Making new friends in the UK
Introduction
Leaving behind family and friends is not easy. What you will have to do in England is to create a new set of friends as quickly as
possible. When it comes to mingling with the English, there are a number of traditions one must follow.
The English are very traditional and so on the whole they are reserved. Unless you are in a close neighborhood, you will do a large amount of socialising in the pub. The pub is one of England's greatest traditions and if you think that South African's can drink - think again!
Pubs and Restaurants
The pub is the social gathering of the neighborhood. The pub gives the English somewhere to meet that is on neutral territory! When it comes to paying the rule is simple - cash for drinks (no tabs unless ordering food). The prices for drink are similar across an area. A pint of beer typically costs £2.50.
The food is normally excellent in pubs and reasonably priced. A lunch should cost about £5 and a dinner about £10. This will depend on if you order off the menu or off the specials board. Order your food at the bar counter and you will normally pay for it there and then.
The restaurant trade in England works in the same manor as in South Africa. You have your low end restaurant chains (meals approx £15 per head) through to your up market restaurants (at about £60 plus per head). Most locals however will eat in pubs or chain restaurants. One note of warning - the English do not know how to eat steaks as they cut them too thin and cook them too long. If you ask for a medium or medium rare steak you will get a well done one.Clubs and Societies
This is an excellent and quickest way to meet the locals. If you have a sport or interest, get hold of the name of the nearest club or society. Usually each neighborhood has a sports club or sports center. The membership fees are normally reasonable and you will meet people with similar interests.
Go and visit your local leisure center. These are subsidised by the local authority and have excellent facilities like a gym, swimming, squash, ten-pin, and the one down the road from us even has a huge ice-rink! Interest Groups
The one thing we can say about the English is that if you have an interest or a hobby they will have an interest group or society. No matter if it is gardening or train spotting, we guarantee that there will be a group in your area.
The best place to find out is either at your local library or the town hall. They will guide you in the right direction. These interest groups are great for meeting 'like' minded people and will allow you to quickly start generating a new set of friends to replace the ones back home.
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