'I moved from US to UK and there's 3 British things I now couldn't live without'
An American in the UK has shared that there are three things that she now cannot live without, saying if she were to have any of them taken away completely, she would find it "difficult". TikTok user @yorkshirepeach said that she'd been back in America for a while, and she'd found it "really weird" that certain things that are normal in the UK, and pretty common, were not there.
The first thing that she couldn't believe isn't freely available in the US is squash. "Not that yellow vegetable, my American friends," she joked, saying that she actually meant "cordial," the dilutable juice.
She explained to those who do not know that you pour the squash in, and then fill the rest up with water, and then drink it, saying that you "just keep that under the cabinet".
"I can't imagine a life when I'd go back to not having squash," she shared, saying that when she was in America, she kept having to buy proper juice for her son, and it takes up too much space.
She also fumed that there didn't seem to be blackcurrant flavoured things in America either, saying that people in the US will get defensive and say there's grape flavoured things, but she seethed that it's "not the same".
Next up was a kettle. She said that in American hotel rooms, there's no kettle, but an "old school coffee pot".
Because of this, she found herself "boiling water on the stove" for "instant coffee and tea," which is less than ideal.
"I just can't imagine going back to a life with no kettle," she lamented, wondering how people do it, bringing up the fact that she couldn't even use a kettle when she made ramen noodles.
She did note that some people will say they have a kettle in America, but she pointed out that it's "rare". "Most people don't have them. I went to three friend's houses while I was there and nobody has a kettle, she shared.
Another thing she said that she'd be "remiss" if she didn't mention was "free healthcare".
She said that she knows people pay for the NHS in a roundabout way through taxes, but she meant "free at the point of service".
The TikToker pointed out that in the UK, people "take for granted" that there will be someone to look after them, should they become sick or injured.
She said that people don't consider that if they "have an accident" that they could get into "huge, huge amounts of debt," and this is something she would miss if she weren't in the UK.
Furthermore, she admitted that once she was away with her kids, she was worrying about getting into an accident or falling over, just in case she needed medical attention, which isn't something that concerns people in the UK, thanks to the NHS.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
12 hours ago
- Metro
Gen Z eat like 'senior citizens' — and our chaotic world is to blame
While our friends over in Italy and Spain might be famous for their long, late-night suppers, when I'm making a dinner reservation, I opt for the standard 7pm. I have long assumed this is the norm – anything earlier, and I wouldn't be hungry – and frankly, eating during the late-afternoon feels a bit…uncool? But it turns out, Gen Z are switching it up. According to new research from OpenTable, 6pm is an increasingly in-demand time to eat out – with reservations for this time increasing by 11% in London and 6% UK-wide. Another 2024 study found that Gen Z were the most likely to make an earlier dinner booking. It's behaviour that saw one Gen Z TikToker dubbed a 'senior citizen' by her parents, and has even been branded 'loser' behaviour. So why the need to eat so early? The younger generation is famously fond of 'boundaries', and an earlier dinner dates represent a fundamental shift in this boundary-setting. 'Dining at 6pm may reflect a broader change in how people are structuring and managing their time,' Irene Scopelliti, professor of marketing and behavioural science at Bayes Business School, tells Metro. 'One key concept here is time affluence – the feeling of having more time. An early dinner extends the perceived length of the evening and creates a sense of control.' According to another 2024 OpenTable study, 39% said early booking allowed more free time afterwards to enjoy their evening solo. Irene adds that being exposed to uncertainty for a prolonged period of time can sometimes lead people to 'seek greater control and predictability in their personal environments.' And this might extend to Gen Z. Irene adds: 'This stronger preference for structures and routine among a demographic whose formative years have seen economic disruption, climate anxiety and geopolitical conflict.' The pandemic having a long-lasting affect on how we work may also have had an impact. As hybrid working patterns blur lines between work and home, Irene says people have 'new markers that signal this transition.' The 6pm dinner marks a clear break between the structured environment of work and the freedom of personal time. 'A 6pm dinner may serve as a behavioural cue to end the workday,' she says. 'It also sets a socially binding deadline to stop working, as once a plan is set, research shows that individuals are more likely to follow through.' There's also the financial aspect to consider. Gen Z come of age during a cost-of-living crisis, and can be more money-conscious than their elder counterparts. One 2024 study from Barclays revealing that they're more likely to take a considered approach to spending, both in terms of how much they spend and what they consume. More Trending There's often a gain to be had from booking an earlier dinner slot. For example, the First Table initiative offers diners in London the chance to book the first available table (often as early as 5pm on weekdays) for a 50% discount – a no-brainer amid a cost-of-living crisis that's squeezing British diners out of a meal out. For many, it's a treat – and a rare one at that. And, health-conscious Gen Z may be weighing up the health benefits too. A 2019 study found that those who eat late at night (within two hours of sleep) are 50% more likely to be impacted by obesity. Gen Zers are breaking from binge drinking habits, with research from Drinkaware finding that 16 to 24-year-olds were the most likely cohort to be sober. View More » Gym memberships among Gen Z have also almost doubled since 2020, and 30% are regularly working out at the gym, compared to between 15 and 25% of the total adult population. A 6pm start inevitably means and early night – meaning you can get up for that 6am gym class. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I bought a £420,000 flat with a friend — and then we fell out MORE: I went to 19 schools – I still struggle with the impact MORE: KöD's signature three-course menu for only £39.50: 10 unmissable Time Out deals Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Professional cleaner shares 'genius' hack for wiping glass surfaces with two items
Stains on glass surfaces, like mirrors and windows, can be especially annoying because of how visible they are but a professional house cleaner shared a simple hack There are several surfaces that need to be cleaned in the home and one that can be tricky is glass. Two of the most common glass items found in homes are mirrors and windows and it's typical for these to become stained by fingerprints or water spots, especially by young children. Glass is seen as hard to clean because its transparency means any streaks, stains or smudges are immediately visible, unlike on opaque surfaces. It is also a more fragile material compared to others so extra care should be taken when cleaning, ensuring no products are used that could cause damage. A professional house cleaner called Alyssa shares tutorials and tips on TikTok to help others polish their homes. In one video she showed an easy hack to clean glass. The cleaning guru attached a glass cloth to the pole of her Swiffer combination sweeper-mop for 'easy and ergonomic cleaning". Alyssa demonstrated how she uses this method to easily clean windows to get rid of any streaks and stains. In the clip she moved the Swiffer with the glass cloth from right to left then bottom to top to clean the whole window. The caption for the TikTok post reads: "This technique is ideal for maintenance glass cleaning - if your glass is more grimy, follow this process but use a microfiber cloth on your Swiffer first!" Swiffer is an American brand of lightweight cleaning tools, mainly known for its disposable, dry and wet cloths used for sweeping and mopping floors but the professional cleaner's TikTok post shows how it can be used to clean windows as well. The Swiffer Sweeper uses disposable cloths that attach to a flat, rectangular head on a long handle. It removes the need for a bucket when mopping and allows for easy cleaning without hurting or straining your body by bending over, for example. A Swiffer can be used with wet or dry disposable cloths to trap dirt, dust and grime. The head rotates in order to allow you to pivot and reach corners of the surface you are using it to clean, whether it's the floor or windows. Cheryl, from the TidyMom site, shared how she uses her Swiffer to clean her windows, which can be turned in. She starts by wrapping a few paper towels around the head and sprays the window with her cleaner. Then the mum uses the cleaning tool to reach the outside and upper half of her windows. Southern Living has further suggested using a Swiffer to remove fingerprints and toothpaste remains from a mirror by spraying it with a glass cleaner, tucking a microfiber cloth into the four holes on the Swiffer and then scrubbing down the mirror. Alyssa's TikTok video has garnered more than 100 likes and several comments. One user said: 'I do this for tall mirrors and glass.' Another praised: 'That's actually really good Alyssa- nice job.' A third chimed in: 'This is genius!' A fourth commented: 'Looks much easier on the body your way. I clean harder, not smarter sometimes so these tips are great.' Others remarked 'such a great hack', 'love this idea' and 'I always do this in the hard to reach places".
Scotsman
16 hours ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh festivals diary: Edinburgh, I am ashamed of you after experiencing anti-Fringe aggression
An experience of anti-English prejudice results in our diarist Jane Bradley feeling unwelcome in her own home town. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Edinburgh, I was ashamed of you last night. I was ashamed of us. I had my first experience of anti-Fringe, anti-English aggression. I was sitting at a picnic bench in George Square Gardens when a couple asked if they could take the two empty seats opposite me. I explained that my daughter and my cousin were sitting there, but had gone to pick up their food from a nearby truck. The pair went on their way to look for different seats, perfectly happy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad George Square Garden. Half an hour later, a woman who had been sitting further down the same bench got up to leave and stumbled her way over to us, her male companion hovering sheepishly behind her. "Why did you not let that couple sit there before?" she asked aggressively, indicating the two inches of spare bench between my teenage daughter and the people sitting next to us. I explained again, somewhat unnecessarily now as they were both right there, that my companions were using the seats. "They could have squeezed up," she argued, shouting in my face (they couldn't). And here came the kicker: "This is NOT how we do things in Edinburgh." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I can see why she assumed I wasn't local. I have a (northern) English accent. I was, having come straight from work, wearing a Fringe lanyard. My cousin is American and, like many Fringe performers, under 30. To this woman, we must have looked like a fly-by-night, probably London-based Fringe show team having the time of our lives 'doing Edinburgh'. The kind she, despite the fact she was choosing to spend her own evening at the Fringe, clearly hates. In reality, I have lived in Scotland for more than 25 years: far longer than I ever lived in England and almost my entire adult life. My daughter is Edinburgh born and bred. None of this should matter. We are all Jock Tamson's bairns. But for the single reason that we appeared to belong to a non-Scottish, visiting, Fringe show, she chose to attack us. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some of us locals love it, others - particularly understandable, those who live close to a busy Fringe venue with constant noise and disruption throughout August - hate it. But whatever we think of the Fringe, or of any of the other festivals, this kind of personal abuse is unacceptable. If I had actually been an English Fringe performer visiting Edinburgh for the first time, I would have felt horribly unwelcome. As it was, I felt horribly unwelcome in my own home town. This is not how we do things in Edinburgh. Polo on the big screen at the Pleasance Dome. | Contributed How many people actually play polo? The TV sports entertainment on the big screen in the Pleasance Dome on Tuesday was somewhat unusual, particularly for (weather postponed) 2-4-1 ticket day, when the whole point is inclusivity and accessibility - an affordable Fringe for all.
