Vita moved from New Zealand to London a year ago and has noticed a few cultural differences.
A year ago, I made the bold decision to leave the serene shores of New Zealand and jet off across the globe to one of the world’s largest cities: London. Over the past year, I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge about England, its traditions, its customs and the quirks of the people here – but as splendid as my life in England is, there are still a few aspects of my homeland that I long for.
Despite missing certain elements of New Zealand, I am enamoured with my life in England. Whenever I reveal my origins, the initial question is always ‘Why?!’ but my simple response is ‘Why not?’.
It’s stunning here, brimming with opportunities to encounter experiences I could never have back in New Zealand, and I don’t foresee myself returning anytime soon. Even though bouts of homesickness may strike occasionally, England has become my home too.
And there’s an abundance to adore, reports the Express.
Pubs
The pub culture in England is my absolute favourite aspect. It’s a sentiment echoed countless times, but it rings true.
I appreciate that pubs here aren’t merely viewed as venues for intoxication. In New Zealand, if you’re heading out for drinks, your main goal is to consume alcohol – there’s no sense of community when drinking in New Zealand, it’s genuinely every person for themselves.
The concept of buying rounds doesn’t exist here – everyone drinks at their own pace and purchases their own beverages. Initially, I found this a bit odd, but now I absolutely adore it.
Despite knowing it’s not any cheaper (especially considering London pint prices), it feels like a ‘buy one get one free’ policy and there’s a certain satisfaction in buying a round for the table, knowing you won’t have to queue at the bar for the next one. I also appreciate how pubs are viewed as community spaces: both children and adults are welcome, and everyone has a favourite local pub.
Language quirks
When I first arrived here, I was utterly perplexed by the phrase ‘You alright?’. I couldn’t work out what I was expected to respond or what the person asking me actually wanted to know.
This resulted in several pointless conversations where I shared the trivial details of my day with people who really weren’t interested. However, after a year, not only have I learned to respond with ‘Yeah, you?’ but I’ve even started using the phrase myself. As soon as I could use this greeting successfully, I felt like I had truly integrated and now I love it.
It’s the perfect non-committal phrase for friends, family, and the bloke behind the counter at the corner shop. I’ve come to adore ‘Is it?’, a phrase that’s as versatile as they come. ‘Is it?’ can be used as a question, a comment, or simply to fill a silence.
When you’re at a loss for words, just drop an ‘Oh, is it?’ and the conversation ball is right back in their court. It’s a perfect string of words, utterly meaningless yet somehow coherent.
Politeness
Some might argue that politeness is hard to find in London, but I beg to differ. It’s ingrained in the British psyche and even the hustle and bustle of the big city can’t erase it.
Brits love a good queue, they relish the opportunity to defer to others and they absolutely adore lending a helping hand – even if it means putting themselves out. I’ve had strangers abandon their plans to help me locate a tube station, even going as far as to personally escort me there when my data failed. I’ve had people assist me with carrying suitcases up stairs, despite them being so heavy they could have been filled with rocks.
As for queuing, it’s relentless. Trains, buses, bars, supermarkets – if there are more than two people present, a queue will inevitably form.
You’re a nation of delightful ant people and I adore you.
Things I miss
One aspect of life in England that makes me yearn for the lush greenery of New Zealand is the fact that going barefoot here would likely land me in a mental health facility. In Aotearoa, no one bats an eyelid if you pop to the shop without shoes on, and you’ll probably spot at least ten other people doing the same.
While the British winter hasn’t necessitated pondering this issue, the sun is starting to make its presence felt again, and I’m desperately missing the sensation of grass beneath my toes. Despite seizing every chance to kick off my shoes, much to my boyfriend’s chagrin, I miss the casualness of strolling barefoot to the shops.
I wouldn’t dream of doing this in London, not just because it would raise eyebrows, but also due to the likelihood of unnamed diseases lurking on the pavements. However, if there’s a sun-drenched grassy field nearby, rest assured my shoes will be off in a flash.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of sprinting barefoot through grass, and I highly recommend giving it a go if you get the opportunity.
I’m also pining for some specific New Zealand grub, like a decent steak and cheese pie that doesn’t disintegrate into a beefy broth at the first bite. All the pies I’ve sampled in England have been lacking in structural integrity.
You ought to be able to munch it with one hand whilst steering with the other, without the threat of third-degree burns or gravy splatters. I’m also yearning for authentic chicken sushi – the version available at Sainsbury’s is a feeble imitation of what we get in New Zealand.
Although it’s passable in a pinch, it doesn’t hold a candle to the plethora of options we have in NZ – from chicken to pineapple, we’ll sushi literally anything and it’s all smashing.