Australian expat from Brisbane Emily Brogan reveals the huge changes after moving to London

An Australian woman living in London has revealed the biggest changes she’s had to adapt to – and the one meal she can no longer eat.

Emily Broganfrom Brisbane, has recently moved to London and regularly shares comments about the differences between the two cities.

The Australian expatriate said she can’t swear that much in the UK and doesn’t understand the relaxed attitude towards probationary drivers.

While she can no longer find affordable sushi, at least Emily never has to worry about her favorite artists not touring London.

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An Australian woman living in London has revealed the biggest changes she’s had to adapt to — and the one meal she’s had to give up

Four differences between Australia and the UK

  • The British don’t swear that often and ‘never’ use the c-bomb.
  • Londoners never have to worry about their favorite artists not touring their city
  • British drivers are not expected to show their green ‘P’ plates on a trial basis while driving
  • Sushi is extremely expensive in London and not widely available

Source: Emily Brogan

Emily summed up the differences in a short excerpt – starting by saying she was shocked that she was expected to censor her language.

‘I’ve been in London for six months now and here in the UK the c-bomb is a no-no. In Australia it was literally a display of affection,” she said.

‘But when I’m in London working to drop the c-bomb, [my co-worker] will tell me I’d be so much more attractive if I didn’t use that word.’

Emily said many people told her she had to have a limited vocabulary if she had to resort to swearing, but she insisted that swear words would give her speech “oomph.”

Another shock was the culture surrounding concerts and the expectation of big celebrities going on tour in London.

“London doesn’t have to worry about whether or not the famous A-list celebrity she’s obsessed with is coming to their country,” she said.

“I swear Australia is in Woop Woop – the number of times a celebrity will [skip Australia on their world tour] is ridiculous.’

‘Woop Woop’ is Australian slang for a location that is far away from everything.

“Justin Bieber just canceled his concerts in Australia – I’d be dead if I was 13 years old,” Emily said. “But London – every celebrity will come here without fail.”

Emily Brogan, from Brisbane, has recently moved to London and regularly shares comments about the differences between the two cities

Emily also said she didn’t understand why UK residents had their green ‘probationary period’ signs on their vehicles.

“Apparently here in the UK you only need to have a P number on your car for a week and you can take them off when you feel ‘comfortable’,” she said.

“In Australia you’re stuck with them for three years and you get a fine if you don’t wear them.”

The main reason the road plates hit her was the inability to play “hot or not” with her friends in London.

‘I feel sorry for the British people – because [having ‘P’ plates] is literally a game of “Are you hot or not?”‘

“You’re driving down the highway with your girlfriends and you know the sign means they’re between 17 and 22 years old — and then you have to guess if they’re attractive,” she said.

The Australian expat said she can’t swear so much in the UK and doesn’t understand the relaxed attitude towards probationary drivers

Emily was also upset to discover that there were no sushi restaurants offering the same food for the price she was used to.

“Sushi train and sushi in general are so expensive here and you don’t get your money’s worth,” she said.

‘In Australia you can go to your local sushi shop and buy a roll of sushi for $2.50, but here it would cost me a month’s rent.

“No wonder you guys don’t like sushi much – that’s because it’s so expensive.”

Many were shocked by some of Emily’s observations.

“The c-bomb is part of my vocabulary and I’m from the UK,” said one woman.

“Swearing is very common in Surrey,” wrote another.

But others had similar experiences.

“One of the main reasons I moved to London is for the concerts,” said an Australian expatriate.

‘Sushi should really be cheaper’, one foodie agrees.

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