Weird Things About Life in America After Moving From the UK to Florida

• When I moved from England to Florida 12 years ago, I found a few aspects of my new life strange.
• I was surprised by things like drive-thru banking and elaborate outdoor holiday displays.
• However, now that I’m acclimated to life in the States, I’ve grown to love these small luxuries.

Twelve years ago, I married my American husband and moved from York, England, to Florida.

Although I traveled through the US when I was younger and spent some time in Canada, I was initially puzzled by many aspects of American life.

However, now that I’ve been here for a while, I’ve grown to love many of the things I once found odd. Here are five aspects of life in Florida that I’ve grown to love.

I didn’t realize how amazing drive-thru banking would be

Although there are some drive-thru banks in Europe, they’re few and far between. And at first, I thought the concept was a bit lazy.

However, I came around to the idea when I was traveling in New England and experienced the freezing winter weather. And during my first Florida summer, it was nice to be able to stay in the air conditioning while I did my banking.

Turning right on red is a luxury

Not all states allow this traffic game changer, but Florida does. Turning right at a red light for the first time felt like getting away with something, as this convenient move generally isn’t allowed in many European countries.

Fully accustomed to this upgrade, I probably couldn’t drive in Europe now without racking up a stream of tickets.

The elaborate outdoor seasonal decor caught my attention

When I lived in England, a few twinkling lights and a rare lawn Santa typically signaled Christmastime. However, full-scale haunted-house Halloween decor and flags welcoming the Easter Bunny were new to me.

A little extra? Absolutely. However, they set the tone for the season, and I love it.

When it came time to vote in the US, I couldn’t believe how many questions were on the ballot

Years ago, I cast my first vote as a US citizen in a presidential election. Then, I discovered lots of other questions on the ballot.

To vote in the UK, I’d draw my comically large X on a tiny piece of paper to answer the one and only question on it. Now I’m being asked about the best person to look after the local soil.

Having so much say in how your town is run is so fundamentally American — and a blessing I appreciate.

I now appreciate having ice in my drinks

In England, I rarely found drinks with ice. Since refills at many restaurants weren’t free, watering drinks down with ice seemed almost sinful.

However, it didn’t take long for me to appreciate this, living in the Sunshine State. Thanks to restaurants, in-house ice makers, and bags of the stuff at the supermarket, I’ve seen the light.