If you’re
reading this article, chances are the weeks (or months) you’ve spent preparing
with an IELTS Philippines program have finally
paid off. If so, congratulations! You’re one step closer to your big move to
the UK. Here are some of the things that you should know about living in the
UK.
1.
UK, England, and Great Britain are not
the same.
Even
if you enrolled in an IELTS UKVI review center,
there’s a huge chance that your instructor won’t be able to touch on this
subject during their classes. Get your facts straight before you move to the UK
to avoid offending people. Here’s how UK, England, and Great Britain differ.
UK stands for The United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland. It’s a sovereign state that embodies the union of England,
Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. It’s important to note that most of Ireland is
independent. Only Northern Ireland is part of the UK at present.
England, as mentioned before, is one of the
four states within the UK. Great Britain, on the other hand, refers to
the island where Scotland, England, and Wales are located. This is one of the
reasons why people use “Britain” and “UK” interchangeably. Remember these facts
so you won’t unintentionally offend anyone when you move to the UK.
2.
It gets darker and wetter the farther you go up north in the
UK.
The
weather in the UK is definitely different from what you’re used to here in the
Philippines. And it has a lot to do with the place’s geography. If the city or
town you’re planning to move into is located up north, be prepared for a lot of
dark and rainy days. While rain is common in all of UK, it’s certainly pours
more in the north.
Also,
don’t be surprised if you get five hours or less of sunlight during the winter.
That’s
normal. Make sure you’re prepared to deal with these changes.
3.
Brits are particular about courtesy.
If
you plan to live in the UK, you have to do as the Brits do. This means (among other
things) that you must stand on the right side when you ride the escalator,
respect the queue, and apologize for just about everything (like the bad
weather).
4.
Brits love tea.
If
you prepared with an IELTS UKVI review center,
you’d notice that “tea” is mentioned more than any beverage in most language
exercises. There’s a good reason behind this prevalence.
The
British love their tea. They love their tea so much that it dominates the
beverage market. This could be a problem if you’re a coffee person. Because,
while tea shops are everywhere in the UK, coffee shops are literally few and
far in between. If you do find a café, make sure you know what you’re ordering.
“White coffee” in most shops are often just regular coffee with milk.
5.
The Oyster card is your commute best friend.
Don’t
have a car? Don’t have the cash to spare for pricey Uber rides? Then, you best
get an Oyster smartcard. The Oyster card is a small blue card that lets you pay
for your fare when you travel by bus, Tube (the British colloquial and the
official term for the London Underground), tram (streetcar), and most other
National transport systems.
Keep in mind
that these information are just the tip of the iceberg that is UK culture. If
you’re still preparing with an IELTS Philippinescourse, ask questions about the British language from your instructor. This
way, you’ll be prepared not only for the high-stakes exam but your life beyond
it as well.
References:
"20 Things to Know Before Moving to London."
Movebubble. July 14, 2017. Accessed March 04, 2018. https://www.movebubble.com/2015/04/20-things-you-need-to-know-before-moving-to-london/.
Jones, Autumn. "32 Things You Experience As A
Foreigner Moving To London." BuzzFeed. Accessed March 04, 2018. https://www.buzzfeed.com/autmnjones/32-things-you-experience-as-a-foreigner-moving-to-grak?utm_term=.elEw2zrPLz#.lsOyPgmQDg.
"Moving to the UK? 5 Things You Must Know." NY
International Shipping. Accessed March 04, 2018. http://www.nyshipping.com/things-you-should-know-before-moving-to-the-uk.
Pantazi, Chloe. "25 Things We Wish We'd Known Before Moving
to London." Business Insider. August 25, 2016. Accessed March 04, 2018. http://uk.businessinsider.com/things-to-know-before-moving-to-london-2016-8.
“11 Things You
Need to Know Before Moving to the United Kingdom.” Migration Expert Blog.
Accessed March 5, 2018. https://blog.migrationexpert.co.uk/11-things-you-need-to-know-before-moving-to-the-united-kingdom
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