A British family who recently swapped life in the UK for the sunshine state of Florida has detailed the eight most jarring cultural differences they've encountered since their transatlantic move. Mum Emily, who moved with her partner and two children earlier this year, shared her experiences in a candid TikTok video, highlighting the everyday contrasts that define life in an American neighbourhood.
Neighbourhood Norms and Rules
One of the first and most striking adjustments was living within a Homeowners Association (HOA). Emily explained that this requires residents to adhere to a strict set of community rules. For her family, this includes maintaining their front garden grass at a specific length and ensuring it always looks neat. "Everyone in this neighbourhood has got really nicely kept front gardens, which I find in England is not something that most people really do," she observed, showcasing the uniformly manicured lawns and trimmed bushes on her street.
Another visual difference was the prevalence of the American flag proudly displayed on houses and by mailboxes, a patriotic practice far less common with the Union Jack in British residential areas. The architecture itself presented a shift, with detached homes being the standard in her Floridian community, a contrast to the more varied housing stock typical in UK towns.
Infrastructure and Scale: Everything is Bigger
The family was immediately struck by the sheer scale of their new environment. Emily pointed out fire hydrants positioned openly on the streets, a fixture she rarely recalls seeing back home. This was just the start of the 'size shock'.
"America is known for everything to be bigger," she said, noting the significantly wider roads even within local neighbourhoods. This scaling-up extends to vehicles, with cars generally being much larger than those common on British roads. "It took a bit of getting used to, but we've been here for six weeks now, so I feel like we're quite comfortable being on the big roads," Emily added.
Quirks and Perks of Suburban Life
Several other charming and practical differences defined their new daily life. Instead of letterboxes in the front door, each house has its own personal mailbox mounted on a post by the road. Emily is a particular fan of this system, as it means the postman doesn't approach the door, resulting in far less barking from her dogs.
The family also delights in the cinematic sight of basketball hoops at the end of many driveways. "This, honestly, it's just like the movies," she remarked. And while the tropical landscape is dominated by palm trees—a definite cultural and environmental difference she loves—she was sure to note that "we do have brick houses out here too," showcasing one to dispel any stereotypes.
The move, motivated by year-round sunny weather, better access to outdoor activities for their children, and increased earning potential for the parents, has been a positive one for the family. They join an estimated 678,000 to 685,000 British citizens already living in the United States. While Emily was born in the US and lived there until age seven, her adult perspective, shaped by life in Britain, has made these everyday American details a fascinating source of cultural discovery.
