At Remitly we know that intercultural exchange is always a good thing. If you’re moving to the United Kingdom, you have to understand British culture in order to integrate properly. But it’s equally as important to share your home culture with your new friends. Here, we’re sharing our best practices for adding to the UK melting pot through cultural exchange.
The Benefits of Cultural Exchange
Cultural exchange isn’t easy. It would be simple to stick with people who share our background, language, and traditions. So, why go through all the effort? On a social level, cultural exchange provides opportunities for real-world learning. It also helps break down stereotypes and build empathy. Not for nothing, but cultural exchange is also fun. Especially if you’ve just moved to a new place, connecting across cultures is a great way to make friends.
Former President Barack Obama said, “Simple exchanges can break down walls between us, for when people come together and speak to one another and share a common experience, then their common humanity is revealed.” We couldn’t have said it better. Here are some benefits of cultural exchange:
- Enhances cultural awareness and inclusivity. Although you can learn about any culture through a book, documentaries or the internet, there is no cultural touchpoint as valuable as a friend. By sharing your culture and being open to learning about other cultures, you can foster inclusivity in a tangible way.
- Promotes empathy and mutual understanding. Being able to understand the feelings and perspectives of someone else is an invaluable soft skill. Learning about different cultures gives us an opportunity to practice this empathy.
- Stimulates personal growth and promotes lifelong learning. Cultural exchange can both satisfy and increase our curiosity about the world around us. It provides an avenue for us to learn more about other people and places.
- Increases creativity and innovation. Different cultures think differently. Some cultures are direct, while others are passive. Some cultures value emotion over logic or vice versa. When we collaborate with people of other cultures, we invite different approaches. This can lead to an increase in creativity and innovation.
- Preserves cultural heritage. When we share a culture, we become stewards of it. Inviting other people to share in our culture also helps to preserve its heritage, regardless of where in the world we are.
- Combats feelings of homesickness. Connecting with your home culture is a way of experiencing the familiar patterns of “home” even if you’re far away. This can help you feel more calm and settled in a new place.
Understanding British Culture
If you’re new to the UK, you’ll want to understand some of the local cultural norms. Doing your homework to familiarise yourself with British etiquette is the first step to making friends with whom you can later share your own culture.
Socialising like a local
In general, British people are very friendly, but they’re also very polite. This means that you might have to approach them to make new friends or enter into small talk. But if you do, you’ll likely get a positive response. Here are some tips for socialising with British friends:
-
- Use the handshake. When meeting people in the UK, the most common greeting is a friendly handshake without too much pressure. Although the European cheek kiss is becoming more popular, it is usually reserved for established friendships and family.
- Hi, hello, pleased to meet you. These three are the most common pleasantries in the UK. In formal settings people might say “How do you do?”. Although it’s a question, it is usually not answered and used more as a greeting. In less formal settings, this question is the more informal, “You alright?”.
- Keep it friendly and short. Especially if you are meeting someone new you should keep your responses pretty quick. If someone asks how you are and you choose to answer, it is normal just to use a one-word answer like “fine,” “good,” or “alright,” and then keep the conversation moving along. It is not usually an invitation to express negative experiences or get into deeper conversation.
- First name basis. In general, most people in the UK are happy to go by their first name. In more formal settings, you might use surnames with a title, like Miss, Missus or Mister. If you’re unsure how someone would like to be addressed, you can ask them at the first meeting.
- On-time is early. British culture tends to be quite punctual. This means that you should arrive at meetings and gatherings at the agreed upon time. If you’re attending an event, like a formal dinner or an appointment, it is normal to arrive 5-10 minutes early.
Cultural entry points
In order to share your culture with your British friends, it’s important to establish some initial connections. You can start by reaching out to neighbors and coworkers. You can also find interest-based or community groups to meet people and start to develop contacts. Once you have people with whom you’d like to share your culture, consider the following:
- Language exchange. This can be particularly helpful if you are also trying to pick up on some of the British colloquialisms as well. Pair up with a local friend and teach each other common phrases or slang in your native languages.
- Media and entertainment. Share book recommendations, social media posts, music, and movies from your home culture.
- Share food and recipes. It’s true what they say about the path to the heart being through the stomach! Share some traditional treats with friends, neighbors, and coworkers to give them an entry point into your culture.
- Cultural festivals and holidays. Continue to celebrate the holidays and events that are special to you and tied to your home culture. Invite some of your new British friends to do these things with you.
- Meaningful conversations and storytelling. Once you’ve developed a friendship with someone, you can share stories that provide insight into your home culture. Sharing information about the history and values of your culture will promote mutual understanding.
- Local exploration. The UK is a very diverse place with pocket neighborhoods of ethnic minorities. It’s likely that you can find a neighborhood where your home culture is more visible. Check out these places and bring your British friends along!
Overcoming potential challenges
Cultural exchange can come with its challenges, which often involve misunderstandings or even discomfort. For this reason, it’s important to build trust with the people with whom you’re sharing your culture.
Before getting into deeper, more personal topics, connect through less emotionally charged ones like sports, travel, the weather, and pop culture. In the UK, it isn’t common to talk about topics like religion or politics with people you’ve just met. Instead, foster a relationship before getting into these conversations. If a misunderstanding occurs, remind yourself that:
- It might not be personal as different cultures have different values.
- Most people think of their own culture as their main reference point. It might take time for people to understand your perspective.
- Different cultures can have different understandings of right and wrong. If necessary, provide gentle feedback to help someone understand how you feel.
- Different cultures have different communication norms. In the UK, it is typical for people to be very direct and okay with expressing their opinions verbally. This can be shocking to people from Eastern cultures that rely more on body language, facial expressions, and tones to communicate.
If you’re feeling shy about sharing your culture, try teaming up with a friend who has a similar background to you. In this way, you can be cultural ambassadors together. Having someone to support you in sharing your culture can make it easier and more fun.
Building Connections That Last
One way to make sure that you are fostering meaningful relationships is to get involved in community events. If you dig into the community resources available in the UK, you’ll find community groups for minority ethnic groups. The Southeast Asian, East Asian, and Black communities are very established in the UK. Connecting with these communities is a great way to start your cultural exchange as they’re already established.
Here are five tips to keep in mind as you develop meaningful long-term friendships across cultures.
- Keep an open mind. Try to remain curious and positive. This will help with any friendship, especially if it is across cultures.
- Seek to understand. Asking questions and holding space for an open dialogue can help you better understand others. It can also model the sort of patience and openness necessary for you to share your culture with them.
- Address your own bias. Everyone brings their own perspective into relationships. By thinking about what biases you might have, you can prevent misunderstandings before they occur.
- Don’t make assumptions. Because different cultures have different ways of thinking, your assumptions can’t be trusted in cross-cultural relationships. Try to replace assumptions with conversation.
- Assume the best of others. Even if someone’s actions or words don’t feel right, think about their intentions. Assume the best and ask questions to try to further understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you introduce your culture to others?
By sharing traditions, food, history, and customs through conversation, experiences, and events.
How would you describe British culture?
A mix of tradition and modernity, known for politeness, tea-drinking, diverse influences, and a strong sense of humor.
What should I do if my anxiety prevents me from sharing my culture with others?
Before you shift your focus to sharing your culture, make sure that all of your bureaucratic to-do’s are in order and that you feel as settled as possible. Making some friends who have a similar background to you can also reduce anxiety around cultural exchange.
Is the UK a culturally accepting place compared to nearby countries like France, Germany, and Spain?
The UK is considered an ethnically diverse place. The largest ethnic group in the UK is White British. The second largest is Asian British. Census data consistently reveals the growing diversity and cultural dynamism of the UK. If you’d like to compare the cultural diversity of the UK with other countries, check out our blog posts on other popular EU destinations.