It's been six months or so since I moved to the UK from the Philippines. During this period, I wasn't allowed to work under my visa (the Fiance Visa) so I can only document my experience of living and waiting for my residency visa. I think it helps that my partner is British so he lets me know the general dos and don'ts. But for the rest of you who might be moving to the UK as a Filipino, I wanted to list down things to expect and some tips to get used to living in the UK.
Disclaimer: Everyone's experience of living abroad is and always will be different. I'm only here to document my personal experience.
Weather Adjustment
We arrived at the tail end of summer 2022, easing us into the colder autumn and winter months. Having lived in Canada before, adjusting to British winter was easy-peasy. Newcomers to the UK be warned, there is constant rain wherever you go! It has been a habit of mine to always check the weather before heading out.
People/Social Adjustment
Brits are generally have a mind-your-own-business persona. Do not stare at people like a creep, don't comment on other people as well. A casual nod of your head or a small smile is friendly enough. Basically, mind your own business unless someone is in danger or needs help.
With having a social life, an Uber driver and fellow immigrant summed it up perfectly for me: "Here in the UK, you go to work and go home. Not a lot of socializing." As someone who used to have a brunch, miryenda, and dinner with different batches of friends in a day, I absolutely miss being with friends. But again, this might change once I start working and get more social with people. But for now, my observation is moving abroad means spending a lot of time with yourself. So having a hobby is so essential to pass your time, I've focused on creating reels and content to fill my time. Also essential is having a great support system of friends you can chat up when you feel lonely.
Accent Adjustment
Depending in where you end up relocating, the accents can be easy or difficult to get used to. Everyone speaks in English here but the question is what accent do they have? Scots have their own accent (I personally struggle with this one), Jordies have a different accent, Birmingham people have their own accent, Londoners have their own accent. People in Scotland have their accent, and even there, Glaswegians and people in Edinburgh speak differently as well! Important takeaway here is that everyone here speaks in English but in a different accent. My tip would be to start watching British shows like Peaky Blinders or The Inbetweeners can give you a taste of what to expect.
Rule of thumb: If you don't understand what they've said, just say "Sorry, I didn't catch that, would you mind repeating that?" or "Sorry, can you say that again but slower?" With the UK's diverse community, a lot of locals are used to foreigners trying their best to understand the British accent/slang terms.
Financial Adjustment (?)
Since I haven't started working, I wasn't allowed to under my UK Fiancee Visa, I wouldn't be the most reliable source for cost of living tips. However, one thing I will say is that online banking is SUPER CONVENIENT HERE. Having a contactless card/contactless mode of payment (like ApplePay) is honestly an essential part of life in the UK. I once went to a cafe in London and they didn't accept cash payments!
Watch my YouTube video to know more adjustments I made in my first six months in the UK.
Disclaimer (AGAIN): Everyone's experience of living abroad is and always will be different. I'm only here to document my personal experience.
I know I've only been living in the UK for a short time compared to other Filipinos but I did want to list what I've experienced so far. I'm sure that in a year, things might change and I will document that in a different blog, too! In the meantime, let me know your thoughts in the comments or on my socials!
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