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The best way to get adjusted to life in the U.K. is to immerse in the new culture early on. If you’re afraid to tackle it alone, ask a friend or coworker who has been living here awhile to show you the ropes. Be sure to check various resources on your installation to see if welcome tours are provided.
DINING OUT
Do not wear sweats or running shoes to pubs, restaurants or clubs.
You are unlikely to be rushed during a meal, so people often stay for two hours.
Customer service is different than what you may be used to.
Servers may not check on you often so take the initiative to ask if you need something.
Ice is typically not included with your beverages so be sure to ask.
Tipping is not required at pubs. Menus in restaurants will note whether or not tipping is included. If not, you can give 10-15 percent.
SHOPPING
Look for car park (parking lot) signs to ensure you don’t stay longer than what’s permitted.
When paying to park, over estimate how long you plan to spend. If returning more than five minutes after your ticket expires, you can face a possible £70.00 fine.
Consider using park and ride services in the bigger towns and cities.
Bring your own bag since shops typically charge five pence per plastic bag on the economy.
Have a pound or trolley (cart) coin with you as some supermarkets require you to deposit this to get a trolley.
Many supermarkets offer online ordering and delivery services.
Most shops will be open Monday through Saturday from approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with shorter hours on Sundays. Supermarkets may be open longer hours depending on their location.
Consider registering for an off-base supermarket points card. These are free and earn you money off coupons which can result in savings in store and online.
Be on the lookout for market days near you so you can buy fresh local produce and goodies.
Common off-base supermarkets: Tesco Sainsbury’s Co-op Asda Iceland Waitrose Morrisons Aldi Lidl
Tesco
Sainsbury’s
Co-op
Asda
Iceland
Waitrose
Morrisons
Aldi
Lidl
Tesco
Sainsbury’s
Co-op
Asda
Iceland
Waitrose
Morrisons
Aldi
Lidl
RECYCLING
Recycling is a requirement. Each local council and town can be on different trash and recycle pick-up schedules — so be sure to ask your landlord or neighbors for information. Check with your installation about their recycling and waste disposal regulations and who it applies to.
Here’s a clear list of what to recycle:
Paper
Boxes (from cereal boxes to shoe boxes)
Cardboard
Envelopes
Paper
Paper bags
Reading materials (paperback books, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, mail)
Wrapping paper
Non-paper packing material
Aluminum foil
Bottle tops
Jar lids
Metal cans/packaging
Net bags for produce
Plastic bags (storage bags, bags that food comes in, grocery bags)
Plastic bottles/cartons
Styrofoam
Biodegradables/compost
Branches
Bread
Egg shells
Flowers/Plants
Fruit
Hay and straw shavings
Nutshells
Paper towels
Tea bags
Untreated wood
Vegetables
Wood chips
Residual
Ashes
Cat litter
Diapers
Feminine products
Kleenex
Meat (including bones)
Mirrors
Non-packaging metals/plastics
Seafood (including shells)
Soiled paper products
Vacuum cleaner bags
Glass
White, clear, green, brown, blue and other colored glass
Drinking glasses
Non-returnable glass jars/bottles
Other glass packaging
Bulk and hazardous waste
Batteries
Chemicals/detergents/pesticides
Construction waste
Cooking oil
Electronics
Furniture (some councils will collect these for a small charge)
Large branches
Lightbulbs
Mercury thermometers
Other oils
Paint
Scrap metal
Tires
Trees
BRITISH vs. AMERICAN ENGLISH
A common misconception is that since English is a shared language amongst Americans and the British, that it is entirely the same. Well, that’s not quite the case. Familiarize yourself with British English with the chart below. On the left hand side is the British word for the American word or phrase on the right hand side.
Transportation
Bonnet = hood (of a car)
Boot = trunk (of a car)
Car park = parking lot
Caravan = camper/trailer
Car hire = rental car
Carriageway = smaller highway
Estate = station wagon
Flyover = overpass
Gearbox = transmission
Indicator = turn signal
Junction = exit
Lay-by = rest area
Lorry = semi-truck
Motorway = freeway/expressway
Number plate = license plate
Petrol = gasoline
Roundabout = traffic circle
Saloon = sedan
Sat nav = GPS
Tube/underground = subway
To let/for let = for rent
Windscreen = windshield
Food
Aubergine = eggplant
Biscuit = cookie
Candy = hard candy
Chicken goujons = chicken tenders
Chips = thick-cut fries
Cooker/hob = stove
Courgette = zucchini
Crisps = chips
Cuppa = cup of tea
Ice lolly = popsicle
Jacket potato = baked potato
Mince = ground meat
Peckish = hungry
Rasher = Bacon
Sweet or pudding = dessert
Sweets = candy
Takeaway = take-out food
Toastie = grilled/toasted sandwich
Trolley = shopping cart
Shopping/Clothing
Chemist = pharmacy
Jumper = sweater
Nappy = Diaper
Off-license = liquor store
Pants = underwear
Pushchair = stroller
Quid = slang for pounds sterling (GBP)
Rucksack = backpack/knapsack
Spectacles = eyeglasses
Trainers = athletic shoes
Trousers = pants
Wardrobe = closet
Miscellaneous
Barrister = lawyer/attorney
Bin = trash can
Bits n’ bobs = knickknacks
Bob’s your uncle! = There you go!
Booking = reservation
Bugger = jerk
Cheeky = sneaky
Cinema = movie theatre
Cot = crib
CV = resume
Diary = calendar
Dodgy = suspicious
Dummy = pacifier
Film = movie
Flat = apartment
Flypast = flyover
Football = soccer
Garden = yard
Hen party = bachelorette party
High street = main street
Holiday = vacation
Lift = elevator
Loo = toilets
Mad = crazy
Mate = friend
Mobile = cell phone
Opposite = across from
Plaster = band aid
Post = mail
Post code = zip code
Quay = dock/wharf
Rubbish = garbage
Queue = line
Ring = call
Rubber = pencil eraser
Stag night = bachelor party
Sun cream = sunscreen
Tick mark = check mark
Torch = flashlight
Uni = college/university
Whinge = whine
