The UK is a dream destination for millions of international students. Besides international students, the UK is a top hotspot for researchers, travellers and ambitious learners.
Moving to a new country can be intimidating, no matter how excited you are about upcoming adventures there. Plus, if you are entirely new to their culture and lifestyle, the experience might be baffling.
Here we have some helpful information for first-time visitors so that you are prepared for the culture shock and all the bizarre things you will see in the UK. Take note of the essential things you need to know before moving to the UK, and also get some of your research done.
Call 999 for an emergency in the UK
In the UK, you must call 999 for any emergency, not 911. Remember, each country has its official emergency number, and you should be well aware of it. In case you need advice, the helpline number is 101, and you should dial this number for non-emergency matters.
The accent changes across regions, and so does the language
If you are well aware of the language variations across different regions in the UK, communicating with people should not be a problem. You are very likely to get confused with all different accents, and you can expect to come across many of them but don’t worry since most are understandable and communicable.
Some sound posh, some sound country-ish, and some lie in between. Be prepared to learn a lot of other languages like Scottish, Welsh and Irish.
They love talking about the weather
If you ever run out of topics or can't figure out how to initiate a conversation with someone, start talking about how you feel about the weather. The Brits always have something to say about their weather and always seem surprised since the weather changes so frequently that you can never predict what is next.
Do not ever ‘queue-jump’
The Brits find it highly offensive and disrespectful when you jump the queue since they follow the queueing system pretty seriously, and it is like mannerless or bad manners to them. Keep that in your mind and always stay in the line, or it could lead to public embarrassment. Getting in the line is a mandatory rule in public places in the UK.
The “UK” and “Great Britain” are not the same
Many people consider the UK Great Britain and think those two are names for the same place. Let’s clear this confusion: the UK and Great Britain are not the same, and they have differences. Great Britain consists of England, Wales and Scotland, whereas the UK consists of these three countries plus Northern Ireland.
The countryside is breathtaking
If you ever feel like escaping the cities and enjoying natural landscapes, know that the countryside has stunning scenery that will leave you in awe. So if you ever get a chance, enjoy the splendid views of the Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire countryside, and the Brecon Beacons, and there is much more to explore and experience.
UK Places have bizarre names
The towns and street names sound so odd and bizarre. They will give you a good laugh. Their places have some ridiculous names like Twatt, Scratchy Bottom, Dumb Woman’s Lane, and the list goes on, and the names get more bizarre and laughable. Get ready to hear more of them.
They love their tea
Tea is the national drink. It does not matter if it is rainy, sunny or snowy; tea is the answer to everything. You can get along with people pretty well if you learn to make a good cup of tea, but it’s not that they drink only tea. Coffee is also consumed in most places, and many prefer the rich, roast smells over tea.
Learn the pronunciation
Some British words and names are so complicated they will give you a hard time while learning. Especially the place names like Leicester, Hawarden, Anstruther etc., which are not pronounced like they are spelt. You will be mind blown if you learn how these places are pronounced. So please get familiar with most of the words and their pronunciations.
Stand on the right and manners
Standing on the right will be a life-saving tip for you. Some people are always in a hurry, so the left side is to walk through. If you step on an escalator, stick to your right side and save yourself from the death glares of people in a rush.
Also, “Thank You” and “Excuse Me” words are the key to showing yourself some reasonable decency and a better upbringing factor that reflects while you are conversing with anyone. Besides that, always keep your calm and maintain excessive politeness and discipline. It takes time to process and adjust to things entirely new to you, so it is alright in the beginning.
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