7 ways my social life is different in the UK than it was in the US

Sophia MitrokostasJul 12, 2020, 20:51 IST

I moved from the US to Scotland in 2017.Associated Press

I grew up in the US before moving to the UK in 2017, and there have been a few surprising changes to my social life.
Drinking and spending time at pubs is a bigger part of my social life in the UK than it was in the US.
I've noticed that people in the UK tend to be more private about certain things, and making close friends has been a slower process than I was used to in the US.
I can now talk about the weather with much more gusto, but I don't think it's as common to chat with strangers in the UK.

I moved from the East Coast of the US to the UK in 2017, where I promptly met my husband and settled into life in urban Scotland.

Moving abroad presented many challenges, not least of which was navigating the particular foibles and intricacies of British social life.

Here are the biggest differences I've found between socializing in the US and the UK.

I've noticed that the British "stiff upper lip" is a real thing.

The British "stiff upper lip" often refers to stoicism. Getty/Pawal Libera

Pubs are a popular spot for social gatherings in the UK. Reuters

There is more than one way to describe a rainy day in Scotland. Pecold / Shutterstock

People seem to be more private about certain things in the UK. Getty Images

I don't see many people chatting with strangers in public. Imran's Photography/Shutterstock

Touching seems to be reserved for more intimate relationships. Shutterstock

Making friends in the UK has been a slower process than it was in the US. Pra Chid/Shutterstock