21-05-2025
American moves to the UK but one thing leaves her completely floored
Melissa Mendez has admitted her disbelief about one aspect of living in the UK compared to her native Florida - and it has enabled to fulfil her lifelong dream
An American woman who recently gave up her life in Florida to move to London has admitted there is one aspect of residing in the UK that left her gobsmacked. Melissa Mendez, who documents her experience this side of the Atlantic on TikTok, said "nobody warned" her about her new surroundings prior to her move. "I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but one of the things I had no idea about when moving from Florida to London is how green England is," she began in a video.
"Obviously I had never been to England, but I did study my whole life in a British school - it was literally called 'The British School'."
Melissa went on to explain that she studied so many aspects of British history and culture, but never "how green" it is - something that has quickly had an impact on her new life.
"Now I'm into gardening and I am just in shock at how beautiful things grow here," she continued. "Everything is just so easy to plant and it actually grows - in Florida nothing grows unless it's a local plant, herb or tree or whatever."
Melissa continued, outlining how the weather in her native US state is so "unforgiving" in contrast to England.
"It's hot, but rainy and sometimes windy so it's really harsh conditions for beautiful flowers and trees to grow," she said. "I remember back in Florida I would always dream of having a garden - this has been my dream for so long."
Back home, Melissa said she'd become "so annoyed" whenever she bought flowers as they'd "soon die", but now she's able to maintain her own "unbelievable" garden. "I can't believe I now have a green thumb," she closed.
Melissa was met with response from scores of Brits who offered recommendations on where to experience England's "green and pleasant land" further.
"Please visit the north," one TikTok user urged. "North of England has so many lovely countryside areas. The Lake District is beautiful."
A second person suggested: "Go to Savernake Forest, some of the oldest English oaks in the country there. Really mystical place."
A third added: "You need to visit Cumbria, the greens will amaze you. Also, you need to experience a cloud inversion.
"Sat on the top of a mountain easy morning, clouds below up looking across at mountain tops poking through."
A fourth TikTok user advised: "You should visit Sherwood Forest. I live on the edge of it. The density of the trees and landscape is so massive."
Whilst a fifth noted: "This is why gardening is a national obsession and has been for hundreds of years. It's easy to grow beautiful, soft and flowy plants and create a little oasis of your own!"
