Warner News
11/06/2010
Migrants marrying UK citizens must now learn English
Compulsory English language tests will be introduced for non-European migrants.
01/10/2009
Two new policy announcements for Tier 4
New policy for Tier 4 sponsors
Visitor
The United Kingdom Border Agency has introduced what is by far the largest single category of visa types for people coming into the United Kingdom for a limited stay.
As you can see from the above there are eleven categories, but within those categories there are other well defined visit visa types.
Travel is a great way of learning a little more about other cultures, it also helps to remove any notion that our way is the best way, or our religion is the best religion. The fact is, millions of people around the world hold their belief to be true, and we should all respect their view. We should always appreciate the differences between ourselves and others, and embrace other people’s right to hold those beliefs. Otherwise, how can we expect others to respect our beliefs?
Travel also helps us to become teachers; to help others in our own family and community, and in the communities we are privileged to be allowed to visit.
Visiting the UK for the first time or for the 100th time should be a pleasure, because there is more to do, see and experience that a lifetime of living in the UK would enable you to experience.
Cultural Differences
Each country around the world has its own customs, religions, habits and social rules that you do not even think about – you are so used to them that you take them for granted. Indeed, people living in and working and living in rural areas may not be able to live in the main city, because of the culture in that city – noise, pollution, cost, lifestyle etc. People from the city may have the same viewpoint if moving to a rural location in their own country.
Therefore, visiting a completely alien environment where most things are different can be a shock to you. For example, when you first arrive in the UK, you may notice differences in:
- the climate
- expectations about punctuality – how important it is to be on time
- the way people dress
- the behaviour of men and women – towards each other and in general
- attitudes toward animals – for example, many people share their homes with dogs, cats and other pets
- aspects of religious practice
- food and eating habits
During your visit to the UK, you may see different ways of doing all sorts of things, such as:
- dressing for different types of occasion
- greeting people
- offering, accepting and refusing hospitality
- thanking people (the British say please and thank you all of the time)
- behaviours regarded as polite in different situations
- expressing your opinion
- relating to members of the opposite sex
Explaining Your Needs
When you arrive in the UK you need to remember that people in the UK may not know as much about cultural differences as you do. If they are not familiar with your culture, they will not understand your needs and concerns unless you explain them. This can cause frustration and even friction and the best way to avoid this is to explain to people how your culture differs, but remember you are now in their country. It is always helpful to consider how you would like someone from the UK to act if they were visiting you in your country. You may want to mention some of the following:
- which foods you can and cannot eat, and why
- which methods of preparing food are acceptable for you, and why
- why you prefer to eat your main meal at a certain time of the day
- that you need some privacy every day to pray or meditate
- about any other personal needs you may have – e.g. if you prefer to wash under running water instead of taking a bath
Your stay in the UK
Are you curious about the specific cultural differences you may encounter in the UK? Here is an overview of a few obvious areas:
- meals
- drinking
- smoking
- sexual relationships
Meals
Breakfast: Breakfast in the UK can include any of the following, alone or in combination:
- a full cooked breakfast – eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, toast, baked beans (and often more)
- toasted bread often with jam
- cereal with milk
- yogurt and fresh fruit
- tea or coffee
The midday meal: This may be called lunch or dinner, depending where you are and is usually a light meal.
A typical lunch might consist of one or two of the following:
- soup
- salad
- sandwiches
- a jacket potato (a large potato baked in its skin, served with a variety of toppings)
- a hamburger and chips
- a slice of pizza
London is a vast and being a cosmopolitan City you can find restaurants that offer food from almost every main country in the world – Indian, Chinese and Thai food are great favourites even at lunch times.
The main meal of the week is the Sunday Roast. This is usually the time when families sit together around a table to eat. A Sunday Roast usually consists of a joint of meat, such as lamb or beef; chicken is very popular. This meat is served with potatoes that are roasted in an oven, and served with cooked vegetables.
The evening meal, which is can be known as dinner, supper, or ‘tea’, is often the main meal of the day during Monday to Friday, the normal working week. This meal is usually always cooked and can include the following:
- beef, pork, chicken or fish (often with a sauce for flavouring – gravy, mint sauce, apple sauce as examples) with potatoes or rice and vegetables
- a pasta dish such as spaghetti, lasagne or tagliatelle (with or without meat in the sauce) and salad
If you are invited to a meal it is recommended that you let the host know if there are certain you cannot eat, but be sure to let them know in advance. Typically, your host will go to a lot of effort to make you feel comfortable, therefore be sure to let them know as early as possible if you cannot make the meal. Taking a small give such as wine or flowers is usually appreciated, especially if one of the hosts is a female.
Drinking
In the UK, it is perfectly acceptable for adults to drink alcohol in moderate amounts. For many British people, drinking is an established part of their social life – ‘going out for a drink’ is how they relax or spend time with friends. If you go to a party or visit people at home in the evening, your host will probably offer you a drink.
Of course, you are not obliged to drink alcohol if you do not want to – even if you are in a pub or at a party where everyone else is drinking. You can always ask for a non-alcoholic drink instead. If you feel uncomfortable going to places that serve alcohol, explain this to your friends – there are lots of other places where you can meet.
If you do choose to drink, remember that:
You should never drive a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol – it is dangerous, and the police can impose serious penalties on you being drunk in public is not acceptable either, and the police can arrest you for it
Please enjoy your visit and send us an email telling us what you did in the UK.