Lindsey, a 24-year-old Texan, moved to the picturesque Cotswolds last December and quickly found herself caught off guard by a subtle British custom. On TikTok, she recounted her “culture shock experience” about the phrase “Are you all right?”—a casual British greeting that left her momentarily speechless.
“I honestly thought someone was asking if I was okay,” Lindsey explained. “So when they asked, I replied with everything—how stressed I felt, how lost I was, that I forgot my wallet and shopping bags.” In the UK, however, this question is not an invitation for a detailed report on one’s well-being but a simple, polite way of saying hello.
She learned that the typical, accepted response is a quick “Yeah, you?” followed by continuing on one’s way. “I immediately failed small talk,” Lindsey admitted with a laugh.
British TikTok users responded with humor and empathy. One joked about the “look of horror” Lindsey must have caused by her honest reply, while another sympathized with the dramatic change from Texas to the tranquil but very different Cotswolds, likening it to moving to Pluto.
Others offered tips on British small talk phrases—like replying with “living the dream,” which Lindsey loved and vowed to adopt. Another amusing local saying they shared was “see you later,” which is often said without any expectation of a future meeting.
Lindsey’s cultural surprises didn’t stop there. In a follow-up video, she talked about the famously persistent British rain. “I thought I’d experienced rain, being an American who worked on a farm for years and seen my share of storms,” she said. “But this rain is something else—constant and relentless. People even told me I needed to buy ‘wellies,’ their version of rain boots.”
Despite the challenges adapting to British idioms and weather, Lindsey remains positive about her new home: “It’s stressful, but it’s so pretty here! I’m just waiting for the warmer days.”