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Culture Shock in the UK: American Expats Baffled by British Bathrooms
For American expatriates adjusting to life in the United Kingdom, it appears one of the most unexpected cultural differences lies within their homes: the bathrooms. Numerous Americans residing in the UK have expressed their astonishment and amusement at the distinctive features of British bathrooms, citing them as a significant ‘adjustment’ and a source of ongoing bewilderment. From the absence of electrical outlets to the intricacies of dual taps and curious toilet designs, these are the primary bathroom-related culture shocks voiced by American expats in the UK.
Lack of Electrical Outlets: A Hair-Styling Hazard
One of the foremost grievances among American newcomers is the perplexing absence of electrical sockets, or outlets, in British bathrooms. This stark contrast to American homes, where bathroom outlets are commonplace for hair styling appliances, has proven to be a major inconvenience.
TikTok user Taylor Kane, known as Prague.Princess, highlighted this issue, stating, “One of the most inconvenient things is that there are no outlets in the bathrooms here.” She elaborated on the practical implications, “So if you want to blow dry your hair you have to do it in the bedroom or another room, which I find really annoying because then your hair gets all over your carpet rather than just getting on the bathroom floor that you can easily sweep up.”
Another TikTok user, PeachfamilyUK, who relocated to the UK to join her British husband, echoed this frustration. “There are no outlets, no plugs for our curling iron or hair straightener because they don’t believe in that here,” she joked, lamenting the change in her routine, “Gone are the days of sitting in my vanity with my feet in the sink, curling my hair in the mirror. We don’t get nice things anymore.”
Jackie Todd, another American expat on TikTok, concurred in her video, “There are no plugs in the bathroom. Some houses have these plugs for shavers, I usually end up having to do my hair in the living room with an extension cord.”
Separate Hot and Cold Taps: The Mixer Tap Mystery
The prevalence of separate hot and cold water taps, rather than mixer taps common in the United States, presents another challenge for American expats in UK bathrooms. PeachfamilyUK specifically mentioned the difficulties posed by these dual taps when washing her face in the bathroom sink.
She explained, “I have not yet figured out an effective way to wash my face because my options are scalding hot or freezing cold.” Describing her current method, she added, “Right now I’m just doing this thing where I’m trying not to burn myself and then splashing water on my face. It’s honestly not very effective.” She concluded her observation by saying, “My biggest adjustment since moving to England has got to be the bathroom. American girlies are not built for British bathrooms.”
Low Toilet Water Line: An Auditory Observation
The noticeably low water line in British toilets is another point of divergence that has caught the attention of American expats. This design feature, in contrast to the higher water levels typically found in American toilets, can lead to increased audibility during bathroom visits.
Taylor Kane remarked on this, “The water level in the toilets is so low here, so when you go to the bathroom and if you’re in someone’s house, you can hear everything that someone’s doing.”
She also shared a discreet solution she learned, “A trick I learned from another girl here was to put just toilet paper in the bowl to make it a little quieter when you’re going to the bathroom.”
Jackie Todd also commented on the water level, noting, “The toilets are really different, the water is a lot lower on an English toilet and instead of a handle to flush there’s this little button on top.”
External Light Switches: An Unfamiliar Placement
The positioning of the light switch outside the bathroom door is another unusual feature for Americans. This tradition, common in UK homes, was also surprising for American expats.
Taylor Kane jokingly commented on the potential for sibling mischief, “I just know that if I grew up here my siblings would be doing this [switching the lights on and off] to me very damn day.”
Terminology Differences: ‘Toilet’ vs. ‘Bathroom’
Finally, the direct terminology used by Britons to refer to the bathroom has also struck some Americans as unconventional. The common British usage of ‘toilet’ to describe the room itself is considered too explicit or ‘TMI’ (too much information) by some.
Taylor Kane expressed her surprise, “The biggest shock for me was that so many people here call the bathroom just the toilet. They’re like, ‘where’s the toilet’, ‘I have to go to the toilet’, which is just so TMI. I don’t want to know what you’re doing in there,” she stated jokingly.
Jackie Todd also pointed out the naming conventions, “Instead of referring to it as a restroom or bathroom it’s usually called the loo or just the toilet.”