One thing about life in the UK caught the woman off guard (stock image) (Image: Getty)
Uprooting your entire life and moving thousands of miles to a different country will inevitably involve a lot of adjustment. However, one woman who swapped sunny California for the UK has revealed she hadn’t anticipated quite how dramatically one particular aspect would differ in her new home.
Andrea Celeste is a Californian who now lives in London. She boasts a combined following of more than 340,000 people across various social media platforms, where she frequently shares content highlighting the stark differences between life in the UK and the USA. She recently uploaded a video discussing what she termed “one of my biggest culture shocks” about relocating to the UK – and it concerns something we Brits adore discussing – the weather.
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“One of the biggest culture shocks I had as a Californian living in England was how early it gets dark in the winter,” she said. “When I first moved I had no idea the sun would rise as late as 8.30am and set as early as 3.30pm.
“I also hadn’t anticipated how much the limited daylight would affect me, especially coming from somewhere sunny all year round. Seasonal Affective Disorder and the lifestyle during the winter here felt completely foreign, and back home I’d never even thought about needing a light therapy lamp.”
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a form of depression that typically occurs during winter, and subsides in the summer months. While the precise causes remain unknown, the NHS suggests it is believed to be connected to decreased levels of daylight, reports the Mirror.
This can trigger alterations to brain chemicals such as melatonin and serotonin that influence your mood and sleeping patterns, or circadian rhythm. It can prove challenging to address, though GPs may prescribe anti-depressants, while therapy could also prove beneficial.
Some people also undertake light therapy, when a bright light – known as a SAD lamp or light box – is employed to replicate daylight. While there isn’t sufficient evidence to demonstrate their effectiveness, many people say the lamps help alleviate SAD symptoms.
Fortunately, the clocks went forward this weekend, meaning it will remain light until later in the evening as summer draws near.
What other things about life in UK were a surprise?
Andrea also highlighted two other aspects she had found surprising when she relocated to the UK. “Another culture shock was discovering how much history surrounds you here and how accessible it all is,” she said.
“Most museums are free and organisations like English Heritage and the National Trust maintain castles and historic manors that you can actually walk through and explore. But, beyond that, history is simply everywhere in the small details like in cafes and pubs that predate the US itself.”
Andrea also praised one of the most fundamental elements of British culture: the art of complaining. “There’s a particular approach to complaining that’s deeply embedded in British culture,” she said.
“Rather than expressing genuine frustration, complaints tend to be understated and more matter of fact, more of an acknowledgement that something isn’t ideal than an actual grievance. Someone might complain about the weather while seeming completely unbothered, throw in a self-deprecating comment, and move on without a second thought.
“Coming from California where the default mode is relentless positivity, this was a noticeable shift. But there’s something kind of refreshing about a culture that can openly acknowledge when things aren’t perfect without any pressure to pretend otherwise.”