My favourite things about British culture | Immigrant in the UK
Vložit
- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- This week I wanted to share 27 British things I can't wait to experience again as a foreigner! While I've lived in England for years, I've spent most of 2020 back home in Ontario, Canada. That means there's a lot of British things I've been missing this year! Do you guys agree with my favourite things about British culture??
Please subscribe here! czcams.com/users/Adventuresa...
FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE
Patreon: / adventuresandnaps
Livestreams: / adventuresandnaps
FB: / adventuresandnaps
IG: / adventures.and.naps
Web: www.adventuresandnaps.com
You can donate to my channel here: www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...
Music:
After the rain by Rexlambo / rexlambo
Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_after-the-rain
Music promoted by Audio Library • after the rain - Rexla...
and
Local Forecast - Elevator Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Hey! I'm Alanna - a twenty-something documenting my life as a Canadian living in England.
I share the ups and downs of an expat living abroad and what it's really like living in the UK. It's not always easy, but there's been so many wonderful experiences, too. I post a CZcams video every Tuesday and an additional video every Saturday on my Patreon account. I also livestream every Wednesday and Sunday at 6:30pm GMT on Twitch.
Alanna x
#britishculture #britishlife #lifeintheuk
The only answer you need for "you alright?" is "yeah, you?". That's it. That's all anybody wants. Quick and to the point.
Seeing two blokes in the street nod to each other. One says "alright?". The other one replies "alright?". Enough said. Question and answer all together.
Awrite! Awrite mate how you doing? Not bad, you? Aye I'm good. See you later, see you later mate.
Or
Awrite! Awrite mate.
Or
Awrite mate how you doing? Not bad just (insert were you're going or some other random shit)
Of course the key thing here is that we actually have little interest in how you actually are lol
Yorkshire version:
Y'reet?
Aye. You?
Aye.
"Alright!" Even shorter.
Honestly never realised slapping your knees and saying "right I'm off" was just a British thing! That's a revelation to me.
As an American, I agree that is British... but I need to remember it. It seems a polite way to indicate that you are bored and want to leave ;-)
@@MagentaOtterTravels to make it truly British add a jokey insult.. "Right, I'm off! Can't bear to look at your ugly faces any longer." *Only if you know each and every one of them personally* 😁
I never realised it either! It's just one of those natural things that we dont notice because we have grown up with it! When she literally broke it down though i realised oh yeah maybe this is one of our quirks 🤣
@@sarahroberts7374 it is quirky but I like it. I think it’s subtle and tactful without being passive aggressive. I would start doing this here in the US... but thanks to the pandemic, I don’t go anywhere 🥺🙄
Paused at 8 secs.
I'm going out on a limb here and I'm going guess that 'pubs' features quite heavily in this.
26 pubs and one castle maybe?
i'm punting for cheese
Can we play ‘Alanna bingo’?
You get a full house if the following are mentioned: pubs, cider, M&S food isle, cheeses etc?
I thought the pub would be no 1st! 😎😉
Beer garden and Cider going to be high on the list.
NO MENTION OF CHEESE Grommet.
This is the best time of year for weather small talk, exclaiming "It just can't make it's mind up!" at least 17 times a day.
I already said this today 😂
Ikr planned to go our mums graveyard today because in the morning it was pleasant and sunny ish and think good day to go.
then come by afternoon it's raining and Sometimes you don't even realise the weather has changed because it is still sunny outside until after you got ready and have a quick peep outside the winda you realise you have to cancel your plans.
Around this time of year you get very unpredictable weather every year!.
I said it on the phone today to my Mum (I'm in England and she is in Scotland)! We had everything except snow today. 🍃🌞☀️⛅⛈️🌤️🌬️🌈☔🌂⚡
I saw this and thought of you are
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54471843
No, gotta go with the classics.
I've never seen rain like this!
Or
We needed that rain. Garden'll be glad of it.
This young lady is more British than half of us Brits 🇬🇧 I'm so pleased you said the walking issues. It almost like a walking race, its a long thought process, do I have enough pace to keep it up, do I need to go on the road and watch for cars, always a pain when you look behind you and they walk into a shop 🤣🤣
Can't wait to complain about the weather! That's it you've officially passed the citizens test, congratulations 🎉🎉
Look forward to people saying "Oh it's getting dark early now isn't it!?!".
"it gets late early now!" haha
@@voodooacidman lol
But honestly, when I visited England in the winter and it was getting dark at 3:30pm, I was like "What the heck?!"
@@MagentaOtterTravels haha where are you from? It still shocks me every year!. You'd of thought I'd know by now!
Oliver McLeod I live in Texas. But travel to the UK every year. Just got back from a glorious 5 week trip! With lots of social distancing and time spent in nature 😉
There really is something very relaxing about sitting in a cafe/coffee shop and just watching the world go by. Nobody rushes you. You can sit there as long as you like and just be in your own little world 🙂
I missed her
I can relate to that. A little alone time to think is good for us.
You make us realise what a great place this really is to live.
Did you send this list off with your visa application? If I worked at the Home Office and somebody sent this list I'd be like "You are IN my friend"
Bloody hell!! You've gone full British my Canadian friend!! Gawd bless yer!!
A full English, fish and chips, Chinese takeaways, cake, popcorn, crisps and plenty of cider down the local. Sounds like you're hitting the ground running!
Welcome back to the UK. It’s been a while, glad that you’re back
The cinema feeling you're describing happens often for me. Most usually when I've done a smartshop at a supermarket and when checking out you get selected for a rescan. I know 100% I'm fine, but my brain is screaming 'ahh what if I stole something?!' The panic is real 😂
The cinema thing is bang on. Except the person does not tell you that you ARE sat in their seat they actually say “I THINK you are in my seat”. They know it’s their seat. The ticket says it’s their seat, I know it’s their seat, but you always politely get the benefit of the doubt. 😂
"I think I'm standing underneath your foot" for when someone is stood on your toe!
"I miss buying a round for my friends" .. pay attention this is a popular person in the pub :)
You look really happy in this video, and that made me happy.. 😊
Just a thought, but...instead of starting your 'catchphrase' with "Without further ado", it only seems right by now that you should adopt "Right":
"Right!" (knee slap) "let's go!" (arm movement).
Like a secret Masonic handshake, this may well help you unlock Level 9 of your British Citizenship :-D
You're so right!!
@@AdventuresAndNaps surely more appropriate after the "byeee" at the end?
@@hairyairey Yup. She needs to end every video with "Right. I think I'd better get going now..."
Is she just "Right", or " Alright"?
@@hairyairey I kind of thought of it more in the sense of 'right, let's get on with it' (which is how she uses 'let's go' anyway) instead of 'right, time to leave'. The word is used both ways, so... Each to their own.
Not watched yet but I guarantee close to 50% of these things to do involve food and/or drink! So glad to see you home and happy again - and still as funny. 🤣
I love the 'I-must-get-in-front-of-the-person-in-front-of-me-because-they're-walking-a-millionth-of-a-mile-an-hour-slower-than-me' dilemma - the struggle is very real. 🏃.....🏃
Yeah, it's the maintaining the pace once you've done the overtaking - you'd feel a bit miffed if they were to come back and overtake you!! ;-D
As an ex-pat brit in Australia, I am fascinated how she calls Kent 'home'. That's confirmation that she's a brit, just born in the wrong place. I've been here for 20 years, and I've never called it home like that. Britain is still home to me.
Dan Ellis-Jones Aw, Dan
Oh yes how I agree with you. Alanna is a Brit but doesn't realise it.
#25 if someone is passing you in a hallway or in the street and says "alright"? Then just say it back to them as you walk by. If its a more stationary situation as in an office where your sitting just say "yeah mate, you?" They'll say "aye" and the whole conversation is over.
What you never do, is if its the walking past you situation and they say "alright?" And you say "yeah great you" they were wanting to walk past and be on their way and were just giving a verbal nod, not stop and talk and discuss lifes problems, no one was prepared for this conversation 🤣🤣🤣
Agreed, alright alright is common but when I was a kid we also said watcha watcha which was shortened to cha cha. Must be quite confusing for non Brits.
You look happy to be back Alanna😊
I hope you've settled back in well Alanna!
Edit: No. 24 is me to a T. I can't stand being the person walking behind somebody else so I always end up speeding up to overtake, and feel compelled to walk unnaturally fast for at least five minutes to stay ahead. It's good exercise I will admit.
I experience this too, but what exasperates me even more is a similar experience when driving, someone is driving ahead of you just a few mph below the speed limit, so you have to accelerate to try and overtake, then they accelerate too, so you accelerate just over the speed limit to get past and you have to continue at that speed for a few miles until they eventually give up & go back to there usual dawdling speed - you can often see in your rearview mirror that several cars are piled up behind them, as they've dropped back to their usual 2-5 mph below the limit. On open roads I tend to drive at the speed limit, whatever it is, with cruise control on so am always aware of this. OCD probably ;)
I have that experience on pavements - not sure what a sidewalk is though 😈
@@nheather Its the bit at the side of the road that you walk on
@@RamsFan93 Really 😀😀😀😀 Seriously though, we Brits watch so many US films and TV series that we all understand North American. I was joking.
I'm the one accelerating and leaving my wife and kids behind lol
As an Aussie, this is making me excited to move back to the UK by mid next year hopefully. Brits must think I'm mental....
Bring your rain coat Aussie 😂 from a brit
I don't I think you have your head on right mate
I laughed at the knee-slap and "right!" thing. It's so funny that we don't even realise we're doing it.
Welcome back! And you're back just in time to hear the old favourite, "Oh, isn't it getting dark quick now?" comment at least twice a week up until Christmas 🤣
Once things are a tad less mental you'll need to tour round the whole UK a bit, you'll be amazed the variety of accents and how wildly different they are over such short distances.
Two things to add to a future list of things to experience for the first time, fried bread with your full English, so unhealthy, but once tried never forgotten, and a Welsh sunset, they are breathtakingly beautiful.
The best, and safest response to “You alright”? is.... “Not so bad thanks, you ?” 👍
Absolutely, even if something terrible has happened or you don't feel very well, the answer is still "Not bad thanks, you?"
As an American, I was confused by this Britishism. I now understand that I should just say, "I'm fine, how are you?" But one day I REALLY want to launch into a monologue about my bunions plaguing me and my sciatica flare up when I shop keeper says "Are you alright?"
Magenta Otter Travels 😂😂
Yes this ☝️
Other acceptable response is "yeah, getting there"
Hi Alanna, I really appreciate what you do. You are consistently entertaining, informative and kind. It’s been so important for me to learn about England and I’m so grateful that I found your content💕☺️
You are so welcome!
She’s talking about the UK, not England. Please learn the difference?
@@davidhastie7700 I have the impression that most of what Alanna says is about England, as it's the part of the UK in which she lives and has had the vast majority of the experiences about which she comments. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have distinct (if subtle) differences; perhaps Alanna will remark upon those in future?
@@MS-19 thank you❤️ you’re a legend
@@davidhastie7700 lighten up buttercup
Does anyone else do the arm movement along with Alanna when she says "without further ado... Let's go"! 🙈😂😘
I love Alan's quirky hand movements.
Yep. I do it. No idea why.
Yep. And "byeeee" at the end.
Bex Orchard every time 😂
Always! And of course the.. Byyyyeeeeeeeeee at the end
This list is spot on👌 Its great to have you back here Alanna.
Conclusion; This woman is more British than most of us.....ie feeling awkward all the time in public...
lol
Good afternoon Alanna, you light up my day 😊
We're so glad to have you back
I had many smiles in this video, it's great to know you are back here and happy xx
Great video Alanna. I couldn’t agree with you more, food deliveries are the best.🙂
I definitely resonated with the “are you quite finished with the gym equipment”, dear Alanna. Especially if they see you and they decide not to tell you so you have to run after them and ask so you can get stuff done! 😅
as a foreigner myself living in the uk, this is so cool
Welcome back! Rocking the long hair! Love it! Tuesdays are fun again.
Now I can't wait to experience all of these things too - and I've never even been to England. Have a wonderful time! 🇬🇧
She’s talking about the UK, not England. Learn the difference before you come.
@@davidhastie7700 I look forward to it!
That Victoria sponge looks great! If I am consoling someone, I might call them “flower”, or if they’re fragile & delicate, maybe even “petal” (instead of “love”).
To see you happy to be back makes me smile,& to miss the things we take for granted,so happy for you.
Welcome home Allanna!! So good to see you back safe and well, love your videos, y'alright?
Oh this really had me laughing out loud. I love the fact that you’re looking forward to avoiding eye contact. Hilarious! 😁
Glad you enjoyed!
@@AdventuresAndNaps If Alanna is ever in London and I run into her, I am so going to establish eye contact! 😁
@@leematthews6812 How far will you chase her down the street?
@@suttoncoldfield9318 Her boyfriend would probably bash me before I got the chance!
"You alright?" ". . . Yeah. . . how are you. . ?" Every. Single. Time. It's been over 7 years Steph.
Nice to have you back luv ❤️🏴
Excellent episode Lana...loved every minute !!
colour of that sofa reminds me of the sky here in the uk. looks like youv'e had a tidy underneath it tho.
My mum used to salute a magpie if she saw one, even whilst driving, living in a small town all knew this, and the sight of a magpie and my mothers car approaching used to result in complete panic, as anything could happen.
Wahey! You look so happy and confident, like the wight has lifted! Glad you're back home. And well done on that tasty looking Victoria sponge! 😋
Just sooooooo glad you're back. Had 5 adverts pop up while I watched, but carried on regardless - Wouldn't do this for anyone else!
Wow, your hair has grown! Some of those "wants" will be difficult with the current restrictions. Stay safe.
Not just me then thinking that.
I can't believe you didn't mention dogging!!! LOL :D
Hahahaha that made me chuckle.
Welcome back! I hope you get to fulfill all of these - you do know that some of us would go a LONG way to Avoid some of these... anyway glad to have you back.
I know it's been said so many times. But it really is so nice to have you back here.
Your take on British stuff and your enthusiasm on British stuff. It's great to watch you so happy whether it's being happy about something or 'ranting' about something that seems odd. Lol.
It's true, southerner's are so rude!
in the midlands like Birmingham, they look you in your eye when they try to mug you,
Its the small things that count
We know how to give a warm welcome to the West Midlands!
@@Cdr_Mansfield_Cumming
Molotov's don't really count
In the south (not counting London) you just don't get mugged, 🤷♂️
@@RichardBarclay
Let me guess, "Extra Service Charge"?
@@RichardBarclay thats like not counting Birmingham and Coventry for the Midlands. Just blatant cheating innit
Oh I had the pavement choreography the other day !
I was trying to catch a train and I was behind a "dawdler" - I didn't know whether to make a break for it, then someone came in the opposite direction on a narrow pavement, in socially-distanced conditions of course, with the sudden addition of a post box.
I should have taken a period of reflection.
Though the path opened up and then I'm walking far too fast past her. Then I'm feeling guilty that she'll see how "important" it was for me to go past and it wasn't really and to be honest, I can't recall to where or why it was so vital I was going there - a few seconds in time.
Alanna, as someone said earlier, you forgot the Marmite ;) .
Despite that, we've had a difficult time and are often negative, but you are such a great ambassador for this country and you should be recognised in the New Year's Honours List - would you prefer Alanna OBE or Dame Alanna ?
I just love the way you look at the UK with new eyes. I was born and raised here so it's fabulous to see the land where I was born with your eyes. thank you for another great video. peace and love 💖
Welcome back Alanna we love you.
I swear this is true. While you were gone, lorries now need a passport to enter Kent.
"once out of Quarantine," oh, you Canadians - sooooo optimisitic
My quarantine is only 2 weeks but lockdown is a different matter entirely :)
Glad your back, always enjoy your posts.
I appreciate that!
Vastly entertaining. One of your best!
Mushrooms are the first thing on a "Full English" I eat .Yum.
"My cupboard is full of Toadstools"
"How do you know they are Toadstools?"
" 'cos there's not Mushroom inside"
I'll get me coat......
Can you do a canal boat holiday stopping at some interesting pubs on the way 🙏 please
so so pleased you are back home I have missed you and your bubbly personality keep it up Alanna
Hi Alanna, great video as always, you summed up what I was thinking throughout the whole video, you seem so much happier now you’re back and it’s very noticeable in your videos. Take care and stay safe.
Thank you so much!!
Alanna: I love shopping deliveries
Also Alanna: I love marks and Spencer
Me: I wonder what Alanna's reaction is going to be when she finds out Marks and Spencer now deliver through ocado...
Hi there Mrs Nap - welcome back to the UK. Have you been out to celebrate with a cider and some chips yet? Hmmm?
Good to see you back in front of that sofa again! The stars are aligned once more! 👍
Love your vids. They always make me smile.
Avoid eye contact... the main reason I wear a watch lmao 😅
Pretend to talk on my mobile phone, even though there’s nobody there.
@@kimarnill7648 I stopped doing that when it rang in my hand once 😅 well embarrassing 😅
That hasn’t happened yet. 🏴😂
i got turfed out of my seat once at a cinema; he showed me his ticket and yep i was in there seat. so me and my friend jumped to the row behind. just as the film started the they got up and realised it was the wrong film wrong screen.
We know you truly are back already Alana, when you are doing odd/randomly numbered stuff! It's like a sign of things slowly getting back to normal!
Welcome back love, cheers big ears!
I'm so glad your happy to be back in England and feel so at home and settled already! You look really happy and smiling all the time through this video. I always look forward to you videos here and on Patreon and hopefully you'll be out of quarantine soon and you can start properly enjoying Kent and beyond 😊
Thank you so much!!
@@AdventuresAndNaps
Your very welcome!
Get the sen up north and get some spam and black pudding on your brekkie
ooohh No Not Black Pudding ... Oatcakes on your Brekkie
Thanks for using my video idea suggestion from my comment on your previous video, Alanna! 🙂 👍
Greetings from a fellow Kentish person! I think what I like the most about you is your sheer enthusiasm for this island of ours! It’s not perfect by any stretch, but your gratitude just to be back in this country is actually a beautiful thing to see!!!
Starts watching...sees numbers on the screen and thinks, “Good idea that, a lot less likely to lose track of the numbering.” Should really have known better. 😂😂😂
Alanna, you alright?.....easy answer that covers all aspects is...."so so"..acompanied by a shaky hand..👋
It doesn't matter. Given how more and more people under 30 seem to be talking like yanks these days she wont need to learn how to respond as no-one will be saying it anymore.
Number 27 is so bang on. Welcome home!
Nice one Alanna! Welcome back - enjoy all 27 :-)
When I feel someone closing in from behind in a committed overtaking manoeuvre, I like to pick up the pace just a little. It's a little cruel, but funny as hell. :D
On foot? Hell yeah. In a car? Wanker.
@@GeoffreyBronson I dont think anyone mentioned cars (except you), did they?
@@Martyntd5 I'm on your side, just clarifying the difference
#28: Waking up in a bush
Haha.on waste ground.. that is sooo British .. i nearly spilled my tea
@@keefsmiff My friend once woke up in a fountain
@@chanchito4401 pmsl....
Once a milkman woke me up just lying at the side of the road. Gave me a free orange juice!
I fell asleep on a wall
Thank you once again Alanna for making my Tuesdays have a smile . Listening to you call this country HOME is something that is a pleasure to hear
P.S get yourself to Beaulieu something after the quarantine, you know you love pronouncing it 🤪
As always, great video Alanna! How happy you are to be home is so clear... your smiley face says it all ;-) Enjoy being out of quarantine, at least you can go for a walk, with your umbrella, of course :-D
Thank you so much!!
I'd like you to make good friends & be happy (that's a secret British thing, we don't advertise it) 🤘🤓
Visit each of the home nations.
What’s your favourite old British wives tales? I like the magpie related ones- if you see a magpie you’re supposed to spit and say ‘hello mr magpie how’s your wife today?’. And then the famous song 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Didn't know about the spitting bit! I only heard this for a first time on Peter Kay's Car Share. 👍
@@wilmaknickersfit I was always told you had to spit before you say it and this was my parents that also told me never to spit.
I thought it was salute! Never heard of spitting, must be a regional thing.
@@adriansmith3427 Possibly.
I'm my case it could be my parents hearing it somewhere and only adding the spitting to be funny.
@@Gambit771 yeah parents can be weird hey lol
So happy for ya that you’re back to doing videos in Kent. I arrived back in my own adopted home in China yesterday and now in two weeks quarantine in Shanghai in a government arranged hotel room with horrible government supplied meals with no control over what I’m served. It’s definitely helping me to lose weight! Dropped a kilo already I’m sure! I was in the Kent area about a week or so before leaving. I explored the area around Broadstairs, Joss Bay & Botany Bay. Really lovely area! I spent 12 out of the last 14 months in the UK 🇬🇧 and I think from now on I will continue to watch you even though you will likely evoke feelings in me of missing my time there. It’s great watching you and knowing you’re happy in your adopted home 🏠.
You understand Brits more than me and I have lived here for years and years, Glad your back “Love” and I look forward to more videos :)
If Kent got the same weather we got in Sussex you can DEFEINITELY complain about todays weather!
Also, northerners aren't more friendly or polite than southerners. They just have different etiquette. I have family up in Northumberland and frankly, I always found people up there to be extremey rude. When I got older, I realised it's just a cultural difference and that I come across as much less friendly and polite to them. North and south have really different etiquette. Like, REALLY different.
I've heard the North is closer culturally to Ireland, as there are more people of Irish backgrounds there, particularly in Manchester.
“Are you alright?” “Yes thank you, and you?”
Nah it's "Alright?" "Alright?" then you walk past with a half smile. In the west midlands it's more "Orite" and up north "Ar'aigh".
Reet up north
It tickles me now that I think about it, that for as long as I can remember, I've done the knee slapping and saying "right!" thing, but I was completely unaware of it even being a thing, until you pointed it out. :-)
It's great to hear that you're back in good old Blighty, and hopefully you can crack on with ticking all those fun and quirky little things off your to do list. :-)
I'm so pleased that you are home!!!
Sidewalk? From now on it's pavement, girl
and its a boot NOT a trunk,a bonnet NOT a hood.
petrol NOT gas.
beer NOT piss.
tomtom vicky and it's young lady
@@andrewlennon8501 or 'alright luv'?
Well, now your back, you can go to the coopers hill cheese race.
I thought that had stopped because of insurance issues? I really want to see it one year!!
Magenta Otter Travels it still happens! Good fun to watch. That hill is practically a cliff...
J Ailor I hope to spend next summer in Cheltenham and I really want to see it!!! I live in Texas ... and I’m a huge cheese freak. #Cheesehead
J Ailor I just put it on my calendar (in my diary)!!! It would make a great vlog for my channel. Have you ever been?
@@MagentaOtterTravels Did you know an American won one of the races one year, also had winners from Australia, New Zealand, one from Ghurkhas, a British solder won it about 22 times.
Welcome back Alanna!!
Ha! That was brilliant, Alanna. Your observations make me chuckle. Good to have you back kiddo. X
😊 thank you