t A can of Heinz baked beans is about 6 dollars in the USA though.

[@WITYTRAVELS]

Oh my goodness! Plastic bags, I forgot they have those in grocery stores. We are so used to using our own totes!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Come to Texas... SO.MANY.BAGS! BTW I'm counting on y'all to get my Mr Mom joke... nobody else caught it 😉 #PopCultureMemes

[@WITYTRAVELS]

Didn't realize that tap to pay isn't as common in the States!

[@junecaffyn357]

Thank you - most interesting Magenta

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for watching! Next Friday's video is pretty fun... my favourite British phrases to hear and say ;-)

[@alibol2343]

Hiya So on the subject of plastic bags the only way to get people to stop using them is to get rid of them completely at the checkout which is what they have done here in France. You can only buy the reusable ones which of course are much bigger and much stronger than the flimsy plastic ones. On the sujbect of tap to pay which I think is also called contactless payment it is completely normal now in France but I have desactivated on my card personally for two reasons: Firstly I want to keep typing in my code because if I don't do it on a regular basis I am going to forget it. Secondly if someone steals your card they can use it for quite a few times before the card needs to resort back to a code payment.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Great idea to just get rid of the plastic bags! Yes, I need to start using my phone for contactless payment on Apple Pay. Better than taking out my credit card all the time ;-)

[@ms.kayak7seas]

Hi Dara Another successful and fascinating content!!! I do believe many PPL are related to your situation even though PPL have a long stay at different countries, not just about UK I have never been to Europe, so not much to say, but Definitely Driving is the top of the list on culture shock, I can think of since we cannot live without driving in the US Regarding recycling, it may differ state by state. We don't have compost service here, except Xmas trees and leaves. My friend from AU said there is ban on plastic shopping bags in AU, so she gets used to carry around reusable bags all the time Haha Tips, tips tips in the US. I just paid $50 tips for my hair stylist. haha I wish tip system will be discarded in this country. Thank you so much for bringing up very interesting topics every week. WELL DONE OMGoodness, I had some problem, I could not watch YT vids without freeze or baffling for days. Now it started working..

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I'm sorry that your KZbin wasn't working properly. I hope it's all better now. You paid your hair stylist $50 in tips?! What on earth did you have done to your hair? My husband would have a heart attack! LOL I really appreciate you watching and commenting. Sorry that it has taken me forever to respond! We were in New York City for a week and just got back. Trying to get caught up ;-) Thanks again! Dara

[@ms.kayak7seas]

@@MagentaOtterTravels hahaha, she is very good hiding my gray hair hahaha Please no worry responding to my silly comment. I just truly enjoy your films haha

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@ms.kayak7seas oh yeah... am all about hiding those grays!👵

[@nickrider5220]

Very enjoyable video 🙂 As a Brit I did find driving in the states very easy, although crossroads are very odd.....roundabouts are so much more effective, or give way to cars on your right (left in the US). On the theme of roads, the use of huge roadside billboards everywhere 😮

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, the billboards are a very different thing here in the US!

[@sherintv478]

Wonderful sharing my friend 👍💙💕👍💛🦋,

[@ClubCrafteria]

Nice to hear about it

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for watching

[@geoffclinton8575]

I have been going to the USA on work related trips since 1970. Then the USA food cost was much less than UK. On a recent holiday to Washington State I was shocked at how much food had increased, both in shops and eating out.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, it's crazy! A big jump in the last year alone

[@mauricestevenson5740]

Lovely to hear from a US citizen who does not think that "land of the free" does not mean you are free to use the land as your personal land fill. I hope you continue to visit the UK regularly and enjoy the differences.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I feel very fortunate to enjoy the great things about both countries! 🇺🇸❤️🇬🇧

[@Nihilanth1982]

when are you back in the uk? not sure you may remember from my past comment, i spent 3 weeks in america. the first 2 weeks i was in the south west, road tripping through 8 national parks, before then spending a week in nyc. i started my trip in las vegas where the weather was consistent 41c heat and very humid. so much so that one thing i appreciate from america is their addiction to AC. the road trip itself was hot and reached its peak when we got to death valley and it was recorded 47c that day - i remember the american guide saying to me 'ah, its only 47c' - it was so hot the handle to my umbrella that i used to block the sun started to melt in my hand! yosemite was manageable after that, coming down to a cooler 28c. nyc was 34c but after my experience in south west, that was manageable easily. coming back to the uk, i remember it was cold 21c and i had a cold in my first week back so my boss said i could just work from home. quite a transition! america has many frustrating things though - how tax isnt included in prices, how the tipping disease seems to be everywhere now, high prices for even small things (a snickers bar in nyc is $4, i kid you not!). i agree with you about the food. strangely, i barely met any americans there - the majority spoke in foreign languages so i guess i was with tourists alot of the time, in both nyc and south west. the drivers in america can be hell bent though - i remember one time, on the left side of us was a bus, and in front of us was a lorry. the gap etween them was closing but TWO cars rushed through, having driven from our right side, into the closing gap! my guide nearly had a heart attack thinking we'd see a crash. it was quite something. you wouldnt see that in the uk. but in the uk, the british drivers have a road rage problem i find. america may have a gun problem with its now 'traditional' mass shootings every year, but brits are just as prone to violence too. being single, i've given up with british women, and find foreign women more attractive. i feel i have two more trips to america left in me - i like to visit alaska, and another trip i love to see this family from seattle i met when in africa (a mother and her teenage daughter). i miss them so much and we been sending christmas cards to each other for years. i have her on my FB but its not the same. shes an amazing mother and a fine example to women - she runs a big business working in one of those skyscraper buildings. i love to spend time with them and experience the 'american family' life, if you know what i mean...

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We return to Old Blighty 3 May! Your first mistake was going to Las Vegas! haha... my brother was just telling me yesterday "tell the Brits to stop coming to Las Vegas when they come visit... it's an awful place!" He has lived in Britain for 3 years and has a lot of friends there ;-) We just got back from NYC. It was dirtier than I remember... I think the city has gone downhill. And there were marijuana shops every 10 metres... the whole city smelled of it. Yes, American drivers can be aggressive and reckless. I find that NYC and Boston are probably the worst. You definitely should visit your relatives in Seattle! It's a lovely place, and the weather is not as extreme. And Alaska is also lovely. I've not done it myself, but loads of friends RAVE about how awesome an Alaskan cruise is. And a bonus is that you can see OTTERS on them ;-) Cheers! Dara

[@FunandBudget]

So interesting...here on the east coast we do tap to pay pretty much everywhere and the plastic bags in the grocery stores actually cost now

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We REALLY need to start charging for bags in Texas! 😬🙄

[@scotfree21]

It’s me again,I thought I’d let you know I have followed the Cowboys since 1985 and have traveled to Dallas many times to watch them.And I remember my first time in Texas and the culture deference I experienced that you probably got on your first time in the UK.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I'm not really a football fan, meaning both soccer and American football, but if you are a fan of the NFL then the Cowboys are a great team to follow. They were especially big back in the 80s! That's fun to hear that you have been to Dallas and understand the juxtaposition of Texas versus England 😉

[@arnoldarnold4944]

Lovely Video best regards From Solihull England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Hello! My husband Ian has ancestors from the Solihull area. I have a couple Birmingham videos on my channel that we filmed this summer. If you haven't seen them yet, I hope you check them out 😉. Cheers! Dara

[@arnoldarnold4944]

@@MagentaOtterTravels yes I will thank you

[@LuckyLouDiamond1]

Im a regular visitor to Texas (Friends in DFW area) and one of my early culture culture shocks was the use of Paper swipe and sign for credit cards haddent seen them for ages in the Uk the joke was the signiture never seemed to be checked. Your right about people walzing off with your credit card , that is an uncomfortable experiance.... on the plus side staff in one restaurant failed to deliver all the main courses in a timely fashon result, free deserts for all (8) doubt that would happen here in the Uk still love the place though expect to be back in Tx Easter time cannot wait.

[@ians3586]

That is one of my complaints in the UK and also on the Continent, the service at restaurants often isn't as good and can be very slow. Of course the difference in tipping has something to do with this, so there is definitely a trade-off there.

[@lizbignell7813]

I think the idea of slow service is that in the UK and Europe diners are not rushed through their meal to get them out the door so the next tippers can come in! Many Europeans find it rude that waiters take the plates before everyone at the table is finished because that feels as if you are being hurried along.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I hope you have a wonderful visit over Easter time! That is usually good weather time 👍

[@julianbarber4708]

I worked in retail, in Scotland, until 2020, and watching Americans reactions to card technology, was priceless. When they finally got Pin No's, they seemed to be so proud to have joined the modern world, only to find we had jumped forward again, with Tap!...I felt like Harry Potter, haha! Ps. Many Americans told me that the technology had been deliberately held back by AT & T....any views on that?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I'm so glad that you know exactly what I'm talking about! As for AT&T, that is definitely a possibility! I wouldn't know for sure, but it sounds plausible

[@michaelengland7228]

Living in Cheltenham I agree I can exercise or walk/hike every day of the year. Having worked in upper new York state I never got used to the seasonal weather and found it too hot or too cold. However I love Americans and driving was a dream. What a lovely lady.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! In summary: I prefer driving in Texas and walking in England ;-)

[@mazdaram226]

Lovely video … keep smiling Lass 🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers mate!

[@adrianboardman162]

When did you phase out paper cheques and the shoe thing that you swiped over it with the cheque guarantee card? I've not seen one of those in at least 20 years, and only used one cheque when I was about 16. Chip and Pin replaced it on Valentines day one year. I remember because the Ad campaign was I *HEART* Chip and Pin.

[@john_smith1471]

@adrianboardman162: Cheques and cash are still in use, I paid three cheques into my bank account last week and i sometimes pay visiting tradesmen with a cheque, i think the shoe style manual card impression things disappeared when electronic point of sale terminals arrived.

[@davidrichardson9839]

You'd love our recycling systems in Sweden. Outside my apartment block there's an 'environment building', where we can deposit bottles, plastic, paper packaging, printed papers, batteries, LED and strip-lighting bulbs, small broken electronic devices and both food scraps and combustible waste in different bins. The council's waste-disposal trucks come round on a regular basis to empty each of these containers. The council gives us bio-degradable green bags for food scraps and red bags for combustible waste. At the dump a machine separates off the green bags and they go to fermentation chambers. The gas given off is used by our garbage trucks, buses, council vehicles and anyone who's got that kind of car as fuel. The solids left behind fertilize the local farmers' fields.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I love that! Yes the EU seems to have really great recycling programs... and has got a looooong time. The US is slowly following 😉

[@ShaneNixonFamily]

The bin thing is interesting. We have 4 big bins now, landfill, recycling, green and glass (jars etc). Then landfill we hardly fill these days and it is collected weekly. The recycling bin is (plastic milk bottles, cardboard, paper etc) is collected fortnightly. The green waste now includes food scraps - it used to be just garden waste like lawn clippings. Now it included food waste it is collected weekly. The newest glass bin is collected monthly. When were in Japan they had what seemed like a dozen small bins. Even milk bottle tops had their own bin. 😂 Supermarkets did use to collect soft plastics - plastic bags, chip packets, any soft plastic - the company running the recycling went bust so we've had to go back putting soft plastics in the garbage but apparently soon we will be able to put soft plastics in the recycling bin. The other thing that has helped in the last year or two is single use plastic bags, shopping bags, have been banned Australia wide. If you need a "single" use bag now it is a paper bag. But we've used heavy duty reusable bags for years. Our boot is full of them. 😂 Chipped credit cards for tap to pay? How quaint. I hardly ever see anyone using cards these days. It is all mobile phones for tapping now. I rarely ever pull out the plastic these days - maybe the rare shop that doesn't have tap to pay. They doubled the tap and pay limit during covid. For amounts more than $200 we still tap (with phone) but have to enter a pin. In fact we rarely use cash anymore. Talk is we will essentially be cashless by 2030, but some experts are saying it could be in as few as 3 years. I was given some cash yesterday and received a $100 note. It has been years since I've seen one of those. Funnily enough it is the most printed note by an order of magnitude but it is the least circulated. I think they're used as mattress stuffers. 😂 Don't ask about cheques. I reckon if you're under 50 you may never have even seen one. We're 240 volt too. What I've heard is that 120 volt can be more dangerous because they have to up the ampage to balance out the low voltage? I haven't had much British fruit but I have had plenty in Europe and I was surprised at just how good it was. I don't know why I expected it to be worse than ours but some things, like strawberries, were amazing.

[@ians3586]

That's interesting that you can combine food waste with yard waste. I really wish they would do that where we live in Texas, it would make things much easier.

[@ShaneNixonFamily]

@@ians3586 it really is convenient. It was introduced about a year ago - and when they made the pickup weekly for green waste. Makes you realise how much food waste we produce.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I loved hearing about all the bins! So funny that Japan had a bin for milk bottle tops! I really do need to start using Apple Pay more often and not using my credit card... time to develop new habits ;-) And yes... European strawberries are amazing! Thanks for your lovely comment and I'm sorry it's taken ages to reply... the past week has been madness with a lot of KZbin traffic and a week long trip to NYC with our son!

[@icarusi]

Carrot prices in the UK are pretty high due to the wet spring, so I decided to try some 'wonky' carrots from Sainsburys at 40p per Kg. They looked pretty fibrous, so I wasn't expecting much, but I chipped then into batons in chipper using the fine blade, and steamed them for 3 minutes in an electric pressure multi-cooker, and they tasted great. Not fibrous and plenty of flavour. I bagged them in small portions for the freezer. I got circa 800gm from the kg, and frozen sliced carrots are circa £1.10 per Kg, but I prefer batons and they don't seen to be anywhere apart from in the mixed veg, so I'll probably try the wonkys again next time.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Makes sense if you're slicing them up to use wonky ones 😉

[@ptonpc]

A friend of mine who comes over from California always remarks on how green everything is here and polite (by comparison) the traffic is. They spend about the first week having a sugar crash since our food doesn't have the same sugars etc in it.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's funny about the sugar! Yes I lived in CA for 9 years... can be pretty brown. Lots of droughts unfortunately.

[@user-mn4cc6bb7t]

It is funny how different people have different perceptions. I have only visited Florida and Georgia in the US but I have always thought the drivers there were more polite than the drivers here in the UK - although I have noticed the odd toot of the horn from the car behind when I didn't realise you could go through a red light to turn right, if the road was clear. I am surprised that you made no reference to the fact that cars in the US mostly have automatic transmission, whereas in Europe the cars mostly have manual transmission (except the expensive ones!). Not being used to the automatic transmission, I found that it was advisable, at least to begin with, to sit a bit unnaturally and put my left foot behind my right one so that I wasn't tempted to hit the brake really hard with my left foot.

[@Jon-cf6qb]

Very good vid. Interesting about the recycling or lack of it. Good that they are trying food waste - but crazy to have to presumably make a car trip to take it to the centre! Long way to go - and please get them onto reusable bags - I cannot imagine how many plastic bags are used in the us and how much damage they cause

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yeah the plastic bag thing is something I keep banging on about... drives me nuts!

[@Jon-cf6qb]

Such a simple thing - even we managed to do it! @@MagentaOtterTravels

[@peckelhaze6934]

I, always, reuse my carrier bags. I find it quite unusual to see someone buying plastic bags here (UK) anymore. All my waste food is recycled. A small box on the worktop to hold tea bags, vegetables etc., which then goes into my large compost bins in the garden. Surplus meat and bones goes to the foxes at night, always gone in the morning. I have not had to sign for a card transaction for years. It is mainly touch or when that goes wrong i insert it, but never sign. I would be mortified if someone took my cards.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I love that you leave food for the foxes!

[@brianbradley6744]

Someone on KZbin did a timing check on UK and US kettles. The difference was something like 6 minutes US compared to 2.5 minutes in the UK. British people could not wait that long for their cuppa! I was also dumfounded when driving in America that the attendant at a self service gas station wanted me to hand over my credit card before filling up. This is strictly taboo in the UK due to the possibility of cloning and if cloned and used it would be very difficult receiving remuneration from the credit card company due to having handed the card over. Also doesn't it negate the convenience of self service as you have to go to the cashier first and then return to them for the cost of the fuel to be taken from the card? To prevent fuel theft in the UK gas stations have Number Plate Recognition (NPR) cameras installed. Card readers are installed as part of the fuel pump and get checked before delivery commences.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

😂... I understand! I see it as an opportunity to learn patience 😉

[@anitawhite2669]

The channel 'Adventures and Naps' did a comparison of boiling 1 litre of water in a kettle here in the UK which took 1 min 13 secs (or very close to that) and then when she went back to Canada she did the same test there and a litre of water took over 5 mins to boil. Apparently Canadian and US electricity is the same voltage.

[@AbdulsCycles]

I enjoyed watching and hearing your story about 10 Reverse Culture Shocks as an American Returning from Britain. For me this is interesting information

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! What culture shocks have YOU had?

[@FluffySylveonBoi]

Tbh, I've never been to a store/shop where people put stuff I bought in bags, here it is the customer's responsibility. I love to arrange the stuff I buy in my bag myself, thanks.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes me too! I'm a control freak that way. I don't like milk and canned goods all shoved in a cloth bag that's so heavy its handles break!

[@tenniskinsella7768]

Of its aot I just put it back in my trolley and then put it in my bags. Saves time at checkout of course got to keep the receipt

[@felixalbion]

Another difference here in the UK is that when visiting a restaurant you are not expected to leave a tip. Servers are paid a living wage. You can tip if you want to but its not normal.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes that why I just published a video about tipping 😉