“Culture shock” is something I have heard at least once a day since starting my process to go abroad. It is no doubt a very real thing, yet I underestimated all the very small, niche differences I would encounter daily. I have decided to compile my top five culture shocks I have experienced in Glasgow and some tips on how to overcome them.
Enjoy!
Ice, more specifically, the lack thereof:
Starting with my not-so-favorite as someone who likes to start every morning with an iced coffee. It truly baffled me how uncommon it is for people to have iced drinks, but it is completely true. Most menus in cafes will have ice in small print at the very bottom, and you’re lucky if they even offer it half the time. My favorite coffee place on campus is right by all my classes, but I have just below a 50% success rate of them actually having ice on any given day.
This also continues in restaurants, where they will bring lukewarm water to your table and think nothing else of it. Ice is just not all that common here, which has made me realize how much I use it in my daily life. I never considered myself someone who needs ice, but I guess I really do.
My tip here is simple: get yourself at least one ice tray. I use mine every single day for my water bottle and any other drinks I bring back to my flat. Also, on a semi-similar note, get used to paper straws because you will not see a plastic one at all while you are here. You have to drink everything really fast before they give up on you and collapse.
Crosswalks and drivers:
Since my first day here, I have noticed how insane some drivers can be in Glasgow. This could just be the fact that everything looks weird with people driving on the left side and the driver’s seat being on the right, but I truly feel people drive very fast and crazy here.
I have to use many crosswalks every day to get to school, and there are about a dozen more once I get to campus. The crosswalks were intimidating to me at first, so I want to share my tips for ensuring your safety.
When you get to a crosswalk, make sure you press the button and see the “WAIT” light turn bright. I have gotten to crosswalks too many times where the other people waiting haven’t pressed the button, and then wondered why there’s been a hundred light rotations where they couldn’t walk.
After pressing the button, wait for the little red man to turn green (this can take a while sometimes, but it is worth the wait). Even if all the cars have stopped, do not go unless the figure is green. Again, cars seem to come out of nowhere, and sometimes I feel like I don’t know where to look because everything is opposite, so always play it safe. I know this seems obvious, but it took me a while to get the hang of it.
Other than that, avoid jaywalking even though literally everyone else seems to do it. Cars far down the street may look like they are going slow, but can sneak up on you fast. Also, under no conditions should you ever take a step in the road without looking first. Why do so many people do that?! Anywhere you may need to go can wait an extra minute, I promise.
The faucets:
I never thought I would have such strong emotions about a sink, but here we are. In my flat and many other public bathrooms I have been in, there are two faucets. The one on the left will give you hot water, the one on the right will give you cold. I don’t know why, but I know I hate it.
This is a first-world problem, I’m fully aware. However, I like warm water, but that just isn’t an option here. When I need to wash my hands or do the dishes, I need to choose between freezing cold water or burning myself. I have tried the hot water too many times, but it just gets scalding hot after a few seconds and becomes unbearable, so I wash my hands and dishes in cold water.
You’d think you could just turn both on and get a mix, but no. They are too far apart to even try to mix, so each hand just gets burnt or frozen. Unfortunately, I have no tips for this one. I’ve gotten used to it by now, and cold water is really good for your face, at least that’s what I tell myself every time I splash the freezing water onto my face in the morning. It really does wake you up!
Revolving doors:
This one is funny to me because I have to be the only person who cares. There truly are revolving doors everywhere here. While it can be fun to sit there and watch crowds of people try to figure them out like they are the most confusing things in the world, it’s not as fun when you’re in that crowd.
My main tip here would be to try your hardest to find a normal door, especially if you’re in a rush, because nobody seems to understand how these things work. If you have to use one and there’s a crowd, you need to be fearless. Just go for it because nobody else will.
People will sit there forever trying to find the perfect time to make their escape, but there never is one. Just walk into it and you’ll be out before you know it. The actual scary part is the crowd of people that will be standing in front of it on the other side when you’re trying to get out. Unfortunately, you have to just push your way around them until they make you a path. Losing your momentum is the worst thing you can do. Don’t let them trap you!
The sheer number of people that just stand there fascinates me, so if there’s anything you take from this, let it be how to use a revolving door properly. I swear there needs to be a class people can take for this.
Restaurant etiquette:
Ending on a strong one, there are some shocking restaurant differences that trip me up every time I go out. First of all, many places expect you to just seat yourself. Considering how mad places get when you do this in America, I hate doing it. It feels so rude to me, but it isn’t here. I still stand there and wait for the hostess/servers to tell me to pick any seat, but it’s nice to be aware of this fact when you’re getting up from your table and other people just immediately sit down before you can even get out the door.
Waiters are also very different in that they aren’t really waiters at all. They will take your order, give you your food, and then probably not check in on you or even look your direction until you wave them down if you need something. Again, this feels so rude to me, but it’s completely normal to call them over, and you are expected to when you want the bill. I have sat for too long in too many places waiting for them to come give me the check, and they never do. It is on you every time to tell them you are ready to leave.
It can be nice to just be left alone to eat and talk, but it’s just really weird to get used to.
Final Thoughts:
I could go on and on about the culture shocks I’ve experienced, and it hasn’t even been a month, but these ones really have stuck out to me and are ones I want people to be aware of if they plan on going to Glasgow or the UK in general.
Knowing these before arrival would have been nice, but learning and adjusting are all a part of the journey, and with how many other international students are here, I never once have been made to feel stupid or like I didn’t belong.
Thanks for reading!
DU Abroad 