Annotations
expat
– a person who is vo-
luntarily absent Irom home
or country
chock-full
– full to the limit
idiosyncrasy
– a structural or
behavioural characteristic
peculiar to an individual or
group
amenities
ŋ things that make
life easier or more pleasant
for people
to relocate
– to move to a
new place
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5ead the text Ń &ulture Shocks Faced by British (xpats in $mericań
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Take a look at the task and highlight the relevant passages
Ior your comparison
TASK:
Compare the differences of life and landscape
in *reat Britain and the 8nited States
5 Culture Shocks Faced by British Expats*
in America
by LAURENCE BROWN
It has often been said that Britain and The United States are two
countries separated by a common language. But any British expat
residing in one of the 50 states will tell you that language is only the
beginning; that American life itself is chock-full* of idiosyncrasies*,
routines, and practices that differ so noticeably from those of Britain.
Here are 5 culture shocks faced by British expats in America.
1. Everything is So Much Bigger
For most British expats, living in the United States can sometimes
feel like a scene from Honey, I Shrunk The Kids; many of the every-
day amenities*, services, and items with which you were once so
accustomed have been given an upgrade; a size upgrade. Instead of
that Vauxhall Astra, Americans are driving large SUVs, Jeeps, and
family vans; the roads that these drive along are also considerably
wider; in restaurants, a medium pop drink (soft drink for many of
my American readers) is the equivalent of what the British know as
a large pop drink; a small back garden (yard) is still bigger than most
gardens in Britain; America itself is some 43 times larger than Britain
and, depending on where you live, some Americans don’t necessarily
think of a 50-mile work commute as being too out of the ordinary.
So, if you are British and are planning a move to the United States,
prepare to feel small for a while.
2. Driving is Back-to-Front
If you are considering relocating* to the USA, chances are you are
already aware Americans drive on the right and that the steering
wheel is on the left (though this wasn’t always the case). This can
be slightly disorienting for people who have spent many years doing
the complete opposite, but as with anything, it is something to which
you will eventually become accustomed. What is less known about
American driving is that vastly different terminology is used to label,
for example, features of a car: instead of windscreen Americans
say windshield; instead of indicator they say turn signal; instead of
bonnet they say hood.
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