Being from New York City as well as an experienced traveler, living in London was not entirely different from what I was used to. The language is the same, the city is bustling and diverse, and the cultural norms were not only easy to pick up on and adapt to but preferred, as I greatly took to the dry sense of humor, the pub life, and the relaxed nature when it comes to punctuality and scheduling. In fact, the only thing that I was confused by and disappointed with was the food and its general lack of flavor.
I am not a great cook, so I take a lot of pleasure in going out to eat and trying new restaurants. In New York I am used to having a vast range of various cuisines and dishes that are incredibly rich and flavorful. In London however, I found myself frequently disappointed with the food, as much of it was bland and in some cases even unappetizing. Historically and scientifically this makes sense, as the British climate makes it difficult for spices to grow, and the presence of Puritan culture during the 17th century made food be seen purely as a means of survival rather than an object of enjoyment. This set a standard for the country and the food has not amassed much flavor since.
Someone who was born and raised in England would presumably not know that their food is particularly bland if they had never traveled outside of the country and consumed food from other places. In my experience, I saw many locals add lots of salt as well as spicy sauces to their meals, so I think a good portion of English people have a taste for more flavorful meals. At the same time however, many Brits greatly enjoy eating their cultural dishes such as the English Breakfast and Yorkshire pudding, so it is also possible that they are aware of the difference but not displeased by it.
Since this experience was very surface-level as it did not negatively affect my well being or safety in any way, I would not consider it as either a cultural misunderstanding or a conflict. Additionally, as far as I know, only England is known for having this issue, so it is not something I will necessarily have to keep in mind when traveling to and living in other countries. But, in a general sense, it teaches one to remain open-minded, understanding of other cultures’ histories and opinions, and adaptable to different situations.
