TheUnstitchd
If you’re shifting to the UK, you must be pretty excited. There’s a whole new life ahead of you, with plenty of new experiences, people, and work to do. Considering everything going through your mind, there’s bound to be some apprehension about the move. Immigrating to the UK should be fine if you’re prepared for a bit of a culture shock. The UK is quite advanced, with pubs, clubs, and more at nearly every corner. You might also come across words like ‘chippies,’ ‘rubbish,’ ‘fringes,’ and more.
All this will be fine as long as you prepare for your UK move. Since the people there are friendly and will help if asked, you shouldn’t bother too much about the colloquialisms and instead focus on the research needed to get the move sorted.
Let us look at a few things you should know when moving to the UK.
Weather:
Have you ever heard the term, ‘four seasons in one day?’ That’s the UK for you. It truly does have four seasons in one day. You may wake up to a sunny morning, wear loose clothes, and by afternoon there’s a chilly wind with icy rain that eventually turns to snow by the end of the day. Welcome to the UK!
Another thing you should remember is that Brits love talking about the Weather – it’s their favourite icebreaker. So if you find yourself in uncomfortable silence while conversing, you can start talking about the weather and allow others to express their feelings. It’s best to always keep a jacket and an umbrella on you so you are safe from unpredictable weather.
Public Healthcare:
The government set up the National Healthcare Service (NHS) in 1948 post-war to help citizens and residents with their Medicare. This institution is still active and fully funded by income tax, making public healthcare nearly free. Most services are covered, but users do have to pay for specialist care and prescriptions. However, those can be managed with health insurance.
Currently, the NHS is quite strained due to the pandemic. However, efforts for recovery are being carried out promptly. The NHS is available for all workers, migrants, residents, and citizens.
Great Work-life Balance:
Since the UK does not have as many bank holidays as the rest of the world, they compensate their workforce with plenty of paid time off. Full-time workers in the UK usually get nearly 28 days of paid leave annually. That’s an entire month of vacation!
Companies in the UK are also quite strict about work timings and insist on employees leaving at their designated times without overstressing or overworking. This is a refreshing change from the incredibly stressful working environments in the US and Australia.
Differing Accents:
Most people feel Britishers speak like those in the movies. While this may be true for some, it’s not for all. In fact, the UK has quite a substantial immigrant population, which means you will come across multiple accents. For some, your language may also be with an accent. However, this does not mean you won’t be understood; quite the contrary.
People in the UK are used to hearing different accents and will readily accommodate you. However, if you move towards the north of the UK, like Scotland, you may have to listen carefully since it could be challenging to understand the Scottish English accent. However, if you politely request the speaker to repeat themself, you should be just fine.
Excellent Landscape:
The UK is picturesque! The Scottish highlands, the British countryside, stately manor houses, the moors, grassy hills, and more are abundant in the UK. Some notable areas to explore are the Welsh Valleys, Cotswold, and the Lake District. These places are picture-perfect and Instagram-worthy.
You’ll also come across several quaint villages with cosy outdoor cafés that serve English tea and muffins on rainy days. These small towns and cities also have plenty of historical sites that are incredibly well-preserved. As you travel across the length and breadth of the UK, you will find yourself in a magical world – think Harry Potter, but in reality!
Pay For What You See:
That’s right. In the UK, you pay for what you see, unlike in many other countries. The prices shown on labels include taxes, so if you have a habit of totalling the figures before you purchase anything, you will know the entire amount beforehand. There are no add-ons to the bill when you’re at the billing counter. Hence, no nasty surprises later!