First Hours of London

Readers, I have safely arrived in London! The last two days were a complete blur and it's hard to believe I left not so long ago. I am still slowly adjusting to the 5-hour time difference, but I am happy to report I'm settled into my living accommodations and have started my thorough exploration of the city. This post is to share with you what I have learned from my first day here. Sure, a lot of these things you could Google, but what better place to learn a few tips than from an American currently living there? Note: some of these things are a bit opinionated, everyone's impression will be different!

#1: Traffic Lights

While traveling to my flat (apartment) from Heathrow Airport, I noticed something kind of unusual; the traffic lights in the UK operate a bit differently than the ones in the US. In the US we are used to the light sequence cycling through green, yellow, red. Here in the UK, lights go green, yellow, red, yellow! "Why might that be?" you ask yourself, as I did. Turns out the light turns yellow before green because of the cars and their engines. When you pull up to a stoplight, drivers can turn off their cars instead of idling when the light turns red, and the yellow light is a signal to let drivers know to turn their cars back on before moving again. This may seem impractical, having to turn the car on and off, but it is actually quite beneficial. It has a significant reduction of the carbon footprint, and you save on petrol! (gas). In addition, it allows pedestrians time to cross the street, and lowers car collision rates, making it much safer for everyone.

#2: Tipping

When eating at a restaurant or café in London, remember to ask for the bill! (check). Check is actually an American term, and it is a great way to impress the locals. In terms of tipping culture, there is usually a service charge included in your bill, so tipping is not necessary in that case. However, if you felt the service was exceptional and the food was delicious, you can leave a tip usually around 10-12%, should the service charge not be included in your bill. Most public places are cashless pay, and prefer you use a credit card or mobile (phone) service such as Apple Pay or Samsung Wallet to pay for things. It is faster to process and easier for both the customer and the service provider.

#3: Groceries

Yesterday evening I had to run out to Sainsbury's, a local grocery store to get some items for the week. It is a lot smaller than grocery stores in the US, and the selection of food is a lot more limited. I will say the prices of produce are much more reasonable here! I got a lot of items for a little over 25 pounds (money). I have yet to visit a local outdoor market for their wares, but I am sure it is the same deal there as well in terms of price rates. Also, if you are grocery shopping the UK, be sure to bring your own bags! Much like many places in the US, they charge you for bags. This is a practice I am used to, as I would bring my own bags to grocery shop at home, to reduce the amount of paper and plastic I used.

#4: Fashion

Prior to traveling I looked up the proper dress code when out in the streets of London and learned that most people dress nicely, like business casual nice, when roaming about their day. That means things like flip-flops and stretch pants aren't usually worn in public. When I got here, boy was that correct! In the two days I've been here, most pedestrians look like they're dressed for a professional magazine shoot. Not to mention all the men in full business attires drinking beers at pubs after a day at work! It is important to be comfortable, but if you want to blend into the local life a little more, a little extra effort in your appearance can go a long way.

#5: Weather

There is this belief that it always rains in London, and that it is cold and gray most of the time. Perhaps I came at a good time because the last two days have been sunny and quite hot! There is not a cloud in the sky as I am typing this, and it is in the high 70s. Yesterday while driving, it had been completely sunny, and all of a sudden the skies opened up and it was raining and thundering for about 10 minutes. I learned from my driver that it is actually quite unusual for it to rain this time of year, as most rainfall occurs in the early and mid-spring time. Still, if traveling to London, always expect the unexpected! it could be warm and sunny one day and be cool and rainy the next. Pack light layers, and a raincoat of course!

That's all for now! Stay tuned for more blog posts in the next few days as I begin my internship!

Cheers!

-Mikayla