British Essentials second interview takes a fabulous twist in the sense
that we now looking through the eyes of an Expat from the US named Erin, and
her experience of moving and living in the UK.
British Expats can find the
transition when living abroad quite challenging as there are a number of
obstacles to face when moving abroad, such as adopting to foreign culture,
cuisine and even language - however what are the obstacles when someone moves
to the UK to set up their lives? What tips are there to adjusting to life in the UK? We ask Erin who writes for www.quintessentially-english.blogspot.com
"I’m Erin Moran, I’m a digital marketer and event professional. I
also keep an expat blog titled Quintessentially English. Basically if I’m not
at an event then I’m in front of the computer all day, every day!"
Hi Erin thanks for agreeing
to be interviewed for BritishEssentials.com, where are you
originally from, and In which country and city are you living now?
I originally come from fabulous Las Vegas, yes people
actually live there. I’m currently living in Milton Keynes, England.
And how long have you
lived there and planning on staying?
I’ve lived in MK for nearly two years now. I like it, the
job market is good and the ease of travelling to London is perfect for me.
Why did you decide to
leave the US and how did you find the transition to living in a foreign
country?
I left the US originally to study abroad in France, but
while there I fell in love with an English man.
I made the move across the pond
more permanent to be with him. I thought it would be less challenging than it actually was.
Even though we speak the same language there are so many things that work
differently in the UK.
So to deal with these differences what 5 things most helped you?
1. Start an expat blog to document your adventures.
2. Sign up on expat websites there are a number of great
ones out there and are a great way to interact with fellow expats!
3. Read other expat blogs and interact with them. It’s nice
to read stories from fellow expats. It helps you know you’re not alone.
4. Go out and explore your surroundings. When I first moved
here I would just go for a walk and sit in a café somewhere and people watch.
You can learn so much about your new culture that way!
5. Accept every social invitation you receive in the
beginning, even if you’re not particularly interested. It helps to get you out
there and you never know who you might meet!
What is the cost of
living like compared to home?
It’s all relative really. Certain items are a lot cheaper
here than back in America. For example to get a cheap loaf of bread it’s about
$3, but the housing market is more expensive here.
Is there any
particular foods you miss from home?
Sushi. There was a sushi restaurant on every corner; I had
it three times a week. I also miss Mexican not the Old El Paso version you get
here.
So except from Sushi, If you could bring food/drinks products from the US to the UK , what would they be and
why?
In-N-Out Burgers. I’m not a fast food person but In-N-Out
burgers are the exception. I’ve tried to recreate them here without much
success.
Frozen Yogurt. I’m hoping the froyo craze is going to hit
the UK soon.
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing. I don’t put ranch on
everything but it is fantastic on chips on pizza. This leads me to…
Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. I mix it with ranch and dip cheese
or pepperoni pizza in it. So unbelievably delicious!
How does your grocery
shopping experience differ from when you were in the US?
The first time I went grocery shopping in the UK I was
amazed at all the different foods. I remember Angel Delight really confused me.
I just stopped and stared at it. I’ve still not had it and it still appears
bizarre to me. What is it?!
What advice would you
give to new expat arrivals?
It doesn’t matter what country you’re in, don’t be afraid to
ask questions. If you’re not sure about something just ask. If you’re afraid
the locals will think you’re stupid take to Twitter. You can get great advice
that way.
Erin Moran
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