Before you pack that suitcase, buy that ticket and rush to the nearest airport, let's take a look at what it takes to move to the UK.
Differences
Unless you've been to the UK before, and depending on how different your country is to the UK, you are going to face lots of new experiences. Its going to be a journey of discovery!
When you arrive for the first time it's almost certain you'll be surprised by what you see and experience. Its likely that there will be challenges you have to face every day - things won't be like they are back at home.
The food is different, the money is different, the side of the road on which we drive may, or may not, be different - and that's just the start! The language will be different, even if you come from an English speaking country. For example, do you know what a kettle is? Do you know what someone means when they talk about "the trouble and strife"... We eat at different times, eat something called a pudding with our Sunday dinner (which is mostly served at lunch time...) and are obsessed with talking about the weather!
We hope that it is these differences that has attracted you to come to the UK in the first place. But it can be unsettling when many things are different and you may feel like you want to criticise those differences. Just because something is not the same doesn't mean it is wrong. And a word of warning: criticising the UK or aspects of life here is not the fastest way to make friends. If you can be open-minded about the cultures and traditions here, open to different ways of thinking, and above all, be willing to try new things you will be heartily welcomed. Some things you might like and some things you might not. But doing things you've never done before is a great part of life, a part that anyone thinking about moving to the UK should welcome.
Positive Attitude
It is natural that even those who come to Britain with the most positive attitude towards accepting the culture will at some time feel negatively about the differences, and look back at how things were better at home. But as long as you remember to accept that culture and traditions of the British are different than in your homeland, rather than criticising them, you should feel more at ease. The more you try to integrate with British society, the more you are likely to have fun.
So, it takes a positive attitude to make your stay a successful one. But as well as that, you need to take steps to make sure you develop a social life. If you just move into your accommodation and sit there waiting for your new life to begin, things won't just start to happen around you! So why don't you think about some of the ideas below to help you settle-in and make some new friends?
Strain of Moving
Be aware that moving to a new place takes quite a lot of energy, this is because you are processing lots of new things and if you are doing this in a new language, you can expect to be very tired in the first few weeks. At the beginning, you will have to arrange a lot of practical things e.g. a place to live, a bank account. If you are working you will have to get familiar with the work ethic and understand what is expected of you in your job. If you are studying, you will have to learn the way things are taught here and the culture of studying which may be very different to your home-country. So, don't be too surprised if you are very, very tired in your first few weeks.
A word of advice: if you are leaving your home-country to escape from something, ask yourself if you will be bringing it with you... if you are having personal problems in your home-country, they may only get worse if you move to a country where you don't have the social support network that you may have in your own country.
Smile!
In Britain we say "a smile goes a long way". You don't want people to think you are a miserable person even if you're having the worst day of your year. Happy people (even if they're pretending!) are much more likely to get invites to dinner, to a party, or even on a date!
Accept Invitations
If you get asked to go around to a colleague's for dinner, to a birthday party, or even to the "neighbourhood watch" meeting, try your best to attend. Social gatherings like this are the sorts of places where you can get to know new people and make new friends who could ultimately be part of your life. And if you say "no" (or even worse, don't turn up) the first time, it is very likely they will not ask you again.
Go to your local pub
You will probably get asked if you want to join people in the pub before you've got past your first week in the UK. The pub is a British institution, where people congregate to chat, drink, dance, and even sing.
We Brits are renowned for being quite shy - but not in the pub. Here you can find that more than anywhere else, people you have never seen before will start talking to you. So they're a great place for you to meet new people and have a good time.
And if you really want to befriend the regular "punters" (=customers), you could try the local beer! There are literally thousands of types to try from "Black Sheep" in Yorkshire, to "London Pride" in the capital.
Get to know your neighbours
Many of us in the UK live in houses that are attached to each other, sometimes on both sides! This means that you usually get to know the people living next door.
You may find that people have a tendency to stand with a cup of tea next to the fence that divides their garden with their neighbour's, gossiping about the latest events in the street.
So, after you've been here for a week or two, why not knock on their door, introduce yourself, and invite them around for dinner?
Go to local events
Your council will organise local events for the community. Going to a town carnival or a village fete will certainly give you an introduction to British culture, and also help you get accepted into the local community.
Once you've made friends and settled in, you can start to explore different aspects of British culture. The more you can experience while you are here, the more you will gain from your stay in the UK.
Learn some recipes
If you live in a shared accommodation, your flat-mates will surely love to try recipes from your native country. So in return, why not get them to teach you how to cook some typical English food? Traditional favourites like "Shepherd's pie" and "bangers and mash" are very simple to cook, but taste great!
Visit the museums
Go to your local museums, art galleries and places of interest. There's a museum in most cities where you can learn about the area you are living in, as well as the history of Britain as a whole.
The better you understand the culture, the better you will understand the people you meet, which can only lead to an altogether more fulfilling time for you in the UK.
However you decide to do it, just remember that when you arrive in the UK, the more you try to throw yourself into the social aspects of life, the more friends you are likely to make, and the more enjoyable you will find it. So forget about the rain and the cold - get out and meet the British people!
By Matt Taylor
Leaving home 
