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What Do You Need to Know Before You Move to the UK?

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Housing and Utilities in the UK

UK Yankee talks about housing and utilities in the UK on their website. With housing, they talk about things such as the types of houses, cost, rentals, and buying. Most houses in the UK are brick and are attached at one or both sides to another house. These are the house terms: detached- not attached to any other homes, semi-detached – attached to another home on the side, terraced – attached on both sides like a townhouse, and flat – apartment. Cost varies but homes are typically more expensive in the South and in built up areas such as London. If you are renting a house, be sure to have some written verifiable references with you. According to UK Yankee, “Just as complicated here as it is in the US, you make an offer, arrange financing, go through getting the house valued, an attorney does all the paperwork for you and a couple of months later…you’re moving in” (UK Yankee). You should look around for lenders and beware of so-called independent financial advisors. With Utilities, the website talks about electricity, water, gas, telephones, and the TV license. Local companies offer electricity, water, and gas services, but you have to be aware of the aggressive methods they use to get you to choose their company. The two main sources of heating are storage heaters and central hot water heaters. British Telecom offers telephone service, although other companies are available. You should shop around for a company that fits your needs because costs vary. Most people in the UK have mobile phones, and the rates are fairly cheap compared to the US. Pay as you go plans can cost 8 pounds per month. In the UK, if you watch television you have to pay a license fee. This is sort of a tax to pay for the public channels. There are five basic free channels: BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. You can get digital TV through satellite, Digital terrestrial television, or cable. If you go the digital route you will need to purchase a set-top box decoder or a TV with one built in.
This website is relevant to my topic because if I plan to move to the UK, I will need to purchase a house and pay for utilities. This website was quite informative and gave me some new insights. I was surprised by how cheap the cell service can be! I probably wouldn’t even get a landline and just use my cell phone. I think the person who wrote the section on the TV license got the part about the basic channels wrong. If I’m correct, ITV is not paid for by the government, but through commercials therefore it wouldn’t be a free public channel. Overall the article was informative and useful.

"Utilities." UK Yankee. UK Yankee, n.d. Web. 21 Apr 2010.
http://www.uk-yankee.com/wiki-manual/index.php/home/utilities.

"Housing." UK Yankee. UK Yankee, n.d. Web. 21 Apr 2010.
http://www.uk-yankee.com/wiki-manual/index.php/home/housing.

Interview With Toni Summers Hargis

I interviewed Toni Summers Hargis, the author of Rules, Britannia, the book that I reviewed. She said that some of the main things you need to know before you move the UK are that there are big differences in how we talk. You think you speak the same language, but actually we use many different words for different things. She said many things are smaller such as the houses and appliances; the food is different from American food, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t as good as American food. She said it is very easy to make mistakes with manners. The British are big with the word please, and they would think it was rude if you didn’t use the word even if you asked nicely. It is very rude to refer to a person standing in the same room as he or she, which is something we don’t even think about doing. She said that Americans are much more conservative than the British. For example the British tell it like it is and typically aren’t as reserved in conversation; another example would be that we go to bed and rise earlier than British people. She said that it is just as hard to immigrate to the UK as it is to the US. You need a reason to be there such as marriage, your job, or some type of exchange program. Her favorite thing about the UK that the US doesn’t have is its history. When asked if education is better in the US or the UK, she said that when she first moved to the US kids learned how to read at age six and in the UK at age four. She thinks that it averages out by the time you finish though. She said the US education program is better in the aspect of picking out what you want your profession to be because in the UK you have to (if you want to go to University) take A-levels (sort of like AP tests) in certain subjects at the age of 16. She said the hardest thing to adjust to would probably be the slower pace of life, and it’s just not what you’re used to in general.
I found this interview to be tremendously helpful. It was nice to get someone’s actual opinion and speak to them in person rather than just reading an article. It was also nice getting advice from someone who grew up in the UK and knows it well, but who has also lived in the US for a while. You could definitely tell that she knew what she was talking about. I found what she said about UK’s history interesting because I never really think about the fact that what we think is old is really not that old at all compared to buildings, houses, etc. in the UK. I really don’t have anything bad to say about the interview, and it was an enjoyable and interesting experience.

Hargis, Toni Summers. Telephone Interview. 5 May 2010.

Book Review: Rules, Britannia by Toni Summers Hargis

In the book Rules, Britannia by Toni Summers Hargis a plethora of topics about life in the UK are discussed. Topics range from shopping and services to vacations and entertainment. I won’t talk about every topic discussed in the book as there are twenty-two chapters. There are many differences between the UK and Us, although many of them are subtle things. At the beginning of the book there are 3 chapters solely based on words or expressions that are unknown to Americans that might cause embarrassment, laughter, or confusion. There are also terms that Americans and the British might not share or that have different meanings featured at the end of each chapter. Some examples of such words or expressions that Hargis includes are palava, which means a fuss, argy-bargy, which means trouble, and naff, which means crass. She also provides helpful links dealing with the topic discussed at the end of each chapter. When it comes to shopping, there are differences, some of which are good, and some of which are bad. One of the good things is that malls (shopping centers) in the UK are more family accessible, offering a place for you to drop off your kids for an hour or two at a “crèche,” which is sort of like a daycare center, while you shop among other family friendly features. One of the downsides to shopping in the UK is that most stores are not very reasonable with their return policies. Entertainment is a bit different, with the theatre being a bigger deal than it is here. Also, you have to pay a license fee to watch TV whether it is on the internet or the television to support the BBC. After 9PM British television becomes quite raunchy, many of them showing nudity or having adult jokes. British people can be very passionate about their sports, specifically soccer (football). As for vacations, British people and Europeans in general, take more vacations (holidays) than most Americans. The British also typically book their holidays with a travel guide or go with a vacation package. Miscellaneous culture in the UK is very different from the US. British people tend to be more mild mannered than Americans and also speak more softly. They tend not to confront a person who they have a problem with or who has made them angry, instead choosing to ignore that person. According to Hargis, “[A] word you’ll hear a lot in the UK is ‘sorry,’ and it has a million and one uses” (221). You could be rushing through a busy area, knocking people around, but if you say sorry it makes it not as bad. British people also use sorry to apologize for things they didn’t cause, when someone didn’t hear you, or if you’re trying to get by someone. Things that we don’t necessarily consider very rude, such as being late or saying he or she when referring to someone in the room, are seen as quite rude in the UK. Some other general differences between our cultures are that people in the UK have a slower pace of life, like to voice their discontent, and go to bed and rise later than Americans typically do.
This book was wonderful! It provided me with so much knowledge about the UK, and I feel much more informed than I did before. It definitely had an insider feel to it, as the author grew up and lived in the UK for quite some time, and visits often. The real life stories from friends and her experience with the UK were great and made it more relatable. I think it gave better personal insight than a “travel book” would, as travel books typically just give facts and don’t have a personal feel. Each chapter went more in-depth than any articles that I’ve read have.
Hargis also provided humor in the book, making it more enjoyable than your average informational book. I really like the culture in general from what she described. This is a small thing, but I liked that she said the store workers don’t follow you around the store asking to help you. That and many other things she mentioned such as their quieter speaking tones are welcome changes. I found the word translations and websites at the end of each chapter very helpful. I really don’t have any problems with this book, and there is nothing I can think of that I would change about it. Everyone that plans on moving from the US to the UK should acquire this book and take it with them when they move. I certainly would.

Hargis, Toni. Rules, Britannia. New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2006. Print.

Things to Do in London

In Larry the Travel Guy’s video “Larry the Travel Guy | London,” he shows us different things to do in London. He focuses on the attractions that aren’t as well known as things such as the London eye or the crown jewels. He talks about the transportation for a bit and shows us the tube map. He then goes to Hyde Park, 350 acres, in the middle of London. He also shows us the Speakers’ Corner, which is where people can come and give speeches about whatever they choose. It originated in the 1830s. He visits St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was completed in 1708. If you take the 530 steps up to the top, you can get an amazing view of the city. He goes to watch the changing of the guard, and says that: “It starts at 11:30, but you have to get there by at least 11:00 if you want to see anything more than the top of the bear skin hats” ("Larry the Travel Guy | London"). The event lasts for 30 minutes and is a must see. He goes to Portobello Road, which is a place that sells antiques on Saturday and has a flea market on Sunday. They also have good cafes. He says that you must see a West End show, and he shows us a guide that talks about where to get the cheapest tickets and what shows are playing. At the end, he takes a two hour train ride to Paris to show us how easy it is to go to other places in Europe from London.
This video is relevant to my topic because it is good to know some of the things to do in the city that I might be residing in. I liked the fact that he talked about the things that are not as well known because I already know about the more popular “attractions.” The Speakers’ Corner intrigued me the most because I think the whole idea is really neat. I thought the part where he talks about going to Paris was irrelevant and could have been left out. He would have been able to talk about something else that was actually in London rather than talking about leaving London. Other than that, I thought it was an interesting video that helped show me more cool things to do in London.



"Larry the Travel Guy | London." London. Web. 18 Apr 2010. http://www.larrythetravelguy.com/london.html.

What to Bring and What to Leave Behind When Moving to the UK

Sophie S.’s article, “Moving to the UK? Household Goods to Bring and What to Leave Behind,” talks about what household items you should bring when moving to the UK and what things you might want leave in the States. British homes are comparatively smaller than homes in the US. You need to keep that in mind when deciding which pieces of furniture you are going to take with you. It will be hard to ship big, bulky furniture items unless you already have a home set up there. Many houses in the UK are more compartmentalized- especially older houses- than in the US where open floor plans are popular, so even though your new house may be larger than the average house, the furniture might not fit. Place the very large items in storage or sell them before moving. The voltage in the UK is 220v whereas in the US it is 110v. For all your electronics you will either have to buy new ones or purchase a transformer for each of them. It costs much more money to shop in the UK than in the US. There will not always be a Wal-Mart type store in the city you are in. It is a good idea to stock up on your favorite items before you move. There are close alternatives for some things, but the price will be higher. European items will be more affordable in the UK than in the US though. Before you move, you must carefully plan out what you are going to bring along.
This article relates to my topic because you need to know the things you need to pack before moving to the UK. I thought the article was very informative, and I found out some things that I did not know before. Although I knew the voltage was different for most countries, I wasn’t sure if the UK’s was different or not. I am very glad to know that European items are cheaper there! The author could have mentioned examples of the price differences and given the average price of a transformer so that we would know if it was worth it to buy some new electronics or just get a transformer. She also could have included what clothing items to bring to make the article even more informative.

S., Sophie. "Moving to the UK? Household Goods to Bring & What to Leave Behind." Associated Content. Associated Content, Inc., 31 Dec 2007. Web. 15 Apr 2010. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/499749/moving_to_the_uk_household_goods_to_pg2.html?cat=16.

Transportation in London

In the video “Transport in London, Tubes, Buses, and Cabs, London Transport,” the host talks about the various methods of transportation in London. You can ride by bus, by the tube or Underground, walk, or by cab. The Underground will get you into London from Heathrow airport when you arrive in the U.K. To ride the Underground, you need to know your destination and the color of the line you are taking. London is divided into zones, which will also determine how much you pay. Some things to remember when you’re on the tube is that: “no one talks unless you’re Australian, South African, or a New Zealander, make sure you let other people get off before you get on otherwise you’ll get bowled over, and if you can get a seat, [that’s] a very good thing.” It is best to get an Oyster Card if you are going to be using the tube often. You can load it up weekly or monthly depending on how often you will be using the tube. You can get a day pass if you only plan on traveling by tube for that day. Traveling by bus is much cheaper than traveling by tube and you get to see more of London while you travel. The only problem is that the system for choosing a bus is really confusing. To travel by bus you need to know your destination, bus number, bus stop, and which direction the bus is going in. There is a map and guide that will help you find out that information.
This video relates to my topic because I would definitely go to London when I first arrive in the U.K., and I might choose to live there. I would probably use the tube first and get an Oyster Card, even though it’s expensive, until I become more acquainted with the city. After that, I might use the buses because it’s less expensive. The problem that I had with this video is that it didn’t talk about cabs even though they were mentioned in the title. Even though not that many people drive in London, I felt that the host should have talked about it because there are some things you need to know if you plan to drive in London. It was nice that the video showed the tube and bus route maps. Overall it was a very informative video.


"transport in london, tubes buses and cabs, london transport." Web. 10 Apr 2010.

Culture, Weather, and Where to Live in Scotland

According to “Live in Scotland,” Scotland has a rich culture that has much to offer. The Scottish Government even provides funding to the arts in Scotland. There are lots of different types of culture to choose from there. It has its own ballet and opera companies. There are also many companies that tour Scotland bringing drama, music and other things to remote areas. The Edinburgh Festival, which started in 1947, is now known worldwide and attracts musicians and authors from many different countries. Scotland has a wide range of music from folk and traditional to contemporary or classical. There are almost 300 museums and galleries in Scotland. The National Galleries of Scotland and the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh are great art museums to go to. Admission to most museums and galleries is free, and if they do charge, it’s rarely more than 4 pounds. Of course, there are many historic buildings and monuments that are free for the public to go to. Seafood, meat, poultry, cheese, and whisky are some of the products that Scotland produces that are known to be the best in the U.K. There are all types of international food offered there. Weather in Scotland varies based on where you are. On average there is rainfall on over 250 days a year in the highlands and 175 days a year on the Angus, Fife, and East Lothian coasts. It typically rains a bit more in Scotland than it does in England, but as the article says, “It doesn’t always rain in Scotland.” It is also typically a bit colder in Scotland than it is in England. The average July temperature in Scotland is 66°F, and the average maximum January/February temperature ranges from 41°F - 59°F. The average number of days with sleet or snowfall can range from less than 20 in the west coast to over 100 days in the mountains. There are six main cities in Scotland: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, and Stirling. Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city, its unemployment is consistently under 2%, and in a survey done recently it was the second most prosperous city in the U.K. It is surrounded by beaches and is close to mountains offering a wide range of activities. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and has the strongest economy of any city outside of London. Unemployment is as low as 1.9% there. Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, is known for its tourism, culture, and shopping. The city is surrounded by some of the best scenery. Inverness was ranked fifth out of 189 British cities for its quality of life. Their economy is dominated by the high-tech sector, and there are many students living there due to the first class schools. Stirling is the smallest city in Scotland, known for its historical heroes.
This article relates to my topic because I am not sure if I would want to move to England, Scotland, or Wales. The first two articles that I have read seemed to focus on England or the United Kingdom as a whole so it was nice to read an article that focused on Scotland. The temperatures in Scotland seem pretty mild which is something that I prefer. I also think it is great that museum prices are relatively low or free because some museums in the U.S. can have pricey admission fees. I was hoping that the website would have a little more information on the cities, but it did provide new information because I knew little about the cities before I read this article.
"Live in Scotland." Scotland is the Place. The Scottish Government, n.d. Web. 8 Apr 2010. http://www.scotlandistheplace.com/stitp/85.3.14.html.

British Customs and Culture

In the CountryReports.org section about British Customs and Culture, many aspects of life are talked about such as eating, fashion, family, religion, and sports and recreation. A typical family eats about three meals a day with breakfast generally being at seven AM, lunch at one PM, and dinner/tea at six PM. Breakfast is usually eaten at home; lunch is typically eaten at a café or restaurant near the person’s office; dinner is eaten at home usually unless the family is eating at a restaurant for a treat. The article says this about fashion: “Typically, men wear a suit and tie or smarter trousers and shirts. A woman wears a jacket and skirt/trousers, although it is increasingly common for employers to encourage more comfortable working conditions, which affects personal attire. Young people (men and women) tend to wear jeans and T-shirts” (Country Reports). The average British family has one or two kids. Most families with children are two parent families and usually both parents work. There are still elements of the British class system, which consists of upper- inherited titles, land, and social privileges, middle- industrialists, professionals, businesspeople, and shop owners, and lower- agricultural, mine, and factory workers. The class system is diminishing due to multiculturalism and a changing economy. British people prefer to live in houses. Many houses are narrow and joined by rows of terraces. Country houses have a garden encircling them. The law in the U.K. provides for freedom of religion, although England and Scotland have established churches: The Church of England which is Anglican and The Church of Scotland which is Presbyterian. 72 percent of citizens of the U.K. consider themselves to be Christian. 16 percent do not have a religion, and 12 percent had some other type of religion such as Judaism (0.05 percent) or Hinduism (one percent). England’s national game is Cricket, but soccer (football), rugby, horse racing, tennis, and motor sports are also popular. Kids typically play soccer, cricket, or rugby.
This article applies to my topic because it is important to know about the culture before moving to the U.K. or really, moving anywhere. I learned some new things from this article, and some things I already knew. I didn’t know about the religion demographics, which were interesting. Many things that the website mentioned about British culture I already knew. I didn’t disagree with anything per say, but I didn’t think that the article talked enough about the things that makes the United Kingdom different from the United States. Also, the author said many things about England. I wasn’t sure if he or she was making the common mistake of saying England as if it is the same thing as the United Kingdom or if he or she was talking about England in particular. I think it is great that different sports are common in the U.K. than the U.S. Although I am not really into sports, I would much rather watch a soccer (football) match than an American Football game. It was a great article for general information, but I think I will need to do further research about this.
"Customs and Culture." CountryReports. CountryReports, 2010. Web. 1 Apr 2010. http://www.countryreports.org/people/aboutThePeople.aspx?Countryname=&countryId=251.

Moving to the U.K.

According to Jo-Anne Woodward, there are several regulations that you need to be aware of before you move to the U.K. You must think about and plan essential things such as obtaining a visa, opening a bank account, getting health care, acquiring health care, renting or buying a home, getting a driver’s license, and finding a job. There are many different types of visas that allow you to work in the U.K. A Work Permit allows a person to work in the U.K. with the employer’s permission, meaning you have to find work before you get there. There is also a Highly Skilled Migrant Program Visa which is given according to education, current salary, and work experience. You can hit some snags when trying to open a bank account in the U.K. mainly because they ask you to provide a letter from your employer, passport, and proof of your residential address. Many people run into problems if they are not yet employed or if they are sharing a flat or home with someone and their name isn’t on the bills. Health care is provided to most residents through the National Health Service for free. Anyone visiting the Emergency and Accident section of an NHS hospital receives free care even if they have no visa. Waiting times can be somewhat long though. Renting a home in the U.K. is expensive, although many properties come with furniture. According to Woodward, “Consider whether you really need to drive, particularly if you live in London, where roads are congested, parking is scarce, and public transport is usually efficient.” If you end up deciding to drive you can keep your U.S. license for a year, then you must take a written and practical driving test. It is hard to find work before you arrive in the U.K. unless your skills are in short supply. Once you get there, it is best to learn the rules of interviews, CVs, and work practices when trying to get a job.
This article is very helpful, and the things mentioned seem crucial in a move to the U.K. I’m not sure I agree completely about the visa, because I don’t think obtaining a visa is only about your job and work experience. I will have to do more research about obtaining a visa. The NHS seems like it is mostly a good thing, although I have heard some negative things about it such as not having enough staff and the wait times that Woodward mentioned. I don’t think I will be renting a home in the U.K. due to the high costs, especially if I plan on living there for a while. I also will probably use public transport at first, until I become more familiar with wherever I’m living. Also, she implies that it is not even necessary to drive, especially in London, unlike in America where it is basically mandatory unless you live in a big city. This has helped me know a bit more about what to expect when moving to Britain.

Woodward, Jo-Anne. "Moving to the U.K.". Transitions Abroad. Web. 24 Mar 2010.
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0611/moving_to_the_uk.shtml.