Things you'll miss from the UK, and how you'll compensate?

[wbeem 568]

After reading more I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who finds American tea really weak!

Nope. You're certainly not alone. I'm not a tea drinker, though.

One thing that we eat a lot of in the UK is yogurt. We go through tubs of them like there's no tomorrow. That is something I voluntarily give up as soon as we hit US soil. I've yet to find yogurt there that I actually like.

[rhirhi 35]

I miss yogurt too! Stonyfield is an OK replacement as it doesn't really taste as painfully sweet and unnatural as many of the others I've tried, but it's still a little thick and goopy.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

For me, the thing I miss most is being around people with the same set of cultural references as me. Recently, my husband sent me a link saying 'look at this insane car!' It was a reliant robin. He was astounded that it was a real car, that I had seen them (though very infrequently) on the roads in the UK. Then I started off explaining Only Fools and Horses (which, as I started talking about it, I realized was so, so, so British) and his eyes sort of glazed over. It's the kind of thing that is no big deal but I do miss being able to say things like "is that so and so who used to be in Grange Hill?" and not having to explain myself!

I used the phrase "he sounds like a bit of a Del Boy" in a meeting at work last week and was met by a world of blank stares. Sigh!

[-Shana- 152]

I used the phrase "he sounds like a bit of a Del Boy" in a meeting at work last week and was met by a world of blank stares. Sigh!

Haha, did you hear the chirping of crickets too?? Wouldn't be surprised.

I think I will miss British humour the most (besides Galaxy chocolate - sorry, Dove is not the same), or in what I reluctantly label "banter". My fiance is insisting that I have to be careful of how I joke about with any future American friends since they might take me too seriously.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Right now I miss mild British winters and I am compensating by hibernating!

[Owen_London 65]

I used to drink Clipper tea in the UK, and you can't get it here.

Since arriving in the US, I've experimented with quite a few different brands, to see what I like. I'm lucky that HEB stock a decent range, including several English imports (which I don't usually buy). This is what I found:

- Tazo Awake - what I usually buy now. It seems to have more subtle aromatic teas added, so it's not quite a standard "builders tea" blend, but I like it. This is what they usually serve in Starbucks in the US. It's a bit expensive though.

- Stash English Breakfast. Standard breakfast tea, but still good.

- Twinings. Not sure if this is the same as their UK tea. It's OK and a decent blend.

- Vinis. OK.

- Ceylon English Breakfast. OK.

- Lipton yellow label. Only if I'm desperate. This is what is provided at work.

- Bigelow. No.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I used to drink Clipper tea in the UK, and you can't get it here.

Since arriving in the US, I've experimented with quite a few different brands, to see what I like. I'm lucky that HEB stock a decent range, including several English imports (which I don't usually buy). This is what I found:

- Tazo Awake - what I usually buy now. It seems to have more subtle aromatic teas added, so it's not quite a standard "builders tea" blend, but I like it. This is what they usually serve in Starbucks in the US. It's a bit expensive though.

- Stash English Breakfast. Standard breakfast tea, but still good.

- Twinings. Not sure if this is the same as their UK tea. It's OK and a decent blend.

- Vinis. OK.

- Ceylon English Breakfast. OK.

- Lipton yellow label. Only if I'm desperate. This is what is provided at work.

- Bigelow. No.

Owen--Try what my husband has settled on: Kroger brand- 100% Black Tea- British Blend. The box is brownish orange and usually on the bottom row. 80 tea bags/$2.99. He thinks it is most like his former Sainsbury's red label. Wondering if you would find it satisfactory.

Starbucks has recently switched to Tevana. He doesn't like the Tevana Royal English blend as much as Tazo Awake. Takes longer to brew. Weak. He called it "fortnightly tea". You Brits will probably get that joke. Took me awhile.

He bought some Barry's decaf off the clearance table at Kroger half-priced and said it was nice.

[Owen_London 65]

Owen--Try what my husband has settled on: Kroger brand- 100% Black Tea- British Blend. The box is brownish orange and usually on the bottom row. 80 tea bags/$2.99. He thinks it is most like his former Sainsbury's red label. Wondering if you would find it satisfactory.

Starbucks has recently switched to Tevana. He doesn't like the Tevana Royal English blend as much as Tazo Awake. Takes longer to brew. Weak. He called it "fortnightly tea". You Brits will probably get that joke. Took me awhile.

He bought some Barry's decaf off the clearance table at Kroger half-priced and said it was nice.

Thanks. I'll try to pick a box up some time. We normally go to HEB, but occasionally go to the new Kroger at Barker Cypress and Tuckerton, that's now our closest grocery store.

[Holly2234 66]

Thank you both for your kind words it means a lot! My ROC interview is in 2 days time. (Yes i was unlucky and got one!) Wish me luck!

[JenDave3121 30]

My hubbie is struggling with the humor and banter as well lol......we make frequent trips to World Market stores to pick up Hobnobs, digestive biscuits, etc. They also have PG Tips! You guys should start a Facebook page to discuss these struggles!!!

[JenDave3121 30]

Two things I did:

Explained how things worked here as it came up in conversation like getting the car inspected or new license plates. Income tax. He also felt lost on where to get things because he was a fix-it kind of a guy so understanding where to locally buy paint, nails, auto parts, electronic supplies, etc helped. He described feeling like a "fish out of water" not instantly knowing those things.

Money- I wanted him to feel like what's mine is yours. I would get $200 cash out of the ATM and lay it on the counter. Then I would say, "I got us some cash today. Take whatever you need." Or would say, "how are you doing on cash? I'm out and going by the bank. Do you need some as well?" And sometimes I would be out and would ask him for a twenty. I didn't want him to feel like I was giving him an allowance or he had to ask me for money. Also added him to the bank account and several credit cards immediately. Even though the money was all mine at first, I didn't want him to feel that way.

I think that is the hardest thing for us......the money he came with did not last after a trip and AOS filing. He feels like he is not contributing.....it can be difficult!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I think that is the hardest thing for us......the money he came with did not last after a trip and AOS filing. He feels like he is not contributing.....it can be difficult!

My husband left his money in the UK. I don't know if it is a younger generation thing or more modern than me, but when I married him...what's mine is his. My bank account became his bank account. I see people say "we are going to share the cost of AOS". I don't think that way...that each has to contribute equally. I guess my attitude made him comfortable. There were times he did buy things on his UK credit card (paid out of that UK bank account) but probably because he felt guilty coming home with a new TV he thought was cool or equipment for his "man cave" which I thought was going to be a big storage space. (How naive I was to think that. Ha.) He pretty much got over that when he realized I don't care what he buys. No pre-clearance through me is required. The awkwardness will get better for you.

[chrismorrison 96]

My husband left his money in the UK. I don't know if it is a younger generation thing or more modern than me, but when I married him...what's mine is his. My bank account became his bank account. I see people say "we are going to share the cost of AOS". I don't think that way...that each has to contribute equally. I guess my attitude made him comfortable. There were times he did buy things on his UK credit card (paid out of that UK bank account) but probably because he felt guilty coming home with a new TV he thought was cool or equipment for his "man cave" which I thought was going to be a big storage space. (How naive I was to think that. Ha.) He pretty much got over that when he realized I don't care what he buys. No pre-clearance through me is required. The awkwardness will get better for you.

This rings particularly true for us-my fiance is so adamant about "costing me money". I have to laugh when he says that, because it's like-we are a team, for better or worse, richer or poorer-sometimes he has trouble remembering that, bless. Stubborn Taureans!

[RM1987 3]

My husband and I have been married since September and right from day one we said 'what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine' it just seemed like the natural thing to do. I do occasionally use money from my UK account but for no other reason than our joint account in the US is running low and we need to pay for something.

I will admit I feel bad at the moment that I'm not contributing to the household income (when you're use to a monthly wage it's always going to feel strange to have no earnings) but I have never had to 'clear' buying anything with my husband and it has really helped me in the settling in process. And that's settling into US life and married life

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So let that be a lesson to you Brits moving to America. When we American spouses say "mi casa es su casa", we really mean it. No guilt trips. Contribute with your love and thoughtfulness and that is worth a million to us. You make our lives infinitely better by moving here.

.....and that is my Valentine thought for the day