Pros and Cons About Living in England

[@TheSomaliaShow]

I love how you don't argue with anyone in your comments lol I thought your video was very informative and useful. I'll be studying abroad in London Fall 2016. Thanks for the info!

[@curlygirltravels5980]

No problem! I don't see the point in arguing and being nasty to people. A polite debate is always better. Hopefully I can make a recap video once I'm done with my dissertation.

[@grime_garage]

Somalia Ramin Why do Americans use the term "fall" instead of just saying autumn.

[@feleciawallace8420]

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer - relates to school schedules. Autumn relates to the season (within the year) and the dates for Fall/Autumn are a bit different is how we do it, or say it here in the US.....it's really no big deal

[@hauskalainen]

The big deal on the TV licence is that the BBC channels have no ads. Remember, if you watch tv financed by ads YOU are being sold and your time is being sold.

[@gandorthemagnificent1476]

the English pound is the oldest continually used currency in the world. It was first used by king offa nearly 1500 years ago. The pound symbol is actually a stylised capital L which means a roman pound of weight or 240 silver pennies a librae!

[@johnwalsh3635]

The TV license is to pay for the BBC, it is not a TV tax. The license is the same rate for all households across the UK.

[@waycoolscootaloo]

I dunno about the UK. But here in the US I can take a Metra train to Chicago on a weekday for $9.60 one way. (A distance of 63 miles for £7.70) And on a weekend I can travel an unlimited distance for $8.00. One example I ended up going to various towns one weekend for fun and traveled a distance of 360 miles that day. And is costed no more than $8.00 for me. (360 miles for £6.41) So you can go from train to train all day long for the same $8.00 all you want so long as it's a Saturday or Sunday. Gas/Petrol is also so much cheaper in the US too compared to the UK. And roads here allow for much faster travel compared to the UK. We just have less traffic congestion and far fewer intersections with speed limits that typically average a bit faster due to straighter wider roads in populated areas here in the US. The other thing is that while health care in the UK is free. (No really due to high taxation.) You do have longer waiting times to see a doctor or specialist. Not to mention unlike in the US, you have to go with a doctor who is in your mailing district. In the US if I like a doctor who is 100 miles away from where I live, then that is perfectly fine if it means I can get better care. But not so in the UK. Also to be fair US citizens generally visit the doctor less frequently than their British counterparts. This is probably due to the fact that many prescription in the UK are sold as over the counter here in the US at a local drugstore like Walgreens. ( US based Walgreens actually owns Boots in the UK. for a little trivia.) Each country has their pro's and cons though. The one nice thing about the UK, is that you can walk to most anyplace you need to go. In the US, the distance is just too great. So you have to take a car to get to your towns local gas station or Walmart. (Yeah a town or village of 50,000 in the US, may be as large as a town in the UK with 200,000 people in area.

[@curlygirltravels5980]

Scootaloo I do love that I could walk to most places in the UK. I'm back in the US now and I'm already over the driving!

[@waycoolscootaloo]

Curlygirltravels​ I think that's the biggest reason as to why the overall obesity rate in the UK isn't quite as high as it is in US, is due to the fact that Britain's tend to walk more instead of Drive. However for some strange reason the obesity rate in the UK is starting to get much closer to the obesity rate in the US now. I'm not sure why though. Crazy!

[@P6dave]

You can get a much cheaper train ticket if you book it well in advance, however, generally, I'll admit, train travel is expensive.

[@petcharles1971]

six months is not enough to learn the country. Travel to different cities and see the difference

[@anthonyhumphrey2540]

Pet Charles she said she’s in school

[@Isobel31Swan]

Flights to Europe tend to be cheaper than using the train within England.

[@abcxyz-cx4mr]

Isobel31Swan - England is part of Europe too

[@nicolas1248]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Yeah I'm with you, then transport is quite expensive in the UK and I think accomodation too. But, I mean, if you get used to it, thus it won't be hard anymore. I would like to visit the UK one day, but I´m specially interested on visiting Ireland and most of the cons and pros you've posted on your video have been very useful to me. It's always good to hear different points of view, before going to somewhere you just don't know good enough. Kind regards.

[@rockferry222]

TV licence officers do call at your door , it's universal all over the UK , same price for everyone , our postal service depending on your provider , I can check online even get text updates , we have travel cards like oyster and apps on Google play like train line , arrival bus ect , you never did your research very well there , I can get a train from Liverpool to London from £10 each way by train , your paying on the day or using single cash fares which are pricey and the NHS kinda use a traffic light system on your needs here , I needed an operation from doctors visit to surgery took 12 days

[@curlygirltravels5980]

+Carl Kewley What app or website do you use for trains? I would love to find tickets that cheap!

[@rockferry222]

+Curlygirltravels its always advertised on tv . thetrainline is one and i use first hull trains aswell and gwr

[@miketaverner4451]

The waiting times for the NHS is more to do with cut backs . The TV licence is the same price across the country, and they definitely will know if there no licence at your address . If you a apparatus that can show TV programs ie a computer you have to pay for a licence ( TV) , even if you don't own a TV or have no signal

[@tonyrantnrave6854]

A couple of points one the TV license is there to fund the BBC as you may have seen when you watch telly there are no adverts on the BBC, secondly as you first said the NHS is free but the British public pay for the NHS through National insurance, now the wait time is about prioritising who needs to be seen first you don't seem like your coughing up blood, if a Doctor believes you have lung cancer he has to invoke the 2 week rule which means you must be seen by a specialist with in 2 weeks now if your still worried about your health you could go back to America and paid for it. One thing the British are very proud of is our National Health Service. don't knock it

[@curlygirltravels5980]

Ah! Thanks for clearing those issues up.

[@tonyrantnrave6854]

Your very welcome the funny thing about the British is we can knock anything British but when anyone from outside the UK says the same we'll argue the opposite way the weather, politics anything it's nothing personal

[@GRTVO]

I think you could have made your point about the NHS without telling her to go back to America.

[@tonyrantnrave6854]

I didn't tell her to go back I said she "could" go back that is an option for her healthcare

[@GRTVO]

Fair enough "could" instead of "go back"... still sounds rude because she knows it's not free in America.

[@danic9304]

Most people tip in restaurants where there is a wait service.

[@mandeepsekhon]

we dont shake hands in the uk anymore...... we fist bump and say wagwan LOL

[@GreenOrchid9]

Ha ha Jamaica dilutes!🦁

[@autumnbr0718]

Wahgwan

[@mandeepsekhon]

@@autumnbr0718 wagwan autumn , everyting cool and irie?

[@Frazpas]

In defence of UK, I find next day delivery of parcels can be tracked and is often delivered the next day, which I find is far better than I have experienced in the USA. As for the TV, it is not really fair to compare our paid services with the services in the US; the BBC is brilliant - no adverts, generally high quality. I am sure this may upset some people from USA but really there is no comparison with the quality of most UK TV - documentary, news, current affairs are far superior - the USA has (on the whole) better entertainment *HBO but to see that you have to pay so it, and I expect a cable or satallite package will be more than a TV licence. The weather is fairly dependant on where you live in the UK- we live in the dryest part, and this year has been the warmest and dryest. If you like the weather hot and sunny, then of course Florida and California win. As for the health service, you are absolutely correct that it can be slow, but that depends on urgency of the problem- a heart attack is delt with quickly, an annoying skin rash will be much slower. Also if you choose to pay you can have quicker private treatment even for minor matters. In London the Oyster app allows you to use NFC on the tube and buses- the cost is releatively good value too.

[@kimwright6377]

I know this is old but this is for some of you that may think this.Tipping isn’t mandatory unless it’s included in your bill.You do not have to tip if you don’t want to or don’t have it.No one is gonna keep you from leaving a restaurant or hotel because you do not tip.

[@fireyflower6643]

You can track your package, but you have to pay extra for that service But yes Royal Mail isnt as good as it used to be

[@hauskalainen]

There is a private sector healthcare too! And no waiting, With NHS, If you are in pain or dying you get seen immediately. If not then you may have to wait a while. 95% choose the free public service just like you.

[@hughfranklin4002]

I have never heard of anyone that is really ill having to wait to see a consultant, you may wait if you are considered non serious

[@eb7446]

Yes, exactly. She may have to wait 4/5 months to see a specialist for something - but I'm assuming it's not an absolute necessity that she needs immediate care. Yeah, it sucks a bit but I'm happy to wait rather than the alternative. I'm not a Brit, I'm Canadian - so I'm familiar with universal health care. I've never had any real physical health problems, so I don't know much about wait times personally, but it wouldn't surprise me to have wait for something like that. I can't even fathom being an American to be honest. Unless you're well off, the system is awful. I can't imagine having the stress and anxiety over health care. Life is expensive enough without having to fork out for health insurance! Though, I worry about western countries with universal health care - like Canada and the Uk. I worry about wealth hoarding and low tax paying of those with the wealth, and the impending realities. I worry about how we're going to continue to have a free at the point of access system. People need to realize this, and we need to fight harder - stop defending the current status quo because it's not going to work in the long term. I mean, public services such as education and health care already suffer, when we are capable of so much more.

[@hauskalainen]

Rosalina 90 So true. Both the UK and Canada apply a firm of triage. As on a battlefield you give immediate priority to those in the most urgent medical need. Most of us would be outraged if the key determinant of access to medical services was the size of your bank balance. The UK does have a private medical system so actually it is possible to bypass the public system, which I think is less available in Canada due to stricter rules on queue jumping. I think the Canadian system is fairer but you can make an argument that the UK system enables people to bring more funding to the system as a whole and relieve the public system of sore of the strain. Before Obamacare the US had people unable to access care when they needed it. They were people maxed out on their coverage or unable to afford the cost of deductibles or copays. Nobody counted them!

[@Delboy0]

That was what I was thinking. You can get private healthcare in the UK but it cost money like £40 per month and they will see you immediately. If you use the free healthcare that means you have to wait for non-life threatening treatment. Given that healthcare in costs 200,000 times more, I wouldn't compare given you paid nothing. If you wanted to be seen pay to be seen privately.

[@hauskalainen]

I had BUPA at one time paid by my employer and used it but I still had to wait for an appointment. It is the same in America. You get seen urgently if it is deadly urgent otherwise its first come first served. Doctors are not sitting in empty offices waiting for patients to turn up unannounced. They are busy. You schedule the appointment.

[@michellem7388]

You mentioned almost everything I would have expected. You mentioned the wait times to see health care professionals in terms of months, but when you do see a doctor do you have to wait all day to be seen? I've heard those types of stories coming out of Canada. Great video.

[@curlygirltravels5980]

+Michelle M So far, when I go to see my GP I don't have to wait too long. We'll see what happens when I see the specialist in May. Either way, I'm bringing my Kindle to keep my company in case of long waits. Thanks for watching!

[@baylessnow]

+Michelle M Waiting time for a doctors' appointment can range from that day if it's urgent (not life threatening urgent) and you're prepared to wait, to a week or so depending on how booked up the doctor is. Hospital appointments usually take a couple of weeks (possibly months) before you're seen. Again, this can depend on how serious your condition is but hey, look on the bright side. No matter how much or how little money you have in your pocket, if you need a brain scan you're not gonna have to make the choice of A/selling your house to pay for it or B/ take your chances and hope it's not a brain tumor giving you those headaches and blackouts! You will have that scan and there won't be a bill arriving in the post/mail 3 weeks later. The English have to pay for prescribed medication, the Scots and Welsh don't though. :¬ /

[@AlexisCulbertson]

Hey lady!!!!!! I'm glad I found your channel ! Love it

[@xAce99x]

England hates simplicity, if it aint complicated its not the English way

[@paulsz6194]

xAce99x The engineering in Range Rovers is a good example of this .

[@A14Rors]

I know this is your experience but some of your information is misleading and inaccurate. £100 for a train ticket to Wales!! You was so toally robbed! You obviously didn't do your research! Buy in advance, use a student discount railcard for a third off (did you not have one? Oh dear) and travel off peak. trainline.com Never ever knock our NHS it is free at point of service. BUT We pay for in through our National Insurance contributions from the first paypacket! You should tip just no one is going to run out the restaurant after you if you dont! Also the tip may already be included as 'Service Charge' It doesn't rain in the summer. The TV Licence is for the BBC so its ad free. And yes they do come to your door and do have a legal right of entry. Its national so everyone pays the same price. Parcels are tracked in London - dont know about Leicester. Or ask them to leave it with your neighbour. Finally that 'School' thing. Kids go to 'school' Adults go to College or Uni. If you say school you wont get served alcohol as they will think you are under 18!

[@curlygirltravels5980]

Thanks for the info! I've learned all this since I've filmed this video. Thanks for watching!

[@jamiedavies4545]

Its Jamie Davies I live in the UK and I love the USA and Canada as well Curlygirltravels mate. Xxxx

[@jamiedavies4545]

Its Jamie Davies I live in the UK and I love the USA and Canada and I like you as a friend Curlygirltravels mate.

[@Sophie.S..]

I agree - you have to be savvy with rail travel. Get a student travel card and book in advance. I always phone and ask what the cheapest price they can offer to get to x. The staff are really helpful and you can save up to three quarters of what you would pay if you booked on the day of travel.

[@stanleyt.7930]

I just checked fares London - Cardiff, standard class, for tomorrow. leave at 8am full fare it is £117. Two hours later with a young person's rail card it's £30. It is deliberate to even out train occupancy and milk the business traveller. Book advance a week ahead and it can be even cheaper.

[@SiEmon_E]

Hey! great vid. You just need someone with local knowledge for example travelling by train, if you book in advance through websites e.g. Trainline.com and travel off peak you can pay like a tenth of peak prices. Doesn't rain 5 days a week all the time, on average maybe about once a week over a year but can get a lot of it winter and spring. Don't pay too much mind to all the bitchy comments, people in the States tend to have a more positive mind set and outlook on life whereas people in the UK tend to be more bitchy and negative in general but they don't mean you any harm. So anyway keep doing what you do and enjoy!

[@WTFVIDSok]

It's quite possible to wait months to get an appointment in the U.S. too! I've experienced that.

[@kimwright6377]

Have you heard of an emergency room?And many Dr.Offices will take you the same day as a walk in.

[@fionagregory9376]

I love England. Lived here for 60 years.

[@aryonnahamilton2400]

Well actually it takes a long time to see a specialist anywhere. I have had to see 3 of them and they all took over 8 months also keep in mind I live in Georgia. :)

[@caramelash88]

OMG I was contemplating moving to London for about two years and you answered every single question I thought of!! Thank you so sooo much!! :)

[@curlygirltravels5980]

+caramelash88 You're welcome!

[@baylessnow]

+caramelash88 Take a tip, DON'T move to London, there are much cheaper places to visit in the UK. In fact ANYWHERE North of London is cheaper, the further you go the cheaper it is in most cases. London is just one big, very exspensive tourist attraction.

[@caramelash88]

+baylessnow Is it expensive like NYC or is it more expensive...I'm from NYC and live there so I can deal with it up to a point...lol

[@curlygirltravels5980]

I would say London and NYC are about the same in expense. You're probably looking at least 1000 GBP( about 1400 USD) a month for a one bedroom flat in London.

[@A14Rors]

the vast majority of students in London live in a shared house or shared flat paying by the room. you would have to be pretty loaded to have a one bedroom flat. Americans can have unterly unrealistic expectations about accommodation in London. Ensuite is rare. Power showers are rare! Most rooms are small. everything is old. Heating is old. spareroom.co.uk is best for reality.

[@siloPIRATE]

The tracked delivery thing depends on the courier. Whether they knock depends on the courier. But you had no other arguments for customer service As for TV licence, not quite true that you have to get. It’s only if you’re watching live TV or iPlayer. Not doing that, no licence needed. Ignore the mail.

[@EricIrl]

Regarding waiting for packages - that's what neighbours are for ;) Or, use click and collect. If you don't have a TV, you just ignore any letters you get regarding it. The TV licence fee is the same throughout the UK - and even some parts that aren't in the UK - such as the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.

[@laiahlove9596]

This was very informative! I'm looking into getting my master's degree in the UK, not sure which location or university yet though. Which program did you go through?

[@curlygirltravels5980]

I used Across the Pond. They were great! Very informative and helpful throughout the whole process. Best of luck in your studies!

[@laiahlove9596]

@Curlygirltravels Thank you so much! And same to you!

[@bbbf09]

you've spent 6 months there ...which is in winter - and you comment on weather? I doubt you would see much improved weather anywhere in the northern part of US. Also depends where you live . The extreme part of south east of England (Brighton) is actually sunnier than the average in most of northern half of Europe and say more than New York.

[@kimwright6377]

Absolutely wrong about NY.Have you lived in the states for 6 mos or more?

[@BrandonioTNL]

To be fair the tracking system has got a lot better.

[@thebritfix]

New to your channel, Love this video! No rambling and straight to the point. Please keep making these as I am planning to move to England.

[@lorriesherbet]

You don't have to sign for amazon packages (or most packages), why would you wait at your house??? Also transport in Japan is privatised and run by separate companies too, they just do it better.

[@simonpowell2559]

I leave a note on the door for the post man telling him where to leave packages. Neighbor's/shed etc.

[@ravinloon58]

UK healthcare (the NHS) is very different... it is not based on money or your ability to pay, we all contribute through Tax and NI (about half what you would pay in the US and on a scale according to your income/circumstances). So the system is based on your medical needs... a Doctor decides what is wrong and what you need and you get it... prescriptions, tests, therapies, first aid etc. straight away locally or you get referred to a hospital/specialist (you often have a choice about which one you want, they post their details and waiting times). So it does depend a lot on where in the UK you are, some areas have more patients others have less used services, many hospitals specialize (eg. Burns units or Oncology Departments, Children's hospitals etc). Less urgent treatments do tend to have longer wait times but we all 'understand' the logic and fairness of that here. But you are quite right, no one asks you to pay...

[@josealfredocuevas]

Hey Jen I was interested in going to the UK I was listening to your pros and cons. The rainy days I can deal with but the expensive traveling in the immediate area could be a challenge but it's doable. I think the pros outweigh the cons to me I appreciate you putting videos out to give people valuable information. I subscribe to your Channel to see how your journey continues in the UK take care... Jose👍😊

[@chailfield]

You don't have to have a license if you're not watching tv. It's best to call them and tell them or they'll assume you are. But you won't get in trouble unless they can prove it. But you're not supposed to watch the main tv channels online either. If they knock on and ask to come in, tell them where to go. Trains and taxis are pricey but buses go everywhere and they're fairly cheap.

[@deboraoriol3657]

chailfield i

[@MrVillamike]

You pay a TV licence to fund the BBC. Also you don't get annoying adverts every 10 seconds as you do in the US, infact you get no adverts on BBC channels.

[@Isobel31Swan]

If you have something delivered by DPD you can gave an App in which you can track your package to the minute.

[@alandillon968]

Postal system is the same as USA depend which company you use some give day, some give am or pm while others give hours and will phone. When you order on line can ask for it to be delivered to a neighbour or left somewhere safe if not in. Phone system is available in the UK too. Blame Thatcher who decided to follow the American system of practising everything she could arguing it would be more compedative, open market and crap like that for the expensive travel. NHS can be long waiting times for appointment but if its urgent you go to the front of the que.

[@georgelgrama5943]

Hi, what advice would you give me if I went to England alone?

[@fredgrove4220]

As far as Medical, Postal services etc. etc. , come live in the Philippines. There is no health care. Postal service is just insane, it took 3 weeks for a letter to travel 30 km, and it had been opened, (to see if there was anything worth stealing)

[@feleciawallace8420]

Hello Fred...Would you consider the Philippines a third-world-country? If the answer is yes, then why would students choose to study there?

[@fredgrove4220]

That is some thing I'm a loss to answer, because the education system is bloody dire. it took my nephew 3 years to graduate high school, and when he did, his education level was about the same as a 10 year old in UK.

[@ayoobaee9929]

Love this. Here in the US thinking about moving to UK. Traveling 💜💜💜

[@randombutuseful1254]

The rain thing is untrue. It statistically rains more in other parts of the rain. The delivery service thing is untrue, you can track packages etc....just some services don't. You can pay for the service or its standard.

[@curlygirltravels5980]

Thanks! I know rainfall is different in other parts of the country but where I live in England, and compared to where I lived in the States, it rained quite a lot. I've used tracking services here before but the details regarding where your package is at a given time are usually vague. I end up waiting at my apartment all day not knowing when my package will arrive that day which I think wastes a lot of time. Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@thorsounds6745]

What would be the easiest way to get naturalization in the UK or at least Dual citizenship

[@chopitup9950]

You do not HAVE to tip in the states, but morally it is the right thing to do.

[@grime_garage]

Geri Jernigans personaly I dont think its morally right for me to tip for somebody to do their job. I think its immorally wrong that companies are allowed to get away with payying staff so little pay.

[@gdfggggg]

Nothing to do with morals. They get paid to do their job anyway, if they put in extra effort they’ll get tipped, if they do a shit job they won’t.

[@qqh11]

Very useful mate , i like your point of view ❤

[@aprilcierra3085]

Hi!!! I’m actually thinking & considering moving to the UK. I am a single mom with a 13 year old. Do you know any good average price areas to live? How’s the school system there? I’m just trying to get as much info as I can.

[@qb-h792]

April Cierra The north of England is cheaper to live e.g. Yorkshire. However they have a job issue at the moment. The South of England on the whole is a lot more expensive to live and buy a house. Overall the non fee paying schools are fairly good compared to the US and other countries.

[@terrythomas3755]

Although the NHS is free at point of contact, the British taxpayer pays through working lifetime contributions; National Insurance. The television licence is payable to fund the BBC (British Broadcasting Service) which a non commercial, public access organisation. Tipping is a widely used form payment across the UK, usually 10%. I would never eat in a restaurant without tipping.

[@FailsquadNet]

The "no tipping" thing in the UK is wrong. You should always tip if you have good service and a good experience. You may not want to tip the average USA 20% but please, if you have a good experience then please do tip the staff. Most people in the UK tip in a restaurant. It doesn't have to be the best service of your life to chuck the waitstaff a few quid. In America, the waitstaff are usually on half minimum wage and the rest of their money is made up from tips, that is why people in America feel obliged to tip. Don't be a dick, tip :) Despite what you said, servers *do* expect a tip but will still smile and be friendly when you don't leave a tip. They will remember your face the next time you visit and give you shit service.

[@goonn337]

I don't like the tip shit

[@joanneball8941]

Fail Squad wrong it’s not expected

[@brahnseer3512]

As a British person I concur with your views regards the cons. of living in the U.K. Interestingly the cons are all a result of the political policies introduced by the Conservative party. Firstly the NHS is being deliberately underfunded for political reasons. The transport system was privatised by the same people for the same reason. The mail was also privatised. There was all previously run cheaper by the State but the Conservative Party hates anything that smacks of socialism, and privatised everything only for these reason and not to make it cheaper or better. There are NO privatised entities that are better and ALL without exception are worse.

[@charlestaylor3027]

I guess you didn't ever use British Rail when it was government owned and run by the unions for their workers. Train not turned up tough. Or the Post Office when it run telephones - want a phone, I can let you have a line in 8 months shared with next door.

[@brahnseer3512]

@@charlestaylor3027 Two private companies tried to run east coast railways. Neither could do it and both reneged on their contracts. It had to be taken over again by the state and it was as run properly and profitably. But the Tories couldn’t accept that and for no reason was privatised again. Nearly all the privatised companies do not run according to their timetables and do often cancel journeys without notice. Do not write things you do not understand . You will note she criticised the postal service. Privatised. Enough said. And yes I do remember pre privatised railways. They were grossly underfunded by the Tories as a deliberate policy. And when the Labour Party invested sufficient British Rail became one of the best run airways in Europe and that was when the Tories sold it off . It is now one of the worst railways in Europe

[@charlestaylor3027]

@@brahnseer3512 if the problem with railways was Tory underfunding why didn't Labour do anything to fix it. When railways were privatised passenger numbers took a huge jump.

[@halcroj]

Amazon are hopeless! Give them an alternative address - a neighbour - if they're going to be in. Also, as to the weather - you've been here in winter. What to you expect! Wait untill summer, things should improve. Where abouts in the country are you? If you're in the west, then yes 5 out of 7 days wet would be fair. If you're in the east or SE/London then that's a massive exaggeration. Tipping in restaurants - check that there isn't a service charge included in the bill. You can ask them to take the tip off if you're very dissatisfied with the service. Most middle and upper class restaurants, you'd be expected to tip. You're right, you don't tip bar staff in a pub. Drinking culture includes families with children going into pubs to eat.

[@marthaalice4348]

What abt accommodation? Is it easy to get an accommodation or is very expensive to get?

[@simonpowell2559]

Anywhere in London will be expensive. Maybe visit the capital then get out. There is so much more to England/Britain than London. And much, much cheaper.

[@SkunkGrinder]

Maybe you should have tried traveling to Wales by coach. National Express?

[@iuliadumitrescu8237]

ha ha...National Express is horrible...full of dirty foreigners..

[@importedmusic]

The crap postal services can be mostly blamed on the private money-grabbing charlatan courier companies that started springing up in the UK about 10 years ago. Hermes, DPD, Yodel, etc etc the list goes on - it's really quite amazing how they have managed to avoid getting shut down by trading standards.

[@shaunfoley858]

You can track packages here

[@qb-h792]

If you want to see someone about a health issue quicker pay privately. It’s that simple.

[@FailsquadNet]

The TV licence costs the same no matter where you are in the UK. Some people choose not to pay it because the people that harass you for the money have no legal powers.

[@ianp7661]

Here in 2022 and the waiting times to see a specialist is still months :(

[@Glass_Nkoaa]

I'm a Londoner and I always use my phone with the NFC turned on when I use the tube.

[@vhira]

We do have tracking codes in the UK so you’re totally wrong but I do agree customer service is crap in the UK. Brits make good complainers but rubbish customer advisors. Also I can say Netflix in the USA is way more better than Netflix in the UK.

[@bandanaboykelly3301]

The thing about the UK that's really my thing is that you can go everywhere on a pedal bike and the snow, see, in Martinique where I live, I don't get any chances of wearing a lot of clothes and that's bothersome to me, Know what I mean???

[@fionagregory9376]

Post is great in the UK. Just make sure you are in.

[@letsgoBrandon204]

Your NHS wait is based on how severe your doctor thinks your case is. It's pretty fukn good for a mostly free system. Don't want to wait? Pay for private health care. Hit the nail on the head with the TV licence though. It's a really shitty situation.

[@SkunkGrinder]

Don't trust Royal mail. Your item turns up damaged or not at all.

[@GreenOrchid9]

My mother and 3 siblings and nieces and nephews live there and I'm glad I have options. I love the rain ocean etc but NOT the dark and dreary weather☕and visit when I can as an adult🍸👁☕when my mother was younger she has a vespa with a basket For shopping but walking is what a younger people do or make friends with a vehicle and offer To pay for gas? Enjoy your experiences on the continent stay curious and good luck!

[@harryovett683]

Hug and kiss? Do that down a Northern working mens' club at your peril!

[@danielraven4835]

Nobody pays the tv licence anymore. just watch streams/catch up tv etc and you don't need one.

[@lammy1234567890]

For live streaming yes you do legally need a TV licence, and for catch-up the law is changing so you will soon legally need a TV licence to use BBC iPlayer even just for catch-up

[@danielraven4835]

Who watches anything other than sports live these days? and the new law change only effects catch up on iplayer not c4/itv/netflix etc.

[@lammy1234567890]

Loads of people still watch TV shows 'live', not just sports and news but all the other stuff too. It'll be a while before the TV schedule is a thing of the past. Your perception of the general population's behaviour may be skewed by your own experience.

[@sharonh5733]

our health care system is not free, and if you're not a uk or European citizen you should pay....uk citizens pay for health care out of our taxes. wish the system asked people to pay who aren't entitled...

[@lammy1234567890]

Not sure why you've replied to a thread on TV Licences to start talking about health care, but non-EU citizens living and working in the UK actually already pay twice for access to health care: An annual fee which is added to their visa cost specifically for access to the NHS, and then again in income tax, National Insurance contributions etc. They're probably paying more per on average than UK citizens are.

[@gogoyf]

Are u sure u are waiting such long time from December to May or it is because you are not sick and therefore so not prioritised by the NHS.

[@inner_goddess_healing_centre]

great informative video! but at times the music is a bit too loud. i couldn't hear what you were saying.

[@jameslawson6354]

Can you watch telivion in the Uk without paying a liscence? I mean if you don't watch BBC, would it be legit for you not to pay?

[@hughfranklin4002]

No

[@gdhh2007]

James Lawson you can watch without a license however it is illegal even if you dont watch any bbc programming.

[@Becksnnc]

If you have access to watching the BBC then you need a license even if you don't actually watch any BBC content.

[@dominionofme3462]

It is not "mandatory" to tip in the US. It is a positive nature of the culture interwoven with capitalism that isnt crony. I think they should get a higher minimum wage to make these jobs more attractable but if too much socialism is tried, and government continues to spike debt with no regard then what we are talking about is pointless.

[@mariabolt3881]

Tv license is the same throughout the country. Though at present free for over 75 years old.

[@vanessa_the_mindset_maven]

I am a bit older and from the South US!!!!! HUNTY!!!!!! I felt like a movie star in Bristol and then London( I have been twice)! I am a nurse and am going over to experience working in a different country. I liked the Oyster card, there. I stayed in South London( The Hood)(* insert side eye*). I grew up in New Orleans and now live in NYC, so I didn't hear any gunshots while there. I met really cool people. I hope to have several side gigs and bring a bit of New Orleans with me. Thank you for making this video!😁

[@salmaabdullahgb]

You can use nfc for contactless and use that on a bus or trains

[@knightrider1637]

I will write you back tomorrow. have a blessed evening. thanks

[@shaunfoley858]

The tv license is the same price wherever you live it's run by the bbc

[@iuliadumitrescu8237]

very interesting this video...just you didn't say nothing about the signal ( phone/ internet) ...for example in Cumbria ( North England) is sooo bad...is annoying when you have to call someone..I'm from Romania, in three weeks I'm going back home after four year here but I'm very disappoint for what happen with this country ( another example Brexit !!!).Kind regards!

[@frankupton5821]

You should tip about 10% for table service.

[@curlygirltravels5980]

Frank Upton Thank you I've learned this now!

[@RoughRider757]

Thanks for this video I learned a lot.

[@rachaelramos]

i really wanna go to london for a week (without the kids)

[@Milly7119]

rachael ramos bring an umbrella 😂😂😂

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

I like to tip a little to make up some extra for the nice people who serve in businesses these days, even if the service is just normal.

[@fionagregory9376]

You can go private if you need a doctor quicker.

[@fix-and-drive-diy-repairs]

my biggest con is high taxes and vat, makes it almost impossible to progress!

[@gdfggggg]

Nice-oscar yup, good comment.

[@Kratos40595]

Nice-oscar 5% more tax than USA. It's hard to progress anywhere, especially since the 2008 crash

[@hobmoor2042]

Nice-oscar - which Government services would you cut to reduce your tax burden?

[@mike04535]

There are no cons to living in England. If there was then we English would not have remained here for the past thousand years.

[@X-101]

Hold up, if you live around London or other big cities you will have to wait for the NHS, move out and it's super quick :), Also there is nowhere in England where you don't get a TV signal lol

[@Brakdayton]

My London NHS experience is different. Never had to wait.

[@thewoodpecker7947]

The culture is the same because the British culture sort of founded the America you know now because of colonisation

[@simonwatts8338]

Hug? HUG!!!!! My God no.

[@TahjDaniels]

Do they have Hennessy in UK?

[@tommypickles218]

Are you asking if a nation of alcoholics has access to a drink made by the largest cognac producer in the world?

[@TahjDaniels]

GoogleUser yes. Do they drink Hennessy like me or vodka tea?

[@pdy2kn6]

So so so annoying getting that red slip saying you weren't in to receive the parcel

[@lr2ldn]

Uh ma'am...why didn't you tell me you had this channel?!!? I'm going to get you!

[@feleciawallace8420]

Thanks for sharing your experiences while studying in the UK... after reading many of the comments (below) from folks living in the UK I think many that responded are rude and annoying. I guess if the tables were turned you may find Americans behaving nasty too....

[@curlygirltravels5980]

Hi again! English people are understandably very protective of their country. And very much like the US, there are misconceptions about people who enter their country. I'm often accused of abusing or freeloading off the healthcare during my time in the UK. However, before I was even allowed to get my Visa, I had to pay into the NHS. I feel like comments like those can be used as an opportunity to educate and communicate. I love traveling, and hopefully I'll be able to share more videos in the future.

[@SHANNEL805]

Homechick! Everyone in the United States is paid minimum wage and it is not $2 an hour. Last time I checked the federal minimum wage is $10/hour. If you are a service worker yes you get tips, on top of $10/hour wage. I wish you guys who travel outside of the U.S.A. would stop giving false information on your vlogs to the world.... I am not hating but think of when you have this type of platform at least be mindful of what you say eventhough it seems to be not serious....

[@curlygirltravels5980]

Ambi T Hi! The federal wage is $7.25 an hour. I was specifically referring to food service workers mainly waiters/waitresses. If your tips to not meet the federal minimum wage then it defaults to the employer has to default to the minimum wage. This video was just based on my experience living and working in the UK. Thanks for watching!

[@goonn337]

Curlygirltravels where you from?

[@saucewanapkintheflybookguy2420]

Very informative

[@20somethingsworld97]

Are pounds like dollars in the uk?

[@curlygirltravels5980]

The Great British Pound is the currency of the UK.

[@DW_Teknos]

are you kidding? google it you idiot

[@Justeye]

The music to me is very distracting.

[@fionagregory9376]

Rain is great.

[@FSMDog]

Blame the right-wing (Tory) government for the NHS delays - they want to privatise it...

[@charlestaylor3027]

Lefties have told me that since 1975 when I got the vote - still hasn't happened I can only assume the they are being economical with the truth.

[@fionagregory9376]

I drink, but tea only.

[@samantharamey9095]

I took some time to listen to your video and you really didn't tap into anything of importance. Well let me take that back, the Healthcare System that's important. Everything else is small I wanted to know how do they treat you as a black woman. How are your public relations with people in the UK what is the food like do they have GMOs what do they place their value on? I just really wanted to know when you walk in the store do they make you feel like your welcome. I mean it's so many things you could have tapped into but you didn't. What is 7 lb what is 10 lb you could have elaborate about the money. I have no idea what is 7 lb , the cost of living. What is the minimum wage, like you said 750 lb I have no idea what you meant.

[@Brakdayton]

Black people here in the UK are treated mostly like other people. If you live in a rural village more likely you’d be seen as a a curiosity until they got used to you. In large towns and cities nobody really cares. There aren’t really any ‘black areas’ but there are areas where you’ll probably see a larger concentration of non-white people. In saying that those areas are still multiracial. When you walk into a store you’ll probably be ignored the same as everyone else, unless you’re talking really loud or acting aggressively. Other than that they’ll usually be very helpful. Seven pounds is not 7lbs, its £7. £1 (one British pound) is equivalent to about $1.40. Apparently the cost of living is high - I say apparently because I live here and it seems okay to me - but everything become manageable once you know the deal. Getting a weekly or monthly travel pass cuts the cost of public transportation in more than half. Living further from the city centre is cheaper. Eating out every night is expensive. Buying and cooking your own food is a lot lot cheaper than ordering a take-away.

[@samantharamey9095]

@@Brakdayton I appreciate your feedback but you cannot say that it's just like everywhere else when you speak in terms of how they treat you when you walk in a store, here in America they stare at you they assume that you're going to steal something. You don't have to be loud or ignorant which I am not and they still make you feel very uncomfortable but again I truly appreciate your time you took to respond to my question.