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Americans Get Luxury WRONG | Culture Shocks & What I Learned Living in England

The Hickson Diaries

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In this video, we're talking about British culture and how it contrasts with the united states, especially for an American experiencing England culture shock. It's fascinating to see what truly defines the UK lifestyle when you're living abroad and encountering everyday objects that highlight these differences. This discussion really gets you thinking about the nuances of life across the pond! 🇬🇧

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20 Comments

@TheHicksonDiaries Creator 6 months ago Pinned

Moving to Britain completely flipped my idea of "luxury" upside down. It turns out, true luxury isn't always about what you can buy—sometimes it's simply about what you no longer have to worry about! ☕️
I'd love to hear your take based on your own life experiences: What is one everyday "luxury" you absolutely couldn't live without, and one you would gladly leave behind? Let me know in the comments below! 👇
🔴 Let's keep this conversation going! I'll be reacting to your answers and chatting more about these cultural quirks during our public livestream this Tuesday night, The Next Show Will Be Better. Grab a tea (or a pint) and come hang out!
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@wrd777 6 months ago

50 years ago in LA, a fellow Brit - who had lived there for years - told me Americans don't understand the concept of luxury!
They just define it as "expensive".

@DermotLehane 6 months ago

Pub names go back to when most people couldn't read, I'll meet you at the dog and duck, you'll see the picture over the door and know you have the right place.

@Jill-mh2wn 6 months ago

A good way for Americans to think of a UK pub is less of a place for just drinking alcohol but more of a public club, where everyone is welcome and there are more things to experience.

@christopherbarnett6098 6 months ago

We have patriotism. Americans have indoctrination. Peace out.

@markwheatstone5943 6 months ago

I feel they one everyone forgets is singing, we love a good sing song. Whether it's at the footie or rugby or even the barmy army at the cricket. We'll sing in the pub, even the bus and of course join in at gigs, years of school assemblies have nurtured us in this way.

@kevinshort3943 6 months ago (edited)

Yes, Americans, Russians and the Chinese don't understand luxury.

They all think that the more flashing lights, bells, whistles and functions something has, the more luxurious is.

Luxury is the quality of the materials, construction and design.

@purem9150 6 months ago

Money is not the same as luxury or class. American culture is all about superficial appearances. Class is a life choice, and it is not just about labels and appearances. It is the way you set up your life, and it is the manner in which you conduct yourself and engage with people.

@carolineskipper6976 6 months ago

'Pantomime- a little bit silly!' Well if that's not typical British understatement I don't know what is!

@DevonRex116 6 months ago

There is no way that the NHS is more bureaucratic that the American system!

@patriciamillin-j3s 5 months ago

I live in Germany. We have also converted former phone booths into what we call public book shelves, where you can deposit any books you no longer need and take whatever anyone else has placed there. Occasionally I see a red telephone booth from the UK and it always feels like a little hello from home.

@meltimmins6368 6 months ago

Mentioning village greens and music. The Kinks did a song called the village green preservation society(I prefer the Kate Rusby cover). Which is a nod and a wink to all things British!

@mistanford 6 months ago

I'm a Brit in my 40s and I'm even more aware now than ever that a luxurious life is about relaxing & chatting with your friends and loved ones, exploring your hobbies and interests & learning and experiencing new things. You don't have to have the best car, and the best television, and often there's humour or a 'story to be told' if you have an old car. Nowadays, I'm not "quiet quitting" like the latest lot of Young Adults, but I've ceased the extra (paid) evening & weekend work that I used to do so much of when I was in my 20s and 30s. Unlike my parents, I've been able to escape minimum wage jobs that I used to do, and build a career that I find rewarding, but life is too short to even do a job you enjoy. Weekends are important for recharging, and working on a Saturday, just means you haven't had enough time to recharge when Monday morning comes along.

@MazzaEliLi7406 4 months ago

May you be here to talk to us for many years to come. Cheers.

@number6-b9e 6 months ago

those white circles in her eyes from the lamp reflection make her look like a cartoon character.

@simoncollins7509 6 months ago

Slug and lettuce is not a traditional pub name. Its a chain of bars/restaurants often found in shopping centres etc. They have some pubs too, but the name is a modern corporate thing rather than a traditional pub (such as The Red Lion, The Beehive, The Swan, The Royal Oak)

@alicenbradley4281 5 months ago

Thank you, you have just made me proud to be British and nostalgic all at once. I am glad that you are having a positive experience living here. ❤

@agharries 4 months ago

In the UK we talk about things that have been around for centuries not decades.

@ThomasLeica 6 months ago

I'm not sure why, but whenever you described something as "decades and decades" old, it made me chuckle, as it's technically true, but you could have said centuries and remained true.

We have pubs that are older than the USA. I think that history remains in our daily culture (attitudes and language), and that's one thing I enjoy and try to explain to any of my American friends who have made the move to the UK.