An American woman living in the UK has revealed a list of features and appliances typical of British homes that have left her “confused”.
Helene Sula, also known as @heleneinbetween on TikTok, listed five elements of UK homes, such as structure and plumbing, that have stumped her as a US native.
The travel blogger has lived in the UK since October 2023 and regularly uploads content that focuses on “cultural” differences between Americans and Brits, such as the food we eat and how public transport works.
Shortly after moving to Oxford, Helene, originally from Dallas, Texas, began to notice stark differences in the way British houses were built compared to American ones.
She revealed the difference in a video on her TikTok, along with the caption: “Make it make sense that our British house constantly confuses me.”
An American woman living in the UK has revealed a list of features and appliances typical of British homes that have left her “confused”, such as the “double tap” in UK bathrooms.
In the footage, which received more than 30,000 likes, he added in scale text: “Things in British houses that are strange to Americans.”
Filming the bathroom sink in her new abode, Helene went on to point out the first feature of UK homes that she finds difficult to understand: the “double tap”.
In the United States, it is common to have a single tap that dispenses hot and cold water, while in Britain, many homes still have two separate taps.
She said: “You have to theatrically wave your hands back and forth to get the temperature right.”
Next, he points to the glass panel attached to the side of his tub that serves as a shower door for the shower head attached above.
Helene said: ‘Also, this is the shower door, which is basically there as a joke. Every time we shower, we flood the bathroom.’
He continued, “Next, you have to turn on the plugs for them to work, so make sure you do that, because your electronics aren’t actually broken.”
Highlighting the fourth feature of her British home that has left her baffled, she said: “The water pressure is super high, I’m reminded of that every time I wash the dishes and soak my shirt.”
Shortly after moving to Oxford, Helene, originally from Dallas, Texas, immediately began to notice stark differences in the way houses are built in the United Kingdom compared to those in the United States.
More than 3,600 comments came in from American and British viewers, with one Brit writing: “I wish the houses were separate.”
Finally, he pointed out the typical structure of UK houses while filming fairytale-style cottages in the British countryside, jokingly adding: “Oh, most houses don’t look like that, most look like the number 4 Privet Drive”.
“And they often share walls, which means you might hear your neighbor breathing.”
More than 3,600 comments came in from American and British viewers, with one Brit writing: “I wish the houses were separate.”
Meanwhile, several Americans commented on their opinions, with one person writing, “Frankly, switches in outlets are something we need in North America.”
Another said: “I’ve been living in the UK for five months and the taps and plugs were a shock at first.”
On the other hand, another American woman who moved from the United States to England has revealed all the “cute little observations” and quirks she has noticed about the English.