Culture Shock? What did you wish you knew?

Can I put in with Broxi about the Herta hot dogs?!  They are really nice - and I use the Sainsbury's sub rolls for the large hot dogs, not their poor excuse for *American-Style* hot dog rolls, which are cut all wrong!  

Anyway - not much true culture shock for me as I've been an Anglophile for pretty much most of my life!  

I've gotta agree with the expense issue--I can't stop converting prices in my head and I feel like I'm constantly saying "WHAT?!?!  I'm not paying 75 bucks for THAT!"  ;-)

Culturally, I feel a bit repressed here.  It is hard to make new friends, especially since I'm not working yet.  The guys are okay, but the women are sort of distant.  I can't imagine calling up any of the women I know and asking them to go out to lunch and/or shopping.  They're just boring to me.  But I'm going to keep trying!!!

I also felt/feel like a little child here.  I still sometimes have a hard time crossing the street!  I'm going to start driving lessons in a few months and I'm absolutely terrified because I have to literally remind myself on a fairly regular basis that we "drive on the left, look to the right" here....hmpf.  

I feel like I've lost my independence.  I'm not working (because we're getting ready to move), I don't drive, and I don't have a full understanding of the culture here.  I feel like I'm relying on my husband too much (though he says I'm not).  I feel like I'm a child he's having to teach!

I come from a very large, very close family and I still can't believe I left them.  I miss my grandparents terribly and I worry about my little brother.  I talk to my mom a lot, but I really just wish I could sit on her couch and talk to her.  My friendships have pretty much dried up as it's difficult to find anything to talk about now--especially since I'm married and my best friend is still VERY single.  I don't undersand her lifestyle anymore and she doesn't understand mine.

My biggest pet peeve is that things are so inconvenient here.  I frequently tell my husband that I'm convinced the British like to make simple things as difficult as possible.  We live in a decent-sized city, but there's nothing open after 8pm.  I can't just hop down to Wal-mart to get something.  I can't satisfy a late-night ice cream craving.  I can't drive, so I can't run out for some McDonald's if I dont' feel like cooking dinner one night.  I feel like I have to plan everything ahead of time according to public transport schedules.  I can't be spontaneous here!

Ultimately, living here is something I've learned to deal with one day at a time.  I don't love it here, but I don't hate it.  I've made tremendous progress in the five months I've been here and I'm proud of myself for that.  I just wish I had paid more attention to the differences when I was visiting in the past.

Lola - hiya

I know exactly how you feel and I had one of those 'if only I could scream at you and get my way' days yesterday.  I've been in Newcastle since Oct and know almost every way to be ticked off - well almost every way.  I can't promise anything useful, but I'd be glad to help if you have any questions about living in Newcastle.  

Oh something else I wanted to add, since my husband & I were tlaking about it - - - there's a very different Ladies Bathroom culture here than what I'm used to. I'm not speaking of London, I'm speaking of my area, which includes Cambridge... but back in the States at a bar or a restaurant or a club it was *so* *easy* to strike up conversations with strangers at the bathroom mirror, especially with a drink or two in you, where here on the few occasions I've tried I've received big buggy eyes in return, and stifled responses. Perhaps this is just my experience, but women here seem a lot less happy to talk to strangers or make new friends in strange places, where that's *so* waht I'm used to doing back in the States.

but back in the States at a bar or a restaurant or a club it was *so* *easy* to strike up conversations with strangers at the bathroom mirror, especially with a drink or two in you, where here on the few occasions I've tried I've received big buggy eyes in return, and stifled responses.  

Ah..the difference between men and women! .....I've actually seen it become quite VIOLENT in a men's loo for the same thing!

I don't know - I've been spoken to quite often in the Ladies' Room - which has always made me uncomfortable no matter which country I'm in.  For me it's a room where I go in, do my business, and leave.  Not a place to socialise.

But that makes me strange, as usual!  

lola, what you said is just how it's been for me since I moved here. I don't have the big family back in the states,, but the feeling of loss of confidence, lack of convience, etc,, spot on.

I have to add,, I wish I had known how truly different 'American' English, is from 'English' English. For example,, this past week, I have been redecorating the lounge, and working my fingers to the bone in making it look really nice. I covered all the furniture with soft cream covers, have a half dozen Laura Ashley toss pillows to coordinate with everything. Then when I ask hubby how it looks,, he gets quiet, and says it looke 'homely'. I socked him one, and emailed him the defination of 'homely' in American English.  But this happens alot. Then it's not just that we have different words to say similar things, but he refuses to acknowldege that my usage is valid for where I come from. GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! I have actually been humilated in front of his relatives and friends when he or they 'correct' something I have said, as it's not the 'British' way of saying it. He doesn't see that it's hard enough trying to adjust to life in a new country, without this kind of nitpicking.  

YES! i completely agree with all of you!   maybe it's just my midwestern nature, but i am very accustomed to saying hello when i pass strangers on the street, being chatty at the grocery store, all of that. . . but it seems like i'm looked at as if i were the three headed monster. is it so hard to smile back??

there's a very different Ladies Bathroom culture here than what I'm used to. I'm not speaking of London, I'm speaking of my area, which includes Cambridge... but back in the States at a bar or a restaurant or a club it was *so* *easy* to strike up conversations with strangers at the bathroom mirror, especially with a drink or two in you, where here on the few occasions I've tried I've received big buggy eyes in return, and stifled responses.

I actually got the rudest look of my life when I spoke to someone at the bathroom mirror. Stupid me commented on how loud the music was in the pub or something like that and these two girls looked at each other like they were disgusted and (to my horror!) walked out laughing. I was shocked and hurt.

maybe it's just my midwestern nature, but i am very accustomed to saying hello when i pass strangers on the street, being chatty at the grocery store, all of that. . . but it seems like i'm looked at as if i were the three headed monster. is it so hard to smile back??

I was the same way back home. If there was eye contact made then you say hello or smile or something to acknowledge them. I've learned that they just don't do that here, they totally ignore you. I don't bother being polite anymore, I just look away as if I didn't see them. It's kind of sad.