What has been the hardest thing to get used to?

For those of you who have been here a while, or are Brits living in America, what has been the hardest thing to get used to?  For me, it's the driving... most other things are just minor differences and don't bother me too much....
And please, don't everyone list mixer taps as their number one.... 

Being far from my parents (especially when my dad was dying of cancer) has been the hardest thing, since until I moved here I hadn't been away from at least one of them for more than a couple of months. Everything else I've found pretty easy, especially, oddly enough, the driving- I get confused when I got back to the US instead!

The British penchant for understatement.

example: I dress up to go out and ask my British husband "How do I look?"  He replies, "Okay" or "All right"... which actually means "great!" in his mind.  When I first moved here there were some definite misunderstandings for sure!

After over two years here, I still do a double take when I hear a Brit do that kind of understatement before I realise what they mean.

The British penchant for understatement.

example: I dress up to go out and ask my British husband "How do I look?"  He replies, "Okay" or "All right"... which actually means "great!" in his mind.  When I first moved here there were some definite misunderstandings for sure!

After over two years here, I still do a double take when I hear a Brit do that kind of understatement before I realise what they mean.

Oh, that pi$$es of British women too....I think I sometimes want to smack Dan when I have spent an hour getting ready and have put make up on and had my hair done and STILL only get a "fine"!!!

Vicky

The British penchant for understatement.

example: I dress up to go out and ask my British husband "How do I look?"  He replies, "Okay" or "All right"... which actually means "great!" in his mind.  When I first moved here there were some definite misunderstandings for sure!

After over two years here, I still do a double take when I hear a Brit do that kind of understatement before I realise what they mean.

I find this to be hilarious! Except when it's my boyfriend who thinks everything is, 'nice'.  

The hardest thing for me to get used to is not having a car. I do feel like I've lost a bit of my independence.

I imagine that driving with an issue for me too, when I get around to it.  At times, I can feel my stomach lift when I see someone turning into the "wrong" lane.  

Being several steps behind were I was in the US in terms of qualifications and employability.  

The British penchant for understatement.

example: I dress up to go out and ask my British husband "How do I look?"  He replies, "Okay" or "All right"... which actually means "great!" in his mind.  When I first moved here there were some definite misunderstandings for sure!

After over two years here, I still do a double take when I hear a Brit do that kind of understatement before I realise what they mean.

I used to get this from my exes in the states, and now I get it from DH as well.  Though I usually know I look pretty good if DH gives me the Elvis lip before he says "yeah, you look good, or you look fine"  

The hardest thing for me to get used to is not having a car. I do feel like I've lost a bit of my independence.

I think not having a car has become harder for me once I started working.  When I was a student it was fine because I lived walking distance from my classes.  Now at work, I am the odd one out who doesn't drive/have a car, even though commuting by public transport is completely do-able.  If I worked in the middle of the city centre it would likely be easier, but I don't and I'm wishing I had a car more and more now (especially since it would cut my commute time in half!)  There are also places I'd love to go to but since public transport is so much of a hassle (multiple/infrequent buses, etc) I don't bother- I miss just being able to get in my car and go.

For me, it's been living in furnished houses. I loved the last place we lived in the US, and I was finally pleased with how I had my home furnished and decorated. Not that we had high-quality furniture (grad student budget!), but I pulled it together so that it functioned well and looked good.

And then we moved to the UK, and for several reasons it made more sense to put most of our stuff in storage. But I've really hated the furniture in both houses we've lived in here, and I miss having my nice things around. Between that and not having a car (not to mention the dishwasher or tumble dryer), I feel like my life has sort of reverted to that of a grubby student. At almost 30, that's rather depressing. Although it's more about my particular life situation and less about the UK per se, it's been a real barrier to feeling settled here.

For second place, I nominate the short winter days.

I think not having a car has become harder for me once I started working.  When I was a student it was fine because I lived walking distance from my classes.  Now at work, I am the odd one out who doesn't drive/have a car, even though commuting by public transport is completely do-able.  If I worked in the middle of the city centre it would likely be easier, but I don't and I'm wishing I had a car more and more now (especially since it would cut my commute time in half!)  There are also places I'd love to go to but since public transport is so much of a hassle (multiple/infrequent buses, etc) I don't bother- I miss just being able to get in my car and go.

Have you looked into WhizzGo? It's not quite the same as having a car, but it's helped a LOT for us. Probably wouldn't help with the commute, but for the odd shopping trip or expedition, it's pretty nice.

Have you looked into WhizzGo? It's not quite the same as having a car, but it's helped a LOT for us. Probably wouldn't help with the commute, but for the odd shopping trip or expedition, it's pretty nice.

I did look into it, and unfortunately to use it you have to have held a valid licence for at least 12 months...I've lived here too long to drive on my US licence, and I don't have my UK licence yet so it would be at least a year from passing my test until I could use it- at which point we'll probably be able to afford to buy a car!

Now that someone else has mentioned the tumble dryer, I have to make a second comment.  I have had a bit of a struggle getting used to the condenser dryer.  It doesn't seem to get as hot as a regular tumble dryer, and so I still have to iron most everything that comes out of the darn thing.  I never had to iron a thing in the states!!!     But I suppose I am getting used to it, I just miss pulling all the clothes out virtually wrinkle-free. 

I did look into it, and unfortunately to use it you have to have held a valid licence for at least 12 months...I've lived here too long to drive on my US licence, and I don't have my UK licence yet so it would be at least a year from passing my test until I could use it- at which point we'll probably be able to afford to buy a car!

My husband had only had his UK licence a little while, and he got the UK licence after his one-year grace period was over. He called them up and it wasn't a problem. I can ask him to give you more details if you like.

I imagine that driving with an issue for me too, when I get around to it.  At times, I can feel my stomach lift when I see someone turning into the "wrong" lane.  

No, even after 20 years I never really got used to the traffic flow.  I would stand by the road and think "Why is there a dog driving that car?  Oh -- yeah"  And my first driving lesson I blithely started to turn into the "wrong" lane!   

My husband had only had his UK licence a little while, and he got the UK licence after his one-year grace period was over. He called them up and it wasn't a problem. I can ask him to give you more details if you like.

Yes, I'd be interested in knowing more, thanks!