I cannot believe that anyone in this Country would not want you in their "friend group". You are an exceptional young woman. I always look forward to your posts. I give this video 7/7 Japanese bonsai trees. XXX
Very wise words. As an English person and a city person lucky enough to live in London, your words on London are perceptive. London is not England and England is not London. You will never understand England if you don’t immerse yourself at some stage in village or market town culture. And, at the same time, you will never grasp the UK’s contribution to the world if you don’t immerse yourself in the dynamism and internationalism of London. Without both you see only half the picture.
The main problem for the ex-pats who are not independently wealthy is finding employment in the UK. A foreigner might love living in the Lake District or a small village in Cornwall. Where are the jobs, other than in the major cities, like London?
@@GFSLombardo But there ARE other major cities, and even large towns where there is employment all over the country and in places far cheaper than London! My point really was that even the TV and Newspapers seem to think in a completely London-centric way
@@thegingerwitch322 You are right about that. Tonight BBC America Channel and our "mainstream news media" have been covering the big BREXIT vote in the House of Commons, a vote of NATIONAL importance. They never went beyond the confines of the Houses of Parliament for their "expert" commentary and reactions from "the British public". It seems like the rest of the UK does not exist or does not matter . Not too dissimilar to our news media here in the USA.
Hi Alanna - some good advice. Yeah, there's so much more to England than just London. There's beautiful places to visit, such as the Lake District, the North Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor NP, Dartmoor NP, lots of historic buildings, etc. And, although London has lots going for it and is worth visiting, it can be ridiculously expensive.
Patrick, London is of course the political, financial, cultural center of the U.K. In both Canada and USA, the political capital is separate from the financial center. I suggest Alaina do a video as she is, I think, familiar with both London and Toronto.
Having lived in London for 10 years, I realised every other city I subsequently moved to was a cultural desert by comparison - but whatever floats your boat, it's not for everyone. I do hate it when people slag it off out of pure ignorance though.
It isn't. It's overrated, and doesn't give a true impression of the country. It's a world city and for various reasons it has an overbearing influence on the rest of the UK. London is worth visiting but no way would I live there.
Residents of major and/or capital cities do seem to think they are living in the center of the universe and that the people living in the rest of their respective countries" just don't get it".Just ask your "typical" New Yorker, Parisian, Berliner, Roman, Muscovite, etc...Its the same everywhere.....
So right about connecting with local people! We are now friends with more Spanish people than English people since we moved to Spain. Learning spoken Spanish is proving to be easier than I thought! We love the way things are here and the people are friendly, helpful and kind. Our second Winter here now and the best thing is the warmth of the sun and wide clear skies which are to die for! Caught up with most of your vids now! Love them!
A+N Tuesdays are the best :) Good advice! London can be a bit much, it’s huge and busy a lot. Glad you have some friends now, I remember you saying just how hard it was before, especially with the SA. I always find it less intimidating to try and get to know 1 or 2 new people at a time if possible. You certainly have made yourself at home here now and on YT. Long may your channel produce low budget high-quality content :) (Sidenote: I just bought 'Hereditary' ;))
Fellow Canadian here and I just wanted to say I agree completely with your tips. They seem to hate London in the same way some people hate Toronto!! :)
London is by far the biggest city in the UK and tends to dominate business, media and politics. As far as I'm aware Canada is a little different because there are several large cities of a similar size (and in a MUCH larger area). Capital cities seldom offer an accurate representation of an entire country. My advice to anyone living/working here is to get out and about. Alanna has assimilated so well that we're not going to let her leave.
completely right about london. and to be honest all cities around the world are poor examples of the country, not an insult they are cosmopolitan. Paris is even worse than london im half french and it does not represent an average Parisian. new York, du bai, Cairo i could go on and on. so ex pat where ever dont judge the people or the way things are done in any capital city. thats all for the tourists!
Yeah. It's just the nature of modern life and the largest urban centres that they are hubs and don't speak for the whole country. Btw it's a national pastime to hate other cities/people in the UK even or especially if they're only a few miles apart eg Liverpool/Manchester, so it's not just London :)
Toronto... I’m from B.C. and I hated Ontario. Not everyone of course but I found the majority of ontario was rude and entitled and I couldn’t believe I was still in Canada.
Sage advice as per usual Alana, another vlog to brighten this rather overcast day, Greetings From Liverpool. I loved my six years living in London, especially as we had a house with a 'peppercorn' rent, how lucky we were. there's so much to do and see, music, theatre, museums, eats, galleries, history, architectural beauties, and more. Lived for short while in Kent too, around Goudhurst / Tunbridge wells. Quite lovely. Do have a wonderful week won't you.
Hi Alanna. Subbed recently to your Channel as I spent a year or so in Canada when I was around your age. No YT back then (90's) to document my UK to Canada experience unf. Just wanna say........I REALLY miss Tim Horton's! ☺
I agree with your suggestions and would like to add something I've learnt as an expat: Don't compare your way of life in your old country with your new life - just accept that it is different. Definitely do not keep telling people how things were different in your country unless they ask.
Big big one to add, make sure you understand your tax and financial responsibilities as an expat (I’m looking at you my fellow dual citizen/visa residents American expats). Excellent advice! As always, I loved the perspective you offered as an in-situ immigrant.
Excellent advice. The relevant agencies are fine to deal with if you ask for help. Saying you "didn't know" is not a defence. I think Alanna should record another beer tasting video as a gesture of gratitude.
US citizens are subject to US personal income tax, even if you live abroad. For some countries, you get credit, up to a limit, for taxes paid to foreign countries. Seek professional advice.
One of the best things about London is the huge, circular car park they built that goes all the way round it. Very handy place to leave your car when you go to see a show ;)
Well done Allana! Your advice is spot on!! Couldn't have put it better myself... you are very sage young girl! The making friends with fellow expats is a common thing...but the wrong thing to do. Also living your life as you did in your home country... I have lived in Canada for almost 10 years now, and think I have well a truly embraced Canadian life....ive been told by many that I am more Canadian than some Canadians! Lol. I still miss the British pub though, and still continue my search for the equivalent here in Canada....I have been lucky to find a couple of places that are close in some ways....some things you just can't change about yourself! Lol
Did a road trip last Sept/Oct from Vancouver up to the Rockies and back, most beautiful place I've visited in the world. As a vegan travelling it is always problematic, not so in Canada, I couldn't believe how advanced they are 😊 Love these videos
Another great video. Not all of us in the UK hate on London. Yes, there are good and bad things about it, like everywhere else, but it's a city. Of course it's going to be busy, noisy, more expensive......but as you say, London isn't the UK. I live in Kent too and commute to London for work. I love the hustle and bustle. Coming from a small village where the bus service is 0800-1800 5 days a week only, it's great being able to get on a bus at 3am. It's great to meet people from every corner of the globe. I just remember that I am a country boy at heart.
My husband and I are at the point now where we're trying to make more British friends. It is definitely difficult to insert yourself into their group like you said. I found my current set of British friends through TH-cam actually 😂
I love London! I've never forgiven my Husband for making me move to Sussex. I bring it up every time we have an argument. Everywhere else is soooooooo boring!
It’s really important to tell locals what you love about the differences. It is so easy to sound whine-y if you leave that bit out... love this video, I give it 11 out of 13 hockey pucks ;)
Hi Alanna, I think this is your best video as yet, given the level of response. Of course central London with its abundance of theatres, cinemas, clubs, shops, churches,, historic buildings, restaurants and now skyscraper developments, not to mention art galleries, parks, gardens, I could go on, is not representative of the UK as a whole. But the "villages" and communities that surround the central area ( 32 Boroughs) and the people within, lead lives which are as representative of this country's values and traditions as any urban development within the UK. Every part of the UK is different, different accents, industrial heritage, mining and farming traditions, naval heritage etc. It just depends where you feel you belong, and the place I have always felt I belong is London!
Your first point; "You bring your problems with you." reminded me of a line in a novel by the poet Stevie Smith, so I had to go look it up: "Oh the folly and weakness of foreign travel in search of inspiration. We carry our own wilderness with us, our emptiness or our fullness, no matter." Over the Frontier, 1949.
Personally, as a northerner I like London, not a patch on Berlin though. Best advice I could give for expats living in the UK, is to travel, see the Yorkshire dales, the Lake District, visit Scotland and Wales. Go to the Isle of Man preferably during TT fortnight. Learn to queue, and develop a particular penchant for tea and carrot cake.
Maybe just check your camera focus, as its now focusing mostly on the items on the desk and not on you. Maybe just use manual aswell to make sure it doesnt shift focus. Push your chair a little forward so the distance to the camera is the same as you would be. Set focus to manual and focus on the chair. After that push the chair back again and sit down, then the focus should be right on you.
I'm off sick today. Your video has cheered me up, thank you!! Also, #1 about not moving to avoid your problems isn't just for expats, it's moving within the same country too...
I came here from another planet many centuries ago and it took me about two years before I made any friends. Didn't speak to anyone until two of my granddaughter's school teachers followed her home one night.
I'm English, live in the north, could never live in London but I absolutely adore London. It's amazing, it's like being in a different country and I can drive there in 3 hours. But you're right, it's not representative of England or the UK.
Your spot on about London. As a Northerner, a lot of us see London as a ok place to visit as tourists, but we all come back up north saying the same things. Definitely could not live their. Couldn't afford it, it would be way too clostrophobic, and I dare say too many different types of people in one place. Living on a town, were sort of defined by the people who live here, ex-miners, a large amount of manual workers etc. London just has too many demographics and distinct areas/changes that would make a lot of us a bit too uncosy.
Hi Alanna, very interesting and informative video. Thanks for sharing. from what you mention about London not being all of England. I have said similar about Sydney with Australia. Every place seems to have its own individuality. I think that may be the situation in most countries. When I moved from Sydney to Melbourne, my life completely changed. For me that was a good experience. Yes, you are completely correct about living the way of the locals. That is excellent advice. One thing never to do, when moving anywhere is making negative comparisons or even remarks about the new location to others. (i.e. saying the previous location is far better than the new location or something similar). Every place is unique in its own way. There may be certain things not the same in the new location, but then in most cases, it is just a matter of getting used to the new environment. Anyway, take care and all the very best. Robert.
Yes - those who live outside London rubbish it and say how terrible, rude and cold Londoners are. I've lived in London for 35 years and I've never found it so. Of course I don't live in the centre of the city though I've often worked there. I was born and brought up in Scotland. They say how terrible, rude and cold all the English are. Xenophobia is alive and well in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Just to counter some of the other comments ( i hear you folks... but) London still has lots of great stuff away from the central zones, ive been doing bits of the capital ring and green chain walks and theres always nice new bits to explore. If Madame Tussauds and Hardrock Cafe is your thing, go for it. But dont be fooled into thinking everthing within the M25 is like that. Great vid as ever Alanna, so nice you feel at home here and i’m sure you get plenty of lurve (deserved imo) from your subscribers. Just gottawork on getting that starbar sponsorship and you’ll be honours list material.🏴🍻🇨🇦
It's great to see you saying 'go somewhere other than London'. When I lived in the UK for a few years (I'm an Aussie) London was always exciting but it felt like you weren't seeing the real England. And I felt that cities like Manchester and Bristol were severely underrated when they have such fascinating histories and architecture. English food is so, so good too. I would sell my left testicle to have Gregg's open up in Australia.
Literally as you were talking about London I was ripping it apart and was about to comment ‘come to my city Manchester, forget London what do they know!’ 😂😂
Good video as always . I don't really like London it's too busy is ok for days out wouldn't wanna live there. Give me a leafy village any day with a pub in staggering distance 😉🍺
I must learn Canadian as a second language! But seriously, you are 100% correct in your approach, and I would definitely try and be as 'local' as possible if we moved to another country. Actually, I will narrow it down right now and say, if me and the Mrs moved countries, it would be to Canada, and *only* Canada - no other places even make the list. And most likely Vancouver/Vancouver Island, both of which we love...
Great vid! 100% agree about assimilating. Just like the Borg!! Resistance is futile! 😄 I was born and raised in London - yes it's overwhelming but it's home, you get used to the hustle and bustle.I've lived in the country, but i'm a city boy at heart. I'm mad also, so it figures. 😝
Not born or live in London now but I lived and worked there for more than 2 years... For a weekend... Brilliant place... To live and work... I would rather eat my own kidneys than do that now I do think you are wise beyond your years though young lady 👍
@@PedroSilva-fb9ut because it's a very overcrowded very expensive city with alot of people who have no time for each other living there. It's great to visit but after a couple of days you want to go home
Your first point i have to disagree. Us Brits are experts at suppressing our emotions. Bring all your baggage with you! You'll learn to swallow it for at least a decade unti it's inevitable eruption from the depths. Failing that it'll seep out in the form of passive aggressiveness and/or sarcasm
Having come from Portugal with all that baggage, I can confirm you are right. 8 years and counting now, so am expecting a break down in 2 years or to turn my passive aggressiveness into some kind of talent which will maybe help me become famous??
Interestingly, i live in the Tunbridge Wells area (no idea if that's at all close to you as you also live in Kent) but i don't know anyone asfar as i'm aware who dislikes London. Heck, most people i know really love visiting (myself included! I go quite alot) Maybe my circle is just weird in that regard :-s
As a caulkhead, Isle of wighter born and bred , weather down here varies like majority of the time it's sunny , but then it just lashes it down , whilst places like Portsmouth are still a bit light , gloomy. Probably get it from France , or its very windy and cold , even on sunny days. Just very baltic
One thing I would add from my experience is don't compare every little thing to how it was at home. For example don't think of supermarket A as the equivalent of supermarket B from your country, or ice hockey is like football. If you take each new experience for what it is, then you won't carry the weight of your preconceptions with you. Admittedly, you will have to do some comparisons to try to get by and to organise everything in your head, especially at first. It's a bad habit longer term.
The amount of people who don't want to step foot outside London is so frustrating. There are so many lovely areas in the country that may suit an ex-pats personality and lifestyle far better. I lived in London for years and I would suggest that anyone who' does want to move there not just focus on the centre. There are many great areas outside zone 1-2 that have great communities and lots of things to do. I totally agree with you re: not fooling yourself into thinking you can leave your problems behind. I would also warn people not to assume that their personality will magically change if they move abroad.
There's a lot to be said for living on the periphery of London. It's usually pretty easy and quick to get to the centre and you are close to countryside in the other direction. I live 1 mile from the London/Kent border and can get into central London in 35 minutes on the train, and out into deepest Kent and the National Trust properties in about the same amount of time in the car.
@@halcroj I used to live on the other side of London and had the same experience. I could get to the centre of London in 40 minutes and rural Buckinghamshire (and lots of lovely National Trust properties) wasn't far either.
Another thing not do, is say "In Canada we do (insert way of doing things) like this" I used to live in the Cayman Islands (as a teacher) and when I first got there, in staff meetings I would say outloud "In England we teach this way and that way." It drove the Caymanians mad and they'd reply "Well we aren't in England" When new expats joined the school I always advised them not say "In England we do it like this" or else they would receive a lot groans and eye rolls and it doesn't make for a good first impression. It's so easy to do though, especially if your way is better than theirs.
One important reason that the rest of the country is disparaging towards London is the disproportionate amount of cash that is spent on it - London needs a new rail link, London gets it, there's not even a question about affordability. Newcastle needs a new rail link - there's no money! Same goes for anywhere outside of London and the South East. London is a fantastic City with so much to see and do, but as you say, it is NOT England and there is so much to see and do elsewhere.
Duh any basic research will inform you that London doesn’t get anywhere near as much spent on it as its earns. London gives away much of its income to subsidise the rest of the country in an act of social charity that you don’t seem particularly grateful for!
awesome video dude, i always like to know how different people think about my country and when it comes to entering the culture. also Japan is like Great Britain, but like a million times more polite....and not that many people know English
I wonder if this video could have used another editing pass. At the start there's a couple of repetitions that don't feel intentional. Love your stuff!
One thing expats should avoid is telling everyone how much better things are in their home country than in their adopted country... If there's one thing that drives people bonkers is hearing how much better the food is, or the weather, or the TV or whatever...
Not always. This is the things I like to hear about. I love to hear about all of the great things about where they're from. I even like to know about what they consider the negatives too.
London is a nice place to visit, but not a good place to live. I was in the States and asked if I had visited US before, "Yes", I said, "New York". "So you've never been to US before", was the return comment. Not just Brits who understand the big cities are not like the actual country. I wonder from the comments, how many ex-pats follow Alanna, because I see mostly comments from Brits, who seem very positive about Alanna.
Hi Alana ☺ my gf is from England and just recently moved here to Montreal Canada, we love your channel and watch it all the time. I'm surprised you haven't mentioned anything about how Britts have there washer/ dryer in there kitchen lol so weird ! I know i will wash my dirty underwear while cooking dinner tonight!!
It is hard to make new friends but you seem very open and easy-going so I'm sure you make friends easily. I hope so anyway! And I agree with you about trying to "fit in" when you move to another country. Too many people want to bring their own culture with them and expect the host country to accept it, which causes resentment and hostility. I know you started out as a journalist and didn't really enjoy it, but have you ever thought about TV journalism/presenting? You seem like a natural! Cheers!
i think what your saying is "when in rome , do as the romans do" , its an old saying about fitting in to your surroundings , cant argue with your sentiment Alana ;)
I specifically liked the bit about not being Canadian in England, or English in Canada. Far too many of our people go and be English in someone else country, without ever realising what they're missing by doing so. Or as my forebears would have said "When in Rome, do your best to be a Roman."
Hey! Interesting vid as always. Have never been an expat but hope to live abroad one day. Interested to know what you mean when you say not to live the way you used to. What sort of thing have you changed?
A lot of wisdom on young shoulders. I admit the headline was a bit scary. Expecting a warning about running naked through central London. Which fortunately for me is what the Judge gave me. How was I to know? ;-)
you remind me of a bumblebee. Anyway, it is a bit frustrating when people only think of London when they think of England. I know america is huge but I think of so many different places when I think of america. Its interesting because when I was in Germany, a woman who was sat next to me on the train struck up conversation and told me how she loved Cornwall and how popular it is as a holiday destination for Germans because of a tv show there which is set in Cornwall. If there's one other place in england that should be better known outside of this country then it's cornwall. Also, watching your videos has made me think more about visiting canada, it's definitely higher up on my bucket list now.
You've mentioned some things about visas , etc. before but I was wondering, since it is so expensive especially if plan on going to the UK for many years, do you have to pay up front in cash or can you use a credit card or something like that?
Hey there! You have to have the funds to pay for the visa upfront, plus you have to show that you have a certain amount of additional savings in your bank for your visa to be approved. Plus you need to have extra money so you can live before you can get a job. So it takes awhile to save up!
Hi, Love the videos but you are looking a bit blurry, your camera seems intent on focusing on your poster in the background rather than you. maybe move that?
Good advices and happily none took me by surprise. Sometimes the normal people act weird in weird situations, but the weird do weird things in normal situations, which is not the case, as is obvious already. And anyway, the West is the second option, because it just happened so. So if I say I need it, I really do.
Allana... another smashing video but... is there something not working as it should with the focus on your camera? Maybe I am getting old, but you appear to be out of focus.
I hope you don’t mind me asking and I’m sorry if I’ve missed this in a previous video but what made you come to the UK? I know a few people that have gone the other way and it’s fascinates me why people choose to move.
I cannot believe that anyone in this Country would not want you in their "friend group". You are an exceptional young woman. I always look forward to your posts. I give this video 7/7 Japanese bonsai trees. XXX
😀😊😂
Very wise words. As an English person and a city person lucky enough to live in London, your words on London are perceptive. London is not England and England is not London. You will never understand England if you don’t immerse yourself at some stage in village or market town culture. And, at the same time, you will never grasp the UK’s contribution to the world if you don’t immerse yourself in the dynamism and internationalism of London. Without both you see only half the picture.
Yes, i think she dealt with it fairly
I hate to break it to you but I'm detecting an English accent creeping in. 😀
Next thing you know it, she’ll be getting her letter from Hogwarts,
Yes, there is, apart from on the o-u-t sounds...
You mean standard English.
Yep! I didn't want to say it but clearly she's becoming British!
But will never lose aboot!
We rip London apart because of the fact that everyone seems to think London is England - even the BBC!!
Not anymore the centre of BBC world now Manchester since they've moved there.
The main problem for the ex-pats who are not independently wealthy is finding employment in the UK. A foreigner might love living in the Lake District or a small village in Cornwall. Where are the jobs, other than in the major cities, like London?
@@GFSLombardo But there ARE other major cities, and even large towns where there is employment all over the country and in places far cheaper than London! My point really was that even the TV and Newspapers seem to think in a completely London-centric way
@@markrochford897 Nope - they are still London centric when it comes to news etc
@@thegingerwitch322 You are right about that. Tonight BBC America Channel and our "mainstream news media" have been covering the big BREXIT vote in the House of Commons, a vote of NATIONAL importance. They never went beyond the confines of the Houses of Parliament for their "expert" commentary and reactions from "the British public". It seems like the rest of the UK does not exist or does not matter . Not too dissimilar to our news media here in the USA.
Hi Alanna - some good advice.
Yeah, there's so much more to England than just London.
There's beautiful places to visit, such as the Lake District, the North Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor NP, Dartmoor NP, lots of historic buildings, etc.
And, although London has lots going for it and is worth visiting, it can be ridiculously expensive.
Phil Lewis London would be perfect without Londoners
@@Mark13091961 And knives.
How about a video of London vs. Toronto?
@@robertewalt7789 We should really compare the capital cities to get a fair comparison.
Patrick, London is of course the political, financial, cultural center of the U.K. In both Canada and USA, the political capital is separate from the financial center. I suggest Alaina do a video as she is, I think, familiar with both London and Toronto.
Im from Buckinghamshire (a little west out of London) and I can confirm, i detest London. And I really mean detest.
STFU
@Sparkes91
QED
Ironic..
Love london,so entertaining.you can watch stabbings and bike theft every day.marvelous.
Nick Matthews - Slough or The Chalfonts.
Having lived in London for 10 years, I realised every other city I subsequently moved to was a cultural desert by comparison - but whatever floats your boat, it's not for everyone. I do hate it when people slag it off out of pure ignorance though.
I bet you like a nice nice cosy British pub. Great advice and humour as always if a little short this week🇬🇧🇨🇦
The problem with london is the residents seem to think its the centre of the universe. the rest of us dont think the same hmm
It isn't. It's overrated, and doesn't give a true impression of the country. It's a world city and for various reasons it has an overbearing influence on the rest of the UK. London is worth visiting but no way would I live there.
Residents of major and/or capital cities do seem to think they are living in the center of the universe and that the people living in the rest of their respective countries" just don't get it".Just ask your "typical" New Yorker, Parisian, Berliner, Roman, Muscovite, etc...Its the same everywhere.....
agreed total nightmare getting to London nice too visit but couldn't live there. Alanna is now ours he he we keeping her as she is awesome
So right about connecting with local people! We are now friends with more Spanish people than English people since we moved to Spain. Learning spoken Spanish is proving to be easier than I thought!
We love the way things are here and the people are friendly, helpful and kind. Our second Winter here now and the best thing is the warmth of the sun and wide clear skies which are to die for!
Caught up with most of your vids now! Love them!
A+N Tuesdays are the best :) Good advice! London can be a bit much, it’s huge and busy a lot. Glad you have some friends now, I remember you saying just how hard it was before, especially with the SA. I always find it less intimidating to try and get to know 1 or 2 new people at a time if possible. You certainly have made yourself at home here now and on YT. Long may your channel produce low budget high-quality content :)
(Sidenote: I just bought 'Hereditary' ;))
Ahh thanks so much! Hope you enjoy the movie - make sure to turn the lights off!
@@AdventuresAndNaps Thanks! For defo, I also got the home cinema for such things ;)
Fellow Canadian here and I just wanted to say I agree completely with your tips. They seem to hate London in the same way some people hate Toronto!! :)
London is by far the biggest city in the UK and tends to dominate business, media and politics. As far as I'm aware Canada is a little different because there are several large cities of a similar size (and in a MUCH larger area). Capital cities seldom offer an accurate representation of an entire country. My advice to anyone living/working here is to get out and about. Alanna has assimilated so well that we're not going to let her leave.
completely right about london. and to be honest all cities around the world are poor examples of the country, not an insult they are cosmopolitan. Paris is even worse than london im half french and it does not represent an average Parisian. new York, du bai, Cairo i could go on and on. so ex pat where ever dont judge the people or the way things are done in any capital city. thats all for the tourists!
Yeah. It's just the nature of modern life and the largest urban centres that they are hubs and don't speak for the whole country. Btw it's a national pastime to hate other cities/people in the UK even or especially if they're only a few miles apart eg Liverpool/Manchester, so it's not just London :)
Toronto... I’m from B.C. and I hated Ontario. Not everyone of course but I found the majority of ontario was rude and entitled and I couldn’t believe I was still in Canada.
Sage advice as per usual Alana, another vlog to brighten this rather overcast day, Greetings From Liverpool.
I loved my six years living in London, especially as we had a house with a 'peppercorn' rent, how lucky we were. there's so much to do and see, music, theatre, museums, eats, galleries, history, architectural beauties, and more. Lived for short while in Kent too, around Goudhurst / Tunbridge wells. Quite lovely. Do have a wonderful week won't you.
Hi Alanna , will you be doing part 2 of your beer tasting soon , the last one was hilarious !
a repeat of the burps would be hilarious...
Tennents Super is lovely honestly... 😇
Soon!
Come up north and try our beer 😀
Lots of scope for beer tasting!
Hi Alanna.
Subbed recently to your Channel as I spent a year or so in Canada when I was around your age.
No YT back then (90's) to document my UK to Canada experience unf.
Just wanna say........I REALLY miss Tim Horton's! ☺
I agree with your suggestions and would like to add something I've learnt as an expat:
Don't compare your way of life in your old country with your new life - just accept that it is different. Definitely do not keep telling people how things were different in your country unless they ask.
Big big one to add, make sure you understand your tax and financial responsibilities as an expat (I’m looking at you my fellow dual citizen/visa residents American expats). Excellent advice! As always, I loved the perspective you offered as an in-situ immigrant.
Excellent advice. The relevant agencies are fine to deal with if you ask for help. Saying you "didn't know" is not a defence. I think Alanna should record another beer tasting video as a gesture of gratitude.
US citizens are subject to US personal income tax, even if you live abroad. For some countries, you get credit, up to a limit, for taxes paid to foreign countries. Seek professional advice.
Robert Ewalt yep. You also must file even if your liability is nil. So many of my expat friends neglect that. Risky!!!
One of the best things about London is the huge, circular car park they built that goes all the way round it.
Very handy place to leave your car when you go to see a show ;)
Well done Allana! Your advice is spot on!! Couldn't have put it better myself... you are very sage young girl! The making friends with fellow expats is a common thing...but the wrong thing to do. Also living your life as you did in your home country... I have lived in Canada for almost 10 years now, and think I have well a truly embraced Canadian life....ive been told by many that I am more Canadian than some Canadians! Lol. I still miss the British pub though, and still continue my search for the equivalent here in Canada....I have been lucky to find a couple of places that are close in some ways....some things you just can't change about yourself! Lol
Did a road trip last Sept/Oct from Vancouver up to the Rockies and back, most beautiful place I've visited in the world.
As a vegan travelling it is always problematic, not so in Canada, I couldn't believe how advanced they are 😊
Love these videos
Another great video. Not all of us in the UK hate on London. Yes, there are good and bad things about it, like everywhere else, but it's a city. Of course it's going to be busy, noisy, more expensive......but as you say, London isn't the UK. I live in Kent too and commute to London for work. I love the hustle and bustle. Coming from a small village where the bus service is 0800-1800 5 days a week only, it's great being able to get on a bus at 3am. It's great to meet people from every corner of the globe. I just remember that I am a country boy at heart.
My husband and I are at the point now where we're trying to make more British friends. It is definitely difficult to insert yourself into their group like you said. I found my current set of British friends through TH-cam actually 😂
I love London! I've never forgiven my Husband for making me move to Sussex. I bring it up every time we have an argument. Everywhere else is soooooooo boring!
CHIC FIFTY50 - Exactly!
Brightons pretty interesting!!
Boredom is a state of mind. Life is what you make it.
That's sad.on so many levels.
It’s really important to tell locals what you love about the differences. It is so easy to sound whine-y if you leave that bit out...
love this video, I give it 11 out of 13 hockey pucks ;)
Hi Alanna, I think this is your best video as yet, given the level of response.
Of course central London with its abundance of theatres, cinemas, clubs, shops, churches,, historic buildings, restaurants and now skyscraper developments, not to mention art galleries, parks, gardens, I could go on, is not representative of the UK as a whole. But the "villages" and communities that surround the central area ( 32 Boroughs) and the people within, lead lives which are as representative of this country's values and traditions as any urban development within the UK. Every part of the UK is different, different accents, industrial heritage, mining and farming traditions, naval heritage etc. It just depends where you feel you belong, and the place I have always felt I belong is London!
Your first point; "You bring your problems with you." reminded me of a line in a novel by the poet Stevie Smith, so I had to go look it up:
"Oh the folly and weakness of foreign travel in search of inspiration. We carry our own wilderness with us, our emptiness or our fullness, no matter." Over the Frontier, 1949.
"'Cause remember: no matter where you go... there you are" - Dr. Buckaroo Banzai, 1984
Love your vids Alannah. Keep 'em coming! :)
Great content as usual!
Personally, as a northerner I like London, not a patch on Berlin though. Best advice I could give for expats living in the UK, is to travel, see the Yorkshire dales, the Lake District, visit Scotland and Wales. Go to the Isle of Man preferably during TT fortnight. Learn to queue, and develop a particular penchant for tea and carrot cake.
Maybe just check your camera focus, as its now focusing mostly on the items on the desk and not on you. Maybe just use manual aswell to make sure it doesnt shift focus. Push your chair a little forward so the distance to the camera is the same as you would be. Set focus to manual and focus on the chair. After that push the chair back again and sit down, then the focus should be right on you.
The 2nd time I heard you telln to make friends with locals. Good advice. Also wish you great friendships in wherever you are
Spot on. London can sod off. Everyone should visit Fanny Barks in Durham instead.
does she accept american express??
@@bonvoyage5377 no-one accepts american express!
I really liked Durham when I stayed there for a night. There's a quality Italian restaurant tucked away on the street leading up to the Uni.
The north-east as a whole is a great place to visit.
@@bonvoyage5377 She does but you have to be careful how you insert it.
Love these videos, I just adore the way you say “about”...🤩🤩
I'm off sick today. Your video has cheered me up, thank you!! Also, #1 about not moving to avoid your problems isn't just for expats, it's moving within the same country too...
Good point!
I'm sick of today.
I came here from another planet many centuries ago and it took me about two years before I made any friends. Didn't speak to anyone until two of my granddaughter's school teachers followed her home one night.
I'm English, live in the north, could never live in London but I absolutely adore London. It's amazing, it's like being in a different country and I can drive there in 3 hours. But you're right, it's not representative of England or the UK.
I'm from Newcastle UK and I love London but I also love other cities here too!
My favourite part about London, is it’s centre. Love seeing all the trash bags along it’s side walks.
Your spot on about London. As a Northerner, a lot of us see London as a ok place to visit as tourists, but we all come back up north saying the same things. Definitely could not live their. Couldn't afford it, it would be way too clostrophobic, and I dare say too many different types of people in one place. Living on a town, were sort of defined by the people who live here, ex-miners, a large amount of manual workers etc. London just has too many demographics and distinct areas/changes that would make a lot of us a bit too uncosy.
Hi Alanna, very interesting and informative video. Thanks for sharing. from what you mention about London not being all of England. I have said similar about Sydney with Australia. Every place seems to have its own individuality. I think that may be the situation in most countries. When I moved from Sydney to Melbourne, my life completely changed. For me that was a good experience. Yes, you are completely correct about living the way of the locals. That is excellent advice. One thing never to do, when moving anywhere is making negative comparisons or even remarks about the new location to others. (i.e. saying the previous location is far better than the new location or something similar). Every place is unique in its own way. There may be certain things not the same in the new location, but then in most cases, it is just a matter of getting used to the new environment. Anyway, take care and all the very best. Robert.
most of the people who slag off London have never been there :) having said that, yes, travel widely - see all of the country
Yes - those who live outside London rubbish it and say how terrible, rude and cold Londoners are. I've lived in London for 35 years and I've never found it so. Of course I don't live in the centre of the city though I've often worked there. I was born and brought up in Scotland. They say how terrible, rude and cold all the English are. Xenophobia is alive and well in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Just to counter some of the other comments ( i hear you folks... but) London still has lots of great stuff away from the central zones, ive been doing bits of the capital ring and green chain walks and theres always nice new bits to explore. If Madame Tussauds and Hardrock Cafe is your thing, go for it. But dont be fooled into thinking everthing within the M25 is like that. Great vid as ever Alanna, so nice you feel at home here and i’m sure you get plenty of lurve (deserved imo) from your subscribers. Just gottawork on getting that starbar sponsorship and you’ll be honours list material.🏴🍻🇨🇦
.. and we're happy you are still here :)
It's great to see you saying 'go somewhere other than London'. When I lived in the UK for a few years (I'm an Aussie) London was always exciting but it felt like you weren't seeing the real England. And I felt that cities like Manchester and Bristol were severely underrated when they have such fascinating histories and architecture. English food is so, so good too. I would sell my left testicle to have Gregg's open up in Australia.
You are such a joy I love your vids much love Paul
Short but sweet vlog as they say about time for another cooking blog I say
...or Beer Tasting, Part 2.
Thanks for these tips!
Literally as you were talking about London I was ripping it apart and was about to comment ‘come to my city Manchester, forget London what do they know!’ 😂😂
Totally agree with you about Expats seeing more than just London as well as making friends with just Expats.
I'm an Auzzie living in Wales.
Good video as always . I don't really like London it's too busy is ok for days out wouldn't wanna live there. Give me a leafy village any day with a pub in staggering distance 😉🍺
I must learn Canadian as a second language!
But seriously, you are 100% correct in your approach, and I would definitely try and be as 'local' as possible if we moved to another country. Actually, I will narrow it down right now and say, if me and the Mrs moved countries, it would be to Canada, and *only* Canada - no other places even make the list. And most likely Vancouver/Vancouver Island, both of which we love...
Great vid! 100% agree about assimilating. Just like the Borg!! Resistance is futile! 😄 I was born and raised in London - yes it's overwhelming but it's home, you get used to the hustle and bustle.I've lived in the country, but i'm a city boy at heart. I'm mad also, so it figures. 😝
You are so right, iv tried shifting from place to place in the past but as the song goes " you always take the weather with you ".
Not born or live in London now but I lived and worked there for more than 2 years... For a weekend... Brilliant place... To live and work... I would rather eat my own kidneys than do that now
I do think you are wise beyond your years though young lady 👍
Why?
@@PedroSilva-fb9ut why what?
@@MrAshtute why work and live in london is not a big deal?
@@PedroSilva-fb9ut because it's a very overcrowded very expensive city with alot of people who have no time for each other living there. It's great to visit but after a couple of days you want to go home
@@MrAshtute witch city do you recomend for work and living in uk?
Your first point i have to disagree. Us Brits are experts at suppressing our emotions. Bring all your baggage with you! You'll learn to swallow it for at least a decade unti it's inevitable eruption from the depths. Failing that it'll seep out in the form of passive aggressiveness and/or sarcasm
Having come from Portugal with all that baggage, I can confirm you are right. 8 years and counting now, so am expecting a break down in 2 years or to turn my passive aggressiveness into some kind of talent which will maybe help me become famous??
i do want to move to the UK simply because the country i live in isnt lgbt friendly
Interestingly, i live in the Tunbridge Wells area (no idea if that's at all close to you as you also live in Kent) but i don't know anyone asfar as i'm aware who dislikes London. Heck, most people i know really love visiting (myself included! I go quite alot)
Maybe my circle is just weird in that regard :-s
Your dead right about moving. I must give London another chance. My favourite place is the Isle of wight. I want to move there in the future.
You could do worse. They say The Isle of Wight has the best weather of the whole of the British Isles. More days of sunshine per annum etc.
As a caulkhead, Isle of wighter born and bred , weather down here varies like majority of the time it's sunny , but then it just lashes it down , whilst places like Portsmouth are still a bit light , gloomy. Probably get it from France , or its very windy and cold , even on sunny days. Just very baltic
I found your channel today and I have to say,I think you are so Awesome! Your funny pretty and very intelligent! X
One thing I would add from my experience is don't compare every little thing to how it was at home. For example don't think of supermarket A as the equivalent of supermarket B from your country, or ice hockey is like football. If you take each new experience for what it is, then you won't carry the weight of your preconceptions with you. Admittedly, you will have to do some comparisons to try to get by and to organise everything in your head, especially at first. It's a bad habit longer term.
The amount of people who don't want to step foot outside London is so frustrating. There are so many lovely areas in the country that may suit an ex-pats personality and lifestyle far better. I lived in London for years and I would suggest that anyone who' does want to move there not just focus on the centre. There are many great areas outside zone 1-2 that have great communities and lots of things to do.
I totally agree with you re: not fooling yourself into thinking you can leave your problems behind. I would also warn people not to assume that their personality will magically change if they move abroad.
There's a lot to be said for living on the periphery of London. It's usually pretty easy and quick to get to the centre and you are close to countryside in the other direction. I live 1 mile from the London/Kent border and can get into central London in 35 minutes on the train, and out into deepest Kent and the National Trust properties in about the same amount of time in the car.
@@halcroj I used to live on the other side of London and had the same experience. I could get to the centre of London in 40 minutes and rural Buckinghamshire (and lots of lovely National Trust properties) wasn't far either.
Yes!!! Get out of London!! Even when visiting! I love London and I love I’m only 40 min on a train away (that still blows my mind).
Another thing not do, is say "In Canada we do (insert way of doing things) like this" I used to live in the Cayman Islands (as a teacher) and when I first got there, in staff meetings I would say outloud "In England we teach this way and that way." It drove the Caymanians mad and they'd reply "Well we aren't in England" When new expats joined the school I always advised them not say "In England we do it like this" or else they would receive a lot groans and eye rolls and it doesn't make for a good first impression. It's so easy to do though, especially if your way is better than theirs.
Once again a wise old head on young shoulders, great advice!
One important reason that the rest of the country is disparaging towards London is the disproportionate amount of cash that is spent on it - London needs a new rail link, London gets it, there's not even a question about affordability. Newcastle needs a new rail link - there's no money! Same goes for anywhere outside of London and the South East. London is a fantastic City with so much to see and do, but as you say, it is NOT England and there is so much to see and do elsewhere.
Duh any basic research will inform you that London doesn’t get anywhere near as much spent on it as its earns. London gives away much of its income to subsidise the rest of the country in an act of social charity that you don’t seem particularly grateful for!
awesome video dude, i always like to know how different people think about my country and when it comes to entering the culture. also Japan is like Great Britain, but like a million times more polite....and not that many people know English
I wonder if this video could have used another editing pass. At the start there's a couple of repetitions that don't feel intentional.
Love your stuff!
Wise words, Alanna. You are providing a public service here. The government should give you a grant.
Hi alanna, for your taste test videos you should really try crunchie bars,scampi frys,salt and vinigar squares crisps,and tizer drink, x
you should come to cornwall during the summer
"Embrace your new life", very good advice....
One thing expats should avoid is telling everyone how much better things are in their home country than in their adopted country... If there's one thing that drives people bonkers is hearing how much better the food is, or the weather, or the TV or whatever...
Not always. This is the things I like to hear about. I love to hear about all of the great things about where they're from. I even like to know about what they consider the negatives too.
Dang. Alenna. The first one is so relatable. (Hit home and hit hard) I need to rethink my decision
London is a nice place to visit, but not a good place to live. I was in the States and asked if I had visited US before, "Yes", I said, "New York". "So you've never been to US before", was the return comment. Not just Brits who understand the big cities are not like the actual country. I wonder from the comments, how many ex-pats follow Alanna, because I see mostly comments from Brits, who seem very positive about Alanna.
It was the cheese video that got me watching, so endearing. BTW the 5 second rule does not apply to biscuits ;)
Hi Alana ☺ my gf is from England and just recently moved here to Montreal Canada, we love your channel and watch it all the time. I'm surprised you haven't mentioned anything about how Britts have there washer/ dryer in there kitchen lol so weird ! I know i will wash my dirty underwear while cooking dinner tonight!!
It is hard to make new friends but you seem very open and easy-going so I'm sure you make friends easily. I hope so anyway! And I agree with you about trying to "fit in" when you move to another country. Too many people want to bring their own culture with them and expect the host country to accept it, which causes resentment and hostility.
I know you started out as a journalist and didn't really enjoy it, but have you ever thought about TV journalism/presenting? You seem like a natural! Cheers!
Thanks so much Ellie!
Hey Alanna, where is the Canadian Christmas gift video for 2019?
Very wise advice 👍
One question though - as a beer drinking junk food fan : how do you stay so slim? 😲
Sensible comment London is no longer really representative of England.
i think what your saying is "when in rome , do as the romans do" , its an old saying about fitting in to your surroundings , cant argue with your sentiment Alana ;)
Making friends has been a challenge.
The friendships seem very strong and can be quite difficult to get in.
Also with regards to your comment about England beating up London.... do you find the rest of Ontario always like to beat up on Toronto?
The rest of Canada likes to beat up on Toronto.
Would love to move to the UK. Am Australian. London is one of the few places not on my wishlist.
When your here its worth a visit.
@@stephenlee5929 A short visit would be nice but have my heart set on a rural existence with horses.
Confirmed -
I don't live in London and I pretty much hate it, apart from the awesome museums!
I specifically liked the bit about not being Canadian in England, or English in Canada. Far too many of our people go and be English in someone else country, without ever realising what they're missing by doing so. Or as my forebears would have said "When in Rome, do your best to be a Roman."
Hey! Interesting vid as always. Have never been an expat but hope to live abroad one day. Interested to know what you mean when you say not to live the way you used to. What sort of thing have you changed?
A lot of wisdom on young shoulders. I admit the headline was a bit scary. Expecting a warning about running naked through central London. Which fortunately for me is what the Judge gave me. How was I to know? ;-)
Live an English way of life, you know you love going to the pub 😁
you remind me of a bumblebee. Anyway, it is a bit frustrating when people only think of London when they think of England. I know america is huge but I think of so many different places when I think of america. Its interesting because when I was in Germany, a woman who was sat next to me on the train struck up conversation and told me how she loved Cornwall and how popular it is as a holiday destination for Germans because of a tv show there which is set in Cornwall. If there's one other place in england that should be better known outside of this country then it's cornwall. Also, watching your videos has made me think more about visiting canada, it's definitely higher up on my bucket list now.
Doc Martin makes me want to live in Cornwall. If I ever move to the UK that's where I'd go!
@@annbsirius1703 so youve never been?
You've mentioned some things about visas , etc. before but I was wondering, since it is so expensive especially if plan on going to the UK for many years, do you have to pay up front in cash or can you use a credit card or something like that?
Hey there! You have to have the funds to pay for the visa upfront, plus you have to show that you have a certain amount of additional savings in your bank for your visa to be approved. Plus you need to have extra money so you can live before you can get a job. So it takes awhile to save up!
@@AdventuresAndNaps thank you! That helps to know
I live in england, been here since 1979 and never visited london. You might like nottingham, the home of robin hood.
Hi, Love the videos but you are looking a bit blurry, your camera seems intent on focusing on your poster in the background rather than you. maybe move that?
Good advices and happily none took me by surprise. Sometimes the normal people act weird in weird situations, but the weird do weird things in normal situations, which is not the case, as is obvious already. And anyway, the West is the second option, because it just happened so. So if I say I need it, I really do.
I'm English and I love London mind you I do live quite close to London so maybe I'm biased
Think you should try northern England :)
Allana... another smashing video but... is there something not working as it should with the focus on your camera? Maybe I am getting old, but you appear to be out of focus.
My best friend is American, she’s just moved back home after 11 years. Damn I miss her.
That's actually so sad :( I hope you get to visit her soon!
You should visit glastonbury and the west country dont matter were you live as long as you are around good kind loving people god bless
I hope you don’t mind me asking and I’m sorry if I’ve missed this in a previous video but what made you come to the UK?
I know a few people that have gone the other way and it’s fascinates me why people choose to move.