American Millennial Unprepared for Reality of Move to UK-'Different Planet'

Newsweek

20-05-2025

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An American woman who moved to the UK in search of a better life says she's been left disappointed—and the people of TikTok have thoughts.
Jessica Hanson (@jessicahanson879), 42, who splits her time between Miami and Conwy, a small town in Wales, has gained attention for her viral series critiquing the less glamorous aspects of British life. Her latest post, which focuses on the lack of air conditioning in UK homes, has drawn reaction online, garnering 2,691 likes and 82,900 views on TikTok.
"I've gotten a huge kick out of how many views those little videos got. I split my time between Miami and a small town in the UK, and every time I go back to my house in Wales I think 'jeez life is so much harder here. Gas is $10 a gallon, it's permanently freezing, but putting the heating on costs a fortune, are there are just none of the conveniences I'm used to,'" Hanson told Newsweek.
In her latest video, Hanson admitted she initially underestimated the culture shift that would come with living in the UK. As the owner of a shipping company in South Florida, she bought the Welsh home two years ago, with the intention of spending more time there. Though things have not gone how she initially envisioned.
A split image of Jessica Hanson taken from her video explaining the differences she has found between living in the UK and US.
A split image of Jessica Hanson taken from her video explaining the differences she has found between living in the UK and US.
@jessicahanson879/@jessicahanson879
"When the days are 9 billion degrees here in summer, I do occasionally long for a misty cold British day, but by the time I've been there for a bit, I can't wait to get home and see sunshine and happy people," she said.
She thought it would be easy because both countries speak English, but said she now finds everyday life harder than expected.
She launched a new series on TikTok: "Same Language, Different Planet."
In one video, Hanson admitted she had genuinely thought it would be easy to live in the UK.
She pointed out the lack of air conditioning across the country, noting there was no ductwork or central systems. Instead, she said, each room relied on its own radiator, creating what she described as "tiny climate control time zones."
Hanson questioned whether this resistance to comfort was simply something Brits accepted, contrasting it with the ease of pressing a button for a set temperature in the U.S. She ended by urging Americans never to take their HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems for granted, saying they would deeply miss them if they were gone.
While air conditioning is standard in most American homes, most UK residences do not have any form of built-in AC.
According to a 2022 New York Times report, the UK's historically mild summers meant that cooling systems were never seen as a necessity.
Homes were built to retain heat rather than release it, with insulation and double-glazing designed for colder months.
Additionally, much of the country's housing stock is older, making retrofitting AC units both costly and impractical.
The 42-year-old also expressed frustration with the UK's higher tax rates and unreliable public transport. According to Taxes for Expats, while the US uses a largely flat federal tax system, the UK's progressive tax structure means residents pay significantly higher rates as income increases, with fewer itemized deductions available.
However, she did point to one undeniable benefit of life in the UK.
"On the other hand, on a sunny day, there is truly nothing like the countryside. I actually pulled over and cried once, it was so gorgeous, so there's that," she said.
Despite that beauty, Hanson revealed that the sense of local community she hoped for hasn't materialized.
"There isn't the feeling of community that I was expecting. At least not where I live. Every time I am at one of my sisters' houses, there is always a random neighborhood kid running in or out, or ball being played in the street.
"In fact, we just had two friends over from Manchester to visit for a few weeks and every day they'd come back to the house and say, "My God everyone is so friendly here. We got head nods and waves all morning and talked to 3 people just at the beach." It cracked me up how amazed they were. According to my (adorable) misanthropic husband, Americans can be 'a bit much with all the talking' but I know he secretly likes it," she added.
She also expressed her shock at the persistence of class divisions in British society.
"It's BANANAS to me that the great great grand daughter by marriage twice removed, or whatever, of some guy who once got a title, but whose family has lost all of their money is considered 'better' somehow than someone who actually made money for themselves (new money) in the UK.
"It's so different from over here. Nobody really cares who your family is or was. They care about what you've accomplished. That has been the biggest shock for me," she shared.
TikTokers had mixed responses to Hanson's take on British life, namely her aircon critique.
"I'm an American who has lived in different countries for 20 years (in UK now). I mean this with all of the kindness in the world, but just because something is different doesn't mean it's lesser," one user said.
"Dude it's 10°C (50°F) today in April, you don't need A/C for 99% of the time!!" shared another.
"Woman it's April, what do you need air conditioning for in April?!" added a third.
Another viewer chimed in: "We'd need AC for about 14 days (not 14 days in a row)."
"I thought us Brits had thicker skin than some of these comments suggest. We would love aircon but it's just too expensive and not practical for our relatively tepid temperatures, and limited space," another user commented.
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