6 Culture Shocks - Moving from the US to the UK

I have read your comments and made a response video here: • Americans trying their...
Moving is never easy, especially moving from one country to another. While America and England may share many similar aspects, there are quite a few differences that can cause culture shock for any new American arriving in the United Kingdom.
Shelbey and Rachel take some time to discuss six things they found "shocking" when they moved to the UK from the US.
UPDATE: this was originally filmed to inform our American friends of some differences we have discovered in the UK when we first came here but have found that an overwhelming amount of people who have watched this are British! Just to clarify, culture shocks are negatives or complaints, they are just differences that can be surprising and no matter of research can prepare someone for all the new things they will experience when they move.
5 Tips for visiting the UK: • Five Tips for Visiting...
#UK #USA #Culture
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[@ShelbeyHunt]

Thank you to everyone who has watched this and left a comment. I have made a video to respond to all these comments, check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHOoip2ebJpqidE

[@tonyroy8123]

GO BACK TO USA!!

[@madyottoyotto3055]

We have only one currency Sterling However many that can issue there own sterling renditions Scotland and Ireland the most noted It would be like each state makeing there version of the doller But to be accepted universally I think that would be cool And the new UK notes are some of the most secure in the world But I do have a question I know Canada have the doller Is it a different doller IE Canadian doller or can it be used in the states too ¿?

[@madyottoyotto3055]

Nice job of the original reaction I will watch now

[@splodge561]

We don't drink eggnog?

[@tonyroy8123]

@@madyottoyotto3055 Stop being a fool. Can you use Pakistan rupees in India? Educate yourself. This is 21st century. 😠

[@williebauld1007]

There is only one currency here and that’s pound Sterling, what you are mixing up is the fact that banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland can print their own notes but they are still £ Sterling

[@YorkshireScottASMR]

I second that and will extend on that by saying that as they scotland and northern island print there own notes they have their own design so that is why they look like a different currency. I was always told as long as it has sterling on then it is okay. The only exception I would say is that you cant accept money from the isle of man jersey or guernsey as they are crown dependences and have their own banking system and currency.

[@keithhutson5930]

Don't forget Isles of man the Channel Inlands as well

[@COMEINTOMYWORLD]

Scottish currency is NOT LEGALLY acceptable currency for payment in England and Wales. It is up to individual stores if they want to take it. Just the same if a store in England wants to accept the Japanese Yen or Euro for payment. I would refer to the Bank of England website if people can't understand this. Many people in the UK also confuse the term 'legal tender'. This is an English and Welsh law term which means a judge orders payment in English pound sterling. It doesn't mean that Scottish bank notes are legally acceptable for payment South of the Border. They are not.

[@Oddballkane]

Ive seen plenty of price tags in euros.

[@ivandavies1388]

@@COMEINTOMYWORLD Wrong my friend, they are as acceptable as any other form of exchange. They are just not legal tender, not even in Scotland.

[@alexcampos4370]

American here living in the UK for over 20 years. There is loads of variety in supermarkets here as much as in the USA. It’s just that people here want other types of variety. I can get pretty much anything I can think of that I missed from across the Atlantic. If the supermarkets don’t sell it, Amazon or other online retailers will. My top tip would be try the local version or something similar. You’ll soon get used to it and most likely discover loads of new things that you’ll come to love.

[@K3dzz]

Thank you for saying this, I was confused when they mentioned this. I would actually argue there is far more variety when it comes to Indian, Italian, Carribbean foods especially.

[@johnnyonthespot9898]

I hate england its soo depressing, all you see all day is counsel estates with wet leaves on the ground and you hear old women coughing and everyone is so ugly

[@scots_knight4706]

A very good comment 👍 As the old saying goes "When in Rome do as the Romans"

[@lorenaledger6547]

There is more chose in any supermarket in Mexico than England

[@crowbar9566]

@@lorenaledger6547 You mean 'choice'.

[@kevinwhite981]

My culture shock when returning back to the UK, was the overwhelming feeling of feeling safe, safe in the knowledge I wouldn't be shot for accidentally strolling onto private land,

[@patrickmulligan7994]

Oh please ! 😂

[@radioguy75]

As an English person I have no idea why I find Americans on youtube moving to the UK so amusing.

[@davidcook7887]

It is and sometimes it’s Americans taking the piss.

[@smudger671]

They must like the crap weather!

[@clairepeace5783]

The majority of Americans have no passport ! These are the chosen few 😂 that think America is still important !! 🇬🇧

[@clairepeace5783]

@@ramrod1752 then when eventually you get your passports and learn America is not on everyone’s list globally don’t visit 😂 Iv been to the states and was quite shocked !! Attitude and naivety !! 🇬🇧

[@clairepeace5783]

@@ramrod1752 good 👍 I’m old enough to be your mother or grandmother ! 😂 come on then. X age does not matter ? It’s a European thing 😉 x

[@yeahmyrealnameright5967]

The reason you had problems finding eggs is simple. In the US eggs are washed removing a natural protective layer and so have to be kept in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. In the U.K. we don’t wash off the natural protective layer so our eggs do not have to be refrigerated. Meaning our eggs are the home bakery isle US eggs are in the chiller section.

[@avaggdu1]

US eggs are nowhere...they're not sold in UK for not meeting food standards.

[@BICIeCOMPUTERconGabriele]

@@avaggdu1with the word "US eggs" he was clearly saying "eggs in the USA"

[@Noyota2]

From sunny South Africa 🇿🇦, I found it amusing to see Americans keeping eggs in the fridge. Thanks for the clarification.

[@adem5762]

You got to remember that many Anerican foods contain ingredients that are banned in the EU and UK. Especially breakfast cereals, there are flavourings and E-numbers that are just not allowed here. American foods tendt to be over processed. But you guys will get it, you only been here a couple of years.

[@darryltelka5043]

As a real American native American I came to the UK at the age of 14 to be with my Welsh father I love this country the history culture and living in Wales it's fantastic also my family back in my native American country can't get over the fact my health care is free , I told them all about Wales and the UK they loved the history and I've even taught some of Them Welsh and my Welsh family my native language ,

[@robertwilkinson2889]

No multiple currencies in the U.K. Different notes but all pounds sterling!

[@brian9731]

As a Brit when visiting the USA, my culture shock is not being able to buy passable artisan quality food at reasonable prices in regular grocery stores. So for example, bread - ALL the bread in regular grocery stores in America is plastic packed low quality mass produced stuff. In the UK, we have that too but you can also go to the in-store bakery where they make the at least half decent fresh bread every day and pay just a little more for it. In the US, you would have to go elsewhere and find a specialist artisan bakery store.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

This was actually one of my favorite things about moving here. I love bread and totally agree that it just sucks in your average American grocery store.

[@kv-vt1wh]

That’s definitely not true. I go to the in-store bakery and buy fresh bread that was made that day or the day before.

[@puterbac]

That isn’t accurate. Every major grocery store has a bakery where they have different baked breads versus mass produced aisle

[@glastonbury4304]

@@puterbac still nowhere near the quality of British bread though

[@puterbac]

@@glastonbury4304 may very well be true, but I can’t comment as only been to Germany a couple of times.

[@hackdaniels7253]

"British people have been drinking inadequate eggnog..." No. British people have not been drinking eggnog.

[@Mutzig79]

We did invent it, so we must have drank it at some point!

[@catrinholmes7026]

Don't even know what it is 😂

[@fenman7147]

@@Mutzig79 you missed the point

[@Mutzig79]

@@fenman7147 Nope, hack daniels said we have not been drinking eggnog, and I replied as we invented it, we must have drank it at some point

[@cheman579]

Mulled wine is what we're on at christmas

[@nicolapicola4502]

So interesting because I am from NZ and I had the opposite experience! I found the USA had less variety than NZ, but the UK had more in their supermarkets... weird!

[@MarieFara]

Where in the U.S were you?

[@Thurgosh_OG]

These two, seem to be encouraging the US American stereotype by equating, 'if it's not like the US, it's bad'. They got so much wrong in this short video and come across as ignorant and arrogant.

[@jennyk488]

We Brits have mulled wine in the Christmas season. We are not in to eggnog.

[@gregmadison556]

I'm from England and moved to the US when I was 17. The cultural shock was unbelievable. Gun violence, drugs, and overall crime just to name a few. I lived in NJ. NJ and NY people are not the most warm and friendly.

[@dangercat9188]

As a New Yorker, i think we're nice it's just that lots of us have cold personalities and lots of people confuse that with being "rude" or "mean". If you ask us a question about how to get somewhere, you'll find lots of helpful people.

[@qasimmir7117]

I spent a night in JFK and that immediately became apparent especially the not being warm and friendly part.

[@Lifeisgood479]

Im from london Im going to minnestona how ever you spell it next year to visit my cousin and see if I like it, but every time I go somewhere for holiday I always get homesick and start to miss london so much thats why I don’t travel alot because I love staying in london.

[@sgl0d10n]

I’ve heard the variety thing said before in regards to shopping. I think in the U.K. there’s more of a focus on variety of items, rather than variety of brands

[@mikesmith-rp1mb]

Often in US it looks like massive variety of a product. But in reality its all from 1 or 2 companies, masquerading as different.

[@2eleven48]

As far as I'm aware, eggnog wthout alcohol is not commonly drunk here in the UK. However, it can still be a tradition at Christmas to buy a bottle of advocaat, which combines egg, sugar and brandy into a thick creamy liquid, usually diluted by lemonade to your taste. It's often called a 'snowball'. It looks innocent, but it can get your granny quite squiffy drinking it. Robert, UK

[@graceygrumble]

The 'variety' thing, in supermarkets, is weird. American supermarkets have oodles of the same stuff ie different 'brands' of the same stuff. British supermarkets, on the other hand, have loads of stuff, but fewer brands.I have an allegiance to very few brands: Lurpak butter, Andrex toilet paper, Tetley Tea (I prefer Ringtons but can't afford it) and Heinz Ketchup. So, I found American supermarkets to be limited. Like I said, 'weird'!

[@ShelbeyHunt]

That is an interesting way of looking at it. Understand the brand loyalty thing as we only buy Kerry gold butter

[@graceygrumble]

@@ShelbeyHunt Pukey-Gold!? Seriously, that stuff is rank! But, you're catered for in that department, in most UK stores. The variety of different items, especially in the 'fruit and veg' section of UK stores and the 'ready meal' section, knock US supermarkets out of the park. I don't wish to appear churlish; there might be a dozen different peanut butters to choose from, over there, but that's not 'variety', it's just more of the same. Doubtless, there are items which you consider 'essentials' and they'll be very hard to come by, over here. Eggnog - the origins of which are widely debated - has been, largely eschewed in the UK, because we have mulled wine. The Puritans, unhappy that people were having fun, founded your country. :) .

[@ShelbeyHunt]

You have convinced me that the puritans left because of eggnog!

[@graceygrumble]

@@ShelbeyHunt Ha!

[@glastonbury4304]

@@ShelbeyHunt having lived in California I hated the supermarkets , just masses and masses of the same thing, but just in every bloody artificial flavour you can think of, plus if I want just some cling film, why I'm god's name are there about 50 different varieties 🤣🤣..at first I thought I'd never get to leave and would be celebrating countless birthdays roaming the aisles for ranch dressing 🤣

[@england1413]

I bet someone said "I think you'll find that's legal tender".

[@paulpo540]

Always counter with I am sorry but it’s not....not even in Scotland

[@suemilnthorpe]

I’m English and married to an American. He’s lived here for quite a few years now and is becoming nicely anglicised! 😂 When we visit the country of his birth, and go to a supermarket, I’m just stunned at how expensive it is for basic items. He’s got used to me screeching, “Oh my god! How much?” every 10 seconds now! The funny thing is that the in-laws like us to take over supplies of things they can’t get there, like decent chocolate for one! Anyway, I love your sense of humour 🙂

[@peterdavidson3890]

We found in the U.S.A. Supermarkets that so much food & cookies (biscuits) are crammed FULL OF SUGAR. That’s why there is so much variety on American shelves.

[@08emily89]

British supermarkets don’t lack variety, they just don’t have as many pre-made stuff

[@robmcd436]

We do not have different currencies in the U.K., we only have the Pound Sterling, we do however have lots of different pound notes in circulation in each country within the U.K. for example, each country is allowed to print its own bank notes to reflect the culture of the country. But each country can not just print money without any control. All money is regulated by the Bank of England. All bank notes are designated pounds and have exactly the same value across the entire U.K.

[@CavesAreIrrelevant]

Best summarised as One Legal Tender - 3 Currencies.

[@claratrevlyn5304]

Not quite true. In Scotland and Ireland, it is individual banks that are allowed to print their own notes. But they can only do so if they first deposit an equivalent sum with the Bank of England, which then prints special high denomination notes to that value and locks them away in its vaults. The Scottish or Irish bank then issues its own notes up to that value. There is a good video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4q1pZmbjdaNoas which talks about the Bank of England £100million "titan" banknotes and the £1million "giant" banknotes.

[@georgebarnes8163]

@@claratrevlyn5304 Ireland is not part of the UK.

[@susanroberts2289]

You are right. The whole of the island of Ireland is not part of the UK. However, part of the island of Ireland IS part of the whole of the UK.

[@davidmitchell1391]

The coins are also different, one side bears the Sovereign's head and the other often has national or commemorative designs. As far as I know, all UK coins are "struck" by the Royal Mint, which is based in Llantrisant, South Wales.

[@jamesalexander3893]

The reason why you need proof of address to open a bank account is mainly for money laundering regulations. You may well have money but where did it come from - drug dealing, asset stripping from a former communist country?! I don't mean you of course but you get the point. By the way I think its harder opening a bank account in other European countries, ditto supermarket choice.

[@JonathanMarques98]

And how does an address prove that? lol. In the USA you have to pay yearly taxes we’re they see all the inflow and outflow of your money.

[@tonywilkinson6895]

You’ve got the right sense of humour to live here.👍🏻

[@ShelbeyHunt]

Thank you!

[@dirtyden1]

2 days into my holiday in Germany, 3 of my culture shocks; 1) They sell cigarettes in Aldi and Lidl. 2) You're allowed to smoke in bars. 3) The roads are massive. And 4) No pubs. Honestly, I miss them.

[@ivylasangrienta6093]

Never even tasted eggnog. I don't think it's common or easily found in all of Europe. We drink mulled wine at Christmas, lol.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

Yeah, from the comments it for sure seems like egg nog just is not a thing here. We do enjoy a good mulled wine around Christmas

[@keithparker5103]

Ivy Ruonakoski I also have never sampled Egg Nogg. If I wanted something in that line I would buy Dutch Advocaat. I have been told they are similar.

[@221b-Maker-Street]

_Warnincks Advocaat_ is in every supermarket booze aisle. Normally near the Sherry. Much nicer than that stuff in a box you showed. 🥴

[@davidhoward2487]

@@keithparker5103 That's exactly what I drink at Xmas...always!....

[@davidcook7887]

@@ShelbeyHunt I need an egg nog or instant bank account like a small Yule log 😀

[@spwicks1980]

We dont really drink eggnog. According to wikipedia, it started as a rich mans drink in the UK (as only the rich could afford strong alcohol, cream and eggs in quantity. It made it over the US in the 18th century where the colonists subbed brandy out for rum, which was cheap. They also had large amounts of dairy so it became popular. I've drank it once. At christmas we'll have mulled wine or get smashed on low quality lager.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

Ah thanks for the info, and that totally makes sense.

[@hedonistkandi]

It’s awful, so that’s a big factor.

[@gazlator]

@@ShelbeyHunt Try and get some advocaat - I think it's pretty much the same sort of thing.

[@TM-il8rb]

@@hedonistkandi it’s not

[@christineparker921]

Brit here who lived in Texas for 17 years. I miss egg nog 🙂. (We don't have it here.) It's quite calorific, though.

[@glynnwright1699]

I regularly visit the states and shop in a range of supermarkets. There is a huge variety in some sections, but plenty of items that I can get in my local Sussex town are completely missing. Specifically, game and venison, most quality cuts of lamb and the range of sausages, cooked meats and varieties of cheese. The fish counter is much more restricted than our town market fishmonger and the poultry is generally not very good quality. I wanted to cook a meal with partridge for my American family and it turned out that my only option was to buy a whole box that would be air freighted from another state. At home they are plentiful and very inexpensive. I know that it is regional in the USA, but also the farmers markets in the Carolinas are nowhere near as good as in England. I think the UK puts much more emphasis on local provenance; most of what we eat is produced locally or within our allotment. That is a concept which doesn't exist with my American daughter-in-law and her family. It is great to shop in large, uncrowded, US supermarkets and it work well for the local specialities, such as crab and prawns in South Carolina, but our regular diet does not match up with what is available on the rows of shelves. Food of the equivalent provenance is generally way more expensive in the USA than in the UK.

[@glynnwright1699]

@Rita Roork Our weekly farmers market sells venison, rabbit, wood pigeon, pheasant, partridge, quail, wild duck, as well as the more mainstream items such as lamb, mutton, and poultry. All of it is sourced from within ten miles. Likewise, there is produce that we don't have at hand when I shop in South Carolina.

[@glynnwright1699]

@Rita Roork They live natural lives and do not suffer the stress of abattoirs.

[@tjchesney4997]

I thought the bigger shock would've been that tax is included in the price in the UK, whereas in the US, you get rather a surprise at the till....

[@ShelbeyHunt]

True, and it is different depending on the state so if you are visiting somewhere else your surprise may be bigger than you expected!

[@tjchesney4997]

@@ShelbeyHunt Monthly food shopping keeps the heart fluttering no doubt...

[@grahamtravers4522]

@@ShelbeyHunt Yep. Minnesota's good for clothes. I still wear T-shirts I bought there twenty years ago!

[@SubjectRandom21]

I've recently learnt about this. Why the hell would you put the price tag on an item and then charge the customer more when paying for it?😕 Talk about disingenuous.

[@tjchesney4997]

@@grahamtravers4522 I'll buy you a t-shirt or two!

[@JLuke2oo7]

You all right? To me, an Englishman, the American version of "What's up?" has the same meaning that "Are you all right" has to Americans. We ask people who are upset, "what's up?" . Nothing is up, what do you mean, is there a problem!? Haha! Funny how the two mean the same thing and are perceived as the opposite meaning on both sides of the pond!

[@jennyli7749]

I haven’t lived in usa but a mind blowing thing for me (I’m from Scotland, U.K.) was how wide the gaps are between the doors and doorframes of public toilets…that’s something I think I will never get used to, one other is the size of items at Walmart, buckets of cheese balls, massive massive bags of crisps, and the different tax rates in cities, my brain is drained calculating what my total spend is each time I do a haul at target 🤓

[@anthonylong9067]

Im american and in the case of the giant space between the floor and bathroom doors, i feel like it’s so we can see if it’s occupied or not. If we see someone’s feet on the floor, that’s how we know the stall’s taken. Idk. It’s confusing

[@jennyli7749]

@@anthonylong9067 you can see the people walking by your stall quite clearly so it’s disconcerting to feel they can see me in the toilet just as clear….it’s definitely something I don’t think I could get used to lol

[@anthonylong9067]

@@jennyli7749 I dont think half the population here are used to it, to be fair. Lol

[@robertcreighton4635]

Too funny I didn't realise how weird it was for foreigners to get used to the UK way of life. Just remember queue queue queue lol

[@ShelbeyHunt]

And we came from a place that can be similar in some ways!

[@andym9571]

....and say sorry

[@robertcreighton4635]

@@andym9571 sorry I forgot to say sorry 😞

[@andym9571]

@@robertcreighton4635 so sorry I had to remind you.

[@skittles074]

Don't worry they aren't Russian..

[@juliankaye8143]

Eggs are used to make cakes so that might be why they were in the baking section.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

Many US Americans, especially in the cities and big towns, do not bake or know how to in many cases.

[@elemar5]

4:09 The middle note is old Irish currency which has now been replaced by the Euro, which is not legal tender in the UK. You should have shown a note from Northern Ireland.

[@johnkitchen4699]

When I went on vacation I would sit on tables in restaurants next to Americans to listen to their funny comments about the country they were in - their failure to understand other countries was usually breathtakingly hilarious. I would definitely sit close to you two!

[@RichardBlakey]

It's one currency. Worth exactly the same. Just different bank notes in different countries of the UK.

[@philipmason9537]

One thing you didn’t mention but many Americans do react to in similar KZbin videos is the fact that eggs are not refrigerated in Western Europe. The US is one of the very few countries that wash their eggs but this removes the CUTICLE, a natural protective barrier, and thereby they need refrigeration. Without washing eggs stay fresh for weeks at room temperature. You also didn’t mention that the U.K. drive on the left, one of only three European countries, the other two being Malta & Cyprus. But over 60 countries, one THIRD of the world, drive on the left and these countries have a total population of 2.5 Billion.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

The funny thing is that we did mention it but I cut it out as we are planning to eventually do a video just on grocery stores.

[@timash4101]

They drive on the left on the Republic of Ireland, too.

[@philipmason9537]

@@timash4101 👍👍

[@jillhobson6128]

@@ShelbeyHunt We call grocery stores supermarkets

[@colinmacpherson6113]

@@ShelbeyHunt our supermarkets here have everything that you need, what fake shite couldnt you get here that you can get in america, cheese out of can or something like that,cheetos, shite like that maybe lol

[@Kalarandir]

Tea, Crisps and Biscuits, the Holy Trinity. :D

[@kingspeechless1607]

I don't need the crisps

[@mariabolt3881]

Amen 🙏

[@davidevans3227]

i'd add chocolate.. nice bar of galaxy 🙂 x

[@frogstomper9830]

We don't drink egg nog also we don't celebrate the 4th july. Shock and horror.

[@jeffreydaniels7519]

I lived in London and East Sussex for about 5 years in the mid 80’s and my biggest culture shock was attending the pubs with my friends and being chastised for still trying to finish off my first pint while they were already on their third. I never could understand what the hurry was all about, except later I found out it was about getting as pissed as possible before the pubs closed. Which back in those days was around 10:00 pm.

[@elizabethwoolnough4358]

I was confused when an American asked me "What's up?" Here that means "What's wrong?" So I told him nothing was up. 😂

[@galoglaich3281]

There is only one british currency,but the picture in the middle was old republic of ireland punts which are no longer used and was a different currency than sterling as republc of ireland is independent of the UK

[@dandanod]

Hey there, so just update you, there is only one currancy in the UK, the pound sterling. It just that different banks in the 4 different devolved countries within the UK print different styles of notes. Great video 😎👍

[@ShelbeyHunt]

Thanks for the clarification. That helps explain it.

[@beatles9880]

true however there are no welsh notes, the Irish pound, it's not legal tender in England and an English business does not need to accept it (but can choose to) unlike the Scottish pound which is legal tender in England and must be accepted, but is harder to process so business do not like to use it. (counting machines are set up for the English pound notes)

[@ShelbeyHunt]

@@beatles9880 Ah, that sounds more like what Rachel's boss said when he explained it.

[@sammygirl5835]

Some places in international tourist hot spots like central London and Windsor accept Euros.

[@djtwo2]

... and you forgot the Isle of Man, with its own notes and coins, which are also useable in the UK.

[@staceytomkinson910]

I thought eggnog was advocaat in the UK

[@sgl0d10n]

Advocaat is basically the European original. Eggnog seems to be a derivation of things like Advocaat and Buttered Beer and other Christmassy eggy drinks

[@lemming9984]

Just bought Advocaat this week. Great with lemonade and lime juice.!

[@garymillward8619]

You make snowballs with advocaat not eggnog

[@dotregan1506]

Never had eggnog, we always have Advocaat at Christmas, it makes lovely snowballs.

[@jessiebullock]

I’m so glad Rachel corrected grammar so quickly.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

This happens more than you know in our house.

[@jessiebullock]

😂🤣

[@fionagregory9376]

@@ShelbeyHunt I am the expert when it comes to spelling.

[@chriswhite1417]

Thanks for the observations. I do sometimes think that in the US consumer choice is confused with the concept of "freedom"

[@Thurgosh_OG]

50 slightly different packs of the same cereal, isn't really more choice, when only two companies make all of them. It's the appearance of choice that fools US Americans.

[@DisobedientSpaceWhale]

I'm English, lived my whole life here and I also find "Alright?" baffling and stupid. I say yes thanks I'm fine...

[@danlolabroadhead5734]

As a non Brit 25 years plus here you left out fish fingers that is the 4th National Food Group after tea, biscuits and crisps

[@ShelbeyHunt]

So true!

[@flyingfox7854]

My wife and I have just recently returned from visiting her sister and family in New Jersey … we went to the local supermarket (Shop Right) we found it to be a really nice place well set out and stocked with lots of fresh produce and an excellent deli counter with lots of different cold meats and cheese they also had some really good fresh bread options … we tried the Sourdough fruit and nut ( very tasty) but it was $10 dollars and it wasn’t a full size loaf … what we found as we went around the store was that on average the prices were around a half to two thirds more than what we pay over here in the UK ! We were quite shocked by how much the Americans are over paying for their groceries …..

[@patrickmulligan7994]

You sure got that right and with Uncle Joe and Power it's only going to get worse!😢

[@mark1226]

We don't drink eggnog we do drink warming spicy mulled wine and a black coffee is called an Americano.

[@aprilmullen4175]

Good Morning! What a treat to see your smiling faces! Thanks for sharing "slice of life" things like this. I am always intrigued by subtle differences in how things are done. What is your favorite kind of tea ~ now that you have a vast array of choices?

[@ShelbeyHunt]

Good afternoon! Rachel's favorite tea is Earl Grey though there are several specialty tea shops you can get interesting flavors from. My personal favorite comes from a store called "Bird & Blend" and it is called the "All Nighter" though I don't like hot tea so I cold brew it.

[@ravinloon58]

A few years back on one of my many American adventures I was travelling in the South and asked if there was a bus going to a place we wanted to visit. I was told by the hotel receptionist no but by the waitress at the diner yes. I lined up for the bus (which went exactly where I wanted to go) and soon struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger. She was quite lovely but a bit concerned for us. I had not noticed we were the only white people on the bus, which was filled by workers going home from the tourist area. She reassured me I was fine, not that I was anything other than curious. She said when the kids got out there might be a few whites riding the bus so maybe as they grow up things will change. I am from a city in the UK where we had our very own bus boycott in the 60s... I thought America was a leader in civil rights and they would never stand for any kind of segregation there. Anyway I went back on my own a couple of years later and rode the busses every day for a fortnight... loved every bit of it... searching out the real America.

[@paulbryant2385]

As a brit ur wrong about the coffee in literally every supermarket in the Isle there are huge choices for its ground coffee not filter perhaps that's why you couldn't find it

[@geofftayloruk]

As a British person who loves Egg Nog when in the US here's a tip around Christmas time...buy a bottle of Advocaat, pour a decent shot then add lemonade and a slice of lime and you now have a Snowball, which for some Brits is Yuletide in a glass 😉

[@fuzzlewit9]

Oh yes, I grew up with Snowballs each Christmas. They were the taste of Christmas. Still have them to this day. But, of course (unwritten rule) only at Christmas!

[@barbarafranklin6886]

Nothing beats a good American eggnog - and I'm British.

[@harrymc9263]

Scottish currency. Your not the only one. You can go into large stores in London and they will take dollars, euros etc. Hand them a Scottish £20 and they look at you like you have 3 eyes.

[@lisaroberts8135]

Not true

[@harrymc9263]

@@lisaroberts8135 I've done it several times. I live about 30 miles south of the Scottish Border and even here there are places which don't like taking Scottish notes

[@lisaroberts8135]

@@harrymc9263 I’ve never had a problem spending Scottish notes in Cornwall

[@danielcampbell3686]

I'm from Northern Ireland ( which has been part of the UK since 1921) and have had that exact same problem with using Notes printed by our own banks, Shops won't accept them anywhere in Wales, where I live now, Nor pretty much everywhere in England, and to a small part in Scotland, though they're not too bad. I always have to go into a bank and exchange it for a Bank of England note. I was in a post office and wanted to pay for something they told me they don't accept foreign notes, I'd have to use the foreign exchange based in the same shop, I got in line and low and behold who served me only the same fella, took my note, and handed me a £10 back if it was a foreign note would there not have been an exchange rate. He knew full well that my NI note was legal tender, was just being an arse.

[@sarahbangura2722]

That’s not true. Never experienced that.

[@1daveyp]

A note about notes. The different bank notes issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland are all pounds sterling, there is only one currency. However, the status of the Scottish and Northern Irish notes is legally different, not just different designs. The notes and coins issued by the Bank of England (the ones with the Queen on) are the legal tender currency of the UK, all across the UK. The Bank of England is the central bank for the whole UK and has had a legal monopoly on issuing banknotes in England and Wales, but not Scotland and Northern Ireland since 1921. In Scotland and Northern Ireland a number of commercial banks have permission to issue notes of their own. However, these are technically promissory notes and the banks are obliged to hold an amount of Bank of England currency or gold equal to the value of the notes they issue. These notes are therefore not legal tender, even in Scotland and Northern Ireland. That is to say, you are not legally obliged to accept them in payment. Confusing? Yes, it's the UK. Welcome. It is foolish not to accept Scots and Northern Irish notes, as when you pay them in to your bank they will treat them exactly like Bank of England notes. Also, as Rachel found, refusing them can also be taken as a personal and national insult and can lead to long, heated, tedious, and ill informed arguments about them being legal tender (they're not) and, in extreme cases, can end with you suddenly blacking out and then coming to on your hands and knees picking your teeth up off the floor.

[@brontewcat]

That is interesting.

[@georgebarnes8163]

Bank of England notes and coins are only legal tender in England.

[@sambda]

The reason why we don't take non-BoE notes at work (shop) is simply nobody knows whether they are the current notes or whether they are withdrawn/old ones. The shop's bank might refuse to take out-of-date notes. I mean, who the hell knows/remembers what a 1978 Clydesdale note looked like? If you try to pay that into the bank, the cashier won't know, so will dither and go to get the manager, who likewise won't probably know and spend ten minutes contemplating it or going off to ring someone about it. Etc. Etc. Whilst you can always redeem a note against the issuing bank as a one-off - I run a shop and want to pay it in easily with the rest of my take.

[@andrewmildinhall8210]

It's extraordinary - the UK is different. How shocking.

[@ianmcfadden5450]

Still not sure wether this was made to have a dig and piss off us Brits! Would recommend listening to Amanda Rae

[@iriscollins7583]

Eggs are not needed to be refrigerated in the UK, We don't wash the eggs , which destroys the natural way of protecting any germs entering the egg.The chickens are also kept in a better and cleaner environment. I always buy Free Range eggs, from the Supermarket.

[@avaggdu1]

'Free range' means no more than 13 hens (because all the male chickens are killed) per square metre and access to open-air runs for half their lifetime (all 56 days of it). Not the idyllic picture of animal welfare you may imagine. 'Barn eggs' are even worse and little better than battery farming.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

So glad I stumbled on this. Not least because of the attention to grammar - which I like (I'm like that, or so I'm told). But also because my brother went to Texas A&M. Go Aggies! Admittedly, it was a very long time ago and we're British, but he spent a year there and he has repeatedly told me ever since (and regularly) that it was a life-changing experience. I'm a bit older than him so, being in gainful employment and reasonably solvent at the time, in the middle of his year I flew over to visit him at College Station (this would be in '95). That was an amazing time. The sheer size of the campus (not to mention the football stadium!) just blew me away. And we went to Houston one day with some of his friends to visit the Johnson Space Center - something I will never forget. We were not American novices having lived in Denver in the late 70s/early 80s when we were little kids, but to visit Texas in my 20s? That was fantastic. I know this video was over a year ago so I hope you're still having a good time if you're still in the "Motherland" (lol). If not, I wish both of you all the very best in whatever you're doing now. Thanks for the fun cross-cultural insights :)

[@dianeleitch7049]

Came back to the UK after 31 years in the States and find the UK supermarkets are far superior to the US. The US supermarkets are full of TV dinners, lots of processed, sweet, high cholesterol and generally unhealthy food. Yes we have unhealthy food as well but not nearly so much. Of course there is chicken,pork, beef,lamb like here and many many more of the same. More on the shelves there,, quantity not so much variety.

[@barriehull7076]

ROI used to have pounds then went to the punt then to the euro. My town used to have a ground coffee shop. They roasted the beans on the premises. Republic of Ireland, or EIRE.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

That's cool, I'm not a coffee drinker but my wife LOVES coffee.

[@nigeldewallens1115]

Oh your poor devils getting your culture shock ;) !! However! It gave me some fun and a laugh too ;) I am going to enjoy your channel! Thank you both for a fun laugh! :) Happy Christmas too LOL

[@2opler]

Well..you`re going to find us a bit weird....because we`re a bit weird. Alright?

[@ShelbeyHunt]

Yeah but we are a bit weird as well so we can all be a bit weird together!

[@Doug791]

Nah mate , you got to be the right type of weird. I'm not sure what that is , so you'll probably be fine.

[@davidevans3227]

🙂

[@andyt8216]

The UK does not have different currencies, it uniquely has different issuing banks for pound sterling bank notes in different constituent countries. Scotland has 3 issuing banks and Northern Ireland has 4. As mentioned, England and Wales use Bank of England banknotes. That middle note shown was not UK sterling, it was a pre-Euro, Republic of Ireland Irish pound / punt. Nothing to do with the UK.

[@juliantompkins9650]

I don't know where you are shopping in England but Tesco and all the main supermarkets have a large selection of stuff from around the world. You can buy food or ingredients to make food even American brands. You need to open your eyes.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

We used to live right by a Tesco extra in Cardiff but now the two we go to the most is a large ASDA and a large Sainsbury’s and I can tell you that there is quite a difference in selection between a US supermarket and a UK one. I’m not sure what you mean by open our eyes, we have lived here for over two years and have been to Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, Waitrose, M&S, and more.

[@stephensay2489]

Lack of choice. FFS - we aren’t exactly starving over here. How much choice do you actually need......

[@juliantompkins9650]

@@ShelbeyHunt explain to me what the difference is between the two. Because I don't see a problem. Also all Tesco Extras are small. What can you get in America you can't get here?

[@ShelbeyHunt]

@@juliantompkins9650 Well for one thing I can get all the eggnog I would ever want...

[@ShelbeyHunt]

@@juliantompkins9650 Also, let me clarify something, maybe I should have said variety. And it really is hard to convey the differences unless I flew you to America and had you go around a grocery store there. Or how about this, when I walk into any grocery store, there will be a section, maybe 2-3 rows for the produce. A typical produce section in the US would take up the same amount of space, plus all the space for the refrigerated stuff and probably the next few aisles that usually contain cleaning supplies and toiletries. And that doesn't mean you wouldn't have all those aisles cause you still would have all of that.

[@petejones7878]

what supermarkets have you visited ,small local ones or the bigger ones , which are normally one the outskirts of towns and citites

[@TheRealBoroNut]

Scottish banknotes are a legal currency, but not legal tender, which has a specific legal meaning not relevant to the daily commerce we plebs engage in. In fact there is no equivalent of 'legal tender' in Scotland, and they get by very happily without it. To put things into perspective Debit Cards, Cheques, or Contacless payments aren't legal tender anywhere in the UK either, so I can't remember the last time I shopped with 'legal tender' except for the shrapnel I give to beggars. English banknotes will be universally accepted in Scotland but Scottish banknotes will be generally accepted the closer to Scotland you are. Here in Middlesbrough where we're not totally unfamiliar with them, there will most often be no questions asked, and it's not unusual to receive the odd one in your change occasionally, though most people will try to pass it on as quickly as possible, in case it's refused somewhere. They eventually end up back at a bank at the end of trading anyway, where they're stuffed into a gilded sporran and taken back to Scotland.

[@peachesplums]

it's less that we have multiple currencies just that thr same currency has a different look based on the country, and they can be (usually) interchanged. sort of like how German euros look different from Spanish euros but are completely interchangeable.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

Like the bit about Euros, that makes a lot of sense

[@donnaburns9459]

My husband and I lived in The UK in the 70s. One of the culture shock moments for us was when we had a knock at our door and there was a truck with a satellite dish on it. We were told we were in violation of the Television license fee. We were supposed to pay a license fee to watch the TV. And if you didn’t pay it they came knocking at the door. What a shock. Then there was the time a British teenager asked me if we really travelled in covered wagons like she watched on TV.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

We were told by some friends about the tv license so we avoided getting any kind of cable. Luckily today there is plenty to watch on streaming services.

[@johndonson1603]

If thy knock at your door you can tell them to clear off, and there's not a thing they can do about it.

[@rickySPANish_]

@@johndonson1603 yep the TV licence is complete bs

[@2eleven48]

Strictly, the TV license (at present, £159 for the year) applies solely to anything produced by the BBC. At one time, there was only the BBC as a programme outlet, but those days are long gone now.

[@luluah1198]

@@2eleven48 they now claim it’s for using a tv set or device for any live tv of any kind not just the bbc? I know they lie a lot . For example if you don’t have a license they keep sending bogus letters we are visiting on the 20th of this month. But when you open the letter it states lower down “will you be in”? Lool

[@cassycassignol293]

I'm from London and live in Spain of you think variety is bad in UK you should visit here... The only thing I miss in UK is Morrisons 3for2

[@grahambaker9377]

great sense of humour which will stand you in good stead- if in doubt have a laugh.

[@Satasha_knows]

I now live in Michigan (since 2006) i miss fresh cream cakes, none to be found in any supermarket i have shopped in. I can find tons of different doughnuts but i don't eat those.....i can however find whole aisles devoted to macaroni cheese, that's a head scratcher for sure. Literally a whole freakin aisle. A lot of things are the same just have a different name for example Honey Smacks are Sugar Puffs.

[@charlottemartin4715]

Idk what supermarket you went to for the baking aisle to be separate from the rest of the food 😳 My local Sainsbury’s is one tong row of aisles of food/food stuffs with the baked goods at the very end lmao. Fruits are directly across from where the cakes and bread is lmao

[@davidmitchell1391]

In the UK, when we think of eggnog, we think of Warniks "Advocaat" which is made in The Netherlands, and almost always bought as a Christmas treat! It is of course available all year round in the UK.

[@ronkelley5348]

The need for identity when banking etc is anti money laundering legislation.

[@danielcampbell3686]

Really enjoyed your take on this wee part of the world, I had the same shock when I traveled to the states a few years ago, one of mine was when getting to the Till in a shop, was the price it said on the tin was NOT the price I was going to pay for the item.

[@davidhoward2487]

Did you buy it?....I argue the toss, if I think I'm overcharged, here in UK...

[@rickySPANish_]

Tax gets added on at the till in the USA.

[@wessexdruid7598]

@@rickySPANish_ Because, of course that makes goods APPEAR cheaper.

[@luluah1198]

@@rickySPANish_ so they how can you budget if you are walking around a store picking items up? If I have a budget I round up and add it as I go along . Can’t do that if you have an unspecified amount of tax?

[@rickySPANish_]

@@luluah1198 don't ask me I'm British

[@petejones7878]

all the produce in supermarkets are strategically placed to make you walk through the whole shop, where you may pick up other products you may have not planned to

[@davidhoward2487]

Called Marketing..an American import!....Also, the goods are usually at eye level, (and cost more than same thing than bottom shelf)

[@gggggggg3542]

Been to America more times than I can count, but more recently it was holiday related, but the biggest "shocks" I have are in no particular order 1, Flying the Flag, us Brits just don't do it, but Americans....... OMG!!!! everywhere you look are Flags 2, Paying for goods then getting shafted by tax being added on......... such a shitty thing to do 3, Tips for "employees", you've got a job plus a wage!!! do your job, get paid by your employer, don't expect me to give you extra!!!!! I HATE this part of America, tipping - - - 4, Healthcare is a total shambles........... every American should be downright ASHAMED 5, Homeless people, never seen so many anywhere, and I've been all over the world. Don't get me wrong, we love going there on holiday, in fact our last 5 holidays have all been Las Vegas, but these five things really opened my eyes

[@valeriedavidson2785]

This 'little island' as you call it, not long ago, ruled one quarter of the world and London was the biggest city in the world.

[@RogersRamblings]

There are a lot of English people who don't realise that the Scots and Irish banks issue their own notes. I used to visit Scotland quite frequently and made a point of coming back with Scottish bank notes. The look on some English people's faces when I presented them as payment was a picture to behold. 🤣🤣

[@scottirvine121]

And look at you funny when you try to use them and sometimes refuse

[@Thurgosh_OG]

@@scottirvine121 There is nowhere in England or Wales, that (if they actually take cash) can refuse Scottish or Northern Irish Banknotes as they are legal currency (legal tender is it own thing and let's not go there).

[@jamesgreen3417]

I’m from the UK and currently live here, but I have lived in the USA in NC. banking here especially card transactions over the contactless limit is more secure than the US. As is our tax system, thankfully! Food wise, i can’t agree. The choice here is far superior than I found in Food Lion for example, Walmart is ok but quality here is better, cost in USA is less for sure.

[@johnw4016]

In the USA (as elsewhere) you give up your bank information every time you pay by check, the routing number and account number are printed right there on the bottom of each check.

[@CliveBilby]

"I THINK YOU'LL FIND IT IS LEGAL TENDER!" the phrase you have to say before handing over a Scottish note in England, gets easier the closer you are to the North.

[@ivandavies1388]

Even though it's not legal tender!

[@sarahhardy8649]

Thank you Rachael. That was my first thought “Rachael and I” For what it’s worth, round here, the greeting is “now then”. With nothing else following, just “now then”. I always think that the U.K. has a really excellent choice in regards to fruit and cheese. For what it’s worth, the bank number and sort code are info that can be found on the bottom of every cheque and a lot of bank cards. There is nothing someone can do with that information other than give you money. They can’t take any money. The instruction to pay has to be done at source.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

Never heard “now then” but that is a fun greeting. In Cardiff it was “hiya” which I thought was fun and also made it sound like everyone practiced karate

[@sarahhardy8649]

@@ShelbeyHunt imagine it said with a Lincolnshire accent which is basically Yorkshire Lite 😂😂

[@kristianbright1]

This is just weird... 1) UK supermarkets aren't understocked - how much choice do you need?! 2) Egg-nog isn't really a thing here - but I've known people make their own. Why would you buy some weird pre-prepared crap if it's that special 3) Scottish/N. Irish banknotes are odd when you come across them (although it's rare in England). It's not difficult though as they're worth exactly the same. 4) I prefer filter coffee and literally EVERY coffee shop does it. It's normally the cheapest by a mile too.

[@neilmcdonald9164]

Actually,getting shops to accept Scottish currency in English shops is often a problem (also there are 3 Scottish banks each with their own designs,on top of which they have a £100 note,something we haven't had in England since 1945)🎩

[@crowbar9566]

Culture shock comes from the mistaken assumption that people all over the world are all essentially the same. They're not. Culture forms the mind and minds can be fundamentallly different from country to country.

[@steevenfrost]

I've heard that American practice is to wash eggs or sanitise them and that this strips off a protective layer which keeps eggs fresh. Is that true? as a result American practice is to refrigerate. Our eggs can keep longer out of a fridge. Here's how I know when an egg is fresh(apart from date) that is to put an egg in a pan of water.If it stays laying on it's side horizontal it's fresh, if it tips toward the vertical a little, not so fresh.

[@baylessnow]

FDA law! Bleach everything. Kinder eggs can't be bleached so they are banned! That's not 100% true but it might as well be.

[@fuzzlewit9]

And if the egg floats to the surface don't crack it open! It's full of gas which will be smelly!

[@petew5289]

The reason i asked about bbq is that ive been to 4th of July celebration at usaf base and the bbq was the best ive ever had

[@andypandy9013]

If you think that there is little variety in UK supermarkets then you have been shopping in the wrong ones. Or, possibly, the Discounters such as Aldi and Liddle where choice is limited but prices are very low.

[@MrCuddy2977]

The UK doesn’t not have different currencies: it’s all Pound Sterling, it’s just that the national central banks can print their own pound notes.

[@Grimread]

Yup. The only time you'll ever hear the term "legal tender" in the UK is when someone looks at Scots money with a furrowed brow. Loved the "Rachel and I" remark and smile.

[@adamski6312]

Or tries to pay a fine using only copper 😂

[@Phiyedough]

I didn't understand the thing about multiple currency, do you mean Scottish and Northern Ireland notes? I never gave that much thought until one trip from Scotland to Bulgaria. I had taken a load of cash with me but found nowhere would exchange it, they only take English notes! The other comment that puzzled me was about bank details. I thought people still used cheques in USA. If you pay someone with a cheque you are giving them your bank details.

[@niallrussell7184]

used to be lots of places you could get decent coffee, my fav deli had 100s of coffee beans, and would grind them if needed. nearly all disappeared with arrival of Starbucks and the rise of Costa, etc.

[@danpictish5457]

"Alright" from the Celts. They don't say Hi they say how are you as their greeting, eg. ciamar a tha thu? in Scottish Gaelic.

[@davidfouts1939]

Very fun video! Keep them coming. One moment of culture shock that still stands out to me was when I first arrived in Beijing and would watch this street food vendor guy preparing my dubiously named "Taiwanese Pancake" while smoking a cigarette with a centimeter-long head of ash hanging precariously over the food. Naturally, I kept coming back and ordering the same thing.

[@ShelbeyHunt]

Naturally, also, what is a Taiwanese Pancake?

[@perrylayne8302]

@@ShelbeyHunt mil

[@seancurran8108]

I think there are way more differences than that. I think usa citizens think uk will be similar to usa when the uk is a lot closer to European culture in many ways. You get loads of bloggers talking about the differences (especially originally usa citizens in uk) What would be unusual and interesting to me would be to do one on how strange it is that many things are the same between the two countries. (Although I don't think there would be much).

[@gillcawthorn7572]

@Sean Curran, I had an English friend who worked in London for a big American company, where aspiring employees from the States would come for a couple of years .They had to do time in all the big cities where the company had branches ( this was Merrill Lynch, by the way) and it was in England that they found settling in the hardest, because of just what you say .Same language so we must be exactly like America .They knew other places where they had to brush up on language skills would be tricky, so carefully prepared

[@MRB-19]

If you or any of your compatriots are planning to visit / stay medium or long term, I would highly recommend the book, written for laymen, by the English social anthropologist, Kate Fox, "Watching the English" A self-conscious academic writing about her own & how folks, in her case the English, can get themselves all tied in knots among themselves, without the "assistance" of . But, seriously, as a nominal Brit, but in fact, perpetually confused & often irked MK-TCK I do recommend it. Also, if you are not already appraised of the topic, do a bit of reading on the topic of semiotics.

[@AccioPadfoot12]

Out of your six, the one I'd find the most difficult is the accepting of other currencies. I only visited England a few times; I've never lived there, but that would be confusing. I did shop in grocery stores but as it was only temporary I didn't worry too much about the lack of variety while there. We are spoiled here!

[@ChavusGavus]

There is more variety in British stores. There is one currency (the pound) issued by different banks ie Bank of England or bank of Scotland which is why different styles. If you go to an actual shop you would find what you need