Cultural Niceties to Observe When Meeting a British Expatriate for the First Time

Increasing numbers of British citizens are leaving the UK each year to work abroad, fulfill a dream of international travel or to marry a foreign-born spouse and settle in another country. Unless you have ever come across a British expatriate before, you may be tempted to bombard them with questions about their country, accent, what brings them to America and more. Instead, it is best to reserve a lot of the questions you have.

Shake Hands and Smile!

First of all, introduce yourself and shake hands. Make eye contact and smile. It is as simple as that. As long as you follow this simple introduction, British expatriates will do the same. When the British first meet someone, they will not usually show over familiarity with a person by speaking loudly or pulling a person into an embrace. As a result, many people think that the British are standoffish and too reserved. But this should not be interpreted as rudeness.

Closely Guarded Privacy

Once you are better acquainted with an individual, you will see that British expatriates will show more familiarity and friendliness towards you. The British have long guarded their privacy, which comes from the fact that as a nation, the British live on a densely populated island country where a person must often live in close proximity to others. As such, a person is more likely to appreciate their privacy and be guarded to a degree in what they choose to share about themselves with others.

Find Common Ground