An American woman living in Oxford has spoken about the parts of British culture which baffle her the most - including the use of the word "cheers".
Helene Sula, 37, moved from her home in Dallas, Texas to Oxford in October with her husband, Michael, 36.
She expressed surprise at the cultural disparities she encountered, including the use of particular slang words.
Ms Sula, who works as a content creator and travel blogger, shared her initial confusion with the term "cheers".
She said: "I had never heard of the word cheers before, now I say it everyday."
Ms Sula also told of her bemusement over the use of the phrase "cycle" instead of the American word "bike".
She said: "We say 'bike' or 'I am going to go biking' and you all say 'cycle'."
Her experiences with the language extended to other terms such as "candyfloss" used instead of "cotton candy" and "rubbish" instead of "garbage".
Her comments on the culture extend beyond linguistic difference, and she commended the British for being "genuine".
In comparison, she said Southern Americans are "a little bit fake".
The compact size and design of British homes also took her by surprise.
She said: "The houses are so different to me. They are so different from the US, they are much smaller. The architecture can be frustrating here, just in the sense that it is older."
shares her experiences in her blog and a book entitled 'Two O'clock on a Tuesday At Trevi Fountain'.
SheDespite the cultural differences, Ms Sula spoke warmly about her life in the UK.
She said she enjoys British cuisine, with a particular taste for pies and the diversity of crisps flavours.
However, her life in the UK has its challenges.
She was particularly astonished by the problem of condensation on windows, leading her to buy a humidifier, an item she didn't need in Texas.
She said: "The windows are so beautiful but we get condensation."
The adventurer also noted the uniqueness of household arrangements in the UK.
Ms Sula said: "Most of the washing machines are in the kitchen, it is very different.
"The beds are as hard as rocks this is maybe something Fred Flintstone would prefer."
She credited the UK’s "natural beauty" and historical architecture as features that drew her to the country.
Despite the densely populated centre of Oxford, she expressed appreciation for the experiences the UK offers.
Ms Sula remains enthusiastic about her life in Oxford, seeing these disparities as part of the charm of her new home.
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