What I wish I knew before moving to England
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 เม.ย. 2018
- Living abroad has been an incredible life-changing experience, but there's always difficult challenges to face that we often don't talk about. Here are some of the things I wish I knew before moving to England.
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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 TH-cam 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
#movingabroad #expat #movingtoengland
“nobody wanted to be my friend” I felt that. 😂
i’m just a 15 years old girl from Finland, but i’ve been thinking about movin to England for the longest time... i’ve always just felt like that’s where i belong lol. maybe someday 🤷🏼♀️
tää on jotenki niin söpöö mut joo ymmärrän sua ✌🏼
once you can, just go for it! there's no point in delaying something for no reason.
The more the merrier!
If you lie cider, spam and footy. You're sorted lass!
In Finland there's more welfare state, fish and fishing, cleaner air and water, space and Ice Hockey.
You seem like a genuinely good person. I’m glad you chose the Uk.
vMisfit All countries have its share of bad guys. I have dual citizenship of America and Japan because of birth laws and all that Jazz. Japan has a lot of douchebags and idiots. I’m darker skinned so I see them more often. Good luck on moving to Dallas if you haven’t already by the way.
Misfit LMAO I’m American but the us isn’t a good place to go
1:45 Home sickness
4:09 Understand when moving to a new country you are not there to change it
6:13 Everything will seem difficult at first
9:49 Making friends as a foreigner sucks
11:15 the longer you live away family/friends makes less effort to reach out
13:30 you will find yourself changing
I moved to the US from Japan. The most challenging thing is English for me. I would be only a listener if I’m with 3-4 native speakers because they talk so fast and many jokes that I don’t know. Also cultures are so different.
I feel like I’m a baby because so many things I don’t know. But still living outside of my country is an amazing experience!✨
Love this channel. So much respect for you, not only for moving to a new country, but also for helping others to be aware of the challenges.
Who wouldn’t want to be your friend? Belated Happy Birthday 🎂my favourite Canenglish youtuber!
Stephen James nice one!!
As an English man who has now been in Australia for three years I agree with everything you say.
The supermarkets here are terrible compared to the UK. I miss English food and trying to find Australian equivalents is tiresome.
The weather is better here but I miss the changing seasons. Setting up a new life and dealing with all of the administration was really boring.
I definitely agree with becoming a hybrid of both countries. I'm English and will never be Australian but I have changed and grown as a person.
I'm Australian and from Perth and live in Wales! What are you finding difficult at the Supermarkets ?
Ally B - Hi, I live in Brisbane and the supermarkets here are really small with a tiny selection of vegetarian food. The fruit and veg selection can be a bit hit and miss especially in Coles. In Qld supermarkets aren't allowed to sell alcohol so once I've finished shopping I have to go to the bottle shop either with my groceries or unload them first and return to the shops. I could buy the wine first but then I would have to take it into the supermarket with me which feels weird but perfectly doable.
Where I lived in England I had a supersized Tesco's and Waitrose nearby. I could buy pretty much anything at Tesco from a bunch of flowers to a laptop and then my groceries as well.
I don't hate Australia. It's a beautiful country but I'm used to bigger supermarkets with more selection especially vegetarian food!
There is always a tradeoff. The weather here in Australia is better than the UK and the people are more friendly.
The Supermarkets are a lot smaller back home as they are technically just Supermarkets , I'm not sure when it will change and yes alcohol is bought at a separate shop , either next to the Supermarket , near by or drive thru as we have certain laws , drive thru is great as you don't have to get out of your car yet you can also pull to one side when driving thru or park your car near by and pop in as well! I have recently become Vegetarian and impressed with all the options I have in Wales in general , the supermarkets are very good at labelling "Suitable for Vegetarians" as well as "Vegans". All I can say is Australia can be quite behind with things at times , this could also be due to our "laid back" way of life and also because we are very far away from most other Western Countries. I don't think it would be a problem buying wine from LiquorLand and then popping into Coles if they are right next to each other as you will have proof of purchase and Coles staff know you haven't bought it directly from the Supermarket. I have only been to Brisbane on holiday yet can still give you advice as like the UK Supermarkets overall are basically the same when it comes to basics.
Ally B - Thank you. There has been a bit of progress with Coles labeling vegetarian suitable products but not everything. I think they're headed in the right direction. Woolworths tends to have a different selection of vegetarian foods however doesn't label products as vegetarian suitable.
I am very jealous that you have access to all the Quorn products. I really miss Quorn sandwich meat, Supermarket own brand meat free ranges and the snack food.
I have to say eating out in Brisbane is amazing and the food choice is much better than the UK especially for vegetarian and vegan food. Both Sydney and Melbourne are really good for eating out too.
If you have some recommendations for nice veggie food and snacks from the supermarket I would welcome them.
Many thanks. 🤗
That is good news to know about Coles and Woolworths as I planning on a trip home to Perth for around a month next year in October. Quorn products can be delicious , not sure if you have yet worth contacting them to see if they will supply to Australian Supermarkets , worth a shot if you haven't! Maybe Coles , Woolies and IGA will start having a large range of Free From products soon , the more requests and demands they have the better! As mentioned I'm from Perth so have only been to Brisbane , Sydney and Melbourne for holidays so with regards to food I can only help you with Supermarkets to a point as each one can stock a different range to a point and what places to visit in Perth! At present I can't think of anything...!
I'm moving to England in 2 weeks and I'm starting to get scared. Thanks for tips.
I hope you have a great trip!!
How do you find living in England now you've been living here a year?
i’m moving in 2 weeks! how did yours go???
@@jordanhoward9362 lived here for 7 years. its good but its overpopulated and not much freedom and people are weird
@@charvao (my opinion) I think British people can be really mean and not welcoming to foreign people. I come from Canada and it took many years before people started to accept me in school in England
That thing about not being able to make friends, and rather set yourself on fire? That's pretty much a requirement for being English!
Can confirm!
I still live a few miles from where I was born , so I can only applaud what you have experienced . I love your vids , so informative with added humour. You have a wonderful personality. Belated Happy Birthday too.
Thank you very much!!
I like how usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening I think 'Oh, there's a new Adventures and Naps' and look forward to watching. And my favourite part is your "And without further ado, let's go" (Swings the arm and points over to the left). This is such a nice channel Alanna. Well done.
Thank you very much!!
Adorable, glistening from the heat or not. These videos are quite helpful. Thank you so much!
I moved to the USA 2 years ago from England. I agree with most of what you say , I tell you what though I think Britain is a fantastic place ,the diversity and history is amazing. The way my experience has made me feel moving abroad is that I definitely do want to return one day and I have had a new found appreciation of family and friends and the feeling of being home since I moved.
Love the counting thing, and your honesty makes you likeable to us all. You brighten our day up, and that not just the reflection of your lights.
The fact you started filming yourself as a way of telling a few family and friends in Canada that you were still alive, and managing to avoid starvation; and you now have a worldwide audience, but you still talk like you're letting your mum know you're eating, just works: because you are honest, nice, and funny. I suspect that your early vlogs (everything you've done thus far) will always appeal, because there will always be many people with mum's and a sense of humour.
Im trying to make new friends as an english adult in england and i feel your pain. Don't ever let it get you down. Haha.
No card for your birthday! Bang out of order. Happy birthday anyway, great video, you have an almost hypnotic voice, it's beautiful. Keep it up girl :)
Good video. You talk so much sense. Ignore the haters. I always enjoy listening to your experiences as a "foreigner" in England.
Thank you for making this video. You brought up somethings I hadn't heard or thought of before. I appreciate it!
"I think I've just triggered an existential crisis." I started hyperventilating for you, so... 😂
These thoughts make so much sense and they are soo deep. Thank you!
Wow this is an awesome video! I appreciate your honesty. Great job!
Another great video! Always wanted to move to the states. I love the idea of trying new foods and shopping. I went to L.A. a few years ago and the whole experience is amazing. Thank you again. Love your videos
I love you and this is such a great vid!! So happy you came to the UK 😁
Another wonderful and enchanting video. Keep it up
Hey there girly. Thank you so much for these videos. My wife and I will be emigrating to England in May of 2019 and we are super excited but obviously quite terrified and I appreciate your videos especially to ahow my wifey and you two are quite alike. So thank you very much =)
What a great video! I identified with a lot of that. When I go back to the uk now I feel like a tourist in lots of odd ways. I was walking through Manchester in awe of all of the Victorian buildings thinking "why is nobody looking up at all of these cool old buildings?"
You should absolutely do a taster for a selection of British cheeses!
You're very brave Alanna, you can't just hop in the car and go back to your family when the going gets tough. My wife came here 41 years ago, I had lived with her in France for a year and we have both experienced the things you are talking about. Friends for you are vital because you will argue on occasion. You HAVE grown more than you know. Think back to your Egyptian trip and how you used your acquired adaptive skills to get by.
You constantly refer to yourself as a foreigner, which makes me a little sad, as by now you must know deep down that you really are one of us. If ever you move on to pastures new, this will have been a positive experience for you by virtue of the effort you have put into it. It's a bit like learning another language - the first one is really hard but the next one comes MUCH easier.
By the way, you look great all bronzed and slightly moist, but if it bothers you try opening all the windows, it beats air conditioning every time. Greetings from the cathedral end of Kent :-))
thank you for your honesty ☺️
this video is very helpful
This was actually a pretty insightful video highlighting things that many expats would normally internalise so thanks for being open and honest.
Not sweaty, radiant!
Your honesty is your appeal.
You had such a courage making this video...I really felt your desire to talk with someone who's able to understand you. Greetings from Italy
I'm also an expat in the UK and I can relate to everything you say: homesickness, identity crisis, making friends. Stay strong
Wow, I really can't believe that people were so rude to you about a letter "s"
This video is great… I might move soon to England and I really needed it. Thank you so much for your channel ❤
Hello, thank you for the great video. As a child I lived abroad and moved back to Britain when I was 11. It was a painful experience for me. I wanted to send you a virtual hug.
This is easily the best video I have seen about the experience of living abroad!
I love your honesty. Not the bull shit of how easy moving over abroad. I love this video!
Thank you so much for your advices. It was really helpful ❤
When I moved to the Nederland’s there’s loads of things I wish I knew before moving there and was a bit homesick but like you said you just have to persevere and hopefully you’ll get over it. I’m glad you’re enjoying living in England and continue to keep enjoying living here.
Thanks so much for another good one, Alanna. As far as I, and most of your other watchers on this side of the pond, look at it you have become
an Honorary Englishwoman. You have now put up with our playful climate and strange and baffling words and customs for over two years and
so, in my book, you bloody well deserve it. Anyone who can survive our weather for a couple of years, can survive anywhere on the planet. Keep
up your brilliant record of making the most engaging videos on TH-cam............ the ancient Englishman (from over the border in Sussex).
You don't come across as an introvert - if your'e anything like me - i'm quite reserved, but once you get past the awkward intros - suddenly become a bubbly, crazy mad friendly person. lol
Pretty much spot on, i'd call that normal. Those who have to be 'the' person in the room right off the bat are usually quite shallow, dull and rather bloody annoying in the end :)
When filming, I'm literally sitting in my home alone, of course I'll seem more confident - I'm the only person here! lol
David B, I think you'd find a lot of TH-camrs are introverts, even PewDiePie is one. Being introvert too I get why TH-cam appeals to introverts so much.
Being around people is really draining, especially when you don't really know them but you have to socialise... It's tiring and draining and a little piece of hell every single time. So, yeah, there's a certain appeal to just being alone with a camera company.
You are hilarious! Thank you for such great things to think about. I'm an introvert too, so I feel your pain!!!
This is such a helpful video. I've been searching for information on the process of moving abroad and this video has been so wonderful to find. I really appreciate your advice!
Glad it was helpful!
You’re a brave woman with some balls to make such a bid, life changing move. I respect you enormously for that. Also, thank you for taking the time to learn more about our funny little ways and culture. I truly hope you enjoy your life here.
Thank you for being so honest and genuine in this video!, Will be visiting London soon as a potential place to move. These re important things I really did not think about before so thanks!
Thank you so much!!
you know , the thing I love most about your vlogs is your absolute honesty , you cut through the fantasy crap in such a honest charming way that folk understand you and where your coming from , you say the things that others are afraid to admit and that's so refreshing :) , just keep being you Alana ;)
In England we say that men perspire, ladies glow and horses sweat.
And Happy Birthday Alanna!
Well first off.. your videos are fantastic. Secondly as a brit living in france for near on 17 years your comments are spot on.
I will never be French but my view of the UK has changed.
Keep up the good work and bon courage.
Thank you, hope you're enjoying France!
100 % agree, now been home a year and moving abroad once again, glad I came across your video
This video was so useful. Thanks a ton!
Glad it was helpful!
Happy birthday. Keep smiling. :)
Lifes an adventure and its brought you to england :D.
Great video I can't even tell you how much I relate to this especially the making friends bit, it's sooo hard I've given up on it actually I can't understand them and they can't understand me. Happy belated birthday hope you had a good one.
Another great video , belated Happy Birthday !!
loved this video! I watched it before moving to Uruguay (from Aus) and now watching it again after a few months living here, its crazy, especially in this time, but moving was the best decision ever and i have no regrets!
Another brilliant video, loved the blue water looking at a t shirt story was very funny
I'm from New York and have been living in London for eight months. Your video speaks so much truth!!! I wish I'd seen it before I moved. :)
how are you liking london? what is it like? i really want to move there when i get older!
Hey girl! I’ve been binge watching all your England videos, as I’m moving to Cambridge myself in January from Canada. All of these videos have been super helpful, and I appreciate the time you put into each one of your vids! It’s given me a lot of inside info on what to expect when I move, so thank you!! :)
Thank you so much, hope you have a great time in Cambridge!!
One of your greatest assets is that even your edited videos come across and unedited. This sounds bad but is actually really good. It gives you a very natural and honest style that is not very common on TH-cam but is very endearing.
I moved to England from Australia 3 years ago and agree with you 100%
Your a very likable lady - its interesting to hear an outsiders perspective so I liked and Subscribed 👋👋
Very honest and enlightening. Wow…I’m finally enlightened...
Hello Alanna your videos are great 😊. Having moved around in the military and experienced different culture's and countries I know the feeling lol. Always one reoccurring problem you will find unfortunately wherever you go....people. Just gotta find the genuine ones that suit your personality and lifestyle. Easier said than done at times I know. Look forward to your next video and all the best x
I just love your honesty, talking about all the difficulties! You may be an anxious introvert, but you have a wonderful authentic personality! :-) #YTQueens
I don't normally comment on videos, but I have just arrived back in the UK after being born here, and growing up abroad - and you hit the nail on the head with explaining your experiences. I've been feeling so lost and alone in some ways but just hearing that you struggled with grocery shopping (which is EXACTLY what I'm struggling with at the moment) makes me feel way less silly.
Some clever tips, there, thanks - oh, and a belated happy birthday!
Oh wow.
You are just simply adorable!!!
Hahaha I love that anxious introvert - I’m stealing that, as I most definitely am!!
Yeah I get how difficult it must be making new friends as an adult, but take my e-cuddle and hug as a genuine reach out to you.
I hope the missing home isn’t so bad at the moment, again, take my e-hug to try and support you. It must be tough - but don’t ever change !!!!
You’re so lovely and adorable !
All the best
Matt
X
Happy belated birthday! Love your videos. Don't worry as a British person I still take ages doing the big shop looking at everything in Sainsbury's as I don't know what all the stuff is. This week: comparing and contrasting between all the fancy salts you can buy.
Hi, I love your videos, and can totally relate to what you say about the place you live defining you, I find this all so fascinating.
You seem such an interesting person, I love the way you analyse things. I'm sure you would make a really stimulating friend and companion.
I can't wait for your next video, they are never boring, and always entertaining.
Happy birthday. Your hybrid thing is fine. Always relaxing listening, hope it's as good as it can get👍 or even surprisingly better👈😀
Happy belated birthday :) Glad you've settled in here
You've made 11000 friend's here, keep cool and don't worry.🎂🎁
Nice honest vid and don’t worry about the big babies trying to correct you. love from Scotland
Loving these videos.
Ah the week of summer we had this year. I remember it well.
With regards to to people "correcting" how you say 'math' I think (and hope) that most people were only joking. Generally the English way is to not really care, but still rib people for it anyway.
Food shopping abroad is so hard. Especially when in a non-English speaking country. You end up just buying items based on the pictures on them.
I went to Belgium shortly after becoming vegetarian and almost died of hunger as I couldn't tell what products contained meat.
Making friends as an adult is difficult regardless of what country you are in as it often can appear like you are hitting on them. I always find it easier to make new friends when Im with my girlfriend as it removes that element.
mathsssssssssssssss
I am not joking. You must speak and spell British English if you come here.
You haven't seen anything until you go to Japan, you can't read, you don't know where you are if you get off the beaten track and they have mad snacks like dried cuttlefish disguised as sweets or crisps.
This was posted the day I arrived in the UK for two years on a Youth Mobility! I know all of these things will kick in the second I no longer feel like I am on vacation. So thankful for your videos!❤️🇨🇦
Thanks so much girl!! I hope you have a lovely time here, feel free to send a message if you ever have a question! :)
I know this is one of your older videos, but it really helped me. I found out this morning I may be moving abroad next year. Yikes! I am anxious about it, but at the same time I am always open to change, so I need to investigate what to expect. This was very helpful.😊
Thanks for posting this. My granddaughter wants to move to another country once she finishes college and I sent her the link as you have a lot of good things you are explaining about. Don't pay attention to the stupid people who post negative things. You are doing a great job.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
I'd say it was pretty much spot on. I have lived abroad for 7 or 8 years now in various countries and have never felt really at home in none of those places. Sure I did learn new languages but never enough to feel like "one of them". Honestly I think I never will. Problem is, as you talked about it, whenever I go back to Portugal, I don't feel like I belong there anymore even though the place and the city haven't changed.
Came across this video because England has always been in my mind and I feel that if I don't do it now, I'll never do it.
All the best :)
Hiii.Love from another abroadian TH-cam.I went home and got crazy homesick vibes after I returned to my expat life.
Ah, that must have been hard not receiving any cards from your Canadian friends/family. Belated many happy returns and I hope you had a nice day with your new English friends ;)
Ignore the numpties who were rude to you, they're not worth the effort. As I also live in Kent, I often go to Bluewater as I just looooove it there :)))
Great vid, you are absolutely spot on with everything you said. I lived in Turkey for a couple of years and found all of the same things. I think the important thing chosing to live abroad isn't an interuption to your life, it's a part of it and something that needs full commitment to living in the present. Much as I found it hard to live on my own in another country, it has really helped to broaden my perspective and I don't regret any of my experiences as I hope you don't with yours.
I absolutely agree - my perspective has definitely widened and I don't regret my move here. Thanks for watching!
I moved from the UK to California in 1982, I was there for nearly 9 years, and everything you said is spot on.
I wanted to cry when you said none of your family sent you a birthday card. My Grandma lived 300 miles away from us but we would always get a card and a phone call singing happy birthday. When I stayed with my friends Aunt in Australia it was nearing the time for Mothers Day over there and she was explaining how every year she would buy her mother a card at this time and then store it for 10 months so that she could send it to her mother the following March. A card to me would be important
Thanks for the really helpful video, coming over to the U.K.soon, so great food for thought
Thank God. Finally I found a nice TH-camr. Your videos are useful and entertaining at the same time. Thank You so much for your videos.
Thank you!!
Adventures and Naps You are welcome.
I've just started watching your videos and I think they're great, it's interesting to get an 'outsiders' point of view. I have many friends who are Canadian, and they're all nice and polite, I visited Toronto in '08 and loved the place.
If you haven't already, I think you would enjoy travelling around the UK, like the North East and Scotland etc, you could make videos on different accents and how easily or difficult you understood them, that'll probably be funny.
By the way, since you've started these videos you've really blossomed from an adorable girl, to a beautiful young woman.
When I used to live in Sweden I remember I once put the on the commentary on my Red Dwarf boxset, just to hear English voices and banter 😊
So you don't think we'll change Canada to say maths eh??
Vera, fetch me my passport and pitchfork!!!
Oh no not again
lol...funniest comment read so far.
Math, maths, it's all Greek to me! You are a genuine delight to listen to and make the day so much brighter. Thank you :)
Belated happy birthday from one of your 10k cyber friends ! - btw I hadn’t thought of the hybrid status element to moving abroad , especially with the slight change in accent which probably will occur over time ...
Your integrity is refreshing.
My dad moved from BC to the UK after the war (he originally came over with the first wave of Canucks in 1939) and he never lost his Canadian accent. I can remember being given a long list of does and don’ts by him the first time I went to visit the Canadian side of my family so I can relate to some of your experiences. I hope you enjoy your time here.
Like and subscribed. This video has helped me so much, I am moving from UK to Florida and the tips you have given here are brilliant. It all takes time to adjust and I very much appreciate your honesty 👍👍🤘🤘
Von Fluffinstuff I’m in Tampa , Florida. You’re gonna love it ♥️♥️
Thanks for another interesting and insightful video! To your last point, having grown up abroad myself, I've always thought that "expat" is in itself an identity - that expats all share certain traits, no-matter which countries they come from or move to. Your eyes are just that bit more open to the fact the world is a big place and people do things differently elsewhere; I think it breeds a change in perspective, as you mentioned. One of the reasons expats tend to form their own communities as well.
Another great video - speaking as a Canadian expat, every point is right on, especially how in time you'll change to a "hybrid" of your home country and adopted country. To be honest I kind of like that though...
Thank you very much!!
I'm from the US living in France, (hoping to go to the UK soon!) I definitely experienced the same things when I came to France. It was difficult at first, to do simple normal things. Thanks for sharing your experience! I know I am not alone.