Language & Culture
Keeping It 100 Before, Upon, And After Your Arrival.
Before Arrival
Documents, Shipping & Pets
Upon Arrival
Registration, Housing, School
After Arrival
Programs, Travel & Shopping
Pre Departure
Last 100 Final Out
Help Maintain Good Relations
Get to know your neighbors. English neighbors will not go out of their way to get in your way and will respect your privacy, but will welcome an introduction. Many villages are full of neighbors who know each other well and an English friend is a friend for life.
Noise Complaints
While not frequent, noise complaints are typically: loud music, parties, running cars, barking dogs. Shift workers – be careful about noise if working unusual shift patterns. When complaints are flagged to the Community Relations Adviser (CRA), the details are passed on, in most cases to the First Shirts.
If there is a lawful aspect, the Legal office may be notified. If you have issues with your neighbors American or British, contact the CRA who can advise on the next steps.
Commercial 44.1638.54.2254
DSN 238.2254
Get To Know Your Village
Each village or town will usually have a village hall or Community Centre. These can be hired for private use parties or events by the hour, half-day, or full-day as a one-off or a reoccurring basis. There are also many clubs that you can attend such as: Fitness clubs, mother and baby clubs, and painting classes.
Connect With Your Village
To find out how to book or what programs are on, please check out: https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/ or https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ or https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/ (depending on where you live). You can also search online for your parish/ town council for up-and-coming events.
Also use those county websites for a comprehensive overview that includes the environment, parking, and travel, bins and recycling, council tax, find my nearest, and a report function where you can log anti-social behavior, abandoned vehicles, fly-tipping, roads and transport information.
Use social media to link in with the town/ village you live in as they will also have details on up and coming events and the details on how to book.
Your town may also receive a monthly newsletter which shows details of what is going on in your local community, please keep an eye out for this. Outside each hall, there is usually a bulletin board with news and events.
Daylight Hours
The longest day is 21 June when it gets light approx. 3.30 AM and dark around 10:30 PM. The shortest day is 21 December when there are daylight hours between approx. 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The clocks go back an hour at the end of October, and that’s when you’re likely to travel to and from work in the dark. You’ll notice it gets significantly lighter by the end of January, and clocks go forward an hour at the end of March.
Britain is officially metric, in line with the rest of Europe. However, imperial measures are still in use, especially for road distances, which are measured in miles. Imperial pints and gallons are 20 percent larger than US measures.
Imperial To Mertic
Metric To Imperial
Transportation
British English | American English |
Bonnet | Hood (of a car) |
Boot | Trunk (of a car) |
Bumper | Fender |
Car Park | Parking Lot |
Caravan | Camper / Trailer |
Car Hire | Rental Car |
Carriageway | Road |
Cat’s Eye | Road Reflectors (in between lanes) |
Coach | Bus |
Diversion | Detour |
Dual Carriageway | Two-Lane, Divided Highway |
Give Away | Yield |
Indicator | Turn Signal |
Junction | Intersection / Exit |
Layby | Rest Area / Pull-Off |
Lorry | Semi-Truck |
Motorway | Multi-Lane Highway |
Number Plate | License Plate |
Over Taking | Passing |
Pavement/Footpath | Sidewalk / Walkway |
Petrol | Gasoline |
Queue | Line (waiting for something) |
Return Ticket | Round Trip (including return ticket) |
Single Ticket | One Way Trip |
Slip Road | Entrance or Exit Ramp |
Subway | Underpass |
To Let | For Rent |
Tube/Underground | Subway / Underground Train |
Van | Small Truck |
Windscreen | Windshield |
Food / Drink
British English | American English |
Ale/Bitter | Cask Beer Usually Served Warm |
Aubergine | Eggplant |
Biscuit | Cookie or Sweet Cracker |
Chicken Goujons | Chicken Tenders |
Chips | Thick Cut Fries |
Cooker/Hob | Stove |
Crisps | Chips |
Cuppa | Cup of Tea |
Cutlery | Silverware |
Fizzy Drink | Soda |
Ice Lolly | Popsicle |
Jacket Potato | Baked Potato |
Lager | Light Colored Beer |
Lemononade | Lemon-Lime Soda (Sprite, 7Up, etc) |
Mince | Ground Meat |
Shandy | Beer and Lemon-Lime Soda |
Spirits | Liquor |
Sweet or Pudding | Dessert of Any Kind |
Sweets | Candy |
Takeaway | Take-Out or To-Go Food |
Toastie | Grilled Cheese / Toasted Sandwich |
To Book | Make Reservation |
Trolly | Shopping Cart |
Building / Household
British English | American English |
Bin | Trash Can |
Cot | Crib |
Cupboard / Wardrobe | Closet |
First Floor | Second Floor |
Flat | Apartment |
Garden | Back Yard or Front Yard |
Ground Floor | First Floor |
Lift | Elevator |
Loo/Toilet | Restroom / Bathroom |
Services | Restroom / Bathroom |
W.C. (Water Closet) | Restroom / Bathroom |
Rubbish | Trash |
Semi-Detached | Duplex (houses that share one center wall) |
Tap | Faucet |
Window Blind | Window Shade |
School
British English | American English |
Break Time (in School) | Recess |
Bum Bag | Fanny Pack |
Diary | Calendar |
Felt Tips | Markers |
Full Stop | Period |
Headmaster / Headteacher | Principal |
Nought / Nil | Zero |
Rubber | Eraser |
Rucksack | Backpack |
Sellotape | Scotch Tape |
Term | Semester |
Tick Mark | Check Mark |
Timetable | Schedule |
‘GRADES’
Play School / Year R | Pre-K / Pre-School (Age 4-5) |
Primary School | Elementary (Grade 1 – 6; Ages 5-11) |
Secondary School | Middle School (Grades 7-9; Ages 11-14) |
Upper Levels / Secondary Education | High School (Grade 10-11; Ages 14-16) |
College | Highschool (Grades 12-13; Ages 16-18) |
University | College / University (Post Highschool Education for Associates / Bachelors Degree) |
Shopping / Clothing
British English | American English |
Braces (Clothing) | Suspenders |
Chemist | Pharmacist |
DIY Store | Home Improvement |
High Street | Main Street |
Jumper / Jersey | Sweater |
Lounge Suit | Business Suit |
Nappy | Diaper |
Off License | Liquor Store |
Pants | Underwear |
Pushchair | Stroller |
Quid | Slang for cash / pounds (GBP) |
Spectacles / Specs | Glasses / Eyeglasses |
Tights | Pantyhose |
Trainers | Sneakers / Atheltic Shoes |
Trousers | Pants |
Waistcoat | Vest |
Wardrobe | Closet |
Vest | Tank Top |
Miscellaneous
British English | American English |
Bank Note | Bill (Money / Cash / Paper Pounds) |
Barrister / Solicitor | Lawyer / Attorney |
Booking | Reservation |
Cheeky | Playful Disrespect / Sneaky / Naughty |
Cinema | Movie Theatre |
CV | Resume |
Dodgy | Suspicious |
Dummy | Pacifier |
Engaged (Phone) | Busy Tone When Calling in |
Fag | Cigarette |
Flask / Vacuum Flask | Thermos |
Football | Soccer |
Football Boots | Cleats |
Fortnight | Two Weeks |
Hair Fringe | Bangs |
Hen Party | Bachelorette Party |
Holiday | Vacation |
Letterbox | Mailbox |
Mad | Crazy |
Mate | Friend/Bud |
Plaster | Band Aid |
Post | |
Post Code | Zip Code |
Quay | Dock / Wharf |
To Ring | Call |
Stag Party | Bachelor Party |
Sun Cream | Sunscreen |
Torch | Flashlight |
Value Added Tax (VAT) | Sales Tax (Usually in the listed price) |
Whinge | Whine |
British English | American English |
Ya Alright? | Greeting / How Are You? |
Hiya | Friendly Way of Saying Hello |
Bad Hair Day | A Difficult or Problematic Day |
Bite Your Arm Off | Very Keen to Get Something |
Bob’s Your Uncle | There You Go |
Cheers | Thanks |
Chuffed (To Bits) | Pleased / Happy with / Flattered |
Corker | Someone or Something that’s Outstanding |
Do My Head In | Annoys / Becomes Enraged |
Give Us a Bell | Call Me |
Grand | Excellent / Lovely / A Thousand Pounds |
Gutted | Really Disappointed / Upset |
How Did You Get on? | What Happened / How Did it Go |
Joe Bloggs | Joe Schmo / Average Person |
Knackered | Tired / Worn Out / Exhausted |
Knees Up | Party |
Knickers in a Twist | Become Upset about Something |
Lost the Plot | Forgot Something / Lose the Ability to Cope |
Miffed | Offended or Upset |
Out of Order | Unacceptable Behavior |
Pissed | Drunk |
Skint | Without Money |
Skive | Get Out of Doing a Task |
Ta | Thank You |
Taking the Mick | Poking Fun / Tease / Mocking (Someone or Something) |
Waffle | To Talk on and on About Nothing Much |