Reverse Culture Shock After 1 Year In Europe
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2024
- We're back in the USA after 13 months in the UK, Germany, and France! But despite America being our home, we've been whacked with some severe reverse culture shock since getting back. Here are some of the biggest culture shocks we've experienced after 1 year living in Europe!
Have you ever left your home country for a long period of time? What reverse culture shocks did you experience when you went back? Let us know down in the comments!!
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Our favorite aspect of doing RUclips is interacting with you in the comments, so make sure you stop by and say hi! 😊 Have you ever left your home country for a long period of time? What reverse culture shocks did you experience when you went back? Let us know down in the comments! 😄
#cultureshock #ukvsusa #britishvsamerican
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To be fair, when American girls hear my accent (Cockney Londoner) they really are interested lol.
1 litre of cold tap water in my kettle took 2 minutes and 15 seconds to boil.
The North south divide in terms of friendliness is true. As a general rule the further North and West you go the friendlier people are and the further South and East you go the more guarded they become.
Biker Grove (a kids TV series) is "classic scouse", Trainspotting is so Glaswegian it needs subtitles.
Blen neth aye.
dd is pronounced like th
ll is pronoinced like thl
Most accents are heard differently because we teach our ears what to hear, based on the noises we come across. This is why you have that asian "comedy" trope of "flied lice". There is no sound difference between the English r and l phonemes, the difference in pronounciation is solely based on what you do with your tongue. And the position of the tongue changes the resonances in the inner ear, changing the sound you hear both when you hear it and when you speak it (and hear yourself). It is a major reason why we never sound like we do when we hear ourselves recorded.
Welsh, however, is quite an old language, so like a lot of ancient languages of a fairly linear progression, it is very much phonetically spelt, but it has to get those phonemes from the same alphabet as English uses.
@@markhackett2302 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Biker Grove is GEORDIE!!!!
I once had an argument with a cab driver in the US when he wouldn't let me pay without a tip.
My response was "So, you are charging to drive me here and you want me to tip you for driving me here?"
For someone whose in that service industry that relies on tips, tipping is horrible practice. Just pay me a living wage.
Why is someone who serves you a Big Mac less worthy of a tip than someone who serves you
www.insider.com/most-expensive-burger-in-the-world-costs-staggering-5000-2019-8
They are both burgers and the staff work just as hard.
My husband and I go over to America quite regularly to visit my sister , brother in law and our 2 nephews and 1 niece, when we first started going over the kids were little and tipping was around the 10 - 12% range which wasn’t too bad when going out as a party of 7 as the kids meals weren’t very expensive, but now the kids are all in their 20’s and the expected tip is now in the 15 - 20% range which we as English people find extortionate and obscene.
As a party now of seven adults we regularly spend up to $250 - $300 sometimes more for food and drinks and then your server wants 20% on top of that ..... in England if we left a£5 tip the server would be so grateful, but in America if you don’t leave them their 20% they are usually outraged and if you leave without leaving a tip they will follow you outside calling you all sorts of names and abusive insults. Why do restaurant owners in America think that not only should their customers pay for the privilege of eating their food but also pay their staffs wages as well. When we go over now we limit how many times we eat out due to the increase in the tipping percentage on top of your bill.
Also .... why is wine so expensive in America ?
So glad you agree!
come to europe, slavery was abolished here in 1794
@@WanderingRavens As a student I had a summer job serving petrol and cleaning used cars between customers. Nobody tipped me apart from one US tourist who gave me £1 for changing the tyre on his hire car.
Now you understand why the UK has 230V power - it is to make our kettles boil faster :)
Thanks I learned something. It used to be 240v until 2003. Good to know but now I feel old :(
Not to mention the supposed "surge" in power demand that used to happen on an evening when prime time used to take a commercial break and a lot of people put on their kettles at once. On demand streaming has apparently changed that.
The maximum wattage in the US from a domestic socket is about 1800 watts, whereas in the UK and Europe its around 3000 watts. This is because of the voltage difference 110v in the US as against 230v in Europe, so electric kettles in the USA are lower wattage...and often of a smaller capacity too! This will also affect other appliances like electric room heaters.
@@scottythedawg It still is 240v. The only thing that has changed is the acceptable error. Mains voltage varies depending on supply and demand. We buy and sell power to France because their peak time is an hour ahead of ours.
ruclips.net/video/rp8lwpvQEIM/видео.html
in January 2003 the European voltage was harmonised (including the UK) and the declared voltage and tolerance for an electricity supply is now 230 volts -6%, +10%. This gives an allowed voltage range of 216.2 volts to 253.0 volts
you said zebra crossing instead of ZEEEEbra crossing. Something stuck.
We may leave the UK, but the UK isn't leaving us! 😆
@@WanderingRavens it's the LAW in the UK that cars have to stop at a zebra crossing for you or pelican or toucan crossings if they don't you can get I trouble if caught
@@WanderingRavens Are you coming back?
C Rose Yes!!
@@lesleyannismay8295 If they are controlled by lights, yes. If they are not, you have to occupy the crossing before vehicles are obliged to stop. This means you have to put a foot on the carriageway. Then they have to stop.
"We counted over 17 kinds of Cheerios - peanut butter, jam, jelly, toilet paper, dish soap, hand soap, toothpaste, dental floss..."
Some of those flavours of Cheerios sound better than others...
😂😂 Americans LOVE their abstract flavours!
😂
Giant chrome cheerio on shelf behind you.
NB he said "jelly" as opposed to "jello"
I thought the same 😂
In the UK it is a legal requirement for cars to give way to pedestrians who are on a crossing, but not before. How this generally works is you put one foot on the crossing, even if only by an inch, and cars will stop for you. If however, you are an eighteenth of a millimeter away from the crossing then cars will pretend you don't exist yet. It's like playing a game of Schroedinger's crossing!
Oh! That's good to know! 😆😆
Just step out boldly and they’ll stop. Hopefully ........😄
Eric, Grace, use a saucepan to boil water. Surely the same as a stove top kettle?!🤷♀️😆
The key then is to put your hand up in thanks or a simple nod. Manners, it doesn't take much.
Pedestrians have right of way anywhere other than a motorway. You shouldn't just jump out in front of a car though.
Not so much reverse culture shock as reverse culture appreciation but after two years in America I came back to the UK and realised what I had missed whilst I was away. History old boy, history. I had massively under appreciated the many and varied layers of history that make up almost every town or city in this country apart from Milton Keynes. It was like wrapping myself up in a subliminal security blanket of permanence and solidity that I had previously just taken for granted.
PS Topic for future video - America is like Milton Keynes, discuss ! Lol
In the UK most eggs are from hens that are vaccinated against salmonella ( notified by the little red lion on the egg).
I don't think this is the norm in the USA.
I had no idea that that was the reason that eggs can be stored in the aisle! I suppose that means that in the UK your restaurant menus don't have the little warning text at the very bottom that says "if you order eggs that are not fully cooked through you're at risk of salmonella poisoning" (or something to that affect)?
I think it’s actually because in the US eggs are washed and in the UK they are not. Eggshells are very porous so if you wash them bacteria from the outside can transfer to the inside. I have kept chickens for years and never wash their eggs, just rub the dirt off them gently if absolutely necessary.
@@WanderingRavens No never seen that at the menu bottom.
Also Pork doesn't have tapeworm eggs in it, good to know 😁😉
@@WanderingRavens .
I remember my grandfather often breaking a raw egg into his cup of tea.
The UK and EU have a mandatory mineral content in the chicken feed which ensures a normal eggshell strength and thickness. It's nature's way of protecting against infection.
The US doesn't have a mandatory mineral requirement which means that breeders cut the cost of the feed to a minimum. This makes the eggshells thinner and more porous, ensuring an increased salmonella infection rate and the need to refrigerate the eggs.
So, you never made a connection between "everybody has a gun" & "everybody smiles at you" ???
"Can't be arsed", love it, you are now officially a brit.
They automatically add a tip without permission, how is that legal, it's clearly theft!!!
AGREED!! 😵
Ban all tipping and give minimum wage, if the customer slips you a $5 good.
If I ever go to America I’m just gona take a hunting bow and take up foraging. I won’t have my shiny coins reduced unnecessarily.
@@dave_h_8742 I wouldn't say ban, but it should be a livilable minimum wage or better, then any optional tip for the way it was designed, and is actually in the dictionary as, which is a reward/thank you
@@danieledward3418 LMAO
If businesses paid their staff a decent wage then there would be no need for tipping. Considering the USA has (had) such a massive 'eat out culture' tipping seems a ridiculous complication on a grand scale.
Agreed!!
It is a pain in the ass. The other option, of course, is that we patrons could stop tipping and force businesses to pay a reasonable salary.
Also, I feel like tipping encourages the sort of "fake" friendliness and politeness that Brits aren't too keen on, because staff are trying to increase their chance of a good tip. On the flip-side, if serving staff are paid properly they're more likely to work with genuine enthusiasm because they enjoy going to their job and not having to struggle to get by. I'm not against tipping, I'm just against the idea of compulsory tipping to subsidise a wage. When staff are genuinely lovely I'm always happy to leave them a little extra.
I went to the USA and ate in many restaurants. If the service was shit, no tip.. f’m
I've been to the US a few times and two things really annoyed me (apart from being totally freaked out by finding myself sitting on a park bench next to a guy with an automatic pistol in a western style holster and wearing a T-shirt with the words "WARNING ARMED CITIZEN" emblazoned on the front and back) one was being expected to tip just about everybody including every hotel bell boy that even looked at my suitcase from a distance, and the other was having no idea how much my groceries were going to actually cost me until I went through the checkout.
I'm from New Zealand and when I moved to the UK I found that drivers were way more courteous, there was a lot more choices in supermarkets and the cost of living is a lot cheaper in the UK, especially on basics at the supermarket.
Good to know!
When I arrived in the UK in 1999, everything was way more expensive than in NZ. And the British would complain about the cost of items cf the cost in France, a short journey away. But I feel that internet shopping was beginning to take off at that time, and so within a short period of time, things didn't feel quite so expensive. Mind you, incomes can be sooo much higher in the UK cf NZ, that maybe the price of things didn't seem so bad. I saw some shocking driving in the UK, London in particular. English drivers could not seem to merge politely, but the Scots could. Funny thing about choices in the UK (in 1999): the NZ brand Anchor had 8 varieties of whipped cream (in a can) in UK supermarkets, but only 1 or 2 in NZ. Maybe NZ needs bigger supermarkets?
UK is Cheaper?! Is it?! 🤔😕
@@danielbate13 100%. NZ is way more expensive on basics.
@@maccladoz yea but the freedom and safety in New Zealand out ways over priced basics. It’s your choice to live in a cheaper life or a good quality of life
When I've been in the US I find that tipping and the way that tax is added at the checkout to be stressful. It's so much easier to know what you're paying in the UK. Tax is included in the price you see on everything.
That being said I'm not against tipping if course for good service. But sometimes they do 'take the piss'. When in Orlando my friend ate a simple meal and an automatic 'gratuity' was added at 60%, he went berserk.
I personally didn't experience people smiling at me or greeting me in the street. Everyone was keeping to themselves and it felt as normal as the UK to me. Although most people were probably tourists.
I love this channel by the way!
I'm from the North and cars stop at a crossing even if you are just approaching it, I went to Poland and the cars wouldn't stop even if you were standing at the crossing, I found out you had to take possession by standing on it before they would stop.
I like the way you said "cheers" at the end instead of bye.
Thanks for warning us about what to expect when we eventually get over to Poland 😂
@@WanderingRavens In the UK, you should always give way to pedestrians waiting to cross or are already on the zebra crossing. I'm sure that's in the Highway Code and you'd fail your driving test if you didn't follow this rule.
I am amazed you said that nobody stops for you at pedestrian crossings in the UK. Very very occasionally drivers fail to stop but it is remarkable when that happens. I've lived in London suburbia and the West Country and it's all the same wherever you go. In France, by contrast, it's remarkable if the driver actually does stop!
@@jillhobson6128 last time I checked the Highway Code, if a pedestrian steps onto the crossing, they have right of way, otherwise the vehicle does not have to stop. However, many drivers do stop if someone is waiting at a crossing, partly out of politeness, but I’d imagine partly because if you do hit a pedestrian on a crossing, it will almost always be deemed the driver’s fault.
I live in London and the cars stop every time I want to cross the road. I have never heard anyone complain about problems when crossing the road.
loved Grace saying "Can't be arsed"....
Bloody hell, that was a loud "Hey guys"
Caught me off guard!
Oh no!! Just started watching it ourselves and the volume is WAYYY louder here on youtube than the original file! Something must have happened :(
@@WanderingRavens Happy to see us joining you 😁
WHAT?
*LOUDER*
Very cool of you to shout out Evan's video, I know he put a tonne of work into that and spent a long time doing all the research.
Would love to see you do a collab with him someday when things return to normal.
”With our saddest voice possible”
Grace: Tipping... 😞
Eric: Tipping!!! 🤪
😞😞
@@WanderingRavens I never tip. I even deduct a “service charge” if the service was, in fact, unsatisfactory.
When I lived in England, people would start talking to me absolutely everywhere, but I lived in Yorkshire.
Assuming you are in Japan, I expect people still start talking to you at random, but probably say something like, "Hello, are you America?"
@@capitalb5889 I'm Japanese, so no.
@@yasashii89 - ah - that didn't occur to me
I am a yorkshireman and will smile and say hallo and am willing to help one thing I love to do when down south is to make eye contact smile and greet them the look of fear they have is funny
I'm English and to make strangers talk to me I wear my jumper or shirt inside out.....excuse me your jumpers inside out!
A few years ago I lived in the US for a while which I loved. The hardest thing I found to deal with is the directness of most Americans. As a Brit we would consider it rude and a little aggressive. Because of this directness most of my American colleagues thought my humour was rude (taking the piss is a big thing in the U.K.) as many would consider what I was saying was in the same vein as their directness rather than a pathetic attempt to be funny. So, I think the biggest difference in culture is humour. I was also told off for my “potty mouth”....apparently bollocks and bugger “used in the context of “bugger this for a game of soldiers” did not go down well. .....and no one “goes for a pint” after work! I did manage to get this changed and I think you will now find it “a thing” at the BMW design office in SoCal.
When I came to America working on the cruise ships I remember the super friendliness everywhere! I found it soooo irritating. Why ask how a person is if you really don't care and just want to pretend to be nice..
In Italy, cars just drive round you when you're walking across the road on a zebra crossing! That took a lot of getting used to. If you just stand on the pavement, waiting for cars to stop so that you can cross, you'll be there all day. You just have to step into the road and hope they miss you!
I heard that in Italy and France they only stop for nuns.
Kettle boiled in 2 minutes 15 seconds. You guys are great ambassadors for America, especially in this day and age.
Lots of love from Preston, Lancashire.
I’m British and my parents lived in Minnesota for a time. I spent a winter with them - it was a really bad winter even by Minnesotan standards - and the thing that struck me on returning to the UK was how cold it was! No seriously! In Minnesota, you never need to go outdoors. You go from your heated house to your heated garage to your heated car to your heated underground car park to your heated offices / shops and honestly you could go months and the only time you went outdoors was to pick up the mail at the end of the drive. Returning to the UK, I was struck by how necessary it was to walk outdoors and having spent several weeks basically indoors, it felt really cold.
That’s so weird. I never would have thought that.
That, and the cold of a Minnesota winter is a dry cold. UK cold is is a wet cold that gets into your bones.
If you want to cross at a Zebra crossing in the UK, put your toe on it. Cars must then give way to the pedestrian, it is THE LAW and as we all know UK drivers always obey the law.
I spent ten months driving round Europe. The culture shock when I returned to the UK was driving on the proper side of the road. 😉😁
Because my son lives in Washington State, I have been a fairly frequent visitor to the USA (pre-virus). When someone says ‘How are you?’, my instinctive response (usually suppressed) is ‘What has that got to with you?’ It just feels wrong to ask impertinent questions.
We've both forgotten how to respond to that question as well 😆 The correct response (or so we're told) is just "good", nothing more, nothing less haha
@@WanderingRavens "Fine" sounds more British. "Good" sounds American
Do you want the condensed version or the full Monty ?
I don’t mind the “have a nice day” leaving places; the irritating one is entering a store and it’s as if the assistant has been circling like some predatory hawk.
You immediately get the “hi, is there anything you’re looking for?”
“No, just browsing thanks”
“Do you need help with that?”
Hmmmmm.
An “average” kettle in the UK runs at about 2800 W and in the US at about 1500 W; if we assume that both kettles are 100% efficient† than a UK kettle supplying 2800 joules per second will take 127 seconds to boil and a US kettle supplying 1500 J/s will take 237 seconds, more than a minute and a half longer.
Blame the U.S voltage system for you late morning coffee
Tipping was another issue I had when I visited the US. As it was expected, even when the service was bad. Has a taxi driver yell at me when he misheard the address, had some grab my carry on without being asked for like 5 seconds and expected a tip. They stop end tipping and actually pay their workers a decent wage
i as a brit went to cold stone in the USA and when I put a dollar in the tip jar, was mortified when all the staff started singing thank you for your dough. I wanted the earth to open under me
My kettle boils 1 litre of water in 2 minutes 24 seconds. I can’t believe you got me to time that! 😂
Mine was the exact same.
4 minutes for a kettle to boil 🥺 I feel for you! I now feel the need to time my kettle though...
Love the shout out to Evan Edinger's channel, he has such amazing content!
Lol I just thought I've got to time my kettle now :D
It's always amazing to see your videos Wandering Ravens.
Glad you enjoy it!
They are selling you something and then asking you to pay the staff wages as well, it could well be the ultimate con from the shop.
Moving back to the UK after six years in China and having to learn to queue again was... an experience. 🤣
Also in China they’ve adopted the US approach to service in shops, basically over-enthusiastic greeting and then following you around trying to promote their most expensive products for you to buy. As a Brit this was unbelievably anxiety-inducing. We once spent ages trying to explain to a shop assistant that we would be about 500% more likely to buy something if she just left us the fuck alone to browse, please. She nodded understandingly, left us alone for approximately five seconds, and then popped up beside us again. Makes me want to scream! I discovered that the only way to get around a store un-harassed was to have a fake mobile phone conversation the entire time.
Haha!!! Same as the shop assistants in UAE ! 🤣
Haha same as the shop assistants in Korea! 😂
as some one who lives in China, I feel your pain. I have basically stopped going to shops partly for that reason that it's too anxiety inducing being followed around and told you can try on every item you look at!
It seems it is necessary to learn the Chinese for “Fu*k off”.
I just about remember when it was like that in the UK.. yes it really was like "Open All Hours" in all shops, and I remember many shops like that. You either needed to know what you wanted before you entered or to be prepared for a one-to-one conversation with an assistant.
Now the problem is often finding someone to talk to when you do need a hand. The worst case, though quite a few years ago, was in a department store where I wanted to buy some sports shoes. I wandered around for several minutes with the single shoe from the display (wrong size) in my hand, trying to attract someone's attention. The sales assistants were keener on talking to each other than on selling to me, so I went elsewhere.
Tips are earned not expected!
After almost 4 years living in Canada, the one thing I still can’t get used to is the difference in crossing the road. In the UK the cars don’t stop so you look for gaps and time your walk accordingly. In Canada the cars just stop, and it feels awkward, like I’m not sure who’s meant to go first, and I feel bad for making them stop. I think that it’s so ingrained into me from an early age that crossing the road is dangerous that even though the car has stopped I’m still worried it will just run me over.
I don't know where you lived in the UK. I live in London and have no problem with crossing the roads.
@@p.millard557 I didn’t say I had a problem crossing the road. Just noted the difference between the pedestrian/motorist relationship in Canada and the UK. I actually think it’s maybe a North America vs rest of the world difference.
"Dog Watching"😂😂😂😂. I really need to get my mind out of the gutter
Oh my god, when you were talking about all the different types of Cheerios you went straight into ‘jam, jelly, peanut butter’ and I thought that was flavours of Cheerios. Then you said ‘toilet paper’ and I was like ‘eh?’ 😆
Sorry for the confusion 😆😆
Same lol
Toilet Paper is my favourite flavour (with a 'u'!) 😁
@@markthomas2577 😆😆
Me too!
Kettle boiled in 1 minute 43 seconds from switch on to automatic cut off. I'm in Hull, Yorkshire for reference.
Wow!! That's an impressive kettle! We're a bit envious 😂
Yep; I've just tried it with our three different kettles. All took under two minutes, the fastest was 1 minute 40 seconds. I've now got three pots of tea to drink ...
@@saxon-mt5by that`s no problem for a Hullian...
Im from hessle and 1 pot is for warming up your throat.
@@saxon-mt5by Incredible!! So jealous now haha
@@stevenjohnson4190 😂😂
Absolutely with you on how much things cost in the US now! I don't know if I'm just used to what things cost here in Scotland now, but what they charge for basics like groceries and toiletries seemed outrageous when we were back in Minneapolis in December 2019.
Oh! And my kettle took 1 minute & 32 seconds to boil 1 litre of water.
Oh! And mobile phone plans are crazy expensive over there.
(but guns and gasoline are still cheap) 😉
In the UK we have a lot of choices of toilet roll (and they still all sold out 🧻 😂)
😂 😂
I'm a kiwi in Australia, and one thing I noticed in Australia is that drivers are waaaay nicer to pedestrians compared to NZ (in general. There are c*nts in Oz as well). It's to the point it annoys me to be honest. Like I'll be standing near the corner, and the car will be 10 metres away and will slow down for me, then I feel like I have to cross now. Back in NZ, you really have to look like you're about to cross or no one will stop.
@@shaungordon9737 Shaun, you can't be all like "yeah, nah, maybe" near a crossing in NZ, is what you are saying. I don't know about all-of-Aus, but drivers in Melbourne are efftards. They will swing across 3 lanes to get 1/2 a car length ahead. They will sail up the shoulder to get in front of you. One good thing, though: loads of plain cop cars, so they often get pinged.
It is true but they wanted to find a big choice in Poundland and Lidl.
Whoaa that tipping thing at the end sounds absolutely mental I would go crazy!!
I AM going crazy!!! 😂
Boiling 1Ltr of water in over 4 minutes .... what with, a lighter?
Basically 😂😂
Andrew Last The mains electricity in U.K. Is 240 volts, double what Europe and USA use,
. That's why the kettle takes twice as long.
@@torfrida6663 ; I don't know which part of Europe you have in mind but Spain definitely has a voltage of 235 volts.
@@robertgriffith8857 Everybody is supposed to have 230 now. Before the EU it varied from country to country but always in the 220 -240 range (UK was 240v). They made it law that all new appliances had to work with any voltage in that range .
@@torfrida6663 Er, no. It's not the voltage but the wattage that determines how quickly a kettle will boil. It's true that at 240volts half the current produces the same wattage so cable sizes might be thinner. However some time ago the 'sainted' EU decided to reduce the maximum wattage of kettles so making new kettles take longer to boil. We used to be able to buy 3kW kettles here in the UK and many of us are hoping that we might get back to that now we are out of the EU.
Just stumbled across your videos. Fascinated by your views on the UK. While understanding that they're your own personal views, very impressed by your generally understanding and well-expressed delivery. Except for your distaste for my daily diet : Fry's Turkish Delight and Yorkie Bars. Ref this specific video: I'm glad you noted the ubiquitous faux welcome in the USA and the appalling practices around tipping. Hugh, nr Manchester, UK.
I am from the UK and spent 21 years in Germany. I knew that the left hand drive would confuse me even getting in the wrong side of the car! Upon coming back to live in the UK I was shocked at how expensive it was. Before leaving for Germany in 1975 banks closed at 3.30pm and after 1996 they close at 5pm. Society had become more aggressive but more friendly too. The biggest of all was speaking English all the time and I still miss German. Thanks for sharing.
I've only once been to America and I can't get over the greeters in shops. I come from a Nordic country and I now live in the UK. I am not used to strangers approaching me with a big smile and a friendly attitude. I find it creepy and it makes me uneasy. Cause I never know what's on that stranger's mind, why is he approaching me? Why is he smiling at me or greeting me? I prefer that strangers just pass me without acknowledging me :)
I’m from Leeds and I think it’s incredible rude not to stop at zebra crossing and nearly never see anyone not stop. I have once or twice forgot to stop just cause I didn’t see and felt horrible all day. Hope you come back to the U.K. soon. Really recommend coming to North Yorkshire where I now live. Leeds isn’t the best haha
We'll definitely be back soon! And we're planing to visit the North next time (hopefully when everything is back to normal 🙏🏻)
@@WanderingRavens hello!!
I strongly recommend
Haworth (where the Bronte sisters are from)
Whitby (where Dracula lived haha) also there a goth weekend there around Easter and Halloween. There a lot of people dressed up and full of friendly goths
Skipton which is nice and near the Yorkshire Dales which is great country side
York - which is has so much history it’s ridiculous
Ere what're you saying about Leeds 😉 But yeah I agree if you return do a bit of a bigger Yorkshire tour! And try going further up North and seeing some of our more rural places like Windermere and the Lake District!
@@salomeydraws 😂 it’s not the worse place but I can’t image been a tourist in Leeds.there not a lot to do there. Maybe cause I grew up there but yeah Yorkshire has a lot I think they would love but not much they would love in Leeds
@@AstralHealthGuy I second your recommendations! I'm lucky enough to live in Skipton, and yes, the Dales are amazing.
I had significant reverse culture shock many, many years ago after moving back to the USA. I’d only lived in Seoul, S Korea for a year, but I too was overwhelmed at all the choices available in the supermarket!!
Just recently subscribed to your channel, I'm from the UK and I find your videos very informative, all the best to you both 🙂
I knew you were going to say tipping at the end! It's just nuts. I've seen people in the US tip the driver of a free airport shuttle bus, and apparently you're supposed to tip whoever makes up your room in a hotel, even though you never even see them. Complete madness.
I've tipped housemaids in hotels before, usually when overseas. I just leave them all my coins that I can't exchange when I get back home.
Tipping seems to be getting more and more out of hand every time we visit the States. It's to the point now where we can't even keep up anymore and are in constant terror of making a severe social blunder because we can't keep straight which situations to tip in 🤦🏻♀️
@@WanderingRavens Yes, it can be very stressful trying to work out if you need to tip and how much. You also never know how much anything is going to cost with the tips and tax to be added to the price you see.
It's one of the things I love about going to Japan, no tipping anywhere.
I’m with Ian - just leave the stack of loose coins for the room staff! It’s a few Euros and a royal pain to haul home.
I'm amused that you made me time my own kettle, lol. (2.01 till it switched itself off, for reference)
And, with the wonders of the internet, I know it makes no difference where you physically are but, miss you already, and please come back to Blighty as soon as you are able. Regards, a Lancashire lad
Your kettle takes half as long as ours! 😫
And yes! We are hoping to return to the UK as soon as possible. We miss it there already ❤️🇬🇧
I genuinely love this channel, im British and its so fun watching ur reactions 😂😂
I spent a week in Michigan a few years ago. Really enjoyed the experience buy the tipping was next-level stress.
Back in the mid Nineties I used to holiday in the states quite a lot and when back home I spent quite a lot of time with US marines at their Rod and Gun clubs which served American imported beer. The culture shock came after getting back to ' good old blighty ' getting a bottle of Bud and forgetting that British bottled beer did not have screw tops. The cut on my left palm was very deep.
Haha I'm so English, when you said tipping I thought of fly tipping.
Post no bills, no loitering, no ball games (ew-err missus!).
Great video again guys, love Leeds!
Love your sense of humour! 😂
In the UK dogs of mixed or many breeds are sometimes called a Heinz 57 dog (also called a mongrel)...which is a playful or joking term which stemmed from H.J. Heinz company which refers to the 57 varieties of food they made (Baked Beans, soups, sauces).
In these days of dog obsession (the terms "doggo" and "fur baby" really grind my gears!), it seems the terms mongrel and Heinz 57 are fading fast. If two dogs of different breeds mate, they just give their offspring a fancy sounding name that's a combination of the parents' breeds!
True and some poor mites are carried round in bags, slings and 'special' pet pushchairs even. Yes there are a lot more names for cross breads these days and I'm not sure there are as many dogs as there used to be wandering or roaming the streets because of micro chipping (the dog licence wasn't as effective back then and don't know much about micro chipping as I've not had a dog for a little while), but there still are some little 'mixed varierties' or Heinz dogs who you just can't put a breed or name to.
You guys are the best! We UKians miss you!
We miss you all too! Can't wait to return to the UK 🇬🇧
THAT! Should be submitted to the OED. UKians or UKainens (meaning a person or people from the United Kingdom)
Snowing again now.
Liverpool a friendly Northern city.
@@Matthew-Wood85 hahaha, I'm being daft 😛
@@Darth_Revan25 🤣 I know but still I think it's a good idea, plus it is funny👍
A UK regional reverse culture shock was driving. Stayed in London for a time and there, you hit the accelerator at the merest hint of a green traffic light and drive as fast as you dare. Never stop at pedestrian crossings. Never let anyone in. Never back down from any 50/50 brinkmanship.
Coming back to Sussex, everything is so much more relaxed, so initially I get annoyed at people not going when the green light appears. I get annoyed at people ambling at 20mph. I get annoyed when it looks like someone doesn't know where they are going.
Within the week though, I am back in Sussex mode and ambling like everyone else, letting people cross, and letting people out.
That was fun! My kettle took 2:32 which also seemed a loooong time, I'm sure our previous one was faster, still a good excuse for a cuppa!
Yours is still faster than ours!
It all depends on the wattage rating of your kettle. The higher the wattage the faster to the boil. Remember that next time you're out shopping for a new kettle. 🙂
socket Yes, that's the reason why US kettle boil slower. The 120 volt supply means the maximum power they can safely draw from an outlet is around 1500 watts. UK outlets are 240 volts, so the same amps gives double the watts. Our outlets are rated for 13 Amps at 240 volts which means the theoretical maximum power available at any outlet is just over 3000 watts. However, as with all appliances different models have different ratings- kettles are normally 3000 watts but occasionally you will see 2000 watt kettles- you need to check before buying otherwise you will be disappointed!
@@socket1157 Sorry, my reply was to Ed Wright's comment regarding his boil time. I assume he's in the UK so his boil time can vary depending on the wattage rating of his kettle. You are right though, the lower US voltage means you can't draw more than 1.5kW from a standard domestic US outlet. Here in the UK we can draw up to 3kW from a domestic socket because of our higher voltage.
@@socket1157 Nope. Watts are a measure of the rate of work done (aka power). Electrically Watts = Volts x Amps, so 120v with twice the amps would boil just as fast.
Spiritof1955 may well be right in practice. If the outlet & wiring can't handle the power you'd just blow a fuse or trip a breaker.
Most kettles will be 2200watts, to match the common 10A outlets in mainland Europe. A 3kw kettle is for a serious tea drinker with access to 13A British sockets 😊
generally in the UK if you're casually walking down the street and someone comes up to you all friendly and nice and smiling, they only want money from you
Or are asking you to take part in a survey...
All that "friendliness" in shops in America sound a bit over the top to me. I wouldn't be surprise if the employees are required to behave that way. I find it strange that those employees would be that happy all the time.
I admire the hell out of you guys. So brave and creative. Wish I have done sth like this in life.
Thank you!! xx
Hi Eric & Grace, I've been watching the 3 Tenors singing O Sole Mio/ Its Now or Never and I remembered UK tv ads from 80s/ 90s for Walls Cornetto ice cream, you must give them view. Re being friendly with sales staff, there are 2 members of staff in Asda who chat too if they happen to serve me and are not busy. I also thank bus and give a tip to taxi drivers.
No, we don't think their interested in us in the US, we just think their way over the top and overbearing.
Sad but true. On my many trips to the US I've never really thought of that behaviour as friendliness, more like over-the-top and annoying!
@@andybaker2456 lived there for 30years and the over the top friendliness still annoyed me. It is very false.
I would guess its to try and justify the tips they demand.
As a German I always thought they were taking the piss on me as the only time a stranger would tell you that they like your hat/ hair cut etc. here and they aren't a 90 year old tipsy grandma (don't ask me why but German grandmas are all alcoholics) is when they are telling you in a sarcastic way that something is wrong about it.
Just like shouting "i am sooooo happy to see you" is a warning that they will start reaching for the nearest blunt object if you aren't gone within 5 seconds and getting smiled at randomly by strangers means either that a bird has shat on your head and you haven't noticed it, or that they are a psychopathic killer that is already gleefully planning how they are going to cut you into pieces
@@boahkeinbockmehr I'm in the UK and my parents taught me never to talk to strangers
It would be far easier to add tax to the final purchase price on items that are being sold rather than adding it on at the checkout, if you buy a pair of wrangler jeans for £50 on the label that's the price at the checkout, and as for tipping ( restaurants, not bars,pub's or shop's )we only do that if the service is good.
@@MattyRlufc I agree price marked goods would not fit if different states have different rates of sales tax, but (a) surely nearly all goods are NOT price marked by the manufacturer (they aren't in the UK) and (b) surely there is a big enough market in each state for manufacturers who DO price mark their goods to have different packaging in each state?
Eric’s voice gradually and progressively increasing in pitch with tipping outrage made me laugh 😆
😂😂😂
It is shocking when a total stranger asks “what are you doing for the rest of the day?” As a grumpy English Londoner person I have to restrain myself from answering MYOFB.
Dont know where you're buying milk in the uk, but I've never seen it not in a fridge
UHT or powdered 😂
@@dave_h_8742 Smartarse
@@dave_h_8742 that’s a disgusting excuse for milk. It doesn’t deserve the title of ‘milk’.
Most supermarkets don't put milk in fridges they use chilled shelving units.
@@TheJohnboyhunter chilled shelving unit is still refrigeration
Poundland 😅 I’d never even thought about it that way but now I’m going to think that every time 😅
Sorry 😂😂
Yeah, me too.
We found it amazing that cars stopped to let you cross when we were in San Fran, so I completely see your point.
Poundland rocks! Great for Hallowe'en decorations and sweets and homeware for one quid! Love your videos.
From August 2016 to January 2017, I split my time between Australia and New Zealand. And yes. There was a culture shock. At first (being a classic Brit), I took my jacket EVERYWHERE I went as it's in my blood to just take my jacket everywhere. I learnt I didn't need to do that. Plus, while there, everyone doesn't really care about my accent, the Aussies and the New Zealanders I met seemed to love my accent 🤣. Didn't know my accent was that amazing
Come to america - we think your accent is amazing too! :D
@@WanderingRavens I went to NYC in January 2016 (first time in America too). I would love to go to other places in America though. Didn't like that NYC locals kind of forced me to walk at their place. Not used to that type of behaviour as I live in the countryside. Less people
whats your feeling about tv adverts there the medicine ones thats one of the things that got me even 5 minutes an advert, it was amusing to me because the adverts were so loud and fast, side effects include death..
These are the best in the States. Almost every TV 'drug' (including prescribed meds) advert included the following "Side effects may include dizzyness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pains, loss of vision, impaired motor control or death. Consult your physician before taking this medication." The kids couldn't believe what they were seeing and hearing.
@@andyonions7864 i know i lived in texas for a while and the adverts amused me so much, i even missed them when i came back to the UK some of them were better than the tv shows ;)
Where i live (Birmingham) most of the local shops will greet you as you come in and be friendly with you especially if your a Customer that frequently goes into their shop, even to the point where you will greet each other by first name. We even say nice one or thank you to the Bus Drivers :)
I'm from Northern Ireland and cars stopping at crossings is really hit and miss. I've had to step out in front of cars at 8 months pregnant to get them to stop (in a 10 mph shopping area) otherwise I could be waiting for ages.
However in Italy I actually had cars and vans continue to drive towards me while ON the crossing as if stopping for even a second would cost them too much time.
I’d be so terrified of tipping if I went to the US! I’d have to watch a billion videos about how to do it properly
Us too! It seems to intensify every time we return to the States 😬
20% of the bill before tax is standard and fair
@@yasminesacristan5855 That’s gone up. I remember 15% being the reasonable rate.
@@yasminesacristan5855 how is that in any way reasonable and fair? Servers serve, why should they expect extra money? Teachers don't each student's tutition fee on top of their salary. Nor do nurses, doctors, shop workers, yet they all are in service industries. It's the restaurant's responsibility to pay enough to live on.
@@Hali88 I don’t know what Country you’re in but here in the USA most servers main income is from tips. Unfortunately their base salary is next to nothing. I don’t know why that is but it is. Believe me as an ICU nurse I know what being underpaid is
I can't help but wonder if you guys got a chance to visit Scotland when you were across the pond. You should pop up for a visit if you get the chance in the near future.
Due to covid, we never got that far north, but will return and see Scotland! We're very excited to road trip up there! :D
@@WanderingRavens Just pronounce Glasgow and Edinburgh properly and every Scottish person will be your best friend :P
Miss you guys! X
First off glad to hear you are back in the USA. I lived in Chicago while my father worked at the Museum of Science and Industry. Doing some exploratory work about the Russians. Very hush hush, but he has passed away, so no worries.
While doing a project in Houston I discovered that there was a very nice trail along the Buffalo Bayou (no buffaloes there anymore, very disappointing) and when I would greet people I was completely, and even rudely, ignored. So I came up with an idea. Why not greet them in German or French. Just by doing that I got very pleasant responses. But that was in Texas, so we should not expect that to be the case across the states. :)
Lovely to see Grace still not ageing. What are you doing to her Eric in order to pull that off? You have a beauty secret that needs to be published.
Being complimented in public in the USA has never been a problem I have had to face. Probably because of my very English face. :)
Running people over in crossroads in the UK has never been a problem - and I lived in the midlands in my 40s. Never had a problem, just turn my British face to the driver and bare my teeth and they all stopped.
"Poundland, Y'all" Real language mixology there.
Ever heard of Keurig? Seemingly everywhere, which leads to a lot more waste in the bin.
Pit bulls - I have a crossed pit bull/black Labrador named Puppy. I'll let you guess why I named him that. One of the sweetest dogs I've ever owned. He sleeps with me on my bed. Don't bother with molestation charges, the police have investigated and found no evidence of that.
Tipping. Yes, rather than pay a decent wage let your 'employees' rely upon tips. Works well in upscale restaurant, from which I have been banned, but not so well at lower end cafes and such. When in the US I pay a 20% tip because it is easier to calculate and I think the treatment of wait staff in the US is shoddy.
So, no mention of classism today. But I have changed my profile picture to capture part of a HO scale truss bridge that I built. Not as detailed as the 'rivet counters' would like, but is quite strong and I like capturing the essence of structures rather than going for full on realism. C'est la guerre
Cheers and appropriate levels of love for both of you.
Stovetop kettles have not been popular in the UK since the sixties.
When you're back in Europe get yourself a Travel Kettle straight away they are not that expensive
If a stranger says ‘love that hat’ in the UK, it usually means they hate it and are taking the p155 👍🇬🇧
🤣
I enjoyed you video! I live in the midlands and most people stop at zebra crossing and people are rubbish drivers round here. I've only been to New York 5 years ago, we loved it and would go back but the locals seemed moody and sometimes a little scary (witnessed a fight on the subway over some guy kicking a bag slightly as he sat down).
I lived in Australia for a few years where everything is spaced out and it was weird returning back to a city in the UK where it felt like everyone lives on top of each other.
When I returned to the UK I had to really pay attention because I'd become so accustomed to drivers just stopping in the US that I was almost bran down, twice back here. I lived in Virginia which appears to have a similar cost of living to many parts of the UK but traveling around the Carolina's i noticed a difference. As for electric kettles yes they take way longer but like electric heaters I'm assuming that's due to the lower voltages in the US.
Several commenters have informed us that it's due to the lower voltage, so that must be the case. It never stood out to us before, but this time it's reeeeally bothering us 😂
@@WanderingRavens That's why we don't have electric sockets in bathrooms.
@@jillhobson6128 ...and the light switch is out of reach on the ceiling operated by a a dangling fibre cord.
Funny....wie live in coastal Virginia and nobody stops for pedestrians. It is State Law to do so but nobody cares.
Drivers are obliged to stop by law at zebra crossing in the UK
But only when a pedestrian has actually stepped onto the crossing.
@@Peterd1900 That's correct but most people seem to think you have to stop when someone is stood at the edge of the pavement because no one actually reads the highway code.
Rule 19
Zebra crossings. Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. Vehicles will need more time when the road is slippery. Wait until traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing. Keep looking both ways, and listening, in case a driver or rider has not seen you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped.
www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-pedestrians-1-to-35
Growing up in the 1970s we were told to stand with a foot on the kerb and wait for the cars to stop.
www.rospa.com/about/history/tufty
@@simonmeeds1886 Yeah traffic does not have to stop until you start crossing.
The advice contradicts itself. Dont cross until traffic has stopped but traffic doesnt have to stop untill you have started to cross.
When I lived in the US it was quite common for bar staff to not even give me my change. I would call them on it and they would go into one about tipping. I'd point out that it's only a tip if I offer it, if not it's stealing.
Also, in restaurants I'd often be asked if I wanted any change. I would respond that I wouldn't have if that question had not been asked.
I come from the south of England (as in more south than London) and the cars not stopping thing gets me every time in London, especially the taxis. Just give em a good stare and they’ll know your serious and wanna go across
Cars don't stop at crosswalks? zebra crossings. I'm sorry I don't agree with you !!!
I'm from Manchester and we all stop for them here, maybe it's a southern thing?
They do where I live in the south west.
Agreed. I can count on one hand the number of times cars HAVEN'T stopped at a zebra crossing for me. Even in London. These two must have had some bad luck.
We'll give British drivers another chance next time we're in the UK ;D
@@WanderingRavens Good, now when are you good people coming back? Cause we miss you both, and your out-put has dropped alarmingly!
You're so right to make an exception of London for friendliness, politeness, consideration and so on. But it's not just the 'North' that does things better; just about anywhere too far from London to commute will be a more relaxed place to live.
That's what we've heard! It's a pity we were only able to visit the North (Leeds) during Covid so we weren't able to truly enjoy the Northern hospitality and friendliness :/
I dunno. I’m from the midlands and if a stranger spent more than 3 seconds saying anything more than that ‘alright?’, I would feel horrifically awkward and seriously consider just running away.
I am from London and I am polite thank you
Colleague of mine commuted from Lincolnshire daily, so I guess that's out!
@@adamwest8711 same I am from the midlands and I would be horrified if anyone said alright to me. I purposefully try to avoid conversation at all costs. seriously, if there's a line for a self check out and a free till I will stand in the line for the self checkout or when someone started talking to me or one of my friends we do that eye contact thing were go look at them trying to say with your eyes help me! i think politeness is scary for people in the midlands( or at least were I'm from)
When I went to the USA and entered a supermarket, 3 cashiers greeted me, almost in unison, and it made things very awkward for me for a few seconds as I was not expecting it and I didn't know how to react. I eventually said 'hello' back to all 3 of them as I passed them. #britintheUSA
I love you two! x
‘HEY GUYS!’ Eric has got his American voice back! Where's that volume control..? :D You buy a pack of coffee filters and you have to pay 20% on top, and then, they invite you to pay a tip on top of the whole thing? Daylight robbery, I say! I'm actually mad on your behalf!
4:56 things like that even the northern English people wouldn’t like or do lol we actually just don’t assume it’s real. Obviously that level is specifically in customer service but no we don’t think people are interested in us, we just don’t think it’s genuine lol even if it is
Good to know!
Love the thumb nail!!! 🤣🤣🤣
I used to be okay around pit bulls (yes they are EVERYWHERE in the USA) until last year...one bit my small dog about twenty times!!! Three nights in the ER! He almost died! I did not believe it would ever happen to me or my dog! Even after reading a news story about building contractor with extreme bites in Marin County. "I like dogs too much, it won't happen to me."...Ideally, it should be illegal to breed them...too many people...overcrowded cities, suburbs, even remote rural areas toddlers get killed by the family pet. Over the decades they have been bred into a very different dog from 100 years ago. It takes extreme time, money, dedication to make sure nothing awful happens. About 6 million pets are put down early every year in the USA including millions of cute, healthy dogs, cats, puppies, kittens so those will have a better chance of getting adopted if pit bulls are not allowed to breed.