American woman moves in with UK boyfriend — and is left baffled by eccentric 'British' ritual

There are 7 continents and 235 countries in the world, implying that thousands of cultures surround us. Each culture, subculture, and tribe has its own language or dialect, literature, food, music, dance, and practices. A person living in one corner of the world may find the culture of another person undecipherable or quirky, but that’s only normal. Something similar happened with Cameron — who goes by the username @camabroad on TikTok — when she moved in with her British boyfriend and spotted an unusual tradition that he performs every morning.

The 29-year-old American woman uploaded a video on her TikTok account where she shared with her viewers something eccentric that her boyfriend does. “Can someone please tell me what this is about… I just moved in with my British boyfriend, and he does this every morning, and I just wanna know why, and if it’s actually a thing with other people,” Cameron speaks to the camera, proceeding to show a pair of folded pajamas kept beneath a pillow.

"I thought they'd accidentally gotten caught in the pillowcase in the wash, so I placed them on the bed for him, assuming he'd been looking for them," she shared in a conversation with Newsweek. "The next day, they were folded back under the pillow, and I was like, 'What is going on here?' He looked at me, completely confused, and said, 'What do you mean? That's where PJs live!'" Her boyfriend, Laurence, explained that it was something he had been doing since he was a kid. Soon Cameron found out that many people in the UK did the same.

"I told my American friends, who either fold theirs at the foot of the bed or wear a fresh pair nightly, and we all agreed it was both adorable and hilarious. Honestly, at this rate, I'll probably be doing it too soon," she added. The couple went public in October 2024 and moved in soon after, prompting her to reveal, "Discovering daily cultural and language differences has been an added level of entertainment in our relationship.”

Born and brought up in America, Cameron’s culture and practices are very different from those of her English boyfriend. She mentioned how it was basic British etiquette to stand on the right side of the elevator, and how someone asking “you’re alright” is considered a form of greeting and not a question about anyone's emotional status. An article by Whitney Kay Bacon also delves into the same concept. Bacon, an American woman who found another home in the UK, compared the cultural differences in both countries. “Getting 'pissed' means drunk, but it can also mean angered,” she said, adding that, “If you don't ask your British colleagues if they would like a cup of tea or a coffee when you go to make yours, then you instantly get the stink eye.” She also mentioned the 5 weeks of paid leave and maternity leave offered by the country, and how they refer to band aids as plasters and Q-tips as cotton buds.

After watching the video, many viewers shared their opinions. @vanessa_ives34 shared, “As a British person, I can tell you this is ingrained in us from literal birth,” while @annrussell03 questioned, “Where else do you put your pajamas?” @jessicasarahkeane took everyone for a nostalgia ride by commenting, “Does anyone else remember having plush toys with a zip-in? Specifically, to put the pjs in?” Finally, @carysc14 clarified, “Too clean to put in the laundry, not clean enough to put back in the dresser, so we put them under the pillow to wear them again that night.”

You can follow Cameron (@camabroad) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.