Pre-tavel tips

Getting ready to study abroad! See a video (link below) explaining everything I talk about in this post :)

Before I left for my study abroad semester, I made sure to do some basic research about England to be as prepared as possible. I focused mainly on the basics of cultural, linguistic and social expectations and differences between the United States and England. Of course, nothing can prepare you as well as real-world experience in your new city, but extra research beforehand definitely won’t hurt! So, with that being said, here are some of the important things I learned:

Social/Cultural Norms- Generally, social interactions in England should be similar to what you are used to in the United States- use your manners and be polite. However, you may find that people do not come across as friendly as they do in America. This includes, waiters at restaurants and cashiers in grocery stores. But of course, this is not applicable to everyone and there are many very friendly people as well! Generally, people in England will tend to be more reserved until you know them. British humor is generally thought to be quite sarcastic so keep this in mind as you get to know some locals. When in public, be aware that lining up or “queuing” as it is called in England is very common and no one tries to “cut” in line. Smoking is also much more common in England (and across Europe) than the US so don’t be surprised if you see lots of people smoking on the street. When you dine out, tipping between 10-12% is customary.

Linguistic- There are some important differences between British English and American English that are helpful to look into beforehand. These include spelling differences such as the -ou in colour or using an “s” rather than a “z” in words like customise. Some common words that are used differently include saying “boot” for the trunk of the car or “jumper” for sweater. There are many more small differences like these that are easy to look up and you will get used to. As far as communicating with people, everyone will notice your American accent right away so expect some questions. Sometimes understanding English people can be difficult as there are many regional dialects.

Don't be too nervous about learning everything before you come here, sometimes the best way to learn is through first hand experiences! I hope this post helps you feel a little more prepared before you study abroad!

Video link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/101IJb0FkVfz5QAFYv4eOZHV9f9maG_6h/view?usp=share_link

Here's a few pictures of when I first arrived in Brighton :)