British Expats Missing Home

British expats live outside the UK for many different reasons.  It could be through marriage, change of scenery or as a result of a business venture. Whatever the case may be, British expats will miss certain things about home. Some will adapt quickly to new surroundings and some take a long time to beat expat home sickness. Some even go back and forth for many years which makes them very unsettled and for friends and family. But why is it so hard to adapt to a new life and a new country? What is it about the UK that keeps people wanting treasured items such as food, drink, movies, Tv shows and general culture of Britain?

We list the Top 10 things in no particular order (what would be #1 for you?) that British Expats Miss About Home:

Friends and Family
British expats miss about home is their circle of friends and family. Parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins and childhood friends form part of a person's social support network. As such, it can be very hard to say goodbye to them and leave behind as British citizens embark on their journey across the Atlantic.

Fish and Chip Shops
Fish and chip shops are a very visible part of British culture. They can be found all across the UK, from the tiniest of villages to the largest cities. They are everywhere. They not only sell the famous portions of fish and chips. They also sell battered or unbattered sausages, pickled eggs, meat pies and mushy peas. Fish and chip shops can be found in America as well, but they offer a different menu and do not tend to be authentic in some towns where they can be found.

The British Cuisine
British cuisine is quite unique. It is offered all across Europe for British tourists who cannot go for a whole week without their bangers and mash or full English breakfast! But it is harder to come by in America, especially if you live in a small town. A lot of other ethnic cuisines are catered for, but there is a limited variety of British cuisine on offer in supermarkets. This can make British expats homesick.

British Soaps
BBC America is a resource that keeps British expats connected to the UK. But the channel concentrates a lot on gardening and home improvement. East Enders is a very popular soap opera from the UK that used to be aired in America, but has been taken off the air in some states. It was not as popular in America as in the UK and the episodes were not up to date. Other soaps such as Emmerdale and Coronation Street have not been featured. It could be because the BBC thinks that American viewers will not be able to understand the humour and lifestyle of the characters.

Sense of Belonging
One of the first things that a British expat will notice is their loss of belonging and will miss this about home. Who am I? Where do I fit in? These are some of the questions that some British expats will face as they settle into a new country. Things they took for granted and their community spirit will no longer exist. They will have to start from scratch and forge a new sense of belonging and that can be hard to do.

Transport System
The transport system in the UK is not the best or most efficient in Europe, but it is good. It is easy to get by on a day to day basis without the use of a car, which is just as well because fuel costs are on average three times more expensive in the UK than in America. Buses run in small villages, towns and cities across the UK. So the elderly, infirm, young people and others can use their local bus service, which saves a lot of fuel costs associated with owning your own car and you can still have a measure of independence.

History, Castles and Monuments
The one thing about home that many British expats miss is the long history and the castles, palaces and stately homes that come with it. It is not unusual to visit a castle that has been around since Norman times or a palace that still functions as a home for the Royal Family centuries after being built.

Football or Soccer as Americans call it!
Football, or soccer to Americans, is very deeply ingrained in the minds of British citizens. Even if they do not watch the sport on a regular basis and follow a particular team, many will be glued to the TV screen during the World Cup as they cheer on the England team, hoping for a repeat performance of 1966 when England won the World Cup. Other sports are more popular in America, such as basketball and American football, which may leave avid British sports fans pining for home. David Beckham's move to America is a glimmer of hope for football fans who want to keep up to date with events.

Cheap travel around Europe
The UK is well situated to the rest of Continental Europe. It can be accessed by plane, train, or ferry. As such, travel to the rest of Europe is quick, easy and cheap. Within two hours you can be gone from the British spring rain and be basking in the sun in Italy or Spain. British expats cannot fly as cheaply as they were once used to into Europe. A better alternative is to find a cheap flight into the UK and then a cheap flight from home to the Continent.

British Pubs
British Pubs are very different to the bars in America. They are places where whole families can go to spend the afternoon or evening. Most British pubs serve great food and some have swings, slides and other amusements to entertain children. So unless you live in a part of America with a high concentration of British expats, such as in Florida, you will not be able to recapture the atmosphere and ambiance of an authentic British pub.