I recently PCS’ed from my first base and have had 6 nightmares/dreams in the last couple weeks where I was told I wasn’t supposed to be at my new PDS, and that I needed to report back to my previous base and that I was in trouble. Is that normal? I had a decently rough experience at my last duty station so I’m curious if this is something I need to talk to mental health about.
A few months ago, after finding out I had orders to the UK, I made a post here asking a ton of questions about life in Britain. The response was honestly overwhelming in the best way possible, and a lot of people gave me genuinely helpful advice and insight.
You can find that post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskBrits/s/FcwG7aOpWz
Well, I’ve officially arrived, been here about a week, and wanted to come back with some first impressions and say thank you for how welcoming everyone has been to me and my family so far.
Driving / Bringing My Truck
A lot of people told me not to bring my full-size Chevy Silverado, and after arriving… yeah, I understand why. I actually haven’t brought it over yet, though I still plan to because shipping it is free for me through the military. The plan now is to keep it for long trips into mainland Europe and buy a smaller “beater” for daily driving in the UK. Driving here was definitely “wonky” at first. I almost froze the first time I took a left turn and saw traffic coming from the left instead of the right—something that would basically be a death sentence in the US. But honestly, after about two hours of driving, things started clicking and I adjusted much faster than I expected. One thing I really appreciate is that British drivers generally seem to drive with a lot more common sense than what I’m used to. In the US, if the speed limit says 70, people treat that like the minimum speed and it’s not uncommon to see people doing 100+ mph. Here, when you hit the national speed limit signs, people mostly just… drive the speed limit. I’ve also really enjoyed the country roads. They’re winding, scenic, and generally far less traffic-heavy than what I was used to living near a major American city. Fuel prices definitely hurt a little, but it was about what I expected. Parking overall hasn’t been too bad either, though my truck absolutely would not fit in some of the villages I’ve seen so far.
Housing / Homes
A lot of people warned me that UK homes would feel much smaller than American homes, and they absolutely were right—but honestly, I’ve found them really cozy. Everything in the US tends to be “bigger by default,” whereas homes here feel more intentional and compact.
I ended up getting a detached house near a smaller village and I’ve really enjoyed the atmosphere. Walking around the village, slowing down a bit, and just existing in a quieter environment has been a very welcome change of pace.Some of the household differences definitely made me laugh at first:
- Washer/dryer combo machines seemed bizarre initially, but honestly make a lot of sense now
- The lack of AC hasn’t been a problem yet, though I did buy a unit for the bedroom before summer hits
- And the faucets… I still need an explanation from Britain on why one tap is approximately the temperature of the sun while the other feels scientifically engineered to recreate the Arctic Ocean. The smaller refrigerators also haven’t bothered me nearly as much as I expected. We’ve naturally shifted toward buying less excess food and shopping more often instead of storing huge amounts. Overall, yes—American homes are generally much bigger. But I’ve found I actually enjoy the smaller, cozier feeling here a lot more than I thought I would.
Culture Shock / Social Differences
The biggest surprise to me has honestly been just how genuinely nice everyone has been. Before moving here, some people online had me expecting grumpy old men yelling at clouds and aggressively judging Americans 24/7. In reality, almost everyone I’ve interacted with has been incredibly polite, patient, and welcoming. Maybe the accent helps and people go easier on me once they hear I’m American, but I’ve honestly been blown away by how kind people have been overall. It’s also been much less of a “thing” that I’m American than I expected. I imagine being near the tri-base area probably helps since people are used to Americans being around. One thing I noticed quickly is how much quieter people are socially. In the US, if someone nearby is loud, the response is usually to just get louder so your group can still hear you. Here, there seems to be much more of an unspoken “let’s be respectful of the shared space” mentality. I’ve actually had to remind my wife a couple times that we are, in fact, the loud Americans in the room. I’ve also unexpectedly fallen in love with British chocolate. I could never do Hershey’s back home because it always tasted overwhelmingly sweet to me, but over here I’ve been absolutely crushing Yorkies and other milk chocolates. And yes, I’ve already had someone lightly mock my accent. I told a waitress “thank you,” and while walking out I heard a woman jokingly repeat it in an exaggerated American accent. Honestly? It was accurate, and we Americans absolutely make fun of British words too, so fair play.
Food
I was told my entire life that British food was terrible, and after actually getting here I can confidently say that stereotype is complete nonsense. Everything I’ve had so far has been fantastic. Pub food, sweets, fish and chips, random snacks from shops—it’s all been genuinely great.
One thing I noticed immediately is that portions are definitely smaller than in the US, but the overall quality feels noticeably better. Food tastes fresher, less over-processed, and generally just more balanced.
10/10. No notes.
Travel / Distance
I completely understand UK distance perception now.
Before leaving the US, I drove roughly 2,000 miles in one weekend for an important trip and didn’t really think much of it. In America, especially out west, massive drives are just normal. Now that I’ve driven around the UK a bit more, I totally understand why a journey that looks “short” on a map can feel like a proper trip here. The roads are narrower, more winding, and driving overall requires way more mental attention than cruising down giant American highways for hours. A two-hour drive here feels very different than a two-hour drive back home.
Overall, though, I just wanted to say thank you. My family and I have felt incredibly welcomed here so far, and I’m genuinely grateful for the kindness and patience people have shown us while we get settled.
Maybe I’ll do another update post in a few months once I’m fully settled in and have truly experienced a British summer without AC.