I'm American living in the UK - this typical British behaviour was really hard to get used to
Content creator Kalani Ghost Hunter, real name Kalani Smith, from Tennessee, listed portion sizes as one of the surprises he received after moving to the UK.
The change was so dramatic that when he first ordered a large drink in the UK, he mistook it for a small.
It's perhaps unsurprising that the content creator found the change astonishing since the US is famously known for its hefty food and drink servings compared to other nations.
Taking to TikTok, Kalani said, 'My mind was like 'This is a small'. If you're not familiar with drink sizes in the US, you can get a small state-sized cup for like a dollar 50. It's absolutely mind-blowing.
Taken aback by UK standards, he added, 'When you travel out of the US, you realise that it's not the norm.'
Next, Kalani, who boasts over three million followers on TikTok, said when he first came to Britain, he did not realise how much of a difference tipping culture is.
'When you get your check at the end of dinner, and they don't ask for a tip, and they don't even give you an option to tip, it's really weird.
'For example, when you go out in the USA and you get dinner, let's say it's $60, it's customary to leave an extra 20 per cent on top of that for your service staff.'
The content creator continued, 'But in the UK, it's not the norm to leave anything extra on top.'
The internet personality said that he sometimes still tips waiters and waitresses, but he no longer 'feels the same pressure' that he does to splash out the cash when across the pond.
The third adjustment Kalani had to learn to adapt to was the British humour, which he described as 'very dry, very dark and very passive aggressive'.
However, once the social media star started to understand the British sarcasm, he admitted that it became 'really funny'.
'They have so many different ways to insult you and so many different ways to say things that it's almost like translating another language at times.'
The clip racked up almost 800,000 views and over one thousand comments - and some Britons ranted about having to tip staff when holidaying in the States
Kalani described British comedy as 'elite' and said he was first exposed to it when reading comments on his posts.
'I have grown to call a lot of people 'melts' and really enjoy it,' he added. A melt translates to someone acting in a pathetic or wimp-like manner.
The clip racked up almost 800,000 views after two days and over one thousand comments, with Britons ranting about having to tip staff when holidaying in the States.
One wrote, 'The reason you're not expected to tip in the UK is because service staff actually get paid a wage and tips are extra, not like in the US where servers only survive on tips.'
Another penned, 'Been to America and hated the fact that I had to tip for someone that literally just sat me down and took my order.'
A third said, 'Our banter is the best, the more you like someone the worse the insults.' A fourth commented, 'I wouldn't be able to tip in the US. Couldn't afford it.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
12 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Meet the dancers from Newport with a million views on TikTok
Pulse Point Dance House is a vibrant Newport dance school specialising in street dance. It was founded by Jacey Thomas and Caitlin Waters. The pair initially led their own companies, but shared dreams of building confidence in the younger generation against the demanding world of dance. Since merging on January 20, the school now have nine teams qualified for the UDO Street Dance World Championship. The competition is set to take place in Blackpool, hosting for global contestants such as Phillipines, Qatar, Germany, and Thailand. 'Bringing them together was the right step,' Caitlin added. 'Pulse Point is more than just a dance school. We are a family.' Teen elite dancers in training for the World Championships in Pulse Point uniform (Image: Caitlin Waters) The South Wales qualifier took place on Sunday, April 6 in Ebbw Vale. The teams are now actively training for three to four hours a week, with 7 weeks to go. 'They're getting nervous. It is the countdown. Blood, sweat, and tears have gone into it,' said Jacey. The youngest team to qualify is Under 10s team 'Pulsewave'. The group have only danced together since January but proudly placed 1st in their recent competition. Pulsewave dancers Frankie & Imogen, happy with their medals after becoming Welsh champions! (Image: Caitlin Waters) Jacey added: 'We've had to move people into different teams; it's a big, big step. However, the results are in the pudding. By making big decisions, it's definitely worked out.' 'It's been amazing to see how far they've come.' Pulsewave Dancers. LtoR: Olivia, Ruby, Ellie-Rose, Effie, Imogen, Jorgie, Corban, Halle, Paisley, Frankie and Connie (Image: Caitlin Waters) Pulse Point's passion for dance is inspirational, shown in their social media going viral. Young Renae Thomas' solo, which qualified her to represent South Wales, has brought in 1.1 million views on TikTok. At only ten years old, she looks forward to competing in the Under 12s team and is now working hard to upgrade her solo leading up to the world championship. 'I didn't expect that many views,' said Renae. 'It was really surprising as I thought that only people around me had seen it.' 'The comments were very encouraging.' Renae Thomas' solo which has garnered more than a million views on TikTok (Image: Jacey ThomasCaitlin and Jacey further expressed how proud they are: 'For both of us, street dance was an outlet growing up—a way to feel connected, stay active, and find our confidence. 'That's why we love sharing it with the next generation; it gives young people a way to express who they are." 'We never expected we'd end up taking nine teams to represent Wales at the UDO Street Dance World Championships. 'It still feels surreal.' Over 18 team 'Oscillate' after finding out they made the world finals (Image: Caitlin Waters) With 70 competing dancers to represent South Wales, Pulse Point are now looking to 'send their dancers off in style.' Donations will be put towards essential competition and dancer items such as uniforms, as well as goodie bags to help 'give a little something back to the dancers.' Any donation will make a difference and sponsors are encouraged to reach out. 'We want to fundraise for the experience of a lifetime.' Coach Caitlin in rehearsal with dancers (Image: Caitlin Waters) Caitlin also told the Argus: 'At the moment, we're running classes across three locations—Risca, Blackwood, and Abercarn—using community centres, churches, and local gyms. 'We want to come home with a world title and find a forever home.' For more information on how to support Pulse Point's journey, you can find details on their Facebook page. With dancers from ages three to 82, 'classes are for everyone.' The community is an inclusive environment supporting all levels of dance. You can get involved through their website. Auditions for next season will take place on September 14 at Risca Top Club.
The Guardian
23 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Is ‘princess treatment' a harmless trend – or yet more fuel for misogyny?
Do you wish you were a princess? Do you crave being cosseted and showered with gifts, having every door opened and every chair pulled out? Perhaps you'd rather not pay for your clothes; maybe you're sick of deciding what to eat and where. Courtney Palmer can help. The self-proclaimed housewife princess has a series of TikTok videos on 'princess treatment' and how to get it. It's a matter of accepting compliments graciously, dressing the part, being unapologetically good to yourself (disappointingly, this seems to mean exercising and drinking water) but mostly ministering to your partner, who is treated as a weirdly needy and highly suggestible man-baby. Would-be princesses should create a calm, frictionless domestic paradise for their provider prince, 'speaking in a feminine way – we're not screaming, yelling; we're not cursing', thanking him for picking up his dirty underwear. Princess treatment is the reward and it comes in the form of diamond earrings, Chanel flats, flowers and old-school chivalry. It's emetic and, in a recent TikTok that catapulted Palmer into a more critical spotlight, disturbing. Explaining what princess treatment looks like at a restaurant, Palmer said: 'I do not interact with the waitress; I do not open any doors and I do not order my own food … You do not need to talk unless you are spoken to … You're not going to be laughing loudly, speaking loudly, demanding the attention of the restaurant.' Yikes. Palmer called it 'letting your husband lead and be masculine' and 'a fun princess treatment thing'. Commenters found it cult-like, concerning and bizarre. 'As a former waitress, I would have slipped you a note and asked if you're OK or if I should call the police,' one said. I do wonder how real any of this is. Does 'princess treatment' exist beyond its social-media shop window? Tradwives aren't tradwives, after all – they are content creators, and winding people up with jaw-droppingly regressive gender messaging generates revenue: outrage drives eyeballs and eyeballs mean dollars. Nara Smith, famed for wearing OTT dresses while making her own bubblegum and breakfast cereal, was recently reported by Cosmopolitan to be earning an estimated $200,000 a month on TikTok. Most relationships are nothing like what Palmer presents, or like other pearly-toothed, wholesome TikTok couples who jokily quiz each other on what constitutes princess treatment or a relationship 'bare minimum'. My own husband occasionally gives me 'goose treatment' – a careful wide berth – but our marriage is not a transactional game. Couples of all varieties mostly muddle through, trying to be decent to each other. But Palmer et al are servicing a real aspiration, or at least a relatable fantasy. I get it, kind of – it would be nice if every day were like my birthday (but not nice enough to spend my life cooking and cleaning while wearing broderie anglaise to achieve it). And I suppose that in a time of global turmoil, having a 'provider' can feel like security. But it's the opposite: relinquishing autonomy – bodily, financial, intellectual – leaves women dangerously vulnerable. And this stuff isn't anodyne: it confirms the manosphere's misogynistic assumptions about 'alphas' and 'high-value females', and empowers rollers-back of reproductive rights, reinforcing the idea that it's OK to take decisions on women's behalf (they don't even want to order a side of fries for themselves!). The 'princess' label is pretty accurate. Historically, princesses provided beauty and babies, and were largely powerless; royal marriages were transactional arrangements. And as Hilary Mantel was unfairly criticised for writing about the then-Duchess of Cambridge, princess life is still stultifying, mostly about projecting irreproachable, mute perfection. There's definitely no 'cursing'. Maybe some women enjoy imagining a life of calm, cared-for passivity – but could content at least get more creative? How about 'goddess treatment': demand offerings and sacrifices, keep people on their toes with the prospect of being turned into something nasty? If that's not passive enough, how about 'pet treatment'? Imagine being treated like a house cat: loved unconditionally and lavished with gifts for nothing more than napping, shedding hair, eating, demanding strokes and occasionally lashing out for no reason. If a TikToker could tell me how to get 'cat treatment', I'd definitely like and follow. Emma Beddington is a Guardian columnist
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Soap fans left fuming over 'stupid' change as episodes slashed from schedules
Soap fans have been left furious after finding out 'the only happy part of their day' has vanished as Coronation Street, Emmerdale and EastEnders are all off air on Thursday and Friday British soap fans have been left furious after a sweeping scheduling shake-up has wiped their favourite shows from TV listings this week. Viewers hoping to settle in for their usual dose of drama from Emmerdale, Coronation Street and EastEnders have been met with disappointment, as all three major soaps have been pulled from the schedules tonight and tomorrow due to a summer of sporting action. Emmerdale, which normally airs an hour-long episode on Thursdays, and EastEnders, which typically treats fans to a 30-minute trip to Albert Square, have both vanished from last night's schedule. Meanwhile, Coronation Street, which doesn't usually air on Thursdays, will also be missing from screens tonight, leaving fans with an unusually long wait for their next visit to Weatherfield. The disruption has sparked outrage among devoted soap viewers, many of whom have taken to social media to vent their frustrations. One angry fan fumed: "Why have we no Emmerdale or Corrie, cause women's football on ITV? Why can't the football move to ITV2 or ITVX? Stupid planning. The soaps must have much higher viewers than women's football, a lot of people unhappy." Another ranted: "This is actually a full-on joke. It's about time ITV came up with a solution to suit all!! Some of us rely on soaps for routine and they are the only happy part of our day! YOU HAVE ITVX AND SEVERAL OTHER CHANNELS! Sort it out ITV!!" A third viewer added: "This annoys me so much. I hate soap schedule changes due to football. Watching soaps at night makes my nights better as it gives me escapism from my daily life." The changes come as the BBC and ITV juggle coverage of both Wimbledon and the Women's Euros, leaving little room in prime-time schedules for regular soap broadcasts. Tonight, ITV will broadcast live coverage from Sweden as Portugal take on Spain, while Friday will see Germany face off against Poland, forcing Coronation Street off air once again. EastEnders fans were treated to double episodes earlier in the week, with two back-to-back episodes airing on both Monday and Tuesday. While many rushed to iPlayer to watch the drama early, others found themselves having to switch over to BBC Two to catch their fix at the usual 7pm slot. Unfortunately for fans, the disruption isn't over yet. EastEnders won't be back on air until next Wednesday, although viewers can look forward to another double bill once the soap returns. Emmerdale fans will have a slightly shorter wait, as the show is set to return at 7.30pm next Tuesday (July 8). However, Coronation Street fans face an even longer gap, as both the usual Monday and Wednesday episodes will also be cancelled next week due to further football coverage. Instead, Weatherfield drama will resume on Thursday at the later time of 9pm.
