brittsinamerica.com

By Jess Hodges

The strangest things that can cause culture shock. Especially in an English-speaking country where you might expect most aspects of day-to day-life to be basically quite similar, it can take the little things to make you realise that you’re in a completely different place.

Watching television in America really is one of those things because even when you’re watching programmes that are also broadcast in the UK you can never forget where you are. Adverts are constant. You may have noticed that American programmes shown in the UK often have a very distinctive, fast paced, structured feeling to them with short scenes almost like a sketch show. It turns out that this is to accommodate the ad breaks which will make up to about 30% of the viewing slot for a programme.

The adverts themselves are different as well with a much harder sell approach and a higher pace making them quite intrusive. Some channels don’t even allow their adverts to finish, chopping and changing around between them. The content can seem strange to a British audience as well, adverts for various medicines with their lists of side effects which seem to go on for longer than the rest of the ad are certainly a new experience!

I think the best way to explain what it’s like is to say that whenever you saw American TV portrayed in a film or a programme they were being completely serious. I had always assumed that we were being shown a caricature of how things are but it’s actually pretty accurate. They really have the amazingly coiffured news readers and the adverts for angry, aggressive lawyers and occasionally a salesman will appear and tell you to take advantage of his temporary insanity. It’s fun but if you’re feeling homesick it might be better to watch a DVD!

By Jess Hodges

Something that concerns a lot of Brits when they’re thinking about going to America is the driving. In most cases it’s not just getting used to the road system but also adjusting to driving an automatic, which can feel very strange. Just remember that it’s a two pedal system and you’ll need to use the break a lot. It’s sort of feels like a massive go cart and once you’ve gotten used to it it’s much easier to drive.

The roads that I saw in Florida were pretty good. Much bigger to deal with the size of the cars, well maintained and clearly marked. Roundabouts are pretty much nonexistent and intersections are easy to navigate. If you’re starting out in a hire car I thoroughly recommend paying the extra for the satellite navigation system as it gives you one less thing to worry about while you’re getting used to things.

Other drivers can be a little bit intimidating. Cars and trucks can be so big that you genuinely get buffeted in their wake and with no undertaking laws you can feel a bit harassed on both sides. Minding your own business in the left hand lane is a sensible tactic provided you keep your eyes open and make sure you don’t get stuck on a slip road.

Speed limits vary surprisingly often as does people’s adherence to them so you do need to keep a careful eye on them. Speeding seems to be a much bigger deal in America, instead of getting spotted by an anonymous camera you will be pulled over by the police and the fine is much bigger and will be doubled in areas where men are working.

Once you get used to the roads your biggest challenge is likely to be staying alert. There’s much less to do in an automatic and the big roads are designed to take you hundreds of miles so it’s very easy to just flow along and let your attention wander.

All in all driving wasn’t nearly as nerve wracking as I expected and if you make sure you familiarise yourself with the laws in advance and take your time it shouldn’t be a problem at all.