Things to Know When You Move to Oxford

I’ll admit it: I fell in love with the U.K. before I ever arrived. I was fifteen years old and celebrating my Sweet 16. Twelve years later, I moved to the U.K. to pursue my Master’s degree in International Law and International Relations. It’s one thing to visit a country and it’s quite another to live there. Whilst I was frustrated at adapting to the locale, I realized that it was really more of an adaption to life outside of Texas to one living in Oxfordshire than anything else. Obviously, I fared well, began using my title, and lived to write this up. Take these morsels and use them.

At the Bridge of Sighs, Oxford University.

Wear sneakers…err trainers… as you will do a lot of walking. Even when women dress up, they still wear sneakers.
You will walk EVERYWHERE.
If you don’t know how to use the bus system, you will shortly.
Ah, the Oxford Tube.
Everyone takes the bus, bikes, or walks.
You’ll need a card to ride the bus or pay higher prices for bus fare.
Locals may want you to stay. If they do, some may use the adage, “My friend Susie came from Russia and married a Brit. Now she lives here.” To which the local will suggest that perhaps you too will meet a hunky bloke… maybe even on a horse.
Don’t expect the hunky bloke.
Bring an umbrella with you always.
If you want good directions, you should not have come here. Explicit directions entail, “Take a left up ahead then walk on for a bit and eventually you’ll take a right.” And the 10 minute walk is really a 30 minute walk.
People order in their groceries here. It’s revolutionary.
Everywhere you go, there is a story to be told. England is full of history.
Most museums in Oxford are free. Take full advantage of them.
Invest in the heaviest sweaters, thickest scarves, and gloves you can find. Also boots. You will be layering 3 pairs of sweaters.
People purchase tote bags and roller bags, or wear backpacks to take with them to market. Plastic bags are a no no. Save the environment, you heathen.
Zucchini isn’t zucchini. It’s courgette.
If you’re from the South in America, don’t purchase what is labeled squash at the grocery store. It isn’t squash but some strange hybrid between pumpkin and a gourd.
Speaking of food, the McDonald’s is always crowded.
No one has public restrooms except Starbucks or McDonald’s or by some obscure possibility, the local museum you are visiting.
People won’t understand what you are saying. Start practicing your strange mix of British and American accent. It’s only those in Oxford who cannot understand you.
When you ask a question, the local may not answer it. If you repeat your question, it still may not be answered. Just move on to someone else to get help.
It’s common to see Oxford students dress in peculiar attire at all hours.
Yes, this is normal. You haven’t seen anything yet.
Although there is a small section labeled “Mexican” at the grocery store, it is not really Mexican. They don’t do spices here.
Cilantro isn’t cilantro. It’s called coriander and no, it does not taste the same.
If you don’t check your e-mail, the university will not tell you where you should be at what time. No one discusses things. They will notice if you were not there.
You won’t have wi-fi. Don’t even try. Invest in a cheap phone plan to get you wi-fi. In the mean time, you will become best buddies with your LAN.
Room mates are not room mates. They are flat mates.
It’s common for men and women to share flats.
You may never see your flat mates, just hear them. Think ghosts.
Nothing is ever as easy as they make it seem.
Top Up minutes at standard rate are not good. Quickly switch to a customized plan.
If you are from America, your old mobile phone will not unlock despite calling 5 times to make certain it was. Invest in cheap phone or one of the Pay as You Go options.
Good luck finding a Pay as You Go.
If your flat is new, you will not receive your mail. It will be lost. Eternal patience is a must.
If you are from Texas, yes, they really do think you live by an oil well, ride a horse, and own a cattle ranch.
You must have tea. It is survival.
There are only one– perhaps two– choices for every item you can purchase at a store except tea. There are several aisles dedicated to it. And no, you will not find just “regular tea.”
There are no electric blankets. There are heating pads.
Every idea involves a drink at the pub.
Only bring what you can carry because you will be carrying it all.
Carts are not carts. They are trolleys.
Pubs are everything. As is rugby.
You will be asked where you are from in the first minute you meet someone.
Biscuits are not biscuits. They are cookies. Often with a thin layer of chocolate on top. Very popular with tea.
There are student discounts for railways and buses.
Train stations are rail stations. Get it right.
It’s common for a rail station to take you to a tube station. Don’t panic. I repeat, do not panic.
The tube is an underground train station. Don’t expect them to announce the stops.
Stops will not be announced on buses or trains.
Prices are high here. I hope you brought lots of cash.
Open a bank account ASAP.
Exchange currency as soon as you land at the airport. You will need it as soon as you step out the door.
People do not smile or make much eye contact. If you do speak to them, they are often very friendly. Do not expect anything other than a shallow conversation with strangers.
Leave everything behind except for the absolute necessities such as a pillow, thick blanket, a few set of clothes, and vital medicines.
There is a nice health care system here. You can apply to see if you are eligible for free health care and prescriptions. If you are not, you purchase an NHS certificate for several hundred pounds for the entire year. IF you are a university student, your health care fees are included in your tuition but medicines are not. Without NHS, it costs the equivalent of $14 per prescription.
You’ll need a prescription for the simplest things here such as Tums. Yes, Tums.
You will encounter an endless stream of “I don’t knows” before someone has the answer to your important question. Good luck.
People are very athletic here, even during the colder seasons.
I’ve only seen maybe two obese people since I’ve arrived in England. It’s from all the walking.
Women don’t wear make-up or wear very little.
You more than likely won’t need deodorant due to the climate here. But, for the Americans stuck in their ways, you can still find it.
Don’t eat Bangers & Mash. Just don’t. Trust me on this.
I do recommend the Fish & Chips.
Businesses often close at 4 or 4:30 p.m. Aka 1600 or 16.30.
Yes, military time is used. Learn it quickly.
I advise studying and practicing the local currency. Also, know how much you are truly paying for an item by calculating the conversion in your head.
Most places don’t open until 9 a.m. Enjoy sleeping in a few minutes later.
Bring an outlet adapter specifically made for Britain! You will thank me.
Charity shops are everywhere. Often the prices are similar to that of newly made clothing. Primark and Gap tend to have good prices though you might encounter some hissing when you tell your activist friends where you purchased your clothing.
Cadbury and Tolberone are everywhere here which is amazing. Unless you want to know about Cadbury using child labor.
If you write with an –or in English it is probably an –our here (i.e., Favorite is favourite, honor is honour).
I’s are often substituted with y’s. You can thank Old English.
If you halfway know a foreign language, your mind will race in one hundred different directions when you come across someone speaking it.
You will come across someone speaking it. You will meet people from all over the world and encounter at least five different languages a day.
French in England is the Spanish of America. Embrace it.
Nearly everything is beautiful in England.
The parks are grand.
When going running, expect rain and or steep hills.
Time changes are not always honored here. Double check with everyone before the fact as they will not tell you.
Cakes can be expensive to make. You will see mini- prepackaged cakes at the stores.
You will encounter lots of Indian and Asian dishes.
All outlets must be turned on before using them. Double check.
They will expect you to speak on behalf of your country. Choose your words wisely.
The iconic telephone booth.
There are more natural blondes and red heads than you have ever seen in your life and you will find yourself amazed that they look like you. Especially if you come from Texas.
The trash is not trash here. It is rubbish.
Learn how to recycle your rubbish. It is mandatory.
There will be protests and strikes. It’s common. Also common are “ holidays” (a.k.a. vacations).
The locals are very concerned with the environment and equality.
The birds are on steroids. Really. One bird would feed three children.
There really aren’t any super stores. Get used to going from place to place to purchase items you need.
Many shops have reward cards that you can earn points on and redeem later. I highly recommend this.
British men don’t know how to flirt. They either ignore you or stalk you. If you come across the latter, get out of there.
Brits love fruit, even with their sweets. You will find a plethora of sweets and fruit mixed together. They also enjoy plenty of fruit juices.
Punting with mates on the River Thames.
Foods don’t last as long in England as they do in the U.S. Probably for lack of preservatives.
Credit and debit cards have chips in them. You insert them differently into credit machines here than in the U.S. Put the end with the chip into the machine and keep it there until the screen says to remove it.
Brits are obsessed with their soap operas and their dancing shows.
Although Jane Austen is world renown for her literary work as a British author, good luck getting directions on how to visit her home which is now a famous museum. See # 9 and #54.
Don’t ask directions from a local convenience store. The foreign owner may chase you out with his broom.
Do join a society. There is so much to be a part of England. It will make you adapt quickly to your new home.
If you want to see touristy things, wait to hear about good travel deals. You may discover travel societies or great deals on tours to nearby European countries. After all the Eurorail is popular.
Grades are called Marks. A 40% or higher is passing. Anything 70% or above is an A. So although it looks like you failed a test, you actually aced it.
Sending parcels, not packages, parcels, to loved ones at home is expensive and vice versa. Try not to if you can help it.
Don’t expect to talk to your family and friends often. Time difference is not convenient. I would suggest free international text and phone apps on your smart phone or Skype and such for online. However, you need wi-fi for this. See #24.
Be prepared to miss the U.K., or more specifically, Oxford, when you return home.
Heaters are not turned on until late October. Bundle up. Likewise there are no fans. If you want a breeze, open a window though I suggest opening it as little as possible. The spiders here are huge and they do like to snuggle near your bed or in your shower.