As a British expat living in Portugal for the past four years, Lauren Clark has come to appreciate some aspects of her home country that she may have taken for granted before. One of these things is online shopping, which is seamless and efficient in the UK, with fast delivery and tracking updates. In Portugal, online shopping can take much longer and may result in missed deliveries without notifications.
Another aspect of British life that Lauren has grown to appreciate is the convenience of supermarket convenience foods. British supermarkets offer a wide range of pre-prepared options, which is helpful for those who are not skilled at cooking from scratch. This is a contrast to foreign supermarkets in Portugal, which may offer a wider range of fresh produce but can be overwhelming for those looking for quick and easy meal solutions.
One surprising aspect of British culture that Lauren has come to value is the popularity of blonde hair. As someone who regularly colours her hair blonde, she has found it challenging to achieve the same natural-looking results in other countries where blonde hair is less common. This has led her to prioritize trips back to the UK for hair appointments when needed.
The royal family is another aspect of British culture that Lauren has found to be globally recognized and fascinating to people from other countries. The royals are a significant part of the UK’s national identity and draw tourists to visit places associated with them. In Portugal, news about the royal family often makes headlines, showing the widespread interest in this aspect of British life.
Bank holidays in the UK are another thing that Lauren has come to appreciate, despite the complaints about the lack of them or their clustering in certain months. In comparison to Portugal, which has more public holidays but less strategically placed, the UK’s bank holidays are more likely to align with weekends, allowing for longer weekends or smoother transitions between workdays.
Lastly, the humble lunchtime ‘meal deal’ is a concept that Lauren values as a British national treasure. The convenience and value of being able to grab a quick and affordable meal at lunchtime has become a staple for busy Brits. This concept, pioneered by Boots in 1985, has since been adopted by numerous other brands, offering a sandwich, snack, and drink as the foundation of a quick and easy lunch option for many.
