This week, I wrote twoposts about people on Reddit sharing things that are acceptable in the US, but when done in the UK, it's pretty jarring or weird. I asked our BuzzFeed Community to do the opposite and share examples of things UK people do in the US that are acceptable in the UK, but not in the US.
And keep in mind, we love everyone, but it's super fun to compare US/UK differences!
6."When they eat the most bizarre thing — 'beans on toast'. And it's a breakfast thing. Even worse, English baked beans aren’t like American baked beans. Instead of a BBQ-style sauce, they’re in a tomato sauce. Like, think SpaghettiOs, but with beans 😭."
7."Saying the c-word in the US is much, much, much less acceptable than in the UK. It's considered extremely offensive and misogynistic in the US. People will try to say that since it's OK in the UK, it's OK to say here. It's not.
8."Lingering at a restaurant after your meal is done. My father is British, and the meals lasted sooo long! It gave me anxiety as a kid staying at the table so long. In the States, everyone in the restaurant would be wondering why we would be sitting so long with no food in front of us. Just writing this is giving me flashbacks of trying to subtly get my dad to make people start leaving the table."
9."Saying 'yes' just because you think you should. I'm American with an English partner and lived in the UK for 2 years. American culture is more upfront in the way we speak. If you're a guest at someone's house and they offer you something, you don't have to say yes if you don't want it. But I think Brits have a culture of extreme politeness that leaves them feeling socially obligated sometimes. My Southern family hosted Thanksgiving one year and offered my partner pie. She said 'yes' and my sister said, 'Which kind would you like?' There were 4. My partner said, 'One of each, I suppose,' with an awkward grin. I'm thinking WTF, I know you don't even like some of these. She ate every bite, and then felt sick to her stomach the rest of the night. She told me she panicked and didn't realize she could say 'no' without being rude."
10."People from the UK often walk everywhere on the sidewalk with no regard to others. In America, we drive on the right and we generally walk on the right side of the sidewalk."
12."When I worked at a camp with international employees, all the staff who were from the UK ate everything with a fork and knife. Fries? Fork and knife. Chicken wings? Fork. Corn dogs? Fork and knife. Just pick it up for goodness' sake. They are called finger foods for a reason!"
13."Tipping. British person here, living in US. In Britain I’d tip for good service for a meal. In the US, it is expected to tip regardless even if the service was shitty. Tipping the taxi driver, the hairdresser, the movers, the valet, etc. It seems like an unwritten rule that some services you tip for, but some you don’t? I always refer to my American wife to see who I should tip and how much."
