If you are relocating from China to move into London flats, it is understandable that you want to meet new people. Generally, it is easier to meet people who have come from the same country as you, because this can help you to settle in quicker. If you are hoping to plan some social events before you move into London flats, think about using the Internet, socializing in bars and restaurants and participating in language learning lessons.
Use Forums
The Internet is a good place to use forums when you move into London flats. Forums enable people from all parts of the city to not only get advice and tips of the best places to go when traveling to London, but it also helps to establish long-lasting friendships. You can research online for forums that are specifically catered to Chinese people. An example of one of these can be found at www.chinese-forums.com. By regularly participating in these forums, people will get to know you and you could even meet people before you travel to the United Kingdom. This will release the pressure of meeting people, because you can make friends in advance. Be sure to organize a public meet-up when moving to London flats though, because it is unsafe to meet someone for the first time in a private place.
Conversation Exchange
Language classes and lessons are a great way to not only learn the language when moving into London flats, but to also meet other Chinese people. It can be troublesome learning the ins and outs of a new language but when someone is alongside you in the same position, things become easier. One type of language class is the Conversation Exchange. You can learn about this by visiting www.conversationexchange.com. Organize classes and learn when they are taking place by looking at the official website. During the Conversation Exchange, you can brush up on your English skills by speaking the language in a conversation with other people who are learning it before moving into London flats.
Restaurants & Bars
Finally, and probably the most obvious way to meet like-minded people when moving into London flats will be by visiting restaurants and bars. Most bars will be open to people who wish to socialize. Alternatively, organize an evening out to the cinema or a theatre with a new friend you meet at Conversation Exchange or through a forum. If you attend a Chinese bar or restaurant such as Mr. Wing, you can expect to meet more people in this way when transferring to London flats.
If you are transferring to the United Kingdom to look for some London apartments for rent, it is highly probable that you will be thinking about learning a new language, so that socializing will become easier. Whether or not English is your first language, or if you speak English but want to get involved in other language routes, then you should discover where to broaden your vocabulary. Breaking the language barrier when getting London apartments for rent will increase the chances of making friends in this ethnically diverse city.
Use The Internet
The Internet has many resources for those who have just found London apartments for rent. You can use social media networks or forums to speak with other people in London and arrange to meet up. This could be in a bar or restaurant and when you do meet up, test each other on your skills and vocabulary relating to specific languages. This is normally called a language exchange and not only does it give you the opportunity to make sturdy and long-lasting friendships when you get London apartments for rent, but it also enables you to have deep conversations in foreign languages, which helps considerably as a learning technique.
Take A Language Course
After you invest in London apartments for rent, it would be useful to get involved with a language course. You can find language courses by using the Internet, researching in a phone book, looking at advertisement listings or by talking to other people in the area. Hundreds of people participate in courses like this and it is a powerful way to get a good grasp on understanding different accents and languages. Most universities will offer language courses in the city. A university that supplies this option to students will be UIC university, which is situated in central London. Query with someone who works at the university, for more information about taking a language course after finding London apartments for rent.
Study At Home
The great thing about getting London apartments for rent is that you finally have your own personal space. You can take some time in your personal space to revise and learn from books about different languages. Whether this is English, Spanish, Italian or Chinese, you will have peace and quiet to look over notes and improve on your pronunciations. After self-teaching yourself, try and strike up a conversation with someone who speaks the language you are learning. This will really determine how successful you have been in a quest to learn a language from London apartments for rent.
Moving to London – Be Prepared for an Attack of the Ps & QS, Image via Wikipedia
To put it quite frankly those moving to London are often shocked to realize how much more manners and etiquette matter to our British cousins. Manners have all but disappeared in the States but that is not the case in London. Those moving to London should brush up on their etiquette before the plane touches down and social faux-pas are made.
After moving to London one s houldn’t be offended to hear themselves being referred to as dearie, love, mate, or guv as these are considered normal affectionate names used by locals; sometimes as sign of being accepted into the community. Some of the names can be endearing or even reassuring especially if one is still finding their feet in the city after moving to London.
Hopefully very soon after moving to London families will begin entertaining in their homes. Unlike the majority of guests in the US, London guests will often bring a gift which should be followed up with a short thank you note. Newcomers should also not forget their own
When it comes to blogging about an international relocation to London, the last place I’d have thought to find inspiration would be Disney / Pixar’s film, Cars 2! But lo and behold, as I made my transatlantic flight back to England from the United States after Christmas, this in-flight movie triggered heightened interest during its climactic later scenes set in London. Consistent with the cleverness and cuteness of Pixar films was “Big Bentley,” where the British secret agent cars nearly met their demise. Anyone who has visited London may be readily familiar with the landscape containing prominent sites like St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and modern structures like the London Eye and Gherkin office building. And after moving to London and living here a while, I even saw some side streets of familiarity and could vouch for the accuracy of the city’s layout.
What I could further relate to were the lyrics of Brad Paisley and Robbie Williams’s ”Collision of Worlds,” which played at the movie’s end. I’m frequently blogging about cultural differences between the US and UK, including the language barrier that actually exists within the common tongue of English. Expats making a relocation to London might not always anticipate such differences, and I think the song captures it adorably:
At the first sign of the morning light, Old Glory’s in the sky
Across the pond, it’s afternoon and the Union Jack flies high
We’re on our first cup of coffee
We’re on our third cup of tea
And we can’t pretend to live on different planets, you and me
In this collision of worlds
Watch the new day dawn on a distant shore
In this collision of worlds
Oh you can’t sit this out no more
Abbey Road, Route 66, CIA, to the MI6
Right lane, left lane, Metric, Imperial
Pounds, dollars, howdy, cheerio!
A v8 growls, to a v12 screams
Hail to the chief, God Save the Queen
Cops, bobbies, tabasco, wasabi, pistachio ice cream!
In this collision of worlds
Well it’s too late and you can’t stop it now
In this collision of worlds
Yeah find you a place and just watch it now
Well you’re a good ole’ boy
Yeah you’re a decent bloke
I say it’s irony, I say it’s a joke
When I look around, now I can see
We ain’t so different, you and me
Meat and potatoes, bangers and mash
Dollars, pounds, dosh, cash
Autobahn, to the rising sun
The I10, to the M1
Congress, Parliment, President, The Queen!
Petrol, you say gasoline
Now grab your bird, and get your girl
Now its a small world
Collison of worlds
Watch the new day dawn on a distant shore
In this collision of worlds
No you can’t sit this out no more
In this collision of worlds
It’s too late and you can’t stop it now
Collision of worlds
Find you a place and watch it now
If you’re moving to London from the US, your worlds will collide and merge into a bigger and brighter world of understanding—and it’s then that you’ll find people around the world really aren’t so different from each other after all.
Anyone living in London for a short while may be experiencing bouts of homesickness and loneliness. Those Americans moving to London with a partner or spouse might find that the transition is easy, but those single in the city may find it a challenge to adjust to living in London. The holidays can be especially hard when one finds themselves alone in a country thousands of miles from family and traditions.
Many people think they are homesick after an international relocation, but really they’re just adjusting to living in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. They should be prepared for the culture shock and use it as a gateway to a unique adventure. Many Americans moving to London think that living in London will be similar to living in the States, but it isn’t.
The first thing Americans have to get used to is the language barrier. Many believe that because England and America both use English as a common language communication will be a breeze. Unfortunately, the differences between the two dialects might have newly settles American expats reeling for a few months. Because of this language barrier many Americans newly arrived stay locked away inside their new homes.
Meeting people and asking questions is the best way to get over the fact that one is alone in the big city, especially during the holidays. Sage advice is for new Londoners not spend time comparing how things were done back home. By doing that, they’ll never integrate and make a real go of life in London.
For those who are a bit shy and find it hard to talk to strangers there are several good ways to meet people. The best advice is to start chatting to colleagues at relocation jobs. Joining in is the most important aspect of fitting in. If one is feeling homesick and lonely after a corporate relocation they should get out join a community activity. Sports teams, adult classes and community based groups are one of the best ways of meeting new people.
Moving in London can be scary. It’s bustling, big and very busy. By giving the international relocation some time to sink in Americans newly settled in London will soon discover that moving to London is the best decision they’ve ever made.
Continuing on with our London Relocation version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to make your international relocation to London festive, the next line in the original is: “On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three French hens.”
Please join me in now singing our London Christmas carol:
“On the third day of Christmas, London gave to me…
PRETTY FRESH HENS…”
The UK Hen Do - London Relocation Services
I don’t mean poultry, although there are often feathers involved. I’m referring to the human species of female that dolls up in crazy and/or slutty fancy dress and steps out with her bride-to-be pal and their pack of flashy kindred spirits. You probably know this best as a “bachelorette party,” but here in Britain, it’s called a “hen do.” The male bachelor party equivalent is the “stag do.” Whichever “do” you’re doin’, you can expect to do it big. They’re pretty entertaining to encounter, although I haven’t yet seen the hens outdo the stags where outrageous humiliation of the guest-of-honor is concerned. I’ve heard of a London stag do that entailed shaving half the groom’s body (half his head and one eyebrow included) and sending him passed out on a train up north to Scotland. Or slipping Viagra in the groom’s pint and having him wrestle women in bikinis in a baby pool of KY jelly. And they always entail a costume….be it a Mexican wrestler, ballerina, race car driver (“The Stag” versus “The Stig” from Top Gear), whatever, as long as it’s conducive to mooning later on (if you watch the TV documentaries Booze Britain or Boozed up Brits Abroad, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about). I’d say the ladies approach it all a bit more civilized, but the Kaiser Chiefs “Angry Mob” video implies otherwise: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z5kEqRFPwo.
If you’re looking for hen party ideas after your move to London, there are plenty of websites like www.henheaven.co.uk, www.gohen.com, www.hennites.co.uk, or www.thestagandhencompany.co.uk. On second thought, maybe you should just play it safe stay nestled inside your new London apartment.
One of the biggest complaints from Americans moving to London is that they cannot understand what the locals are saying. To be fair to the British people there is more than one accent and sometimes British nationals even have a difficult time understanding each other! While the British accent is pretty easy to become accustomed, the Cockney accent is another story completely. Cockney is not just an accent; it is a language unto itself.
Originally, Cockney referred to the people living in the East End of London, but as time has passed the definition of Cockney has evolved and is now bestowed upon all working class Londoners. As the people who speak Cockney have migrated out of London and integrated Londoners of other cultures (primarily from the Caribbean) , the infamous language has evolved and new dialects have been created.
Americans moving to London most often complain that they don’t understand Cockney slang which is very tricky. Unfortunately, to understand Cockney one must be Cockney. The Cockney dialect is most famous for their rhyming slang. In short, they take a word, make a two or three word rhyming phrase, and then chop off all but one word of that phrase and use the remaining word to replace the original word. Some examples of this are:
1) Stairs: apples (apples and pears ð drop ‘and pears’ ð apples) – I’m going up the apples
2) Telephone: dog (dog and bone ð drop ‘and bone’ ð dog) – Answer the dog
3) Feet: plates (plates of meat ð drop ‘of meat’ ð plates) – My plates are tired
Understanding the origins of Cockney and understanding the actual speaking of Cockney are two different things. A recommendation for all Americans moving to London who will have to work with those who speak with a Cockney accent is to study, study, study. There are many websites and books devoted to the art of speaking and understanding Cockney. While no one new to London after an international relocation will be able to understand everything Cockney, learning some of the most used phrases and slang will probably come in helpful.
Cockney is just one of the many colorful accents awaiting Americans in the United Kingdom. Instead of being intimidated soon after moving to London, one should embrace their ignorance and set out to learn. Those who speak Cockney are proud of their heritage and most likely will be happy to help a international relocation ex-pat learn.
Relocation to London – Cultural Nuance - Image via Wikipedia
It’s not just the different words or even the strange array of British accents that befuddles many Americans moving to London. It’s also the nuances in speech that many expats struggle with. If you are planning your relocation to London then you might want to tune into British television so you’re attuned when you arrive.
It cannot be said that the English speak “better English” than Americans. Just a quick listen to the array of accents in London and the amount of slang used, puts paid to that theory in an instant. They do however speak a language that is filled with slight nuances and differences in meaning.
If you’re moving to London as part of a relocation jobs package, you may have to spend some time figuring out what your colleagues are trying to tell you. The British tend not to be as direct as people from other countries. They don’t tell you what you need to know in short sharp sentences and they very rarely get to the point precisely.
Some call it eloquence, others call it irritating…
Self-deprecation is another aspect of business life that you’ll have to get used to after your relocation to London. People in the business world tend to downplay their contributions. This means that grand boasts and “blowing your own horn” is considered uncouth in the business environment in the UK.
For all the British sense of decorum and reserve, the one thing you will have to get used to is the sarcasm and even the use of swear words in casual conversation. Don’t wither and fade into the background if you’re the recipient of a sarcastic comment. What you consider hurtful and even offensive, may just be part of some light-hearted office banter.
As a foreigner, moving to London is not just about organizing a home or finding your way around the city by tube. It’s also about immersing yourself deeply into the life and the culture of the country. You don’t have to lose your own culture, but fitting in and adapting your style of English usage could help you out quite a bit if you’re starting a new job after your relocation to London.
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
Okay, time to bring on home this lengthy series about British English versus American English to aid your international relocation to London. I’ve been emphasizing every day since last week that there is quite a bit of terminology that differs between the two English languages, and while this hasn’t been an exhaustive list by any means, it’s hopefully been a comprehensive enough one to get you started on your way to fluency. Yesterday, I listed words related to transportation, and, similarly, every day has been devoted to a specific category. Today, however, we’re left with a smorgasbord of randomness…basically, a miscellany of odds-n-ends from my glossary that didn’t logically fit in anywhere else. Well, there might be no rhyme or reason to ‘em, but they have a home here:
[American English = British English]
Money
bill (as in currency) = bank note
check (as in at a restaurant) = bill
check (as in form of payment) = cheque
installment plan = hire purchase
Mail mail = post
package = parcel
ship (as in for delivery) = dispatch
Miscellaneous Verbs
call/phone (as a verb) = ring up
call collect = reverse charges
run (as in for public office) = stand
stand in line/line up = queue
Miscellaneous Nouns
dump = tip (as in “My flat is a tip!” )
legal/national holiday = bank holiday
line = queue
shot (as in injection) = jab
vacation = holiday
General Grammar
period (as in punctuation) = full-stop
zee (as in the letter Z) = zed
zero = nought
Once thing is for sure: there’s nothing lost in translation when it comes to our London Relocation agency. We’re upfront and call it as we see it, spelling out the London property market as clearly as possible for your understanding. Our particular London relocation company will find you your ideal London apartment rental in only one day to save you time for figuring out all the other ins-and-outs of London—like what the locals call the things you see and the places you go. If you’re moving to London, you can call us whatever you want, but do call us.
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
Moving to London UK from abroad is quite the journey, and I’m not just talking geographic distance. Once you’ve made your international relocation and assimilate to your new environs, you’ll find that you’ll go a long way indeed in terms of your world perspective. A stepping stone toward this is understanding different cultures and languages, so all last week and the beginning of this week I’ve been getting you started on an easy one: British English. I’ve blogged before in my “Speaking the Queen’s English” posts about how this vocabulary differs from American English, and while yesterday I addressed people and places, today we’ll cover the transportation that will get us around to them:
[American English = British English]
Roadways, etc.
curb = kerb
detour = diversion
divided highway = dual carriageway
freeway = motorway
overpass = flyover
parking lot = car park
pass (as in passing a slower vehicle) = overtake
sidewalk = pavement/footpath
stop light/traffic signal = traffic light
Car Parts/Supplies
fender = wing/mudguard
gas = petrol
gas station = filling station
gear shift = gear lever
hood = bonnet
license plate = number plate
muffler = silencer
odometer = mileometer
oil pan = sump
rear-view mirror = wing mirror
top = roof/hood
trunk = boot
windshield = windscreen
Vehicles
motorbike = moped
motorcycle = motorbike
moving van = removal van
sedan = saloon car
station wagon = estate car
trailer/camper/mobile home/RV = caravan
trailer truck = articulated lorry
truck = lorry
Public Transport
one-way ticket = single ticket
round-trip ticket = return ticket
pedway = subway
subway = tube/underground
schedule = timetable
London Relocation’s services include a hired car to transport you around your portfolio of London apartments with ease, and your London Relocation agent will ensure you know what public transport links (e.g., bus, tube line) are located near the flat you ultimately choose. However you choose to get about town, be safe and mind the different direction of traffic!
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
An international relocation from America will teach you much about diverse cultures. Moving to London in particular will expose you to more than you probably realize, as many perceive the UK as being very similar to the US. That’s true, but only to an extent, and among the many differences (which we’re constantly blogging about here) is language. That’s right, British English varies from American English, so we’re back this week to continue reviewing some terminology that could help for your London move. Last Friday we covered sundries, the little miscellaneous things you’ll need at the office or in your London apartment rental. Today, let’s step outside our London apartments and get to know some of the folks out there and places we can go:
[American English = British English]
Professions druggist = chemist
janitor = caretaker/porter
lawyer/attorney = solicitor
mailman = postman
policeman = bobby
president (of a business) = chairman
principal = headmaster/mistress
realtor = estate agent/negotiator
sales clerk = shop assistant
scab (derogatory for strikebreaker) = blackleg
prostitute/tramp = tart
Theatre aisle = gangway balcony = gallery
first balcony = upper circle
mezzanine = dress circle
orchestra seats = stalls
movie theatre = cinema
Other Locations candy store = sweet shop/confectioner
downtown = city centre
doctor’s office = surgery
drugstore/pharmacy = chemist’s shop
gas station = filling station
hardware store = ironmonger
jail = gaol
liquor store = off license
news stand = newsagent
wharf/pier = quay (pronounced ‘key’)
zip code = postal code
London Relocation’s services are devoted to situating you close to where you want to be, be it near work, nightlife, the arts, necessities, etc. As you’re viewing your London apartments for rent with us, please do ask our London Relocation agents to point out any differences in terminology for the people and places you see along the way.
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
When making a relocation to London from the US, you’ll see (and hear) that British English can often differ from American English. Differences in spelling, pronunciation, and terminology can pose a challenge to expats moving to London. To supplement earlier posts I’ve written on how to “speak the Queen’s English,” I’ve been blogging all week on British English and will continue after our Weekend Warrior Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday, we scanned our grocery list for standard foods, and today we’ll delve into some other items you might purchase while out at the shops. This is the type of stuff you’ll go to Ryman, Boots, and Homebase (the Office Max, Walgreens/Duane Reade, and Home Depot of London) for:
[American English = British English]
Office
adhesive tape = sticking plaster
eraser = rubber (slang for ‘condom’ would be ‘wellie’ instead)
rubber cement = cow gum
scotch tape = sellotape
scratch pad = scribbling pad/block
planner (for scheduling) = diary
thumb tack = drawing pin
white-out = tipp-ex
The London Relocation agency only searches for London apartments that are close to amenities, so you’ll surely have the necessary shops nearby to fulfill your home and office needs. Moving to London for an international relocation is an adjustment where knowing where to shop is concerned, so be sure to ask our London Relocation agents to point you in the right direction.
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
A relocation to London from America entails an education in learning British English. My past posts on “speaking the Queen’s English” (found under the “London Language Barriers” category) include grocery items, and the list below should be more exhaustive. Yesterday we talked about vocabulary relating to children, so whether you have young mouths to feed or just your own, now you’ll know what to look for in the grocery aisles:
Breakfast/Brunch (miscellaneous)
cream of wheat = semolina
crèpe = pancake
pancake/flapjack = American/Scottish pancake (‘flapjacks’ are more like granola bars with oats & syrup)
oatmeal = porridge
Beverage
with or without cream (as for coffee) = black or white
straight = neat
Other Grocery-Related
can = tin
cart = trolley
Our London Relocation agents will find you a London apartment rental with plenty of cabinet space for these groceries, though I can’t promise you’ll find a fridge much bigger than the average ones that come in a London flat (see my earlier post, “What to Expect in a London Flat: Crouching Tenant, Hidden Dishwasher,” for more description of a typical London apartment kitchen). May this whet your appetite for your international relocation.
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
Making an international relocation to London from the US has enough challenges; one that many Americans don’t anticipate, though, is having to learn another language—they take it for granted that the UK is English-speaking. While you’ll get along just fine (really! Don’t worry!), it’s worthwhile to brush up on your British English knowledge so it shows that you’re at least trying. I’ve written posts before about how to “speak the Queen’s English” (category: “London Language Barriers”), and I’m dedicating all this week and part of next to more of these British English terms. Yesterday we focused on clothing, and today we’ll cover some useful terms if you’re moving to London with a family:
Toys/Games jump rope = skipping rope
paddle (as in ping-pong) = bat
roller coaster = big dipper
sled = sledge
slingshot = catapult
soccer = football
tic-tac-toe = noughts and crosses
School
grade = class/form
grade school/elementary school = primary school
middle school + high school = secondary school
preschool – kindergarten = nursery (age 3) – reception (age 4) – Year 1 (age 5)
principal = headmaster/mistress
private school = public school
public school = state school
recess (as at school) = break
semester = term (3 per year versus 2)
9th grade/freshman (age 14) = Year 10
10th grade/sophomore (age 15) = Year 11
11th grade/junior (age 16) = Year 12/Lower Sixth Form
12th grade/senior (age 17) = Year 13/Upper Sixth Form (Years 12 & 13 also called ‘A Levels’)
Our London Relocation agency can help you find an ideal London apartment or house to rent if you’re relocating your family to London, UK. We can also assist you with a school search if your children are of that age; what school they attend can greatly determine what London neighborhood you’ll want to live in. Contact our London Relocation agents if these services can be of use!
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
Moving to London from America requires learning another language: British English. Yesterday’s post kicked off my series on how to speak like a local after an international relocation to London, to supplement my previous posts on “speaking the Queen’s English” (found under our “London Language Barriers” category). Yesterday touched on some property lingo for when you rent London apartments, and today will delve into what you’ll be storing inside that flat:
Accessories
barrette = hairslide
garters/garter belt = suspenders/suspender belt
purse = handbag
rhinestone = diamonté
suspenders = braces
Clothing-Related
clothes pin = clothes peg
collar button = collar stud
collar stay = collar stiffener
cuffs (as in at the bottom of trousers) = turn-ups
custom made = bespoke
snaps = press studs
tag = label
thread = cotton
Our London Relocation agents will help you find sufficient closet space for all those clothes when you enlist their London relocation services for the grand flat-hunt. For some vocabulary that will relate more to the wee ones that are perhaps moving to London and into that apartment rental with you, be sure to check out my post tomorrow!
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Yesterday, I listed words related to 
