American woman who left Texas after 20 years reveals 3 surpising 'differences' about her life in England

A person shifting from one country to another will surely experience some cultural shock. Whether big or small, they will initially struggle to adjust and adapt to the new environment. Ashley Jackson (@themossycactus), an American who relocated to England after spending twenty years in Texas, also encountered some lifestyle challenges in the United Kingdom. From adjusting to the ever-changing weather to compromising on food choices, Jackson revealed "3 harsh truths" for those, especially Americans, considering moving to the UK. She posted the video on TikTok on February 17. 

After living in America for twenty years, Jackson initially had a tough time adapting to the weather in South Manchester. She said people should prepare to face erratic weather in England. "It's cold, it's rainy, it's hot... there is no AC, and sometimes, it's all in the same day," Jackson explained in her TikTok video. Next, she was surprised by how instinctively funny the Brits are. However hard you try, Jackson said, nobody can beat their sense of humor or sarcasm. Further, reflecting on the choice of food, she says, "You won't have 99 choices of cereal." However, eventually you will grow used to it and benefit in the long run, Jackson explained. 

Although Jackson seems to have adjusted pretty well to the new country, she also had to cultivate certain habits to fit in. In another video posted on February 18, Jackson revealed three small lifestyle changes she made to blend in with the English people. Number 1, she eats a sausage sandwich once a week, a routine she sees every other Brit follow religiously. Next, Jackson recognized how obsessed Brits are with "understatements," so she purposely started using more of them. "Number three is I like to moan about the weather just to fit in," Jackson confessed. Interestingly, even though she had trouble adapting to the wild weather during her initial time, Jackson surprisingly fell in love with it. However, she still likes to complain about it to blend in with the people in the UK. 

Notably, Jackson, who married a British man, lived in Texas with her husband for seven years before moving to the UK. She told Newsweek that the decision came after they had babies in 2021. "We realized it would be better to raise them in the U.K., where we would have affordable healthcare, family support, safer gun laws, a greater chance to travel internationally at an affordable rate, and access to museums and heritage sites as well, to name a few reasons," she added.

Over the years, many Americans have left the country for various reasons. While some complain about the rising expenses, others blame the unruly administration. An online survey by The Harris Poll revealed that 52% of Americans believe they can achieve a higher quality of life abroad. Likewise, nearly half (49%) of respondents cited lower cost of living abroad, 35% cited security concerns, and 48% reported dissatisfaction with the political scenario as reasons to move.

Meanwhile, people from all over the world who shifted to the UK also shared their experiences; for instance, @highseacruiser commented, "As a Brit, this is 100% correct. Also, add that we don't do, nor demand, over-the-top customer service. We go to a pub, order a beer, and pay the price. Voilà! No silly tipping just for pouring a beer." @vikkilou19 shared, "Saying sorry when something isn’t your fault will become the norm. I’ve even taken it so far as to apologize to myself in a mirror in a shop because I thought I was in my way." Similarly, @daisygirlie4 commented, "4. You will have to learn to queue politely and in an orderly fashion."

You can follow Ashley Jackson (@themossycactus) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.

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