In a popular post, Jemima shared a series of photos highlighting the cultural differences she encountered during her time in the U.S. From unexpectedly large food portions to the design of bathroom stalls and the prevalence of university-branded merchandise, the Ohio resident candidly illustrated the nuances that stood out to her. Her observations struck a chord with many online, sparking conversations about how culture shapes everyday experiences.
UK student moves to US, experiences culture shock — sororities were the tip of the iceberg
A British student reveals her biggest culture shocks, from huge meals to surprising bathroom stalls.
Some people adapt seamlessly to new cultures, feeling welcomed and integrating with little effort. Others may face challenges as they adjust to unfamiliar norms and societal expectations. For Jemima Bennett, a 22-year-old student from Bristol, moving to the United States to attend Bowling Green State University brought an eye-opening cultural experience. She shared her journey of navigating this “cultural shock” on TikTok, where she goes by @jembennett__.
The first image from her slideshow emphasized large meal sizes in America in comparison to the UK. "I will have to stay disciplined with the food here to avoid putting on weight," read the text overlay.
Afterward, Jemima faced the dilemma of the gigantic space beneath the public restroom stalls after moving to the US. According to the video creator, the lack of privacy in bathroom stalls was difficult to deal with compared to other bathroom designs in her home country. She then discussed the stark contrast between dorm rooms in the US and hostel rooms in UK universities. Compared to their US counterparts, she states that hostel rooms at UK universities are more affordable and still offer double beds.
"By the way, I got blessed, though, because I love my roommate and she’s the best," she added. The next stark difference Jemima observed after enrolling at Bowling Green State University was the "sorority and fraternity" culture among its students and the prominence of University merchandise.
“In England, it’s high-key weird to wear merch for your university unless you’re supporting a sports team, but here everyone just wears it all the time,” the student explained.
She further took potshots at American bars and clubs, expecting students to sign receipts at American bars and clubs after buying drinks. “I’d be drunk AF while trying to sign these things,” the video creator emphasized.
Jemima then shared her thoughts about jaywalking laws, which equally baffled her. “Jaywalking is defined as when a pedestrian crosses a street in a way that is illegal, unsafe, or careless, such as by not using a crosswalk or crossing when the signal is red,” the student elaborated. After that, Jemima and another pupil showed up in a picture, holding a placard that said, "Year 3!" The phrase "How they make a photo opportunity out of anything" was superimposed over the image.
The Bristol native also attached a picture of a house situated in what appears to be a deserted green space.
Through the text overlay, she wrote, “How most houses don’t have a fence or wall for their garden/to separate them from other houses.” Her other pictures focused on the excessive dependence on plastics when it comes to wrapping food items, homework assigned by university instructors, and friendships during the college years. Her slideshow managed to garner widespread attention on social media, receiving 1.1 million views and countless reactions. “I would absolutely get in trouble for jaywalking because sometimes the only crossing is uphill,” @.erinn20 remarked. @re.ha43 added, “I went to NYC for a week and after a day there, my family and I were getting one main and one starter to share between us.”
You can follow Jemima Bennett (@jembennett__) on TikTok for more educational and lifestyle content.
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