Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring this video! If you want to check them out (and support me in the process) don't forget that the first 1,000 people to click this link get a month free trial! skl.sh/adventuresandnaps10211 Thanks everyone! Have a great week!! Alanna x
Anyone else wondering what you can make with the following things? Flour Turmeric (I'm guessing) Chili Flakes (another guess) Other anonymous herb/spice
This was great! ❤⚘ thanks so much...I'm 50 an I'm planning on moving there from USA..the weather an the driving ..perfect an the shopping! Fantastic..just great..
As an Englishman from London - we don't understand what is unusual about our own country, until we compare it with others. England is densely populated. The UK has a huge range of geology (and so a wide range of scenery in a small set of islands). The UK is a long way North (and so has very short days in Winter and very long days in Summer), but is protected by the warm waters of the gulf stream, so really long deep freezes are rare. The tides in the UK are the second biggest in the world, so that affects the coastline (even London). England at Dover is only 22 miles from France, so we have had lots of contact with continental Europe, whilst still seeing ourselves as an island. The legacy of the British Empire is that the UK (and especially London) is culturally very diverse (a primary school class of 30 children with 15 languages spoken is not unknown in London). This works much better than outsiders seem to think. Remember that London is the biggest outlier - it is different from everywhere else. And things that aren't obvious ... we have a health & safety culture and made lots of things as safe as possible (look at our electricity 13 Amp plugs!). So we need to watch our children, when they go to places that have more dangers (such as lack of safety rails). We've also killed off most of our dangerous animals - just a few mildly poisonous snakes, but no wolves, bears, lions, deadly spiders. And for Americans, of course, there are no guns (apart from the big ones that fire salutes on the Queen's birthday). OK, there are some guns, but they are very rare. I'm over 50 years old and I can't recall EVER seeing a gun in the UK except for (a) in hands of soldier, military cadet or police or (b) shotgun / air rifle for hunting or sport. I suppose this won't seem so strange for a Canadian.
As a brazilian who has faced an irish/english winter, here's my biggest advice: Coats, gloves and scarfs KEEP you warm, they don't make you warm, so you gotta put them on BEFORE you leave your house. It took me so long to figure this out and it's something so trivial.
I admire your strength! As difficult as it was you powered through and now are living a dream that a lot of people would be too afraid to live. Bless your heart ❤️
Thanks Alanna, solid advice without the sugar coating - especially the part about not assuming that it's always like it is on a quick visit in the best weather!
It even applies to people moving from a city to the coast within the UK - it might be fantastic when it's in season and the weather's good, but make sure you'll still enjoy it when it's cold, windy, really quiet, and lots of things are closed until the next season.
I just moved to England in September for school and I am in the thick of the hell. Thanks for all of the advice! My biggest advice is to keep reminding yourself that you are not the only person in the world who has done this, you can get through it. I also moved here with my two cats and found out the hard way that landlords can deny pets, I wish I looked into that before moving.
A very Interesting and commonsensical video about the early days of living in an “alien land and culture”. I did it the other way round - moving from the UK to Morocco. I had failed my driving test in the UK in the area where I lived during my teenage years, living at home, then moved to London to work & train, no opportunity to drive or take a test for a few years. When I moved to Morocco, a colleague picked me up from the house I had been allocated for the first couple of weeks, then I had to rely on finding taxis (cheap, but not always easy to find in the morning) so it was imperative that I get a driving licence. So I took both driving lessons & Highway Code lessons, in French - in those days my ability in French was relatively basic (just schoolboy French + some more recent ‘immersion’ courses my employer had sent me on on London), but I was young then and absorbed things very rapidly. After about 3 months I took my Moroccan driving test totally in French, theory part & practical part, without any English interpreter, which would have been possible had I wished it, and passed - I had already purchased a car a few weeks earlier - therefore I became independently mobile from then on. I think I can sum it up very simply - when you want to do something and put your mind to it, you can do it, specially when you’re young. I’m a lot older now, but have always had the attitude of “you can do it” and it seems clear, from watching your videos, that you have too. Like you I got homesick in the early stages, after a few months, but I got through that, as you obviously did too 👍😀
My girlfriend struggled at first because of the language, she gets homesick too, but having her daughters here with their families really helps, plus we hop on a plane 3 or 4 times a year for the 2 hour flight to Warsaw, that makes a massive difference to her.
I moved to canada from the UK a couple years ago, i watched your videos before moving. You said the first few months suck, knowing that upfront really helped me get through it. Knowing everyone goes through it really helped.
I'm British and I lived in another country for many years, one with a foreign language lol. It is hard, the thing is you have to embrace the other culture, the old saying "When in Rome...." You have fitted in perfectly here, mainly because we are weird as f, and well you just fit in perfect lol . Love your channel, you will always be Canadian (and be proud of that) but you are one of us too. I wish I could help with your patreon but I'm an ol' fecker and money is tight. but thank you for the laughs....your sense of humour fits in perfectly here.
remember when i first moved i was quite excited and happy to be with my boyfriend and away from family, i was so glad to just be able to do nothing for the first several months, then decided i should go work as partner was in like this will help you feel back in control as i started just living off my depression, and needed to make friends somehow, the finding friends was the worst part that took forever
that's great tips i am gonna to move to UK next month or 2 just like you i just quite my job and so nervous that i won't be able to get a job anytime soon thanks for your great information
I moved to France to help my mum after my dad died! What you said applies to here too! That was well put and I could have had the same advice too! Now my mum passed away in 2019 aged 95 and I am still in France!
When I came from Australia to England I intended to continue as a self employed web designer, figuring I could do that from anywhere. I discovered that, through the local unemployment office, there were all sorts of free courses I could do - so I took a 10 day Business Management course. This proved to be excellent and I'd recommend that anyone looking to move to anywhere seek out such resources to learn the local rules and regs, and make some contacts within your field as well. It turned out that many of the people in the course were potential clients for me!
Wow. I also moved here in November. And the springtime was magical. Until March. Yes March of 2020. So just as I started to adjust to the life here, wow, everything changed. Again! But you're right, it did get better. Great vid. Agree with everything.
I"m a Canadian living in the UK as well. Along with the tip of transferring your driver's license ASAP, I would also add: get a credit card ASAP, even if it's those prepaid ones, and use that as much as possible to build up your credit score. I ran into issues when I tried to get financing for a motorcycle. Another thing that took me a while to get used to here in the UK, was the prices. I kept doing the conversion in my head and realized how much more expensive everything was.
When only a visitor, money conversion is natural especially visiting tourist areas & where prices aren't didplayed - easy rip off. Prices in general, are relative to wage & standard of living & at times you have to just accept that the new price does not relate to how currency conversion workd. If you need the busfare or breakfast, you just have to pay. Scary SIM card contracts/dodgy online transport booking services can be ripoffs. I booked a rental car & store was closed when I got there - marooned, then taxi back to bus station, dead phone battery, having flown from Contint with dteadful head cold. Another experience....
Good vid!! Having anxiety, you certainly have balls and determination. But the point you made about new things being scary is an important reminder, that pushing through get better and better where ever you are. 👍👍
True story. An Innuit family came to Sheffield for a year so their child could get medical treatment.After the treatment finished the father was given the offer to stay. He refused saying he did not like Sheffield. One of his reasons was that Sheffield was too cold in winter !
I can believe that(!). Winters in the high arctic are of course much colder. But, they are dry. Very dry, in fact. The British Isles have an oceanic climate, and the combination of high moisture content in the air and low temps FEELS much worse. Minus five celsius in Britain or Western Norway along the coast feels allmost like minus 20 if the air had been dry, like in innland Scandinavia for example. And If you are in Northern Canada, for example, it gets even drier...
@@rich7447 I live in innland south-eastern Norway, and I much prefer minus 20 celcius here over a few degrees below zero on the west coast, which is more or less like Scottland only even colder. That humidity BITES! Add to that the ever present wind along the coast...
@@Innerspace100 I'm in Maryland US now and it is much more humid in the winter than most places that I have lived. The geography of North America makes our weather comparable to European locations that are at much higher latitudes, but it also helps to keep humidity levels west of the Rockies more manageable. When I lived in Ottawa we would routinely see -20C often dropping to -30C or lower and Ottawa is 10 to 15 degrees south of Norway. In my younger years I lived in both Yellowknife and Iqaluit which would fall in the same latitude range as Norway and -40C was common. Even at these temps I never felt as cold as I can in an English house in January.
I still find it funny when I hear Canajuns (or even eastern Europeans / Russians!) calling winter in the UK "cold". But I swear I've teased Alanna over this before so I won't do it again, just as she asked. :)
Very good advice. Moving to a another country with different customs has it's challenges, things will seem nightmarish at times, but once you get past that, and you will, there are great rewards and experiences on the other side waiting for you!
Fun fact! Ontario's capital and the capital of Italy's Tuscany region are both at 43.7 degrees north latitude. Everyone thinks "Canada" is freezing, but it's a big place and most of us don't live in those super cold areas!
Thanks for the video. I’m staying at home but it’s honestly genuinely interesting to think about what life is like for a person newly arrived in England. I hope you have a great week.
You must be from Ontario! Here on the west coast (Vancouver Island), winter is wet and rainy. The temps don't go as low as the rest of the country, but the damp makes the cold penetrating. We don't get those nice clear, crisp bright winter days, you know the ones where you look out and it looks warm, but as soon as you set outside, your eyebrows freeze! Canadian's wanting to 'acclimatize' for UK weather, should winter in Vancouver first LOL! When I worked in Port Alberni, a couple from the UK (Kent), went to Tofino in August, she complained about the fog and that she could see Long Beach! There's a saying on that part of the Island, two unique months, Junuary and Fogust, June is typically cold as January and August is foggy! Enjoying your videos!
I would say try to get some balance between hanging out with other ex-pats and hanging out with local people. The former will have some shared experience of moving country, but it is a largely transient community and they will mostly move on. It will be more difficult to build relationships with the natives, but after a year or two, those friends will still be there.
I moved in 2019 from Toronto to Manchester. Came on a Working Holiday visa and now I'm on a Skilled Worker Visa. I think the hardest part of it all was the uncertainty. The visa rules changed 3 times since I moved here. I wasn't able to figure out what I needed to do in terms of the job I picked, until these things were settled. All is well now though! Your video on the WHV is how I got here so thank you for your help!
Great video, Alanna. Glad you stuck through that first winter. A lot of people coming to the UK don't realise how dark it gets in winter - we're further north than they expect! At least you didn't have to deal with a (totally) different language on top of everything else!
You probably would'nt have believed someone who told you it was going to be hard, initially. Soon you would have realized it was'nt just you. That it was just the way things go. It is what it is.
I am 64 years old and apart form 1979, January still shocks me and I agree it is depressing. January 1979, the army had sent me to Belize warm sunny and damp.
what a great video and the advice that you have given will help out so many people. It must be so hard moving to a new country. Also signed up for skill share so thanks for the free first month. I bought a guitar during lockdown but never gave it much of a chance. Skill share seems like a great place to finally learn how to play it. Thanks again for the great video
There is a lot to say on the subject, especially as a foreigner myself in England (4 years) and now starting a business. I do appreciate how you’re quite open and upfront about being anxious and factoring this in what you’re doing. It’s refreshing to see and ties in with your “I show all sides of living as a foreigner in England”. Good on you gal! 👍👍👍
I spent a year in France when I was 23. Best year of my life but OMG was it sary to start with. I still have many memories even 25 years ago. Salut Grenoble!
I do all of the driving in the UK. Holidays, Dad’s Taxi, days out, shopping. You name it, I do it. As soon as we hit the tarmac in Europe I become a gibbering, perspiring wreck. I simply cannot get my brain around driving on the right! I hit other cars and once ended up in a field of sunflowers somewhere outside Pisa! My wife does all the right hand side driving. I can’t imagine actually living somewhere permanently where I had to drive on the right hand side, so you have my admiration for biting the bullet and doing what must have been really weird for you!
Like you, I dislike city life - much prefer country life in U.K. I was able to drive (easier for Aussie, we drive on left side of road & I can use non automatic vehicle), but the roads, roundabouts, direction signs, even with Miss Google helping, can be exhausting. The same when shopping, memory, lack of familiarity & cost vs quality means a lot more brain work all the time! I remember, after having driven from Buckingham via Cambridge (I hadn't experienced those rising bollards until stuck between them & an approaching bus), around Norfolk (where I was fined for failing to 'Park & Pay' @ 4p.m. on Saturday afternoon!). The relief of approaching Buckingham was such that before me, was roads & scenery I recognised, I knew where to go, where to turn & where 'home' was! Phew!
The first time I drove abroad , I had to drive a British car Manuel a British Car Auto and Two Hire cars one auto one manuel . It was quite an experience , switching from one car to the other and driving for the first time on the Right in Southern France . Where driving is a matter of who got in the space fast enough . After that no driving anywhere in the World was ever a problem , so you are right jump right in with driving and dont overthink it . Just do it .
Fantastic video. Full of positives coming from negatives. January is the most depressing month of the year, even for us Brits but good for you, you got through it. Driving must of been tough also, I have driven many times abroad and at first it it scarey but you do overcome and get used to it. Sounds like you had a grim five months but your mindset got you there. I tip my hat and say well done.👌👏👏👏👏💪
Literally agree with you on every point. Anxiety sky-high all the time, January is like 6-months long, is that expensive for pounds, what brand is that, is it good, where do you buy water bottles from. I woke up crying from dreaming of home more than once, that shit physically hurts.
I got my Canadian drivers license, my SIN number, Alberta Health Card and opened a bank account at TD on the second day after arriving in Canada for work. It was pretty straight forward .Just do your research before you go and it helped that I had my own rental car and got familarised with the city layout. It also helped that i had already driven extensively in the US and Canada before moving to Canada
My daughter did a study year abroad in Ottawa. She found it tough too, but like you, she stuck it out and found things turned around after the holidays. Now she loves it so much she's working to go back
In January we have Blue Monday which is apparently the most depressing day of the year, it's the 17th in 2022 in case anyone was wondering. Also you kinda do need a car if you live in London for food shopping, buying furniture etc. Driving in central london is hell and I don't recommend it lol. But I live in zone 4 and 100% need to drive not only for work (I have to go to just outside the M25) but also to get to the big supermarkets. Plus having a car gives you more options of travel as trains can be expensive. Railcards are your best friend if you plan on using trains a lot.
Fellow Canadian who’s been living in the UK for just over two and a half years here 👋. It’s interesting to hear other people’s experience moving abroad. For me personally the first 6-12 months felt easier, I think I was in the “honeymoon” period of moving. It was later on that I experienced home sickness.
Always interesting to hear your views of life in England, Alana. Sorry your first 5 months were so hard although I feel "a living hell" a bit OTT! lol Yes, arriving in Nov. A defo bad choice - as a native, I know well whats to come after Xmas! Love your vids keep it up! 👍🙏
Well done for coping with it all. No doubt your ancestors emigrated to Canada from the UK, so they probably went through something similar! Nice video.
Tip for those who are shopping in the UK. Aldi / Lidl are a lot less focused on brands, typically you get only a few options as well which can be helpful if you just want to get a quick shop done. As a uk citizen i’m still overwhelmed with the range of options you can get in sainsburys, tesco etc…
Supermarkets have done that here in Oz. They're too big - if you are almost done, then remember something, it can be so far back in the store, I can't be bothered going back as I've already passed so much surplus stock I didn't need or want. Aldi, (Lidl hasn't made it to Oz) has predictable basics, their branded stuff often comes from reputable local known brands. They buy in bulk so get a better price that oasses on to customer. One has to be careful to not buy all the special stock they bring in each week - some is of questionable value. Aldi have given our local food chains quite a shake up!!
@@kathrynnordstrom5604 Last week I spent about 30 minutes trying to find where the salt was in Morrison's. I asked a member of staff and they didn't know 😂
My husband is waiting to hear back from the vet schools in Glasgow and Bristol and if he got in we'd be moving there from the USA with 3 little kids under 5. So I seriously REALLY appreciate any and all information you have. ❤
A few things based on my experience: 1. You will have to prove yourself all over again. Everything you have done in life will be treated with skeptism. 2. Don't underestimate the ability of another country to do familiar things differently. 3. It could become overwhelming and you may seek comfort in familiar things from your home country. However, being reminded of what you have given up may make you even more homesick. 4. Moving to another country is exciting, but scary. So long as a positivity outweighs negativity you will be OK. But be aware that your mood can change very quickly!
I have found points 1 and 2 to be just as true when you move regionally (I am on country #3 as an adult, and have lived in 2 provinces, what is now 2 territories, and 4 states). I haven't found 3 or 4 to be the case at all, but there is a good chance that I am just immune. I changed continents 3 times before my 7th birthday and have never lived anywhere longer than 5 years (only made 5 years once).
@@rich7447 I've notice that when I've been to British shops overseas it is all comfort stuff at inflated prices. But there will always be things you can't get, so I don't think it's the solution to homesickness.
I'm not planning a move, but found your video very interesting! The transfer of your drivers license👍would be extremely helpful, I would think... Great video Alanna 👏👏
Fair play Miss. The reality of living abroad,typically, has similar grind requirements as your country. Bill's and work. ( o the joy ). The best education a person can have, is from travel. Good video. 👍go algorithm.
I liked the framing of this video. Just you, a plant and the wall. It was easier to concentrate on just you, without a table or other stuff in the background. Great video idea.
Not so much a matter of driving on the right or the left. Previously, you had driven on the wrong side. Now, you are driving on the correct side. Like, for example, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, South Africa etc, etc. Well done. I'm glad you are over your earlier anxieties. Cheers !
Hi, Interesting video, I moved from the UK to New Zealand in a very lovely May, and when I arrived in Auckland it was autumn all of a sudden, and overcast. We are living in Northland on the North Island, and it’s like a Mediterranean climate up here, whereas on the South Island especially the last two thirds would be colder and shorter days like in the UK but South Island gets better summer’s than the UK. So where we are isn’t that cold in the winter and I’ve not seen snow in 7 years since I’ve been here. It took me a while to get to know the different supermarkets and brands and prices, as it’s myself that does our shopping. I even started seeing the similarities of them to the UK counterparts, like New World is like Sainsbury’s and Countdown is like Tesco, and PAK’nSAVE is like Aldi and the small Four Square’s are like Spar or One Stop. I got in a car straight away and it was an automatic (never drive one at the time) but NZ drive on the left side too! (thank God)! I also was converting everything I bought into £’s so I new if something was a similar price in the UK, I don’t convert any money but now and then I do, everything seems twice a much because there’s two $NZD to the Pounds Sterling. I didn’t get homesick so much, even when I FaceTime my 3 sisters and daughter, but I did when I saw Manchester United playing at home as my wife and I had season tickets. The smartphones have made the world smaller, as I’d think what it would be like without them or the Internet! The thought about communicating by letter!!
I'm glad you made the transition to the UK life okay and you are very welcome here. Sharing your experiences here I'm sure will help others thinking doing the same. Hopefully it will take some of the stress out of the move for them. A very useful video..
Another great video. I am 46 and British..but I do know what you mean about that post-Christmas January (and IMO February) feeling - the sparkle of Christmas is behind and all there is, is an even colder month and nothing nice on the immediate calendar!
Full respect to you for moving to another country. It was hard enough for me 10 years ago to just move counties! I still think people are weird here too :)
Hi Alanna! As I've mentioned before, we went the opposite way in 1974 to Tronno. As a kid of 9, it was hugely exciting, first by going on a plane for the first time and seeing my Estonian Dad's side of the family over there including Gran. And like yourself, even as a child, it gets some getting used to like standing up at school in the morning singling "O Canada anthem" and getting used to the locals talking funny and not entirely understanding them. Like for eg. What is a Popsicle? But eventually, you do get used to life in another country. I liked the 3 months of summer holidays from school and playing in the snow even after dark and enjoying my only ever White Christmas that year. Unfortunately, after exactly one year, our family migrated back to blighty as my Italian Mum was so homesick and missed her side of the family here in Bristol. So yes, I know how you felt but as a kid, it was easier for obvious reasons. Cheers Girl!
I was headed that way in 1974 aswell. Our stop was a little further north. UK to February in Kapuskasing was a shock. My mother had the same reaction (2 seasons - snow and bug) and she and I moved back to the UK for about a year. I found it tougher moving as a kid especially at an age where your language skills are still pretty new. English to Canadian English was confusing enough, and adding French had me completely lost.
Yeah, it would've been tough having to learn French as well! I started learning French at the age of 9 there at school. But at least French wasn't spoken in Toronto!
@@richardlaasna8372 Once we moved to the Quinte area the French focus dropped way off. So much so that I had the same French teacher at three different elementary schools between 2nd and 8th grade. After 10 years of French training I still have close to zero knowledge. My wife is from Toronto and she did French emersion. She speaks Spanish too so I have to remind her that I know both English and Canadian.
Grocery shopping, I just realized how much I take it for granted. Hell, I get somewhat confused if they reorder the shelves! To whomsoever is reading this, I hope you're doing well.
I don't know if non-UK citizens are eligible, but it's possible to buy a pre-payment certificate for prescriptions. Costs about £10 a month but if you're on several prescribed items (like me) you'll save a fortune.
Really like your editing and layout style on your latest vids. Have watched your channel for a while now (love all the local stuff you show) and it’s just getting better and better, some real fun touches too! 🙂
Super video, thanks for posting! And I know exactly what you mean about grocery shopping. When I arrived in Austria, having migrated from the UK in 2018, it took twice as long to do the grocery shopping - due to unfamiliar brands and food, etc. And, in my case, labels in German ... but it's much easier now, having become used to it. Other things that really caused anxiety for me was not knowing how the bureaucracy worked (for example, registering with the local council, where to go to change your driving licence, etc.). And getting used to the way the health service operates in Austria vs. the UK!
January is so British. The whole of everything looks at the excess of December and Christmas and goes, well that was a bit embarrassing we need to tone it down a little.
Wonderful video, you really do put your heart and soul in to your content, I can't imagine how many people you have helped over the years, you really do go above and beyond with your advice, you are a credit to Canada and the world in general, the UK is a richer place for having you here, take care and stay safe :)
Americans ( Canadians not so much ) will be shocked by the difference in day length between summer and winter in England Nearly nine hours difference in day length between midsummer and midwinter
Thanks so much Alanna! I'm making the big move from Kingston,Ontario to Glasgow,Scotland in April. I definitely know it's not going to be an easy move, but I know I'm ready for it. Sometimes you just know what the right thing to do is and because my grandfather was born in Scotland, I feel like I'm meant to move there and try it out at least even if it is just for a year or the full 2 years of my visa or maybe even longer depending on what happens. I'm really excited and know there's a lot of hurdles up ahead. This video is very helpful, thank you! :)
Thank you so much for talking about this! I think because I’ve wanted to move abroad for so long all I think about it is the good stuff about moving abroad! I really appreciate that you talk about how anxiety can affect you when moving abroad too, that’s not something I see too much when I’m looking at moving abroad, thanks so much for talking about that! I really like hearing your perspective because when I think about moving abroad I only think about the big things, so I love hearing about what it’s like for every day life! This was a really good video! Thank you for all your videos, hearing your perspective is so cool! Your videos help me feel like I can move abroad too!
So many similarities to my experience of moving from the UK to Canada. I wish I could have told past me to be prepared for the homesickness, it took me a good 18 months to 2 years to feel settled here.
I did the UK to Canada move (twice) as a child and it was tough. The first time we moved was to Kapuskasing in February (for 15 months) which I thought was great, but my mother did not. The big problem for me was the language differences and the addition of French. Going back to the UK was another adjustment, but the move back to Canada was easy. Since then every relocation has taken almost no time to settle in. I had an assignment for work in the UK in the late 90s and adjusted quickly for the most part. There were some things that I couldn't get used to though (customer service levels, everything so small and cramped, lack of choices/selection). I have been in the US since 2005 and now I notice that Canadian customer service is not what it used to be. Throughout all the moves I have never really felt "homesick". Maybe I was meant to be nomadic.
Thanks for the video - some really good advice there! I also recognised Hallease from the Skillshare part of the video - her videos are always nicely filmed and edited so I'm sure her Skillshare class would be helpful for anyone who wants to improve their skills
January sucks! Lol Hats off to you, don't think I could ever move abroad, I'm not brave enough. Really interesting video, never given much thought about these sorts of things before! I could never leave this island if I can't buy my fav popcorn! 😂
I recognize all of these problems, with the added complication of learning a new language (Dutch). But I did it in the end. And wouldn't life be boring if you moved to a different country and everything was familiar or exactly the same? Then you might have well stayed at home. You would surprise yourself and be able to achieve more than you think once you took the plunge !
@@ZebrinhahDesrosiers I moved to the UK from Australia and it took a couple of years for my body to adapt to living in a cooler climate. So get lots of warm clothing before you arrive! I can especially recommend fleece clothing eg sweaters, jackets etc, it is super warm, tough and reasonably priced. The UK in general is a great place to live but, as this video suggests, it takes time to adapt to your new life.
I guess a lot depends on your personal situation. I moved abroad together with my wife and unborn child So no real homesickness issues as we were too engrossed in working and preparing for our child to be born. But the level of culture shock I experienced was much different, I’m not saying worse but probably it was as I moved to Asia which is a bigger cultural jump. The driving thing I don’t feel was such a big deal I moved to a city that drove British style ie: on the left Not long afterwards while continuing to work where they drove on the left I moved our home across the border to mainland China where, guess what? They drive on the right hand side. From then on, for many years on a daily basis I would drive my British style car with its steering wheel on the right, on both sides of the road, switching sides every time I crossed the border, usually twice a day minimum. Fun stuff. Love your videos!
Another masterpiece from our favourite Canadian! January in UK is pretty dire, but we *can* have some clear, crisp, frosty days when the walking boots & warm clothing are broken out & a walk in the countryside is called for. On the usual dismal cold, wet days, I declare UDI & break out the jigsaws!
I think most problems can be prevented by being prepared as possible. We are so lucky today that you can find most information online. Then arriving sooner than you need to, if you've got a new job say, means that you won't have to deal with multiple things at once. I agree that coming in the winter is a bad idea, if you're not prepared for winter then it's too late and if you have someone that can go shopping with you then great and ordering online the first time you shop is probably even better as you can search for things without the hassle.
Hey Alanna. Even though I'm not moving anywhere, I always find these advice videos great. Having spent a year in NY (long before you were a YT'er), I wish I'd known some of stuff you've advise. Even though we knew it was only temporary and many of our needs (like rent) were covered by my better half's company, it was still a shock and tough. We were lucky with our circumstances but most folks don't have that luxury. These videos are always great for folks dealing with this situation. Nice one. :-)
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Thanks everyone! Have a great week!!
Alanna x
Anyone else wondering what you can make with the following things?
Flour
Turmeric (I'm guessing)
Chili Flakes (another guess)
Other anonymous herb/spice
@@AthAthanasius Hot, speckled flour? 🎃
This was great! ❤⚘ thanks so much...I'm 50 an I'm planning on moving there from USA..the weather an the driving ..perfect an the shopping! Fantastic..just great..
‘Dark, depressing, wet and cold’. Yes, that’s the best description of Winter in the UK. I’ve lived here my entire life and still dread it every year.
It's best to embrace the relentless drizzling misery of it all, ^oo^
Wretched isn't it!!
Awe Dee dums
@@issachunt3418 "diddums", ^oo^
Even in Devon where we don't really get a proper winter it rains all through the winter and since 1987 very windy as well.
As an Englishman from London - we don't understand what is unusual about our own country, until we compare it with others. England is densely populated. The UK has a huge range of geology (and so a wide range of scenery in a small set of islands). The UK is a long way North (and so has very short days in Winter and very long days in Summer), but is protected by the warm waters of the gulf stream, so really long deep freezes are rare. The tides in the UK are the second biggest in the world, so that affects the coastline (even London). England at Dover is only 22 miles from France, so we have had lots of contact with continental Europe, whilst still seeing ourselves as an island. The legacy of the British Empire is that the UK (and especially London) is culturally very diverse (a primary school class of 30 children with 15 languages spoken is not unknown in London). This works much better than outsiders seem to think. Remember that London is the biggest outlier - it is different from everywhere else. And things that aren't obvious ... we have a health & safety culture and made lots of things as safe as possible (look at our electricity 13 Amp plugs!). So we need to watch our children, when they go to places that have more dangers (such as lack of safety rails). We've also killed off most of our dangerous animals - just a few mildly poisonous snakes, but no wolves, bears, lions, deadly spiders. And for Americans, of course, there are no guns (apart from the big ones that fire salutes on the Queen's birthday). OK, there are some guns, but they are very rare. I'm over 50 years old and I can't recall EVER seeing a gun in the UK except for (a) in hands of soldier, military cadet or police or (b) shotgun / air rifle for hunting or sport. I suppose this won't seem so strange for a Canadian.
Always enjoy your videos here in America. 🤗
Awesome! Thank you!
As a brazilian who has faced an irish/english winter, here's my biggest advice:
Coats, gloves and scarfs KEEP you warm, they don't make you warm, so you gotta put them on BEFORE you leave your house.
It took me so long to figure this out and it's something so trivial.
Good fitting thermal under wear is a bonus !
My wife and I disagreed on this every winter in NYC.
You are so right, its the change thing, your brain doesn’t like change however as you say, it does go away
I admire your strength! As difficult as it was you powered through and now are living a dream that a lot of people would be too afraid to live. Bless your heart ❤️
Thank you so much!
The driving licence/photo id advice is a really good call out. Helps with so much stuff. Great video as usual 😉
Thank you!
I renewed my passport before the brexit change as got an old pink driving licence no pic no having to renew every few yrs at a cost of £££££
Thanks Alanna, solid advice without the sugar coating - especially the part about not assuming that it's always like it is on a quick visit in the best weather!
Thanks Malcolm!
It even applies to people moving from a city to the coast within the UK - it might be fantastic when it's in season and the weather's good, but make sure you'll still enjoy it when it's cold, windy, really quiet, and lots of things are closed until the next season.
@@bilkyasko went to college in Southport, a very depressing place in January/February
I just moved to England in September for school and I am in the thick of the hell. Thanks for all of the advice! My biggest advice is to keep reminding yourself that you are not the only person in the world who has done this, you can get through it. I also moved here with my two cats and found out the hard way that landlords can deny pets, I wish I looked into that before moving.
You can do it!!! Thanks so much for watching!
Wishing you all the best adjusting and with your studies. Hope you find some friendly Brits to help as guides.
Don't most landlords in the world deny pets? Keep your chin up ! Best of luck !!
A very Interesting and commonsensical video about the early days of living in an “alien land and culture”. I did it the other way round - moving from the UK to Morocco. I had failed my driving test in the UK in the area where I lived during my teenage years, living at home, then moved to London to work & train, no opportunity to drive or take a test for a few years. When I moved to Morocco, a colleague picked me up from the house I had been allocated for the first couple of weeks, then I had to rely on finding taxis (cheap, but not always easy to find in the morning) so it was imperative that I get a driving licence. So I took both driving lessons & Highway Code lessons, in French - in those days my ability in French was relatively basic (just schoolboy French + some more recent ‘immersion’ courses my employer had sent me on on London), but I was young then and absorbed things very rapidly. After about 3 months I took my Moroccan driving test totally in French, theory part & practical part, without any English interpreter, which would have been possible had I wished it, and passed - I had already purchased a car a few weeks earlier - therefore I became independently mobile from then on. I think I can sum it up very simply - when you want to do something and put your mind to it, you can do it, specially when you’re young. I’m a lot older now, but have always had the attitude of “you can do it” and it seems clear, from watching your videos, that you have too. Like you I got homesick in the early stages, after a few months, but I got through that, as you obviously did too 👍😀
My girlfriend struggled at first because of the language, she gets homesick too, but having her daughters here with their families really helps, plus we hop on a plane 3 or 4 times a year for the 2 hour flight to Warsaw, that makes a massive difference to her.
A different language would be such a big barrier to get past!
Excellent video 😁
Thanks so much for watching!
I moved to canada from the UK a couple years ago, i watched your videos before moving. You said the first few months suck, knowing that upfront really helped me get through it. Knowing everyone goes through it really helped.
Cheers Ewan!!
I'm British and I lived in another country for many years, one with a foreign language lol. It is hard, the thing is you have to embrace the other culture, the old saying "When in Rome...." You have fitted in perfectly here, mainly because we are weird as f, and well you just fit in perfect lol . Love your channel, you will always be Canadian (and be proud of that) but you are one of us too. I wish I could help with your patreon but I'm an ol' fecker and money is tight. but thank you for the laughs....your sense of humour fits in perfectly here.
ps I've been watching your videos since the beginning minus about 3 months
Thanks so much for watching!
Your insight and honesty are very interesting. You were born to do this. Honestly your approach to life has been your greatest asset.
Thanks so much!
remember when i first moved i was quite excited and happy to be with my boyfriend and away from family, i was so glad to just be able to do nothing for the first several months, then decided i should go work as partner was in like this will help you feel back in control as i started just living off my depression, and needed to make friends somehow, the finding friends was the worst part that took forever
that's great tips
i am gonna to move to UK next month or 2 just like you
i just quite my job and so nervous that i won't be able to get a job anytime soon
thanks for your great information
I moved to France to help my mum after my dad died! What you said applies to here too! That was well put and I could have had the same advice too! Now my mum passed away in 2019 aged 95 and I am still in France!
good advice for anyone who is looking to move.
Thanks!
When I came from Australia to England I intended to continue as a self employed web designer, figuring I could do that from anywhere. I discovered that, through the local unemployment office, there were all sorts of free courses I could do - so I took a 10 day Business Management course. This proved to be excellent and I'd recommend that anyone looking to move to anywhere seek out such resources to learn the local rules and regs, and make some contacts within your field as well. It turned out that many of the people in the course were potential clients for me!
😂😂😂
Wow. I also moved here in November. And the springtime was magical. Until March. Yes March of 2020. So just as I started to adjust to the life here, wow, everything changed. Again! But you're right, it did get better. Great vid. Agree with everything.
Thanks for watching!
I"m a Canadian living in the UK as well. Along with the tip of transferring your driver's license ASAP, I would also add: get a credit card ASAP, even if it's those prepaid ones, and use that as much as possible to build up your credit score. I ran into issues when I tried to get financing for a motorcycle.
Another thing that took me a while to get used to here in the UK, was the prices. I kept doing the conversion in my head and realized how much more expensive everything was.
That's a great point!
I realise about the prices. I still value prices in what we call old money. 30 pence to me Is six Shillings, older people will understand what I mean.
When only a visitor, money conversion is natural especially visiting tourist areas & where prices aren't didplayed - easy rip off. Prices in general, are relative to wage & standard of living & at times you have to just accept that the new price does not relate to how currency conversion workd. If you need the busfare or breakfast, you just have to pay. Scary SIM card contracts/dodgy online transport booking services can be ripoffs. I booked a rental car & store was closed when I got there - marooned, then taxi back to bus station, dead phone battery, having flown from Contint with dteadful head cold. Another experience....
Good vid!! Having anxiety, you certainly have balls and determination. But the point you made about new things being scary is an important reminder, that pushing through get better and better where ever you are. 👍👍
Thank you!
I'm glad you moved to the UK you're gorgeous & love your videos 😍
🤍🖤❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎
True story. An Innuit family came to Sheffield for a year so their child could get medical treatment.After the treatment finished the father was given the offer to stay. He refused saying he did not like Sheffield. One of his reasons was that Sheffield was too cold in winter !
I can believe that(!). Winters in the high arctic are of course much colder. But, they are dry. Very dry, in fact. The British Isles have an oceanic climate, and the combination of high moisture content in the air and low temps FEELS much worse. Minus five celsius in Britain or Western Norway along the coast feels allmost like minus 20 if the air had been dry, like in innland Scandinavia for example. And If you are in Northern Canada, for example, it gets even drier...
It's tough to dress for high humidity conditions. I found winters in Canada (west coast is more like UK) a lot easier to deal with than Nottingham.
@@rich7447 I live in innland south-eastern Norway, and I much prefer minus 20 celcius here over a few degrees below zero on the west coast, which is more or less like Scottland only even colder. That humidity BITES! Add to that the ever present wind along the coast...
@@Innerspace100 I'm in Maryland US now and it is much more humid in the winter than most places that I have lived. The geography of North America makes our weather comparable to European locations that are at much higher latitudes, but it also helps to keep humidity levels west of the Rockies more manageable. When I lived in Ottawa we would routinely see -20C often dropping to -30C or lower and Ottawa is 10 to 15 degrees south of Norway. In my younger years I lived in both Yellowknife and Iqaluit which would fall in the same latitude range as Norway and -40C was common.
Even at these temps I never felt as cold as I can in an English house in January.
I still find it funny when I hear Canajuns (or even eastern Europeans / Russians!) calling winter in the UK "cold". But I swear I've teased Alanna over this before so I won't do it again, just as she asked. :)
Very good advice. Moving to a another country with different customs has it's challenges, things will seem nightmarish at times, but once you get past that, and you will, there are great rewards and experiences on the other side waiting for you!
Absolutely!
I love it, coming from a Canadian used to waist deep snow and minus stupid temperatures..."English Winters are the WORST!"🥶
Fun fact! Ontario's capital and the capital of Italy's Tuscany region are both at 43.7 degrees north latitude. Everyone thinks "Canada" is freezing, but it's a big place and most of us don't live in those super cold areas!
Hi alanna,Sound advice for those who need it..very well done thank you Roly 🇬🇧
Thank you!
Thanks for the video. I’m staying at home but it’s honestly genuinely interesting to think about what life is like for a person newly arrived in England. I hope you have a great week.
Thanks for watching!
Lived in Wales for school. Boy was vitamin D my best friend in the winter months. Miss living there soooo much.
You must be from Ontario! Here on the west coast (Vancouver Island), winter is wet and rainy. The temps don't go as low as the rest of the country, but the damp makes the cold penetrating. We don't get those nice clear, crisp bright winter days, you know the ones where you look out and it looks warm, but as soon as you set outside, your eyebrows freeze! Canadian's wanting to 'acclimatize' for UK weather, should winter in Vancouver first LOL!
When I worked in Port Alberni, a couple from the UK (Kent), went to Tofino in August, she complained about the fog and that she could see Long Beach! There's a saying on that part of the Island, two unique months, Junuary and Fogust, June is typically cold as January and August is foggy!
Enjoying your videos!
Thanks for watching!
Your really getting professional with these videos.
Moving to the UK next year . Thank you for this video Alana , this is very comforting 🍁💋
Thanks so much for watching! All the best with your move!
I would say try to get some balance between hanging out with other ex-pats and hanging out with local people. The former will have some shared experience of moving country, but it is a largely transient community and they will mostly move on. It will be more difficult to build relationships with the natives, but after a year or two, those friends will still be there.
I moved from New Jersey to Arizona in August (ugh). It was 128°F - 54°C on the airport tarmac when I got off the plane...☀️
A bit toasty!!
I moved in 2019 from Toronto to Manchester. Came on a Working Holiday visa and now I'm on a Skilled Worker Visa. I think the hardest part of it all was the uncertainty. The visa rules changed 3 times since I moved here. I wasn't able to figure out what I needed to do in terms of the job I picked, until these things were settled. All is well now though! Your video on the WHV is how I got here so thank you for your help!
That's awesome! Thanks so much!
Great video, Alanna. Glad you stuck through that first winter. A lot of people coming to the UK don't realise how dark it gets in winter - we're further north than they expect! At least you didn't have to deal with a (totally) different language on top of everything else!
You're totally right! I'm horrible at learning languages 😩
That's what a friend said to me! "It gets late so early!" was how she put it, and that somehow made perfect sense.
You probably would'nt have believed someone who told you it was going to be hard, initially. Soon you would have realized it was'nt just you. That it was just the way things go. It is what it is.
I am 64 years old and apart form 1979, January still shocks me and I agree it is depressing. January 1979, the army had sent me to Belize warm sunny and damp.
what a great video and the advice that you have given will help out so many people. It must be so hard moving to a new country. Also signed up for skill share so thanks for the free first month. I bought a guitar during lockdown but never gave it much of a chance. Skill share seems like a great place to finally learn how to play it. Thanks again for the great video
Cheers Brian!!
I relate to the grocery shopping thing. It's surprising how being unfamiliar with the brands slows things down.
It's easy going to English speaking shops. Try going to non English like Greece you soon learn to adapt!
Wow I just watched one of your videos from 4 years ago didn't realise until I seen your recent one and seen how much you have changed
There is a lot to say on the subject, especially as a foreigner myself in England (4 years) and now starting a business.
I do appreciate how you’re quite open and upfront about being anxious and factoring this in what you’re doing. It’s refreshing to see and ties in with your “I show all sides of living as a foreigner in England”. Good on you gal! 👍👍👍
Thanks for watching!
Loved the video. i moved to Malta ween i was a kid and was very home sick for a while...
I spent a year in France when I was 23. Best year of my life but OMG was it sary to start with. I still have many memories even 25 years ago. Salut Grenoble!
I do all of the driving in the UK. Holidays, Dad’s Taxi, days out, shopping. You name it, I do it. As soon as we hit the tarmac in Europe I become a gibbering, perspiring wreck. I simply cannot get my brain around driving on the right! I hit other cars and once ended up in a field of sunflowers somewhere outside Pisa! My wife does all the right hand side driving. I can’t imagine actually living somewhere permanently where I had to drive on the right hand side, so you have my admiration for biting the bullet and doing what must have been really weird for you!
Must be one of the hardest thing to do alone with no other family support around hats off to you
Like you, I dislike city life - much prefer country life in U.K. I was able to drive (easier for Aussie, we drive on left side of road & I can use non automatic vehicle), but the roads, roundabouts, direction signs, even with Miss Google helping, can be exhausting. The same when shopping, memory, lack of familiarity & cost vs quality means a lot more brain work all the time!
I remember, after having driven from Buckingham via Cambridge (I hadn't experienced those rising bollards until stuck between them & an approaching bus), around Norfolk (where I was fined for failing to 'Park & Pay' @ 4p.m. on Saturday afternoon!). The relief of approaching Buckingham was such that before me, was roads & scenery I recognised, I knew where to go, where to turn & where 'home' was! Phew!
The first time I drove abroad , I had to drive a British car Manuel a British Car Auto and Two Hire cars one auto one manuel .
It was quite an experience , switching from one car to the other and driving for the first time on the Right in Southern France .
Where driving is a
matter of who got in the space fast enough .
After that no driving anywhere in the World was ever a problem , so you are right jump right in with driving and dont overthink it .
Just do it .
You think winter in Kent is bad? you should try the North-East where I live !! Kent is positively balmy !!!!!
Okay!
Great advice and well said 👏
Thanks for watching!
Fantastic video. Full of positives coming from negatives. January is the most depressing month of the year, even for us Brits but good for you, you got through it. Driving must of been tough also, I have driven many times abroad and at first it it scarey but you do overcome and get used to it. Sounds like you had a grim five months but your mindset got you there. I tip my hat and say well done.👌👏👏👏👏💪
Thanks for watching!!
Literally agree with you on every point. Anxiety sky-high all the time, January is like 6-months long, is that expensive for pounds, what brand is that, is it good, where do you buy water bottles from. I woke up crying from dreaming of home more than once, that shit physically hurts.
I got my Canadian drivers license, my SIN number, Alberta Health Card and opened a bank account at TD on the second day after arriving in Canada for work. It was pretty straight forward .Just do your research before you go and it helped that I had my own rental car and got familarised with the city layout. It also helped that i had already driven extensively in the US and Canada before moving to Canada
That would take you 4 months in Ontario. Even longer in Toronto (center of known universe).
Very sensible advice and given through experience, nice one.
I appreciate that!
My daughter did a study year abroad in Ottawa. She found it tough too, but like you, she stuck it out and found things turned around after the holidays. Now she loves it so much she's working to go back
That is awesome!
I buy the Mexicana cheddar from Morrissons. I know exactly where it is in the store. Love the chilli taste.
In January we have Blue Monday which is apparently the most depressing day of the year, it's the 17th in 2022 in case anyone was wondering.
Also you kinda do need a car if you live in London for food shopping, buying furniture etc. Driving in central london is hell and I don't recommend it lol. But I live in zone 4 and 100% need to drive not only for work (I have to go to just outside the M25) but also to get to the big supermarkets.
Plus having a car gives you more options of travel as trains can be expensive. Railcards are your best friend if you plan on using trains a lot.
Great insight as always Alanna, you've certainly been an a journey and kudos to you for coming so far - look at you now ! 🙂
Thank you!
Fellow Canadian who’s been living in the UK for just over two and a half years here 👋. It’s interesting to hear other people’s experience moving abroad. For me personally the first 6-12 months felt easier, I think I was in the “honeymoon” period of moving. It was later on that I experienced home sickness.
Interesting! I hope you're feeling more at home now
Always interesting to hear your views of life in England, Alana. Sorry your first 5 months were so hard although I feel "a living hell" a bit OTT! lol Yes, arriving in Nov. A defo bad choice - as a native, I know well whats to come after Xmas! Love your vids keep it up! 👍🙏
Great vid Alanna . Many thanks..
Glad you liked it!
Well done for coping with it all.
No doubt your ancestors emigrated to Canada from the UK, so they probably went through something similar!
Nice video.
That's very true!
Tip for those who are shopping in the UK. Aldi / Lidl are a lot less focused on brands, typically you get only a few options as well which can be helpful if you just want to get a quick shop done. As a uk citizen i’m still overwhelmed with the range of options you can get in sainsburys, tesco etc…
That's a good point!
Supermarkets have done that here in Oz. They're too big - if you are almost done, then remember something, it can be so far back in the store, I can't be bothered going back as I've already passed so much surplus stock I didn't need or want. Aldi, (Lidl hasn't made it to Oz) has predictable basics, their branded stuff often comes from reputable local known brands. They buy in bulk so get a better price that oasses on to customer. One has to be careful to not buy all the special stock they bring in each week - some is of questionable value. Aldi have given our local food chains quite a shake up!!
Yes. No "finest" nonsense in Aldi or Lidl so you can go round grabbing what you need without worrying about the price or quality. Get in!
@@kathrynnordstrom5604 Last week I spent about 30 minutes trying to find where the salt was in Morrison's. I asked a member of staff and they didn't know 😂
My husband is waiting to hear back from the vet schools in Glasgow and Bristol and if he got in we'd be moving there from the USA with 3 little kids under 5. So I seriously REALLY appreciate any and all information you have. ❤
Best of luck!!! And thanks so much for watching!
A few things based on my experience:
1. You will have to prove yourself all over again. Everything you have done in life will be treated with skeptism.
2. Don't underestimate the ability of another country to do familiar things differently.
3. It could become overwhelming and you may seek comfort in familiar things from your home country. However, being reminded of what you have given up may make you even more homesick.
4. Moving to another country is exciting, but scary. So long as a positivity outweighs negativity you will be OK. But be aware that your mood can change very quickly!
Those are great points!
I have found points 1 and 2 to be just as true when you move regionally (I am on country #3 as an adult, and have lived in 2 provinces, what is now 2 territories, and 4 states).
I haven't found 3 or 4 to be the case at all, but there is a good chance that I am just immune. I changed continents 3 times before my 7th birthday and have never lived anywhere longer than 5 years (only made 5 years once).
@@rich7447 I've notice that when I've been to British shops overseas it is all comfort stuff at inflated prices. But there will always be things you can't get, so I don't think it's the solution to homesickness.
@@mdnickless Some is worth it. I still buy Heinz beans (and Heinz is American).
I'm not planning a move, but found your video very interesting! The transfer of your drivers license👍would be extremely helpful, I would think... Great video Alanna 👏👏
Thanks so much!
Fair play Miss. The reality of living abroad,typically, has similar grind requirements as your country. Bill's and work. ( o the joy ). The best education a person can have, is from travel. Good video. 👍go algorithm.
I liked the framing of this video. Just you, a plant and the wall. It was easier to concentrate on just you, without a table or other stuff in the background. Great video idea.
Not so much a matter of driving on the right or the left. Previously, you had driven on the wrong side. Now, you are driving on the correct side. Like, for example, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, South Africa etc, etc. Well done. I'm glad you are over your earlier anxieties. Cheers !
Dude, the left is the wrong side of the road. Why do you think the right side is called "right", as in correct? Lol
@@terryomalley1974 Ok Terry. But you're still wrong. I still win. 😃
@@thetrevor861 Nope! Our way is normal, yours is weird.
@@terryomalley1974 But Drivers sit on the right side of the vehicle. So perhaps only Myanmar is correct?
@@terryomalley1974 This is the British sense of humour in action!
Moving countries is like being a seed blown in the wind, takes a while before you stop rolling and get a chance to put your roots down.
Great video! Even moving to a different part of the UK has its challenges, but you’re right, us humans are very adaptable!
Thanks so much!
Hi, Interesting video, I moved from the UK to New Zealand in a very lovely May, and when I arrived in Auckland it was autumn all of a sudden, and overcast. We are living in Northland on the North Island, and it’s like a Mediterranean climate up here, whereas on the South Island especially the last two thirds would be colder and shorter days like in the UK but South Island gets better summer’s than the UK.
So where we are isn’t that cold in the winter and I’ve not seen snow in 7 years since I’ve been here.
It took me a while to get to know the different supermarkets and brands and prices, as it’s myself that does our shopping.
I even started seeing the similarities of them to the UK counterparts, like New World is like Sainsbury’s and Countdown is like Tesco, and PAK’nSAVE is like Aldi and the small Four Square’s are like Spar or One Stop.
I got in a car straight away and it was an automatic (never drive one at the time) but NZ drive on the left side too! (thank God)!
I also was converting everything I bought into £’s so I new if something was a similar price in the UK, I don’t convert any money but now and then I do, everything seems twice a much because there’s two $NZD to the Pounds Sterling.
I didn’t get homesick so much, even when I FaceTime my 3 sisters and daughter, but I did when I saw Manchester United playing at home as my wife and I had season tickets.
The smartphones have made the world smaller, as I’d think what it would be like without them or the Internet!
The thought about communicating by letter!!
Perfect time for this video. 2 months in to moving to England and yeah....it's rough.
Hope you're doing OK!!
I'm glad you made the transition to the UK life okay and you are very welcome here. Sharing your experiences here I'm sure will help others thinking doing the same. Hopefully it will take some of the stress out of the move for them. A very useful video..
Thank you!
Another great video. I am 46 and British..but I do know what you mean about that post-Christmas January (and IMO February) feeling - the sparkle of Christmas is behind and all there is, is an even colder month and nothing nice on the immediate calendar!
You're so right!
Full respect to you for moving to another country. It was hard enough for me 10 years ago to just move counties! I still think people are weird here too :)
Hi Alanna! As I've mentioned before, we went the opposite way in 1974 to Tronno. As a kid of 9, it was hugely exciting, first by going on a plane for the first time and seeing my Estonian Dad's side of the family over there including Gran. And like yourself, even as a child, it gets some getting used to like standing up at school in the morning singling "O Canada anthem" and getting used to the locals talking funny and not entirely understanding them. Like for eg. What is a Popsicle? But eventually, you do get used to life in another country. I liked the 3 months of summer holidays from school and playing in the snow even after dark and enjoying my only ever White Christmas that year. Unfortunately, after exactly one year, our family migrated back to blighty as my Italian Mum was so homesick and missed her side of the family here in Bristol. So yes, I know how you felt but as a kid, it was easier for obvious reasons. Cheers Girl!
I was headed that way in 1974 aswell. Our stop was a little further north. UK to February in Kapuskasing was a shock. My mother had the same reaction (2 seasons - snow and bug) and she and I moved back to the UK for about a year. I found it tougher moving as a kid especially at an age where your language skills are still pretty new. English to Canadian English was confusing enough, and adding French had me completely lost.
Yeah, it would've been tough having to learn French as well! I started learning French at the age of 9 there at school. But at least French wasn't spoken in Toronto!
@@richardlaasna8372 Once we moved to the Quinte area the French focus dropped way off. So much so that I had the same French teacher at three different elementary schools between 2nd and 8th grade. After 10 years of French training I still have close to zero knowledge.
My wife is from Toronto and she did French emersion. She speaks Spanish too so I have to remind her that I know both English and Canadian.
Grocery shopping, I just realized how much I take it for granted. Hell, I get somewhat confused if they reorder the shelves!
To whomsoever is reading this, I hope you're doing well.
Thank you so much!
I don't know if non-UK citizens are eligible, but it's possible to buy a pre-payment certificate for prescriptions. Costs about £10 a month but if you're on several prescribed items (like me) you'll save a fortune.
Really like your editing and layout style on your latest vids. Have watched your channel for a while now (love all the local stuff you show) and it’s just getting better and better, some real fun touches too! 🙂
Awesome, thank you!
Super video, thanks for posting! And I know exactly what you mean about grocery shopping. When I arrived in Austria, having migrated from the UK in 2018, it took twice as long to do the grocery shopping - due to unfamiliar brands and food, etc. And, in my case, labels in German ... but it's much easier now, having become used to it. Other things that really caused anxiety for me was not knowing how the bureaucracy worked (for example, registering with the local council, where to go to change your driving licence, etc.). And getting used to the way the health service operates in Austria vs. the UK!
Those are great point! Governmental services, dealing with forms and red tape etc are tricky, especially if they're in a new language!
January is so British. The whole of everything looks at the excess of December and Christmas and goes, well that was a bit embarrassing we need to tone it down a little.
Wonderful video, you really do put your heart and soul in to your content, I can't imagine how many people you have helped over the years, you really do go above and beyond with your advice, you are a credit to Canada and the world in general, the UK is a richer place for having you here, take care and stay safe :)
You are so kind!
Americans ( Canadians not so much ) will be shocked by the difference in day length between summer and winter in England Nearly nine hours difference in day length between midsummer and midwinter
Thank you for talking about this ! ❤
Thanks for watching!
Thanks so much Alanna! I'm making the big move from Kingston,Ontario to Glasgow,Scotland in April. I definitely know it's not going to be an easy move, but I know I'm ready for it. Sometimes you just know what the right thing to do is and because my grandfather was born in Scotland, I feel like I'm meant to move there and try it out at least even if it is just for a year or the full 2 years of my visa or maybe even longer depending on what happens. I'm really excited and know there's a lot of hurdles up ahead. This video is very helpful, thank you! :)
Thanks Alanna! Helpful info!
S.A.D Lightboxes can help with the gloomy UK Autumn & Winters. Always good to have some light in your life! 😊
You're totally right!
Thank you so much for talking about this! I think because I’ve wanted to move abroad for so long all I think about it is the good stuff about moving abroad! I really appreciate that you talk about how anxiety can affect you when moving abroad too, that’s not something I see too much when I’m looking at moving abroad, thanks so much for talking about that! I really like hearing your perspective because when I think about moving abroad I only think about the big things, so I love hearing about what it’s like for every day life! This was a really good video! Thank you for all your videos, hearing your perspective is so cool! Your videos help me feel like I can move abroad too!
Thanks so much Aaron!!
Welcome back to the show
London is at the same latitude as Moosonee. Explains the long winter nights. :)
So many similarities to my experience of moving from the UK to Canada. I wish I could have told past me to be prepared for the homesickness, it took me a good 18 months to 2 years to feel settled here.
Hope you're enjoying Canada!!
@@AdventuresAndNaps Well I’ve been here for 12 years now so something must be going right 😄
I did the UK to Canada move (twice) as a child and it was tough. The first time we moved was to Kapuskasing in February (for 15 months) which I thought was great, but my mother did not. The big problem for me was the language differences and the addition of French. Going back to the UK was another adjustment, but the move back to Canada was easy. Since then every relocation has taken almost no time to settle in. I had an assignment for work in the UK in the late 90s and adjusted quickly for the most part. There were some things that I couldn't get used to though (customer service levels, everything so small and cramped, lack of choices/selection). I have been in the US since 2005 and now I notice that Canadian customer service is not what it used to be.
Throughout all the moves I have never really felt "homesick". Maybe I was meant to be nomadic.
Thanks for the video - some really good advice there! I also recognised Hallease from the Skillshare part of the video - her videos are always nicely filmed and edited so I'm sure her Skillshare class would be helpful for anyone who wants to improve their skills
Thanks so much!
January sucks! Lol
Hats off to you, don't think I could ever move abroad, I'm not brave enough.
Really interesting video, never given much thought about these sorts of things before! I could never leave this island if I can't buy my fav popcorn! 😂
Thanks Gem!!
I recognize all of these problems, with the added complication of learning a new language (Dutch). But I did it in the end. And wouldn't life be boring if you moved to a different country and everything was familiar or exactly the same? Then you might have well stayed at home. You would surprise yourself and be able to achieve more than you think once you took the plunge !
I'm moving from brazil to the uk mid January, I'll be leaving a 40°C summer straight to a british winter.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT.
I have the same view, I would have loved to moved , but it’s a massive leap of faith.
@@ZebrinhahDesrosiers I moved to the UK from Australia and it took a couple of years for my body to adapt to living in a cooler climate. So get lots of warm clothing before you arrive! I can especially recommend fleece clothing eg sweaters, jackets etc, it is super warm, tough and reasonably priced. The UK in general is a great place to live but, as this video suggests, it takes time to adapt to your new life.
I guess a lot depends on your personal situation. I moved abroad together with my wife and unborn child So no real homesickness issues as we were too engrossed in working and preparing for our child to be born. But the level of culture shock I experienced was much different, I’m not saying worse but probably it was as I moved to Asia which is a bigger cultural jump. The driving thing I don’t feel was such a big deal I moved to a city that drove British style ie: on the left Not long afterwards while continuing to work where they drove on the left I moved our home across the border to mainland China where, guess what? They drive on the right hand side. From then on, for many years on a daily basis I would drive my British style car with its steering wheel on the right, on both sides of the road, switching sides every time I crossed the border, usually twice a day minimum. Fun stuff. Love your videos!
Another masterpiece from our favourite Canadian!
January in UK is pretty dire, but we *can* have some clear, crisp, frosty days when the walking boots & warm clothing are broken out & a walk in the countryside is called for. On the usual dismal cold, wet days, I declare UDI & break out the jigsaws!
Thanks so much!
I think most problems can be prevented by being prepared as possible. We are so lucky today that you can find most information online. Then arriving sooner than you need to, if you've got a new job say, means that you won't have to deal with multiple things at once.
I agree that coming in the winter is a bad idea, if you're not prepared for winter then it's too late and if you have someone that can go shopping with you then great and ordering online the first time you shop is probably even better as you can search for things without the hassle.
Hey Alanna. Even though I'm not moving anywhere, I always find these advice videos great. Having spent a year in NY (long before you were a YT'er), I wish I'd known some of stuff you've advise. Even though we knew it was only temporary and many of our needs (like rent) were covered by my better half's company, it was still a shock and tough. We were lucky with our circumstances but most folks don't have that luxury. These videos are always great for folks dealing with this situation. Nice one. :-)
Thank you!!