I'm an American who has lived in the UK for 13 years. Here are the differences I've noticed.

Quick housekeeping note. So you’ll keep seeing these letters in your inbox, quickly reply to this email with a “hello”.

Before I jump into what will end up being one of my favourite Letters from Lauren, let me just tell you why you haven’t heard from me in so long.

The long and short of it is, I’m very confused about what I’m doing with my life. Well, my work life.

I thought I was going to quit writing. I’d had enough and thought it was time for a change. Started looking for jobs, applying for jobs. Primarily support work role jobs – my bread and butter. And then quickly realised that without any childcare support, it just wouldn’t work. The only way I can continue working with young kids is to work for myself. I talked more about why here.

It took a good number of months, but I now know that for now, writing is the way forward. But instead of just writing as a journalist, I’m going to shift to try and secure writing work for charities and businesses. (So sidenote, holler if you know of someone looking for a capable writer.)

All this thinking took me away from writing here, but I’m back. This time, from the land of Trump v Biden. Of BBQ meat joints, massive cars, and abundant food. That’s right, America.

We arrived nearly three weeks ago and have a week to go. If you weren’t aware, I’m American, but have lived in Wales for 13 years. This is our first visit back to America in seven years.

And for your reading pleasure, and my personal satisfaction, I’m going to let you in on what differences I’m noticing.

Cold aircon and cold ice. What the boys have noticed.

First up, the boys, aged 10, 8, and 5, have noticed some of the simple things I wouldn’t have necessarily clocked. I wrote in depth about it here.

The toilets have more water, which makes for less cleaning of the toilet bowl after a poo. It also feels a bit rude to say: “I need to use the toilet.” Here, you should really say: “I need to use the restroom.”

Ice is served in every cold drink, which the kids love, because it’s a novelty, and hate, because it hurts their teeth.

Air conditioning is welcome in the boiling heat wave we’re here for, but it also means you always need to bring a jumper along. For instance, we went out to eat dressed for the heat. But when we got inside the restaurant, everyone had chill bumps on their arms and legs.

The food is huge. The boys have only ordered kids meals and haven’t been able to polish off their plates like they would at home. Bags of crisps are bigger, as are cereal boxes and milk cartons.

They’re loving it all, but if you ask them if they’d want to move here, they’d say they are Welsh through and through, and wouldn’t want to relocate.

As for me…

On past visits, I’ve always thought to myself I could never in a million years move back to America unless there was some sort of family emergency.

This time has been different. I’ve found neighbourhoods I could imagine the kids biking around and coffee shops I could work from.

We very much are not moving here, but the possibility hasn’t produced the same guttural reaction it previously had.

Healthcare costs

The absolute biggest reason we could never move here is we’d be financially screwed as we wouldn’t have the NHS.

Which leads to the first difference I’ve noticed.

I know the NHS is far from perfect. But it’s healthcare you don’t pay for, even if taxes might be ever so slightly higher than in the States. If you have a baby, need emergency surgery, or require cancer treatment, the NHS is there, no matter your job or wallet size.

My mom isn’t currently working (get in touch if you need a super experienced HR employee who everyone loves) and is paying hundreds out of pocket each month for insurance.

I recall Obamacare was introduced years ago but remember so much fuss about it. I haven’t got a clue why someone wouldn’t want nationalised healthcare to make sure that every person has access to medical care. Blows my mind.

Eating is really expensive

The food prices have gone skyrocket in the States. It’s apparently due to inflation. I know food prices have risen in the UK too, but I’m certain it’s more expensive here.

Fast food for a family of five is costing us about 50 to 60 dollars.

Bread and eggs cost more here.

And most importantly, Lucky Charms, which used to be ten times more expensive to buy in the UK, are pretty much the same price in the two countries.

Salary differences

The average salary in the US is 59,428 American dollars, translated to 46,982 British pounds. The average salary in the UK is 44,224 American dollars, translated to 34,963 British pounds. This is all before taxes.

That’s what stats say. In actual truth, I make a lot less than the average UK salary. Full disclosure, freelance journalism paid me 28,000 British pounds last year before taxes. The support worker jobs I looked at the last few months have paid no more than 25,000 British pounds before taxes.

I don’t really understand how Americans make so much more, but I know they do. I’ve looked at salaries for jobs here. I’ve talked to friends and family in the States about what they make. I’ve heard from Americans who have moved to the UK and been shocked by their drop in salary. I’m telling you as a fact to support the stats – Americans make more money.

That being said, if you don’t have money in America, you are totally screwed. Gotta love capitalism.

Christianity is everywhere

It may be because we are in the south, but I’ve probably passed a gazillion churches since being here. Christian music plays in public places. People refer to God all the time.

If I’m honest, I find it a bit much.

And I’d be really interested to know if people who call themselves Christians actually live how Jesus did. Jesus was obsessed with loving the poor, the outcast, the broken, the ignored, the unseen, the hated, the disgraced. I’m not going to judge as I really haven’t been here long enough to see, but I wonder how much of a priority this would be for all the Christians on every single corner.

And this could be divisive, but I also find mission trip culture pretty odd here. People spend thousands upon thousands to go around the world for one week to tell people they will never see again about Jesus. To paint walls. To build toilets. Rather than training up local people to do the same in their own communities.  

Customer service in the UK could use some work

I’m lucky if I can find someone to help me check out in the UK. But in the States, people working at shops and restaurants are itching to help customers.

Are Americans full on?

I know it is totally wrong to generalise, so forgive me, but Americans, I’ve got to say, tend to be more “full on” than Brits.

Go big or go home when it comes to friendship, hospitality, food, work, exercise, fun, and so on.

There is a lot of positivity and zeal I sometimes wish I still had, but British cynicism has won me. I remember my family worrying over the years that I’ve been depressed, when in actuality, I’ve just not got the American bubbles I used to have.

And just a few quickies (not a pun)

There are electric sockets in bathrooms in America. You can dry your hair next to a sink.

Eggs are sold and stored in the fridge in the States. Here, eggs are washed and processed. They take a dip in a warm bath to kill bacteria. By washing off the potentially bad stuff, they are left vulnerable to bacteria like salmonella, stripped of their natural protective coating. So they have to be stored in the cold.

The UK is better about recycling. We separate out our recycling into tins, plastic, paper, cardboard, food waste, and batteries. If you don’t, you risk a fine. In the States, people love bottle water and plastic bags.

What I miss most about America

Without a doubt, the thing I miss most about America is the weather. I’m sick and tired of rain in Wales, as you’ll read about here.

Even though I grew up in the States, Wales is my home. So even if her weather is totally crap most of the time, I love her.