Expect to see -
12 year olds smoking and drinking out in the open on the way to school.

8 year olds that can teach you new swear words.

Everyone you meet telling you about some distant relative that lives in small town USA.

Never ending rain, snow, sleet, 8 sunny days a year where everyone complains about the searing heat when it hits 72 degrees.

A never ending search to find edible food.

Watch out for check out lines because if a new one opens up, even the little old ladies will run you over rather than wait their turn.

Pick your football/soccer team carefully to avoid being a social outcast or football hooligans next victim.

Everyone is in training for the Brits main Olympic sport, Moaning...

4 years + experience now and still suffering extreme culture shock.

 

Check out the guide to London to get some basic information about moving to England. You can also check out the brand new guide to Edinburgh which has some updated info.

You should also check out some of our expat interviews- there is one from a California girl now living in London.

Culture Shock is inevitable, but not deadly. Come with an open mind, and when you find differences, understand that these are just differences and not necessarily better or worse.

Good luck!

 

Berks. is close to London (not sure where West Berks. is?) so you should be able to get into the city quite a bit. Which will be a culture shock too of course! The weather will probably be the major shock, at first anyway, if you're coming from California. Housing is quite different: the electrics are different so don't bring anything electrical with you, rooms are smaller, less storage space, often no basements or attics, fridges are usually tiny, and so on. Your social life will probably revolve around the pub. Public transportation is usually very good, unless you're in the boonies. Getting a driving license can be pretty hairy but not impossible. In spite of what you hear, British food is very good. Lots of new things to try.
Your first contacts will probably be your work-mates and from them you can meet more people. If you're sports-minded you might want to look for local teams or whatever. Most people are friendly and you'll probably be invited around for tea. You'll be a novelty so take advantage.
Then there's the language. Can be confusing at first but you'll get used to it.
Enjoy!

 

You might find our British accent a little funny but us chaps go along just fine with Yankees from across the pond.