LIST: Things about The UK you wish you had known

I hope you don't think that everyone in the UK has a dirty house.  You could eat off any surface in my MIL and SIL's houses, and every time I've been to a friend's place, it's been spotless.  Mould will always be a problem in a damp country, but I think it's manageable in all but the most extreme cases.  We have an issue with our bathroom ceiling, but the rest of the house is mould-free. 

I hope you don't think that everyone in the UK has a dirty house.  You could eat off any surface in my MIL and SIL's houses, and every time I've been to a friend's place, it's been spotless.

This. My MiL's house is so clean and beautifully decorated I feel like I'm entering a 5 star hotel every time I visit. There is never a dish left in the sink at the end of the night and she polishes her granite countertop multiple times a day due to our grubby fingerprints.

Everyone I visited [with the exception of my father in law], had houses so dusty and moldy and dirty that I couldn't bear to be there for too long. 

I imagine when you move here and live here you will find this not to be true.  I have not found this in any of my friend's homes or my husband's family's homes.  In fact, I find that everyone has you take your shoes off at the door because their carpets and floors are so immaculate they don't even want the smallest bit of dirt in their homes.

And don't get me started on the dishwashing thing. You rinse the dishes not to make them 'cleaner' but to wash off the toxic SOAP you just put them in. Don't these people realize they're all dying of cancer because they've been eating their food off of chemical covered plates all these years?  I don't mind the dirty teapot At least it doesn't have dishsoap residue in it. [And I only get huffy about this because I've spent years eliminating chemicals from my life and then my MIL got cancer and I got on her about the rinsing thing]. 

My husband's roommate used to not rinse the dishes which drove him insane.  He always re-washed them to rinse the soap off...  sounds like maybe your in-laws just aren't into keeping a clean house?  Which is their business, but please don't think that all the English do this.

I hope you don't think that everyone in the UK has a dirty house.  You could eat off any surface in my MIL and SIL's houses, and every time I've been to a friend's place, it's been spotless.  Mould will always be a problem in a damp country, but I think it's manageable in all but the most extreme cases.  We have an issue with our bathroom ceiling, but the rest of the house is mould-free. 

LOL, Yes! I'm certain it's mostly my in-laws, as our friends had much cleaner houses, although they also had NEWER houses.  I just hope we can find a house with NO CARPET because it's impossible to manage dust mites with wall to wall carpeting.  The hubs should seriously live in a bubble.  I'm thinking of chucking out our mattress [even though it's encased in an allergy cover] and just get an air mattress! And chuck the curtains and non-leather furniture.  We have all tile floors, but the HVAC is still doing him in, poor thing :/

They must love you! 

LOL! Honestly, my SIL I think actively hates me, but I'm working on her.  My MIL and I are close now, and I've brought her along to my way of thinking on a lot of things. She, like her darling son, just does stuff because she 'never thought of doing it THAT way!', so she lets me make subtle changes. She still makes me crazy sometimes, but her fiance is totally on my side so we gang up and make her feel guilty for being a total PITA, and that's made things easier for everyone

I'm just glad I've gotten over a lot of my 'culture shock' with this distance, so I can focus more on strengthening family ties when we arrive.

LOL! Honestly, my SIL I think actively hates me, but I'm working on her.  My MIL and I are close now, and I've brought her along to my way of thinking on a lot of things. She, like her darling son, just does stuff because she 'never thought of doing it THAT way!', so she lets me make subtle changes. She still makes me crazy sometimes, but her fiance is totally on my side so we gang up and make her feel guilty for being a total PITA, and that's made things easier for everyone

As long as you're open to the possibility that they might be able to teach you a thing or two as well.

As long as you're open to the possibility that they might be able to teach you a thing or two as well.

Of course I'll be depending on them for everything for a while!

Things I'd forgotten about the UK:

great clunky electric plugs that I can never successfully pull out

the 'aroma' of humanity on the buses

deodorant sprays (although I did find stick deodorants in Waitrose)

viciousness of some drivers -- especially to pedestrians

being cold inside (I'm sure our house wasn't this bad before!)

Our house is quite dirty, or dirty looking, because the landlady had some paint touched up before we moved in.  They painted OVER the dust on skirting boards, so I can't get them clean. 

My in-laws are a mess, but they live on a farm.

Overall, my friends with newer houses that they own are cleaner because you can maintain things better. 

Dish washing is an issue that comes up often on here!  I can't stand not rinsing the dishes and it can make my bil quite ill, but none of my friends up in Scotland rinse.

Our house is quite dirty, or dirty looking, because the landlady had some paint touched up before we moved in.  They painted OVER the dust on skirting boards, so I can't get them clean. 

My in-laws are a mess, but they live on a farm.

Overall, my friends with newer houses that they own are cleaner because you can maintain things better. 

Dish washing is an issue that comes up often on here!  I can't stand not rinsing the dishes and it can make my bil quite ill, but none of my friends up in Scotland rinse.

Painted over dust! Ewe My Mama works on a resort as a painter and they often make them paint things which are dirty instead of cleaning them...especially where customers can't see like kitchens and the like.  Maybe that's why she's so clean at home

I've found the younger the people and newer the house, the cleaner they are [with the distinct exception of my SIL], but I'm never staying with those folks, so it's overwhelming.  It would probably be fine if we didn't have allergies, but we are a special needs case.  I know it will be better when I have my own things and control over my space

Just one more 'visit' in the spring, then next time we go it will be to our own house!

I was just laughing about someone requesting more ice at McDonalds, and it just reminded me of how much I miss a big glass full of ice. The glasses here are so tiny, especially if you order water.

I HATE my washing machine/drier as it does neither function very well and the fact that they are in the kitchen is odd to me. The fridges are often dorm sized and under the counter.

I would KILL for a proper closet! Also as someone mentioned before, so many doors in a house. A door to the "lounge", a door to the kitchen, basically a door to every room.

I've had more Indian food here than ever before in my life, but I occasionally miss Mexican restaurants.

Also, anyone else notice the limited options on the British Netflix compared to the American one?

Things I love: more school holidays scattered throughout the year and a decent starting time of 9am (I work in schools.) People seem to work less hours overall and enjoy vacations more often, and more travel abroad options.

Things I love: more school holidays scattered throughout the year and a decent starting time of 9am (I work in schools.) People seem to work less hours overall and enjoy vacations more often, and more travel abroad options.

This is a primary reason for our return. The hubs has had almost no vacay since our honeymoon 6 years now.  I think he's had a total of 4 or 5 weeks in that time.

I absolutely love N. Yorkshire - the people, the accents, the landscape, etc.

But...

The first time someone greeted me with "Now then," I stopped and waited expectantly.  I thought the guy was about to tell me something.  He looked affronted and probably thought I was being inexcusably rude, until he heard my accent.

Wardrobes are fine for hubby, but I'd need about a dozen of them. 

Rooms are small.  Don't bring American-sized furniture.  We had to find a 2-bedroom flat and use one of the rooms for a dresser, dressing table etc. 

It's been difficult revising my language to eliminate any reference to money whatsoever, i.e., "got" instead of "bought," "I'll get it," instead of "I'll buy it," etc.
British people are squeamish about money.  Although I do agree that it's quite vulgar to flash around how much brass you've got, it seems odd that offering to pay (which to me is a friendly gesture) can make folk uncomfortable. 

There have been some nice surprises, though.

I thought the round-buying custom was odd, but now it makes sense. 
Pubs are so much more enjoyable than American bars.  Especially the custom of buying the barman a drink instead of tipping, which seems impersonal and haughty.  It's nice that I can go into a pub alone and am safer there than waiting outside.  And if a male offers to buy me a drink, he's not necessarily trying to pull.  In some places in America (the wrong places, where I tried not to go) offering someone a drink is as good as inviting them home for a shag.
 
As a pretty reclusive, reserved introvert I like being able to go somewhere in public and not being cornered into awkward small talk by a perversely cheerful stranger.

However, if I feel like conversation, all I have to do is mutter a comment about the weather or whatever I'm drinking, and if someone feels like talking they will jump right in. 

I also like how there's not such overt pressure to smile a big chipmunk smile and stick your hand out and yell, "I'M SO AND SO!" Awkward.  That has always felt like so much pressure, like "damn it, now she thinks we will be friends for life."  I like just drifting into and out of casual conversations without feeling the need to exchange personal information or jump into a friendship.

It's been difficult revising my language to eliminate any reference to money whatsoever, i.e., "got" instead of "bought," "I'll get it," instead of "I'll buy it," etc.
British people are squeamish about money.  Although I do agree that it's quite vulgar to flash around how much brass you've got, it seems odd that offering to pay (which to me is a friendly gesture) can make folk uncomfortable. 

I think the squeamish about money bit is really a Yorkshire trait, at least moreso than elsewhere.

Also, be careful with the word "brass" - it's cockney rhyming slang for a prostitute (brass flute = prostitute or brass door = whore).

Things I'd forgotten about the UK:

great clunky electric plugs that I can never successfully pull out

the 'aroma' of humanity on the buses

deodorant sprays (although I did find stick deodorants in Waitrose)

viciousness of some drivers -- especially to pedestrians

being cold inside (I'm sure our house wasn't this bad before!)

YES!!!!!  I somehow managed to ship all my toiletries instead of packing them in my suitcase.....So with exception of my travel size deodorant and some shampoo I had left here from my last visit, I had nothing.  Went into tescos yesterday to get the basics and not one stick deodorant.  Only sprays and roll ons......both I have to stand with my arms out til it dries or I am uncomfortable   Gonna try the market on Friday and then Boots or superdrug.......not happy