British Things That Confuse Americans

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Күн бұрын

American in England reacts to British culture. 🇬🇧 Watch next: British Words: • British Words To Learn... British Culture Shocks: • American in the UK: 15...
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1 • British Words To Learn...
2 How I See the UK as an American Abroad: • How I See the UK as an...
3 British Culture Shocks: • American in the UK: 15...
4 Why I Left the US for UK: • Why I Left the USA for...
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Chapters:
00:00 Trash everywhere
00:22 Intro
00:41 English Breakfast
2:21 Pizza
3:30 Mail
5:50 Electricity
6:41 Bathrooms
7:10 Household Appliances
8:07 Climate Control
8:46 Hot Water
9:44 Houses
11:37 Beds
12:42 Retail Products
14:08 Employee Benefits
14:53 Vacation Destinations
17:18 Healthcare
20:25 Religion
21:16 Politics
22:15 People and Making Friends
23:08 Transportation Costs
24:44 Watch Next
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#britishculture #cultureshock #travel

Пікірлер: 624

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

What stands out to you about British culture? Do you have more context about these British customs? 🇬🇧

@curtisalex456 10 ай бұрын

What!! You do not like the full english breakfast! Sacrilege!!!

@geoffbeattie3160 10 ай бұрын

I am English but now live in holland.ive lived in 4 EU countries all different good and bad things. Embrace the differences and get on with life. Just adapt and be accepted or you will hate your life

@flaneur5560 10 ай бұрын

The separation of church and state in the USA seems only nominal - it's unthinkable that you'd have an atheist president and very, very doubtful that a non-christian could get in. In contrast, in the UK we have currently have a Hindu Prime Mister. Tony Blair made it explicit - his chief press secretary and political strategist/advisor, Alistair Campbell, famously said "We don't do God". That the Church of England has a role in the state, alongside the royal family, is totally irrelevant to most people's lives.

@jaysterling26 10 ай бұрын

@@geoffbeattie3160Agreed, may I presume that you could have added, ' or just stay home '?

@wessexdruid7598 10 ай бұрын

I can't recall ever having pizza served without either a sharp knife, or, more normally, a pizza cutter? It allows you to choose the slices you want. And you certainly can buy pizza in the UK by the pre-cut slice. Take out pizza is always pre-cut.

@raindancer6111 10 ай бұрын

One thing that people forget when complaining about litter, especially in London, is the effect of the IRA bombing campaigns. They were planting devices in the litter bins. So the bins were removed in perceived target areas. There were bins mounted on the walls along the underground platforms, they seem to have never returned. So some people got lazy. Then the whole composition of London changed and it got even worse. Unfortunately the bad habits have spread throughout the country, along with the proliferation of fast food outlets.

@user-co1wf3oj7g 10 ай бұрын

The no plugs in the bathroom thing is because UK sockets are 230-240 volts, twice as powerful as US ones! If you get a shock here, you'll know all about it, though it will certainly cure your depression 😆

@freddiemac1438 10 ай бұрын

We don’t vote for Prime Ministers in the UK - we vote for parties. The US votes for Presidents. It’s a different system.

@pures1n 10 ай бұрын

Who's gonna tell him?

@davidjackson2580 10 ай бұрын

Actually, we don't vote for parties; we vote for individuals who usually belong to a political party. The Prime Minister is appointed by the King, although in practice, the PM is the person who has the most support in the Commons. Since most MPs are actually a member of a party, even though they are elected as individuals, the leader of the largest party is almost always (and always during most people's lifetime), will become PM. Parties can and do change leader, either because the old leader dies, resigns voluntarily, or is forced out by their party. Hence the PM changes without a general election. For example, Winston Churchill resigned though ill health in 1955 and was replaced by Anthony Eden; Eden resigned in 1957 after the Suez crisis and Harold MacMillan took over; MacMillan resigned in 1963 and Alec Douglas Home took over; Harold Wilson resigned in 1976 and James Callaghan took over; Margaret Thatcher resigned in 1990 and John Major took over. Similarly, Tony Blair, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were replaced. In each case, the House of Commons did not change.

@wessexdruid7598 10 ай бұрын

@@davidjackson2580 Would you agree that people usually pick the person they vote for by the party they represent? I'd argue we do elect parties, primarily. Even voting for an independent is a choice not to vote for any party.

@freddiemac1438 10 ай бұрын

@@joannegriffiths1400 that’s unfair - Kristin’s reporting what she sees; it’s just she’s not been living here very long so limited experiences - but her comments about litter are absolutely true.

@Poliss95 10 ай бұрын

@@joannegriffiths1400 The litter is almost ankle deep where I live.

@russjoneswrites 10 ай бұрын

pizza is not pre-cut in italy, whenever i've had it there (and from my dodgy memory). I believe it's not intended to be picked up in slices as that's hot and messy, but is eaten as a meal with a knife and fork. So I assume this is why it's not cut into slices when you've had it in the UK. Although I think usually it's in slices in the UK, but certainly not always

@nicksykes4575 10 ай бұрын

Hi Kristin, America might say they have separation of church and state, but I'm willing to bet, no politician who didn't claim to be a god fearing christian would ever get elected. In the UK we care about their policies, not what imaginary being they worship.

@Poliss95 10 ай бұрын

Sunak is a Hindu.

@user-fc8id3if6b 10 ай бұрын

Kristen Synema in the Arizona Senate is an atheist and a lesbian who swore her oath on the Constitution. This made the Republicans furious but they haven't said a word now she is voting for pro-corporate bills, helping them cut Medicaid and also helped them cut down a national minimum wage increase recently....

@Funeeman 9 ай бұрын

@@Poliss95Who cares?.

@donfatale 9 ай бұрын

There are only 2 countries in the world with religious post holders permanently fixed in government. One is Iran.... ... the other is the UK!

@nicksykes4575 9 ай бұрын

@@donfatale The House of Lords has the ability to hold up legislation temporarily, but it can't write it's own. The only reason it hasn't been abolished is, we like tradition. The UK is far more secular than the US, A confirmed atheist has zero chance of being elected in the US, whereas, in the UK, no one cares, and it's highly unlikely to be brought up in an election campaign.

@susanroberts2289 10 ай бұрын

The slot in your door is called a letter box.😊 If you have letters, they’ll be posted through your letter box by a postman. If you order goods from parcel delivery company their man/ lady will usually leave your parcel in a pre-arranged place if you’re not at home.

@hieroglyph321 10 ай бұрын

Or post it through your porch window ...

@LEWIS1992 9 ай бұрын

Having post come in via a letterbox is SO much better than an American mail box in my opinion. Same with having parcels actually delivered TO YOU and not just left outside your house lol. Prevents theft.

@rowietappy187 10 ай бұрын

A full English breakfast is a total myth as a morning breakfast, 99% of Uk citizens don’t have time to make and eat this meal and don’t want a heart attack. Most folks just have cereal or toast, fruit, porridge or nothing. This is a just a stereotype myth same way as we all play cricket, eat scones and drink tea in our gardens overlooking a castle. I’ve had one this year so far and that was at a hotel when I stayed away for a wedding event....

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Understandable, although I see it on most restaurant menus. People do seem to drink a lot of tea and eat scones and pastries too... but that's just my perception.

@ethelmini 10 ай бұрын

Not totally, few will make one during the week, but more will as a weekend treat. There are plenty of cafes that do a good trade in making them for early bird workers and it's expected to be offered in hotels and, of course, B&Bs.

@mattcrispin6737 10 ай бұрын

I think people have it occasionally as a treat or at the weekend, as you have more time to cook and prepare. I'm pretty health conscious and an enjoy an avocado for breakfast but all also enjoy an full English, which can be cooked more healthily with good ingredients. Defo lose the black pudding though. I think you would be surprised how popular it still is. M

@madran7731 10 ай бұрын

A restaurant menu is very different to what you would eat at home. Most people eat breakfast at home.

@davidjackson2580 10 ай бұрын

Having a full English (or full Welsh, or full Scottish), is a real treat when going on holiday. It's one of the highlights of a holiday in the UK. I do sometimes have one at home, although not always at breakfast, but not regularly. It's great to find a pub or cafe which does an all day breakfast, and I will quite often go for that option when available.

@The.Android 10 ай бұрын

The most egregious and perplexing thing about UK vs US healthcare is the fact that the US spends more per person on healthcare than the UK but Americans receive less care or can't access it and can still go into bankruptcy paying hospital and healthcare bills. So where does all that money go? Not on patients it seems.

@johchadow 9 ай бұрын

The US spends more per capita on healthcare than any country.

@freddiemac1438 10 ай бұрын

You can have whatever you want for breakfast - a full English is mainly in restaurants, cafes or hotels

@wessexdruid7598 10 ай бұрын

I'd suggest the core of an english breakfast is simply egg and bacon. You can choose the type of egg, or bacon - and simply add what you want to that. If you don't want black pudding, or sausage, or beans - you don't have to cook or eat it. It's a meal of choices - and different options can be available in the full English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh - or Ulster Fry. It's been around for many centuries, hence the variations.

@davidhyams2769 10 ай бұрын

Before we lost our heavy industries in the 1970s a "full English" was essential to provide the energy you'd need for a day's hard physical work. The wife would most probably not go to work and she'd cook the breakfast, probably getting up first and preparing it while the husband was getting ready. And unless the children were very young, they'd walk or cycle to school on their own or with friends while Mum stayed home, washed the dishes and did the housework or food shopping. The working man might get a 1/2 hour break for lunch, but that would probably be just a sandwich. Nowadays, I doubt anyone has a full English. It's something you'd more likely have as brunch at a cafe if you're out for the day. In the UK, we don't eat pizza as a handheld food - we use a knife & fork. I have never seen two mail delivery people together - and I've lived in 7several different parts of England over a period of more than 30 years. If you think all houses in England look the same, try visiting the Cotswolds, then a Cornish mining village or small coastal port, then a mining town in Wales or a mill town in the North West. All those places that look the same are suburban areas, built either in the 1930s or since the 1980s. Our head of state is also the head of the church but I don't know where you're getting your information that religion is spoken about all the time in the news, etc. In fact, no one in the UK gives a damn what religion anyone is, or even if they're an atheist. It seems to me that religion is a much bigger deal in the US, especially when it comes to politics. Our head of state is the monarch, who we don't get to vote for. We have a General Election which is supposed to happen every 5 years. We don't get to elect the Prime Minister directly. By tradition, that is the leader of whichever party wins a majority of the seats in parliament in the election. (Or more accurately, someone who can claim the support of the majority to be able to form a functioning government). Who the party leader is at any time is an internal matter for the party, not the electorate. In the last year or so, we have had an extremely unusual situation within the Conservative (Tory) Party with far more changes than would be usual.

@hughtube5154 10 ай бұрын

I've also never seen two postmen together, but I wonder if it's a similar situation to some taxi drivers I spoke to. They said if they were called to some of the rougher estates (they mentioned Moss Side) they'd double up for safety and mutual support.

@emely902 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for clearing that up! That’s so interesting.

@paulbell235 10 ай бұрын

Im from Liverpool and litter is a huge problem here too. I find it absolutely infuriating and upsetting. Quite simply there is no excuse for it, and people are just lazy and don't give a s%^t. I cannot begin to understand this mind-set of fouling the place where a person lives. Great content, keep up the good work.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Hi Paul, sorry to hear that it seems like it's a problem around the country. Glad you enjoyed the video either way! I was just in Liverpool last week

@paulbell235 10 ай бұрын

@@TravelingwithKristin it seems a common theme around the UK sadly. Yeah, I watched the livestream of your Liverpool visit, shame about the crappy weather. Hope you enjoyed staying in Liverpool regardless. Really enjoy your content, with a non-native perspective, pointing out some of our unusual British quirks.😊

@glynnwright1699 10 ай бұрын

Not much of a problem in my town in Sussex, but drives me nuts when I see it.

@andypandy9013 10 ай бұрын

The American Travel Writer Bill Bryson was disgusted by the litter in Liverpool. He wrote "One weekend I took a train to Liverpool. They were having a festival of litter when I arrived. Citizens had taken time off from their busy activities to add crisp packets, empty cigarette boxes, and carrier bags to the otherwise bland and neglected landscape."

@paulbell235 10 ай бұрын

@@andypandy9013 Think Bill Bryson is very fond of Liverpool, maybe being his favourite English City. But his observation about the litter problem, then and now, are sadly very accurate. Maybe we should start a campaign to clean up our major cities of litter and having more civic pride, which i believe would translate into improving other aspects of city life.

@flumpah 10 ай бұрын

I hate litter too and don't do it !

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

I know... it's awful...

@flumpah 10 ай бұрын

I did live in the Bay Area of CA for a while and it was always rubbish free, I do remember being a bit stunned by that.... it was in the early 80's , don't know what its like now.

@martinogold 3 ай бұрын

@@flumpah People who litter are vermin. Those nice pople who pick up litter in their spare time and put in in those green bags for the council to collect are angels.

@MisterChrisInTheUK 10 ай бұрын

In the USA you are voting for a new head of state and commander in chief every four years. We've just changed ours for the first time since 1952. Changing Prime Minister is not the same as changing President.

@starsailor6716 6 ай бұрын

We don't have our pizza cut up for us because we're not three years old and we know how to use a knife and fork! 😂

@Someone.southafrica Ай бұрын

Very smart, I was shocked to hear you get it cut in the US

@derekallen3979 10 ай бұрын

There are probably only about seven or eight big, national house-builders in the UK. They are mostly building much more to cost levels than selling to aesthetic standards, because housing is so expensive.

@jjsmallpiece9234 10 ай бұрын

I don't know anybody who eats a 'full English breakfast' at home. Its mainly for hotels, cafes etc. The closest I come to a full English is sometimes to have a similar food for lunch, on rare occasions at the weekend

@matthewgreenough2431 6 ай бұрын

I made a full English for our tea last night, but I never make it for breakfast, your right it's usually if your out early or staying at a hotel

@gmdhargreaves 10 ай бұрын

My mum picks up litter like you, she enjoys meeting new people and making the place look like it should, people these days just drop rubbish like it’s nothing it’s so sad, you keep picking it up love, I wish more people living in England had that mentality ❤

@tenniskinsella7768 10 ай бұрын

Sure there's litter in america

@wessexdruid7598 10 ай бұрын

Littering is more common in cities than rural areas.

@user-fc8id3if6b 10 ай бұрын

@@tenniskinsella7768 I lived there for 10 years, no, there really isn't. They take better care of their environment, no smashed bus stops or phone boxes too

@matthewedmondson2713 10 ай бұрын

To be honest the litter issues seems to be largely a Salford thing (in particular). I have a front garden facing the street and every day there is new trash in there. The council however seem to be very good. If you spot something "fly tipped" (dumped illegally) you just fill in an online form and it's usually been picked up within a day. The smaller stuff seems to just be kids that haven't been brought up well 😠

@willswomble7274 10 ай бұрын

Or the wind blowing it about as we usually have to put out waste at bed time because they collect it at 5.45 am onwards.

@andywilliams7323 10 ай бұрын

02:20 The equivelant of American bacon in the UK is called streaky bacon. UK streaky bacon comes from the pork belly same as in America, whereas UK back bacon (aka bacon) comes from the pork loin.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Thanks Andy

@davidjones332 10 ай бұрын

Kristin: Thank you for some interesting insights: so much to unpack here! Firstly, the full English breakfast is now a bit of a myth, because most working people don't have time for all that; it tends to be more of a treat at weekends or when we're in a hotel, and somebody else has to cook it. The reason housing looks uniform is that it's always been very rare for people to build their own houses in the UK. Most are built by developers, and in the past many were erected either by councils or by businesses to house their workers, so they tend to conform to three or four basic designs. As for the turnover of PMs, you must remember that we don't vote directly for them, we vote for political parties who choose their leader, and they can replace them at any time if they lose confidence in them. If you watch Prime Minister's Question Time in Parliament, you can see how ruthlessly our PMs are attacked when they have to face their critics once a week across the despatch box. No US President gets roasted on a weekly basis, and you might like to contrast the fates of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump, two compulsive liars, one of whom left office in disgrace with his career in ruins, while the other is running for re-election! There is an answer to the Uber fares -it's called Metrolink!

@bricktop7803 10 ай бұрын

Nearly ALL European housing is built in brick to last hundreds of years. In the US the cheapest building material is timber, and they just tear the property down and rebuild. If you look at Eastern US housing pre-1945, they are multi storey and made with bricks. They are still standing today, because they are build to last. Nearly ALL UK housing has pitched roofs because of rain and snow, that is why they all look the same. There was a fad in the 70's to have flat roofs. But they just leaked and were quickly re-roofed with a pitch and tiles. Flat roofs do not suit our climate.

@newbris 10 ай бұрын

There are cities in the world with lots of wooden pre-1945 housing. Sometimes wood is the sensible choice. You can have a variety of housing and a pitched roof. I think it is because many estates are built by the one builder. Where in other countries they sell each plot and then the owner chooses their own builder.

@charlesunderwood6334 8 ай бұрын

How to eat pizza? I tend to think you should do it the way I have seen in Italy- if you are in a proper restaurant and drinking wide, you use a knife and fork, you only pick up slices in a fast food place or when the pizza is cold.

@phoebus007 10 ай бұрын

Believe it or not, pizza originates in Italy, not the USA. Italians do not slice pizza when served in a restaurant.

@helenwood8482 10 ай бұрын

We do a lot of foreign trade because of the Commonwealth and the fact that Europe is on our doorstep.

@marmite1076 7 ай бұрын

The Full English used to be a workmans breakfast. It used to be mainly available in the many cafes serving tradesman and manual labourers to set them up with lots of bread and tea on the side. Most household have cereal or toast as a breakfast. Recently celebrated as a "British" thing hence the hype but really only a few times a year as a treat and often as a weekend brunch

@RadiantStarYoga 10 ай бұрын

with regards Prime Ministers - its pretty unprecedented how the UK has recently chopped and changed PMs recently - so that is not that normal!!

@Joanna-il2ur 10 ай бұрын

In the 1950s we had Attlee until 1951, then Churchill 1951-5, Eden 55-6 and then Macmillan 56-63. So in the mid fifties we had three pms in two years.

@robertmcfarlane4151 10 ай бұрын

You note the socialized medicine which is different from the US, the only western nation without it. The US seems far more focused on the individual than the community. Prime example is health care. The rest of the world sees a collective healthy country as as a benefit. We in Canada learned this after WWI, thanks to Tommy Douglas. You also note UK with a parliamentary system can have leaders for long periods and short. The system lends itself to this. But note that there isn't endless political chatter and "news" about it. When the election is done, people move on with their lives. US drowns in political discussion all year, every year. Have you noticed any impact from Brexit in Manchester, or the daily lives of those around you? You note that having a baby is "free", but also note the time allowed for maternity and paternity leave. The UK and Canada both value mothers bonding with babies. The US wants you back to work in weeks. Just different values. The US won't tolerate higher taxes to pay for socialized medicine, and there is no problem with those without insurance being financially ruined by a serious medical issue.

@MrSinclairn 10 ай бұрын

Even here in the UK,I heard of Tommy Douglas,former father-in-law of Donald Sutherland and grandfather of Kiefer Sutherland.👌👍

@newbris 10 ай бұрын

As an Australian, US politics seem awash with religion where the UK doesn't.

@davidharris4062 10 ай бұрын

The U.K. exported its religious nut jobs to the U.S. the crims were exported to Aus 😂

@gigteevee6118 10 ай бұрын

If you have a weird sized bed in the UK it’s probably an IKEA bed, so check them out for bedding that fits. (So dumb….thanks Sweden 🙄)

@newblackdog7827 10 ай бұрын

I hate litter! I do the same and pick up litter here in Nottingham. We don’t have sockets in bathrooms as our electricity is 240v AC- more than enough to stop your heart, and we don’t have waste disposals as they’re banned for environmental reasons.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

We should organize a local cleanup! thanks for the local insights as well

@mikedytham9996 10 ай бұрын

"Cold? Put a jumper on!"

@peterfhere9461 10 ай бұрын

Regarding having babies, I have had two grandchildren born this year. The first was disgnosed with a thyroid problem was put immediately onto thyroid treatment, and was monitored every week until the thyroid dosage was seen to be correct. All for free. The second was diagniosed in the womb with a non functioning kidney, and was delivered early by having a c-section. The baby and its mother are regularly checked, and everything, including the operation, and all drugs are completely free. The baby will continue to be monitored for free and if the time comes for intervention any operation will be free. At the same time the baby's father contracted cellulitis, and was rushed to hospital, and had ten days of intravenous antibiotics for two hours each day, and now is on antibiotics taken orally for another ten days. All the hospital treatment was free, and he was discharged with ten day's worth of anitbiotics, again all for free. I have NO QUALMS, as is the case for most people in the UK, about a moderate proportion of my taxes funding the NHS.

@scottman895 10 ай бұрын

I remember enjoying the Full English breakfast when I went last year although I only got it once due to how large it was. The other mornings I would usually eat light. I believe you are right too that us Americans tend to not think of visiting any of the Europeans cities and regions beyond the most famous ones (London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, etc.) compared to anyone over in Europe. For example, I went to both Belgrade, Serbia last October for several days followed by a 3-day visit to Rome. When I was telling friends and family here at home about my trip, their interests were piqued about Rome and not Belgrade which was disappointing because Belgrade was quite enjoyable. Anyway, I also remembered the off/on switches on the power outlets in the Airbnb I stayed at in Holmfirth, England last year. I agree that we need those here too! I really enjoyed this one Kristin!

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

So glad you liked this one, Scott! I want to go back to Belgrade soon. People underrate it!

@Jeroen74 10 ай бұрын

That type of water heater is known as a tankless water heater in the USA. Because forced air is not used in Europe, the same heater is also used to heat the radiators. Inside the heater there is a valve that switches between heating circuits, with priority given to the water taps/shower giving you endless hot water. Tank based systems exist too overthere, but are not really common anymore I believe.

@newbris 10 ай бұрын

Heat pumps are used in Europe but less common.

@nigem6611 10 ай бұрын

I'v lived in the UK all my life (64Years) and I have never seen or had two people delivering my post.

@redf7209 10 ай бұрын

Typically the van carries more than a postie can carry all the way from a depot and will intercept posties on their route dropping off bundles directly or into drop off boxes so you will see the handovers and i suppose you will get two together when one is learning the route.

@RoyCousins 10 ай бұрын

I often see two or three posties arriving in a van and then doing their individual rounds on foot.

@wanderingfool6312 10 ай бұрын

The fuel costs are much higher in the uk, there’s also local toll charges related to the environment, that probably explains a percentage of the taxi price. As for parcels, delivery of items in the uk is quite extensive, especially since the pandemic. Some households have all there shopping, including clothes, groceries and medications delivered to the door. Obviously some of that, especially signed for items, require you to answer the door when they knock. But in some cases you can arrange parcels to be left in a safe space or with a neighbour, if you leave details with the carrier.

@broadsword6650 10 ай бұрын

The US had 18 Presidents in the 20th Century. The UK had 19 Prime Ministers in the 20th Century. The last seven years has seen five PMs, but it has been a very unusually turbulent political period.

@andywilliams7323 10 ай бұрын

22:09. The frequent fast change of Prime Ministers recently is not something that happens in typical normal circumstances. It's just happened in recent years, because the UK has/still is sadly undergoing a significant of unnecessary political upheaval and turmoil, much more significant than usual. Recently the 2 major political parties of the UK have focused more of their efforts on destroying themselves from within, rather than running the country.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

😕

@stevebarlow3154 10 ай бұрын

@@TravelingwithKristin Although our political system may have seemed chaotic recently, it actually showed that the Westminster system works well. When Boris told one lie too many and had to resign, the next party leader Liz Truss showed that she and her Chancellor weren't up to the job. So her political party rapidly got rid of her, albeit not before she had done £3 billion's worth of damage to the economy. Whereas you get stuck with leaders you can't get rid of until the next election, no matter how much damage they do!

@PROJECTBEAST. 10 ай бұрын

Not sure about the bed problem. Single bed is for one adult, double is for two adults, king sized is for two adults but with more space, queen sized is for two adults but with loads of space. You just buy the sheets that match? A king sized fitted sheet is for the mattress, a king sized sheet goes over you. A king sized duvet on top of the sheet. You don't tend to come across many other sizes commonly though I think a three quarter is bigger than a single but not as big as a double. Usually it's just single, double or king.

@dragasan 10 ай бұрын

Great video! Thanks so much for sharing. I currently reside in Batumi, Georgia and I really love it, but there is a lot more litter than I'm used to, so I simply pick it up and throw it in the trash. The elderly always smile wide when they see me, and that's nice. I swear,I could listen to you talk for hours and hours. Your voice is so incredibly relaxing.

@helenroberts1107 10 ай бұрын

Maybe the bed is a three quarter. You just buy double sheets. They won’t fit perfectly but good enough. Places to go - you should check out Conwy and Snowdonia in North Wales. Full of castles, mountains, beautiful scenery and lovely villages. When people tease you it’s like when you were kids and if someone liked you they’d pick on you. If you’re in London, get the tube.

@danrobrish3664 10 ай бұрын

Since you asked why Americans call a single bed a "twin," it refers to the practice of putting two single beds next to each other. If you watch some old TV shows, you'll see married couples using twin beds.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

A la I Love Lucy :)

@lucarmyfool4800 10 ай бұрын

Lets face it, the bigger beds fit the "bigger" Americans, that's also why they need the big houses and cars. Most Americans would not fit in a little or medium Asian or European car. Kristin, maybe you dont like the bacon because here we have 2 sorts of it? We have the salty and the sweet lard here, I think in the States they use too much sweeteners in everything and that's why you dont like the food here so much. But as a Belgium guy i have to say English food sucks and i only like the breakfast there.

@hughtube5154 10 ай бұрын

@@lucarmyfool4800 I doubt she's referring to the taste of bacon, but the cut. American bacon is what we would call a rasher - narrow, rectangular stripes that crisp up beautifully. The bacon served in a full English is what Americans, I think, refer to as Canadian bacon -usually Africa shaped, denser, and much chewier.

@lucarmyfool4800 10 ай бұрын

@@hughtube5154 Oh, that's another bacon that we have in Belgium as well. that one has to be served very thin and is not crisp at all, indeed it's very salty also.

@ronaldoago-go5907 10 ай бұрын

I don't think normal people ever had twin beds...they were invented by the TV censors coz it was restricted to show a couple..even if married..to share a bed...how scandalous!

@hegedusuk 10 ай бұрын

Interesting perspectives. I live in the UK and am married to am American. Finally I've worked out why she keeps calling a single bed a twin bed! The thing about houses is because as opposed to the US, many more houses are brick built here - to you, they're all the same - Brick Built. When I visit the US, I see all the houses as being the same. They're all made of out wood! Also, re the holidays - they are NOT "federally mandated" LOL! We do not have a federal government

@johnc007 10 ай бұрын

With the non stop changing PM, Brexit has caused political instability. Normally politically the U.K. is very stable but Brexit related politics and issues is still rocking the government and the Conservative party. Brexit did and still does divide people all across the U.K. In the past people had water heaters where there’s a hot water storage tank and you had to turn on the boiler to heat up water for the tank. Now due to energy saving measures, everybody has the style of boiler you have. Getting hot water on demand with no preheating necessary is very fuel efficient and handy. I guess it’s down to how small houses in the U.K. are. They had to come up with the most space saving solutions, so that’s why the boiler/heater is small and it also provides heating for home too. All good things comes in small packages!

@blainestreeter5483 8 ай бұрын

Great video, as usual :-). A couple of thoughts: we have “On-Demand” water heaters here in America, as I’ve seen in Germany and the UK for many years. These water heaters are not regularly seen, in my experience, but they are available and I have been using them for many years. Also, I’m not quite sure what you meant about saving electricity by switching off individual outlets, but remember that electrical outlets do not consume electricity unless something is plugged into them and operating. I do use power strips here in America and turn them off when I’m away or not using the phone charges, etc. that are plugged into them. Again…. Thanks for the videos. They are very informative and well done, Kristen. Cheers.

@Voltanaut 9 күн бұрын

To be fair, a full English is a treat. If you had it every day, you'd get sick quickly. Once a month is more reasonable, but to each their own, babezilla.

@RadiantStarYoga 10 ай бұрын

People don't generally build their own houses in the UK. Mostly people have to be super rich to do that. So big companies build whole housing estates. And they are all the same and pretty standard mainly to save money and make the company more profit. And garbage disposal - thats not usual at all, and would only be in kitchens where people have installed their own kitchen, maybe. Its not regular - again, more likely to be found in houses of more affluent people. Mailboxes are not common and I am guessing it is more to do with not having the same amount of outdoor space around the house that you get with houses in the US.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tips. I will look into building costs here (I used to work in real estate)

@stevebarlow3154 10 ай бұрын

@@TravelingwithKristin Building costs, particularly the price of land has always been high in the UK. If you go to London and see the lovely stuccoed terrace house in places like Belgravia and South Kensington, they came about because the price of land was so high that even rich people could not afford detached houses. So they built upwards, instead of outwards, in streets of terraced houses. Later on in the Victorian age they built housing for the masses following the railway lines. Then you had builders supplying you with a house from a pattern book, as a number of them built a new suburb. These houses are the most numerous in the towns and cities of the UK. They are brick built of similar designs, but still standing after newer buildings have been demolished. In Edwardian times you got larger semi-detached houses for the middle classes further away from the city centres. After the war you got large council estates with hideous concrete tower blocks, most of which have had to be demolished. And for the last few decades you have had a few large building companies buying up land and creating poor quality housing estates. Statistically the worst in Europe, smallest rooms, least insulation etc.

@willswomble7274 10 ай бұрын

I have a electric waste disposal in my sink but never ever use it. What do you put down it, it seems very dangerous? We don't waste expensive food in this country and are far more eco minded than the USA; we have bins provided by the local authority to recycle any uneaten vegetables, potato peelings etc anyway.

@chrismd00 10 ай бұрын

Much of Europe have instant domestic hot water. My house heats with gas boiler that makes radiant hot water in the floor, but also heats domestic hot water tank. House always has warm floors and hot water is always ready. Boiler is 95 percent efficient

@user-co1wf3oj7g 10 ай бұрын

That is a good point about the pizza. I usually end up with bits of pizza scudding across the table and landing in the lap of whoever's sitting opposite me. It has never occurred to me (or apparently to the restaurateur) that anything could be done about this 😆

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Haha, Thanks! the struggle with pizza is real! 😆🍕

@mwdp1 Ай бұрын

the full English is a treat on the weekend or a hangover or if your starting at a hotel. We have normal breakfast yoghurt, toast, cereal maybe crepes or pancakes etc etc

@ethelmini 10 ай бұрын

You've not understood what the Prime Minister is, but so do more than a few Brits. We elect our constituency MPs, often because they belong to a political party we support. Once they're elected it is up to them to form the government by whoever can get the support of most other MPs. The King acts as umpire, the PM is traditionally acting as his proxy. In practice it'll be the leader of the party with the most MPs wo's invited to form the government. There's no constitutional process for appointing party leaders, it's down each party to set their own rules. We've seen it all in action lately: Boris Johnson was Conservative Party Leader & then won a majority of seats in 2019. He managed to lose the support of enough Conservative MPs to be forced to resign instead of been voted out by them and MPs from the opposition parties who'd have outnumbered the Tories still loyal to him. As the Tories still had a majority, Conservative Party members got to elect a new party leader, Liz Truss who got invited by the Queen to be the next PM days before she died - no public vote was required. The still living Liz'[s first budget was so disastrous, she too got her marching order from the other Tory MPs and things had got so farcical the runner up from the party leader contest was given the gig by them to avoid any more Drama. All above board, as in the final analysis, we elect individual MPs to represent our constituency in the House of Commons who decide laws & who gets to govern by majority vote.

@donerskine7935 10 ай бұрын

My granny had no teeth. We always asked the waiter to chew her food for her.

@Poliss95 10 ай бұрын

🤣

@davidharris4062 10 ай бұрын

Only time I have the full works is when I stay in a B&B, as for the Black Pudding, bloody lovely, nice with scallops

@jamesdellaneve9005 10 ай бұрын

Garbage disposals are very handy. It prevents stopped pipes.

@tiggerwood8899 10 ай бұрын

Town/city councils rely on people picking up litter so they dont have to pay people to do it. The money given to councils by the government was cut so the councils cut services. In my town i have only seen 1 person from the council picking up litter in 2 years

@kissywitch 10 ай бұрын

I don't think the on/off switches on electrical sockets are to save electricity! If nothing is plugged in nothing is being used. They are purely for safety (unless anyone knows differently?)

@redf7209 10 ай бұрын

it saves pulling plugs out

@redf7209 10 ай бұрын

A lot of boiler systems will give you the choice about how hot water is supplied as many have a smaller tank that is continually kept hot and is there to be supplied to the tap immediately while the following water is heated so you don't wait for hot water to come through the the tap. It can usually be switched off to save heating cost.

@andrewbridson6983 9 ай бұрын

I think the little issue is primarily found in Northern England. I've lived in the North, the South and in North Wales. It was quite rare to see litter in Wales and the South, but upon returning to the North, I was shocked by how I had never noticed it.

@jozsefizsak 10 ай бұрын

Always a pleasure to have a video from you! We're seeing the on-demand water heaters in Canada among people who want to save money with the increased efficiency they offer.

@jacque4697 10 ай бұрын

Very informative, thanks for posting! Didn't know they liter so much. Looks nice and cool there. Very hot in Florida today. Keep posting videos, thanks again!

@peterregan8691 10 ай бұрын

Most of us don’t, I have 4 kids, they’ve been brought up to respect other people and the environment and none if them would dream of doing it. Unfortunately not all children are raised the same. Often you’ll see empty bins in McDonalds car parks whilst the rubbish (including the wipes they’ve used to clean their cars after they’ve eaten!) is thrown on the ground next to those very bins, it’s infuriating!

@jacque4697 10 ай бұрын

@@peterregan8691 In Washington State they have fines from $100 to $5000 for littering. Not sure if they have laws there. If not that might help.

@peterregan8691 10 ай бұрын

@@jacque4697 Interesting. We do, but it’s really only enforced in city centres and I don’t believe the fines are as high as yours, more’s the pity!

@shellieeyre8758 10 ай бұрын

I have never been brought "a butter knife" with a pizza; mostly they are in fact cut up but if they aren't a pizza wheel is provided.

@jameshumphreys9715 10 ай бұрын

It difficult to elecute yourself with the plug socket, Tom Scott made a video on British plug and why they are the safest plug in the world.

@artmallory970 10 ай бұрын

'elecute'? I can't see how an electrical plug can help one speak better?

@jameshumphreys9715 10 ай бұрын

@@artmallory970 apologies eleocute yourself

@artmallory970 10 ай бұрын

@@jameshumphreys9715 *electrocute, 3rd time's a charm

@kathchandler4919 10 ай бұрын

Our posties travel in two's in Mail vans when their rounds are the furthest from the sorting office & they park the van, swipe an electronic post & each start their own separate post rounds which means they finish at the same time , swip& return to the office . They may finish their shift, or maybe do overtime before going home. For delivery areas nearer to their sorting office you'll find they use electric, hand held trolleys & have larger 'rounds'

@wobaguk 10 ай бұрын

I know other people will say this, but the difference between US and UK elections is we DONT vote for a Prime Minister, we are suppsoed to be voting for the party whos ideology we believe in, and the PM will be whoever is the leader of that party. Its ALMOST conceptually like chosing, say an electricity provider, then saying it wasnt fair they later changed CEO without your permission. Of course the PM is an important figurehead, so people do have that in mind when voting, but thats the concept.

@delskioffskinov 10 ай бұрын

Good video really enjoyed your take on our country!

@davidmckie7128 10 ай бұрын

We had a new kitchen 21 years ago and we had a waste disposal fitted. It was powerful enough to tackle chicken bones (and they in turn sharpened the blades). However for the past 4 years the dustbin men (garbage disposal men) collect food waste in a separate bin so we don't use the waste disposal unit much.

@kbbarton1 10 ай бұрын

I enjoy a good "fry up", though I usually don't eat the mushrooms (and black pudding is revolting 🤢). Baked beans for breakfast initially weirded me out but now it's as right as rain to me. A full English isn't something I can eat very often though. I was in Marks & Spencer recently and I was astounded by the range of countries that the produce came from. In the US, many of our fruits and vegetables seem to come from Mexico and Central America but in the UK they come from everywhere! I had no idea that Egypt exports grapes, for example.

@stevebarlow3154 10 ай бұрын

It is quite surprising where much of the UK's fruit and vegetables come from. Apart from the more obvious places like Spain, out of season products are grown in places like Africa and South America.

@micksutton4822 10 ай бұрын

to be fair, you cant really choose ANY doctor in the US either. Do they not have to be on your insurance companys list? and if you change insurance company you gave a different list of GPs that you can use.

@leejones2640 10 ай бұрын

Interesting comments on religion in the UK. Although we have an established church here we are probably one of the least religious countries in the world. I had callers at the door the other day. Two of them. As soon as I heard the Yank accent I realised they were here to convert us heathen Europeans. Of course they had bugger all luck with me!

@cultfiction3865 10 ай бұрын

Some think the fact that U.K. has an established state religion contributes to British peoples religious apathy. Cos there isn’t a sense of choice there when people are told they are Anglican because that’s the state religion. Countries like the US that don’t have a state religion have that sense of choice. And as humans we like to exercise choice. Also British people probably tend to be less religious because they aren’t a new country like the US. They have a long history where wars have been linked to religion which Color’s their view more. The US haven’t been part of that history so it isn’t going to color their view. Still, personally I keep an open mind on these things even though I am British because as far as Im concerned everything in nature shows design. It’s way too intricate to be random. There’s just no way it would be

@fionagregory9147 10 ай бұрын

Richard Dawkins made me an atheist thank god.

@LEWIS1992 9 ай бұрын

- Electrical outlets are called "plug sockets". The third prong on plugs is an earth wire, which makes the whole thing a lot safer. - Garbage disposal units are not a thing in the UK. I've never seen one, nor have I known anyone who has one. - Your boiler seems weird. Most modern accommodations in the UK have a "combi" boiler that you don't need to ever interact with, it'll just instantly give you hot water / heating whenever you need it. - Some bed sheet manufacturers are stingy, meaning they make them as small as possible. I'd recommend paying a bit more, or just buying the next size up if you're buying cheap sheets. - Religion isn't really a thing in the UK anymore. It's more just ceremonial (e.g. God Save The King). Most people say they're C of E but very few people go to church etc. - In the UK we don't vote for a prime minister, we vote for an MP. Who the winning party elects as their leader is not our choice, because the PM has very little power by themselves anyway. It's not like the USA where the President has a LOT of individual power. Also, the situation with Liz Truss was VERY unusual and not representative of UK politics as a whole. Hope this helps! :)

@1chumley1 10 ай бұрын

I love all of the weird stuff! Getting away from the same old things is one of the best things about travel.

@lauriemeilbeck6716 3 ай бұрын

Yes that’s what I mentioned on another video. Coming from Italy to Amarica. It was difficult for my family even as young teenager we would travel alone with friends and family on trains and boats. It was very hard to adapt to

@davidmckie7128 10 ай бұрын

My regular breakfast is a cup of coffee and a bowl of Shreddies. However when I am on holiday I usually have a full English. (this can be in the UK or overseas).

@neilmcdonald9164 6 ай бұрын

Full English Breakfast is a working class or on holiday thing nowadays.Cutting pizza yourself means you can vary the size of slice🎩

@RadiantStarYoga 10 ай бұрын

TAXIS: petrol (gas) is so much more expensive in the UK and Ireland than in the US - and all the other hidden costs - more in the UK.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Yes many hidden costs

@redf7209 10 ай бұрын

a couple of years ago it was no different in US and UK

@cindyk3076 10 ай бұрын

It's disappointing to hear about the litter problem there. All of the things that you described are very different, to be sure, except for the mail slot in the front door, my friend in Detroit had an older home with one. I agree that being able to turn off electrical outlets would be fantastic!

@jspriver 10 ай бұрын

Traveling in New England, they served us pizza uncut but provided scissors to cut to our desire.liked it so we bought pizza scissors

@StonefieldJim4 9 ай бұрын

".. have a baby for free" is such a discombobulating phrase. For A Briton, it's like hearing a foreign language. We say, "have a baby". The idea that "for free" would be added is just weird.

@mervgagen4458 10 ай бұрын

In the US the president is the nearest thing to royalty. In the UK the Prime Minister is the chief of the government; the Royal Family is something completely different.

@only1kingofsing 10 ай бұрын

So true about the litter, it's bad where I live in the NE some blame must go to the councils who never regularly empty the bins so the rubbish on a windy day just gets blown everywhere....

@earlofsmeg 10 ай бұрын

Yep, all them fruit in your breakfast. Tell me you're from Florida without telling me. 😆 Countries of Commonwealth ship their products to Britain. I saw it too. Though not all countries you mentioned are in Commonwealth. People outside US work to live, they don't live to work.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Florida girl at heart! 🌴

@user-jg6gb4cx8r 10 ай бұрын

I so agree. Littering is annoying and I simply don't under why people do it. It was so apparent when I came back from a holiday to Japan.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Absolutely! Glad you agree 😄

@bbt9458 10 ай бұрын

I'm a Londoner & I've always seen pizza arrive ready cut.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

That's good! I haven't ordered delivery but just at restaurants.

@ballroomdiva6856 10 ай бұрын

@@TravelingwithKristinThey don't cut pizza in restaurants in Italy either, unless things have changed in the last few years. You just need a knife with a serrated edge not necessarily a pizza cutter.

@primalengland 10 ай бұрын

Garbage disposals just deposit waste into the environment. Better to compost. Get your boiler sorted and you can more or less forget it. It’s an efficient way of heating. Over summer with no heat, my gas bills are about £10 a month….. more money for gin.. yay! 🍸🍸

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

I love composting! The boiler is mint as well ;)

@Commonsensedude1234 10 ай бұрын

As far as thankless heaters (boilers) they are becoming quite popular and affordable in the US. In TX we use natural gas which is pretty affordable.

@LeoG666_ 10 ай бұрын

I live in a ground floor flat in a converted house and am right by the front door. I work from home and have a constant annoying stream of Post people, Amazon and Just eat knocking on my front window, because they don’t get an answer from the front door.

@MWB5150 10 ай бұрын

Great video Kristin, interesting to hear your comparisons from an American perspective 👍

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers 🇬🇧

@christiansailor2880 10 ай бұрын

Great video, Kristin!! Thank you so much!!!

@lucforand8527 10 ай бұрын

A boiler is simply a hot water heater. It may be used to provide hot water for washing and may also be used as part of the hot water heating system. Central heating is rare in most of Europe; most heating is done by hot water. One of the reasons for this is due to the dominance of brick construction in Europe; which makes it inconvenient to pass large diameter air ducts throughout a building.

@ZombieATAT 10 ай бұрын

I have cereal for breakfast. Nothing sugar coated and don't add sugar either. I always thought the full English breakfast was traditional but not really that widespread. It's up to you Kristin, eat whatever you like luv. The system for household electricity is "grounded" in safety for sure. Even how the house is wired, is much safer than in the US. The appliances you mentioned and air conditioning units, are unlikely to become common features because they're not economical or environmentally friendly. UK trade probably owes it's variety to the commonwealth originally. We do travel and visit a wide variety of places (at home and abroad). The NHS is amazing and it's staff are amazing too. I lived an extremely healthy life until my mid forties. I was diagnosed with severe illness and the NHS was there for me. It's not even a talking point here, regarding it's value to citizens. The current government is an absolute joke. Don't take it's ineptitude as standard. The taxi fair has doubled over the last few years where I am. It started around the same time as the pandemic. Also an absolute joke.

@pamelamitchell8789 7 ай бұрын

The " full English" is usually only eaten maybe on a Sunday or on a special occasion. The mail thing, houses here are incredibly close, in towns much housing is Victorian, conjoined without front space for a mailbox.if you want you can buy and fit one and your postman will use it!

@pamelamitchell8789 7 ай бұрын

PS a single bed is 3 feet wide a double is 4 ft 6 inches , king size 5 feet wide, if bigger it's a super king, so just measure the width . ( there is a 4 ft bed but that's rare and bedding can be hard to get! )

@davidbingham66 9 ай бұрын

Pizza is cut at UK branches of Pizza chains such as Pizza Hut & Dominoes. Other outlets it's more hit or miss.

@clivedeer6211 10 ай бұрын

So a 6 inch high pile of pancakes smothered in Maple Syrup is more appealing to you than a "Full English"! Yuk! I know which I prefer. BTW very few people in this country eat a "Full English" regularly, my wife and I might have one 2 or 3 times a year and most people I know are very similar, and with regard to central heating boilers, They are mostly combination boilers with hot water on tap. These are very efficient compared to American systems which generally are much less efficient. Finally houses in the UK were generally designed and built during the Industrial Revolution and millions of these are still standing so the planners don't like major disrution of new designs, if your proposed house plans are materially different from what exists in your street, even if they are 80 years old you may find it hard to get planning approval, keep up the good videos Kristin.

@fionagregory9376 10 ай бұрын

To save money I don't use boiler at all. The shower heats itself. I wear more clothes in winter and a woolly hat. Do not need heating at all. House is insulated.

@TravelingwithKristin 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing your thought, Fiona. 😊

@terryashley4674 10 ай бұрын

You need a good British friend to bring you along and to answer your questions.

@testcardII 10 ай бұрын

I guess it all depends where you live. In London you can definitely find avocado on toast nowadays (overpriced) at the hundreds of new caffès around. Most people I know only eat a full English breakfast occasionally (weekends or days off?) Usual breakfast is probably a bowl of cereal or toast

@newbris 10 ай бұрын

We've had garbage disposals in most of our houses here in Australia but they often break so we take them out.

@wobaguk 10 ай бұрын

I think in a lot of restaurants, its not seen as quite the 'done thing' to eat a pizza with your hands. If it comes in slices, they are saying its to be picked up. If its not, they think theyre a bit above that. Pizza at home, fingers, its basically burger equivalent. If its a 'resaurant' restaurant, they want you to eat in a more 'civilised' way.

@wessexdruid7598 10 ай бұрын

Pizza was designed to be eaten in the hands, though.