Julia, a Swedish woman who now lives in England with her British boyfriend, has shared a list of five things about life in the UK that she still finds odd – including one popular food
The Swedish woman said there were certain thing that baffled her about life in the UK (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Many people move abroad for love – including a Swedish expat called Julia. The loved-up lass left her life behind in Scandinavia to move to the UK with her boyfriend, but it has been a bit of a culture shock.
In an eye-opening TikTok video, Julia list the five things she’s struggled to get to grips with since emigrating. She said: “Things I find odd about the UK as a Swedish person with an English partner.”
From Brits’ love for a certain food item to their interior design preferences and the cost of living, here are the cultural differences that will take a while to sink in…
1. Their love of beans
It’s no secret that Brits love baked beans. However, many other countries, including Sweden, don’t have the same love for them. This became especially apparent when Julia spotted them in a fast food outlet.
She said: “I thought beans were a breakfast thing. Then I saw them… at Subway. On a sandwich. I’m still processing this.”
2. Carpets in every room
For her second point, Julia shared a photo from inside a British home. All the visible rooms had carpeted flooring, which is an alien concept to the Scandi woman.
She said: “Living rooms, bedrooms… sometimes bathrooms?? As a Swede, this feels so unusual – where’s the wood??”
While carpets are a common feature in most UK homes, Swedes typically prefer bare, easy-to-clean flooring like wood, laminate, or linoleum to minimise dust, allergens, and moisture retention.
Instead, they commonly use area rugs, such as rag rugs, which are easy to remove and clean.
3. Milk delivered to your door
On a more positive note, Julia also shared her amazement that the milkman is still ‘a thing’ here in the UK She said: “The milkman is still a thing!! (depending on where you live) and I love it.”
Contrastingly, the old fashioned service is extremely uncommon in Sweden. Instead, residents usually go to supermarkets or nearby farms.
4. Train prices that feel personal
Just like many Brits, Julia also complained about the price of train tickets. She wrote: “A short train ride costs… how much? Is this public transport or a luxury experience?”
We definitely feel her pain with that one!
5. Town names that ignore their own letters
Finally, Julia shared that she’d been confused about how to pronounce certain town names, claiming they were ‘ignoring’ the letters in the names.
Speaking about Worcester in particular, she pondered: “What do you mean this is pronounce ‘Wooster? Why are the letters just decorative?”
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