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10 SIGNS YOU’VE BEEN IN THE UK TOO LONG
Eek! How long have you been over there?
When is too long simply too long?
As an Aussie living and working overseas, London is pretty awesome, right?! There is so much going on and the social life is amazing.
But did you know you are slowly becoming a Brit?!
‘No I’m not! I hear you say.
Well… that’s what those women who get too much plastic surgery say …
So if you need some help working it out, in this blog we look at the 10 signs you are becoming more English than Australian.
If you get to number one on the list below and you’re still saying ‘Yes that’s me!’, it’s time to come home.
Home to Australia that is, in case you’re confused about where home actually is.
SIGN #10 YOU’VE BEEN IN THE UK TOO LONG – CURRENCY CONVERSION
You’ve stopped converting to AU$ every time that you pay for something.
With all the fluctuations in the strength of the Australian dollar versus the strength of the British Pound, that’s probably going to save your sanity.
So while it’s a sign you’ve been in the UK for a while, it’s certainly nothing to worry about.
(yet).
SIGN #09 – “CHEERS!”
Sign #9 you’ve been in the UK too long is when you no longer say ‘Thanks’, or ‘Thankyou’ at work, on emails, or or social situations.
Instead you use the word ‘Cheers’.
We say it in Australia too when we clink glasses, however in a nation of alcoholics, it has become commonplace to use this ALL the time.
(Are you becoming an alcoholic by the way?)
So replacing ‘Thank you’ with ‘Cheers’ in every possible scenario, is one of those first things to go.
SIGN #08 – HOT CHIPS VERSUS CRISPS
Sign # 8 you’ve been in the UK too long is that you realise there is no such thing as ‘hot chips’ in the UK.
“All our chips are hot you idiot!” the man at the pub tells you.
Chips are chips.
Crisps are crisps.
Perhaps by this stage you’ve adjusted to having crisps with your sandwich for lunch? In one of those special meal deals from Tesco or M&S?
I mean, it would be rude not to….
SIGN #07 – TRAINER AND JEANS
You’ve probably been there a few months when you hit Sign #7 you’ve been in the UK too long and need to come home to Australia.
Sneakers become Trainers;
Thongs become flip-flops.
Not only will your terminology change, but you’ll be wearing trainers with jeans.
By choice.
Nuff said.
SIGN #6 YOU EAT PENGUINS
Whaaat? Did someone say you eat Penguins?
Well, only the chocolate kind.
“Penguins are so much better than Tim Tams” said no-one ever.
But you eat them anyway.
Because they are kind of similar.
You might even try a “Tim Tam slam” with them.
Good luck with that.
It’s NOT the same. Hopefully you haven’t yet become so British that you do not realise that yet.
SIGN #05 – YOU HEART PRINCE HARRY
Okay – actually we all love Prince Harry.
The world loves Prince Harry. I mean, who wouldn’t?
(Well, everyone in the world except for Antigua).
We just wanted to write his name in a blog.
Prince Harry, Prince Harry, Prince Harry.
Which brings us to….
SIGN #4 – THESE FACES ARE MORE FAMILIAR THAN BRANGELINA, LLEYTON & BECKS, OR FIFI BOX
Sign #4 you’re immersed in British culture…
Do you recognise who the people are in the photos above?
Including, where appropriate, their on and off-stage names?
Perhaps you enjoy reading the latest factual information about them in the Daily Mail.
SIGN #3 – TEA OVER COFFEE
Sign # 3 that you’ve been in the UK too long is when you start opting for tea over coffee.
This is getting serious.
If you really think a ‘nice cuppa chai’ is better than coffee, you’re getting sucked in.
How long have you been in the UK again?
Got any Australian friends over there?
You must need reminding what a proper cup of coffee really tastes like.
SIGN #2 – YOU CALL THIS A FOOTBALL
You must have been there a while now….
Sign #2 you’ve been in the UK too long is when you call a soccer ball a football.
You do it so often you don’t even realise you don’t call it soccer anymore.
It’s just football.
Football, football, football.
Crikey, you probably even support Chelsea, Man U or Liverpool.
Do you even know where ‘home’ is anymore????!
SIGN #1 – THE UNION JACK ON YOUR CLOTHES
We all love the mother country and all…. but really?
The union jack ON YOUR CLOTHES?
Even Australians don’t go around with the Aussie flag on theirs.
No.
Just no.
Not now, not ever.
You probably bought it from Next.
You need help.
If you have a piece of clothing with the union jack prominently displayed on it, it’s time to get a Qantas flight back home to Australia.
Please.