It's not all tea and crumpets!

Are you an international student joining Queen Mary? Have you already heard all we’ve got to say about London life? Are you hungry for more information on life in the UK as a whole?

Then you’re in the right place!

An essential aspect of your university experience will be your immersion in UK culture. Here are a few things you can expect to encounter during your time here!

Humour

Brits are famous for their dry wit, and this is probably what you’ll experience most of in your daily life. It’s normal for people as close as friends or even as distant as strangers to crack a sarcastic joke or two, and it can be hard to spot if you’re not used to it. But don’t despair: it’s all (usually) in good fun, and soon enough you’ll be fluent in British sarcasm.

Food

Now, the national dish of England is actually chicken tikka masala, but we all know that’s not what comes to mind when you think of British food. YouGov describes our cuisine as “distressingly beige,” and—yeah—that’s true. But it’s still good.

And if you don’t try any classic British food while you’re in the UK, have you really been to the UK? Here are a handful of classic dishes that (I believe) you have to try at least once:

• Fish and Chips
  You knew this would be the top choice, and for good reason! Fish and chips is delicious and filling. In my opinion, nothing beats a proper fish and chips from a proper chippy, but we can’t forget The Curve on the Queen Mary campus, where you’ll get delicious fish and chips every Friday!
  
• Sunday Roast
  A classic! End your week with a good, hearty hot meal. Typical meats include beef, chicken or pork. Personally, I would seek out a carvery for the very best Sunday Roast experience.
  
• Toad in the Hole
  It’s not actually a toad please don’t stop reading! I need you to trust me here, Toad in the Hole is delicious. A delicacy. A giant Yorkshire pudding with more sausages than any reasonable person wants to eat baked right into the middle of it. Smothered in gravy. Yum.
  

Special mention to: crumpets. Some people may look at a photo of a crumpet and tell me it’s an ‘English Muffin,’ but it’s not an English Muffin. It’s so much more.

Tea

Fancy a spot of tea? Any kind is good. A popular misconception is that there is a specific time for tea (I assume this is because a lot of Brits will talk about ‘tea time,’ by which they actually mean ‘dinner time’) but tea is for anytime, anywhere.*

You may find yourself offered a cup of tea fairly regularly, by your flatmates or perhaps when visiting someone’s home. This is because drinking tea is often part of a social experience in the UK where people sit down, chat and relax together. If you’re not a big tea drinker (me neither) no need to worry: you can still join in the atmosphere and enjoy some bonding time with your companions!

*Though there’s no specific tea time, you can get a little fancy and enjoy some traditional afternoon tea, which usually involves scones, cakes and finger food. This can be pricey, but well worth the experience!

Pub Culture

This is something about UK culture that might be a little intimidating for newcomers, especially for those who don’t drink alcohol. Plenty of people enjoy a “pint down the pub,” especially towards the end of the week, but that doesn’t mean you’re not welcome to join with a refreshing soda! (Or whatever your drink of choice is. Glass of milk, anyone?)

Pubs are a social space to unwind and enjoy good conversation with friends, and it is not at all mandatory to drink alcohol. So, when your friends or flatmates invite you out to Wetherspoons (cheap and cheerful, a student’s best friend) don’t let alcohol stress hold you back!

Travelling Around the UK

I have great news: you can get to just about anywhere in the UK via our extensive network of trains and coaches!

Now for the bad news: it costs a bomb.

Cost of living in the UK is pretty grim right now, and travelling is sure to set you back. Make sure you always book in advance as this could take even hundreds of pounds off your train fare. I would recommend investing in a Railcard for an extra discount, as this can be added to your Oyster card for cheaper TfL fares too! It’s also worth looking into a Student Oyster Card for cheaper travel around London.

Religion

The UK is wonderfully multicultural, which means UK society is multi-faith too! Whatever you believe in, you’ll find varied places of worship and all kinds of clothing pretty much all over the country.

You can refer to the latest census for in-depth data on religion in the UK.

History

From the Knights of Camelot to the Great War and beyond, the UK is brimming with history. Almost every city you visit will have some claim to historical fame, and I strongly encourage you to learn all you can about these fascinating events!

Queen Mary students are especially lucky to be based in London, whose history books can fill entire libraries. As you walk London’s streets, keep an eye out for the famous blue plaques that signify important historical figures or events that took place in that building. Plus, historical artefacts from all across the world can be seen for free at London’s many museums!

Grocery Shopping

At home, you may be used to big grocery hauls and only visit the supermarket once a month. In the UK, things are very different.

You will probably shop more frequently here and buy your monthly groceries in much smaller batches. There are a few reasons for this: you’re not likely to have lots and lots of storage space, for one, but food in the UK might also expire more quickly than you are used to.

One great thing international friends have told me about food shopping in the UK is that there are plenty of options for solo meals. So, if you’ve exhausted your meal prep ideas or simply fancy something specific without having to commit all week, you can buy a meal for one without much planning!

Head to the ResLife website for recommendations on international supermarkets and local ones!

Houses

This unfortunate reality will probably be most relevant to you in your second year of university when you are moving out of halls and into a rental property, but international friends have mentioned this to me so I’ll give you the heads up now: compared to some other countries, houses here are really quite small.

London, especially, offers small properties: usually flats, usually without a garden. This might not be what you’re used to, but I promise it’s not as bad as it sounds. Besides, having no garden just means you get to spend your outside time in some of London’s beautiful green spaces instead!

Overall…

We all build our expectations before a new experience. It’s human nature! This article is intended to clue you in on some of the culture shocks you might come across, but ultimately it’s impossible to guess what will happen.

My advice? Stay open to whatever comes your way. When we set expectations for something as huge as moving to a whole new country, we can end up boxing ourselves into one specific image. Most of the time, reality doesn’t quite match that image and we can end up disappointed even if we had an amazing time!

No matter what, your experience in the UK will be totally unique and totally yours. It will be exciting, it will be stressful, you’ll laugh and you’ll cry, but you’ll remember this time forever. Do what makes you happy, and you’ll be okay.

We at ResLife hope you have a smooth journey to the UK, and we can’t wait to meet you very soon. (While you’re here, why not pick out which events you’re coming to? We’ll see you there!)