An American woman who relocated to the UK has shared one of the most notable cultural surprises she encountered after making the move.
It’s widely acknowledged that numerous distinctions exist between Americans and Brits, such as differences in bathroom amenities, the reliance on driving, and the cost of living.
Recently, a cultural surprise comparing the two countries has gained attention on TikTok.
Melissa Mendez, originally from Florida and now residing in London, has faced many cultural adjustments since moving to the UK, some of which have been difficult for her to understand.
She has started a TikTok series titled ‘Culture shocks I’ve had in the UK as an American,’ and in one particular installment, Melissa discussed the varying emotional responses she observed between the UK and the US.
“Tell me why every time there is this huge event, like something out of the ordinary happens, people from other countries would have an extreme reaction,” Melissa, who hails from Florida, began.
“I don’t know, a plane crash and people would be appalled. Give that news to a British person and they’d be like, ‘Oh, that’s quite unfortunate’. Very demure, very mindful.”
The TikTok creator added: “Their expressions are always very passive. What I came to find out after living here is that that is their extreme reaction.”
“You will very rarely get an extreme reaction from an extreme event.”
Melissa wrapped up her viral TikTok video by noting that there is one notable exception to this rule – football.
She remarked: “The only way you will get an extreme reaction from a British person is if their football team either wins or loses.”
Numerous individuals have responded in the comments section of the video, with many Brits explaining why they tend to show less emotion during significant events.
“We save up our real shock and emotional outrage for the important issues, like queue jumping or Freddo inflation,” one viewer remarked.
For those unfamiliar, a Freddo is a beloved chocolate bar in the UK that has seen a price increase over the years.
In the comments, another user added: “We tend to approach devastating news stories with humour that others would probably deem inappropriate, too.”
Meanwhile, a third person humorously noted: “We ain’t got time for emotions it gets in the way of making up jokes about the events lol.”