The Proper British Way

So, the past few weeks, I have been learning first hand about the everyday rules. These are just a few that I have come up with (I will make note of more as they come up in the future).

1) In the US, we naturally pass people walking on the right side. In a grocery store we usually do the same, because that is how we drive, and it is how we grow up. So, everyone knows that in the UK, people drive on the left side of the road. Well they walk the same! They walk on the left side of the stairs, the left side of the aisle, and so on. Unless you want to crash your shopping cart into everyone you pass in the grocery store, pass on the left! Most of the time left is right, except when you are on the escalators, then standing on the right is right. Confused yet? Because I am.

2) This is very important: Pedestrians do not have the right of way in the UK! Or at least that is how it seems. If you reach an intersection and see a car approaching slowing down, it is not because they are waiting for you to cross (because they won't stop), it is because they don't really have stop signs, it's more like a mutual understanding to yield when approaching a bigger street than the one that you are on.

3) If you try and fit in with the speech here, it doesn't work. They get confused when you mention football with an American accent. "you mean American football, or proper football, soccer?" Also, if you say "cheers" with an American accent, you will be laughed at. However, there are so many different English accents within England, no one will question your fake British accent if you try, well to your face at least!