South East Asia
Written by Hayyu Imanda
THE WEATHER
ACCENTS
BANK HOLIDAYS
The UK is not known for its sunshine and warmth as we are used to. In my first week, I complained about how cold it was - my British friends felt so sorry they didn’t tell me it was the warmest week in the year! The piles of T-shirts I brought over are left deep in my suitcase, with no chance of wearing them at all. Back home, we never had “a good day” but you will love and appreciate the sun more here!
After a while you will be able tell where someone is from just by listening to them say a single sentence. English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish accents are very distinct from each other, not to mention regional accents within the countries — London, Yorkshire and Newcastle are all in England but have very different accents! Accents are discussed in daily conversations, and are one of my favourite parts of the UK culture. Once here, you yourself may have a change of accent!
If you’re confused why your money from home hasn’t arrived in your bank account, check the calendar to see whether it’s a bank holiday—a public holiday when banks are officially closed. Other interesting days in the UK? They celebrate the day a man was captured whilst attempting to blow up the parliament. This is ‘Bonfire night’ with amazing firework displays!
“CHEERS!” On the street, when people say “cheers” they don’t expect you to grab your drink and bump it together with theirs. It means “thank you” or “goodbye”. Please do reply back with a warm smile.
ALCOHOL Alcohol is big in the UK, and you’ve probably never tried it before. Nearly all socials are held in pubs or bars. If you are not comfortable with drinking any form of alcohol, don’t be afraid to say no! There are always alternatives such as soft drinks and juices.
“WORKING” You will be confused with the term “working”. It can mean a paid job. However, most of the time it means the same as “studying” or “doing university work”.
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WATER Don’t worry - it is completely safe to drink tap water.
COURTESY When you are walking behind someone to a door, he/she will hold it for you, and possibly wait for you if you’re far behind. Please do say thank you and hold it again for the person behind you.
FOOD I don’t mean to disappoint, but you will probably miss food from home. The UK’s “daily bread”, “5-a-day”, and “tea” just don’t delight the Asian tongue. Coming from places where dozens of spices are produced it won’t be surprising if the UK’s food tastes bland to you. But don’t worry, they have a wide variety of cheeses, cakes and pastries that you’ll probably never have tasted and will love! And if you join societies with people from your own country you can cook some of your national dishes together.
I have lived in the UK for just over a year and I can say without a doubt that this period has been the best of my life. Remember, university is not just about coursework and grades, but the whole experience of meeting new people, being part of a community, and developing yourself in many ways. Good luck for this new chapter in your life!