Moving to a new country always comes with surprises, and for one American student in the UK, the reality of British life was more startling than she ever imagined. Caroline, a US national studying in London, has taken to TikTok to share the series of culture shocks that left her reeling, including the stunning revelation that a famous location from a nursery rhyme is, in fact, a real place.
From Parcels to Prescriptions: Everyday Adjustments
One of the first hurdles Caroline faced was the UK's approach to online shopping deliveries. Accustomed to parcels being left on her porch in the US, she was baffled to find that in Britain, items are typically returned to the depot if no one is home to receive them. This led her to rely heavily on services like Amazon Locker and click-and-collect to ensure she never missed a delivery.
Another significant difference was access to the sleep aid melatonin. In the United States, it's an over-the-counter supplement, but Caroline discovered that in the UK, melatonin is only available with a doctor's prescription, a rule that could catch visiting Americans off guard.
The Climate and The Light
Caroline also highlighted the distinct British climate. She explained that while temperatures might not reach the extremes of some US states, the damp, bone-chilling cold of a UK winter feels far more intense. Conversely, she noted that a summer day of 85°F (29°C) feels much hotter without the widespread air conditioning common in the US.
The timing of dusk was another surprise. She pointed out that in late November, the sun sets in London around 4pm, which is earlier than in New York City (4:30pm) and significantly earlier than in Los Angeles (nearly 5pm). She did, however, praise the gorgeous summers where daylight lasts until 10pm.
The Muffin Man's Real Address
Perhaps the most whimsical shock was Caroline's discovery concerning a childhood rhyme. She was gobsmacked to find that Drury Lane is a real road in London. Like many, she had assumed it was a fictional setting for the Muffin Man nursery rhyme. "There is no Muffin Man," she joked, "but I did have a muffin at a cafe there."
Her video resonated with other commenters who shared their own baffling UK experiences. One person was mind-blown by the requirement for a TV licence to watch live television. Another was stunned by the pervasive drinking culture, especially their student union having its own pub. Several Americans also commiserated about the linguistic differences, with one noting that using the word "bathroom" caused confusion and "toilets" was the necessary term.
A third commenter echoed Caroline's feelings about the weather, writing: "I was so cold in December in London. The temp was the same as where I was coming from in the US, but that damp cold was unreal." From the practical to the peculiar, it seems the journey across the pond is filled with lessons for American visitors.
