Sunny in London

A Florida girl's guide to finding SUN and FUN

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • FOOD and DRINKS
    • RESTAURANT REVIEWS
    • RECIPES
    • PUB CRAWLS
    • DRINKS
  • AFTERNOON TEA
  • THINGS TO DO
    • London Musical Tickets
    • Christmas in London
    • Experiences & Day Trip Tickets
    • London Sports Tickets
  • TRAVEL
  • UK vs USA
  • CONTACT/PR

April 1, 2014 by: Sunny London

Quirky Advice for American Expats in London

More and more people are moving abroad and becoming expats. Many are moving to America and looking for the best credit cards for people with no credit to kick start their life in the land of the free. However, it’s obviously not just people moving to the US, people from the US are also becoming expats. More families are moving and taking advantage of places like the Ascot School (https://ascot.ac.th/) as a way to provide a new culture for their children. While there are lots of reasons for becoming an expat, I only have experience on going to London – understandably, as I live here!- so that’s what I’ll be focusing on today. There’s tons of advice for American Expats in London available on the Internet from sites like Destinationscanner.com, so I’m jumping straight to the quirky stuff, Sunny friends. You’re about to hear the scoop like you’ve never heard it before…

ADVICE #1- Get Ready to See Ta-Ta’s and Who-ha’s

Have any of you been to a gym yet? Holy nakedness, Batman! If you haven’t been to a fitness center in London, brace yourselves for the X-rated Locker Room SHOW! I damn near bump in to the walls and trip over the benches every time I walk in to my local LA Fitness Ladies’ Locker Room because my eyes are nearly cinched close. The amount of bare naked ladies parading around the room is a bit jolting to this American girl, and I grew up in Daytona Beach where we practically wore our bathing suits to school! Check out this photo I snapped in the locker room…

Advice for American Expats in London

Yeah, right! Aside from all the pub crawls and champagne I write about, I’m keeping Sunny in London fairly G-rated. No nudey shots here!

But, big props to the body confidence European ladies have. However, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the amount of flesh skipping around that room.

ADVICE #2- The MAILMAN is not breaking in to your flat.

I have a mild heart attack every time my mail is delivered when I’m at home. In Florida, if someone comes up to your door step and starts messing about, you go in to lockdown mode and call 911. Therefore, when I hear the Royal Post Person shoving mail through that slot in my door, I always think I’m about to experience a home invasion. Thank goodness I have good home insurance in case i’m ever right!

Advice for American Expats in London

ADVICE #3- Look both ways before you cross the street. TWICE.

It’s going to take a LONG, LONG time to figure out the roads. I’ve lived in London a few times, but I still can’t figure out where in tarnation cars are coming from. So, yeah, don’t even think about getting a driver’s license. It’ll be a year before you can cross a street and not be in sheer terror, much less operate a manual vehicle from the “other side.” Until then, stick with the good ol’ zebra crossings. Here’s me crossing Abbey Road, circa 199….

Advice for American Expats in London

ADVICE #4- Order a drink and food right, or do the barmaid’s job.

Advice for American Expats in London

“Can I get a Pinot Noir?” Every time I say that, Mr. Sunny cringes. Notice that when Londoners are ordering, they say, “May I have a London Pride, please?” There’s no “get”, and the request ends with “please”. As easy as it sounds, it’s an unnerving habit that us American foreigners need to break. When we say “get”, Londoners think “Sure you can. Get up and go GET it yourself, Yankee.” Sheesh.

ADVICE #5- The Rear of the Year sits at the bottom of the list.

Advice for American Expats in London

Photo credit to the Sun, because where else would “Sunny” get a picture? ๐Ÿ˜‰

Most of us Americans discovered Pippa the day of the Royal Marriage. If you’re a celeb siting stalker like me, from that day forward you forgot Kim Kardashian and fixated on a new arse crush to motivate your workouts.

Heck, I even rushed out and bought her book, “Celebrate.”

Advice for American Expats in London

The truth is, British people don’t favour her too much. So, my advice is to keep your American infatuation with her to yourself. Better yet, ring me up, and we can spend 8-10 hours at a place she frequents in the odd chance she’ll show up and want to friend us.

ADVICE FOR AMERICAN EXPATS IN LONDON FINAL THOUGHTS:

Dickens wrote in Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

Living in London can be both super fun and super challenging for expats. We miss the culture from our other city, but we love British culture too.

That’s my two pence worth of quirky advice for American Expats in London. I hope it helps you have the best of times. Please put your advice in the comment section below, Sunny friends. I’d love it if you shared this post somewhere.

You can read more about the expat experience on the blog. Be sure to see the review of an international shipping company, which includes a 10% discount for you.

THEATRE, TOURS, EXPERIENCES

best-things-to-do-in-london-sunnyinlondon
Wahaca rocks the faux fajitas!
La Brasserie London- Chic Cocktails in Chelsea

Comments

  1. Angie SilverSpoon (@SilverSpoonUK) says

    April 4, 2014 at 10:01 am

    Ahhh…. my sunny friend! This post made me laugh out loud to see the differences between us. I have to say I’m with you on the ‘locker room’ thing. My eyes remain firmly averted from the walls of flesh that surround me! As for the post box the difference never occurred to me cos we’re so used to it here. Now I lived in a flat I don’t get the post man rummaging around so much!! I do have a soft spot for Pippa though, I also have her book!
    Lots of love (your British chum!)
    Angie
    SilverSpoon London

    Reply
  2. shobha says

    April 4, 2014 at 11:54 am

    LOL. My children who have grown up in London are completely at ease being naked too. Their American babysitter freaked out when she took them to the pool and they needed to change and they just dropped their clothes poolside. I’ve since had a discussion with them about ‘modesty’ as defined the American way.

    Reply
  3. Patty says

    April 4, 2014 at 7:04 pm

    This post is hilarious!!! I so remember my daughter wanting to try on a few outfits in a London department store and how dumbstruck she was to find no individual “stalls”, just a large room filled with other women, young and old, disrobing. Crossing the streets was a nightmare for this American. The “can I or may I” question always reminds me of high school English class and I try to always GET it right! Thanks for the memories, Sunny.

    Reply
  4. Megan says

    April 4, 2014 at 10:00 pm

    So. Much. of the Naked. I was at the gym last night and a guy dropped his trousers (see what I did there) to change in the hall. I’m just never ready for what comes next. Never ready. Haha

    Reply
  5. Beverley - Pack Your Passport says

    April 7, 2014 at 10:46 am

    This is so fun reading about London from an American’s point of view! As a Brit I guess I never thought about what it’s like when the postman arrives and starts shoving mail through your door, but I can definitely see why this would seem alarming if you’re not used to it ๐Ÿ™‚ Great post!

    Reply
    • Sunny in London says

      April 7, 2014 at 9:34 pm

      Thank you! It absolutely terrifies me EVERY TIME! I miss mailboxes ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
  6. Sarah Shumate says

    April 8, 2014 at 7:57 am

    YES! You hit the nail on the head, especially with the first two! I’ve been living in this same flat for almost a year now, and I KNOW the mailman comes every day at 8:30 and yet every time I hear the metal rattling on the door, my adrenaline starts pumping and my fight or flight instincts kick in. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.

    Reply
    • Sunny in London says

      April 11, 2014 at 11:39 am

      I’m glad to know I’m not the only one!

      Reply
  7. Rouge says

    December 29, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    this is mad brilliant, I myself have gotten so used to the whole “can I get it” phrase I really have to alter that when I’m visiting my mum in London, the waitresses really do give u a funny look but in some places they’re just like whatever, ah well do enjoy london my dear!
    Xoxo

    Reply
    • Sunny London says

      January 10, 2015 at 7:51 pm

      Thank you for reading and commenting! I have to admit that on my recent trip back to the US I noticed I was using more ‘please’ and ‘thank you’s’ with American servers. I don’t think they noticed, but it is amazing how a new culture does shape you after you’re submerged in it long term.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

SUBSCRIBE TO KNOW:

weekly-email-sunny-in-london-download-pocket-restaurant-guide

BEST BRITISH FOOD TO EAT

FOOD THINGS TO DO IN LONDON

food-things-to-do-in-london-guide

PLANNING FOR A TRIP TO LONDON

local-travel-guide-to-london-trip-planning

THINGS TO DO IN LONDON

best-things-to-do-in-london-guide

AMERICAN AND BRITISH DIFFERENCES

major-differences-in-american-and-british-cultures-guide

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TIPS & TRICKS

trips-international-travel-tips-and-tricks
best-things-to-do-in-london-sunnyinlondon
Expat in London

LONDON DAYTRIPS

Archives

THE ESSENTIAL FIRST TIME GUIDE TO

American-guide-to-London

HARRY POTTER

harry-potter-guide-visiting-london

YOUTUBE

sunny-in-london-youtube-news-american-expat
  • Home
  • GUIDE TO LONDON
  • FOOD DRINKS
  • THINGS TO DO
  • TRAVEL
  • Privacy Policy

© 2021 · Fun Genesis WordPress Theme by, Pretty Darn Cute Design

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

SAVE & ACCEPT