The first time I came to England I stepped out of the plane, left the airport and entered the car of my partner, who was waiting for me in the parking lot. Or, well, I tried. I walked to the driver’s site first. Which was odd and created a laugh. Being in the car itself was equally odd – everything wasn’t where it should be. Mirrored, you might say. But that was also okay. Leaving the airport on a one-way single-lane? A breeze. Nothing wrong here. But then, then, my partner entered the roundabout turning left, and I just about nearly shat myself.

How quickly do you get adjusted?

I assume that this answer is different for everyone, but it took me quite some time. When I moved here I didn’t have a driver’s license, so I can’t speak from the perspective of a driver, but as I loved and used my bicycle on a daily in Germany, I can still speak as a participant of traffic. This is a big first difference, by the way: in Germany, cyclists are a big part of the traffic and cycling paths and lanes are omnipresent. It’s not as amazing as it is in, say, the Netherlands, but it is significantly better than it is in the UK. Which isn’t difficult, to be fair. From my experience, cycling in the UK as a form of transport, not as a form of exercise, is nearly impossible and, to be frank, not without dangers. But if you do, don’t be stupid, wear a helmet.

Anyway – it took me a good three years to not be confused anymore. That sounds a lot and I assume it’s partially due to the fact that I wasn’t out and about every day – otherwise it probably wouldn’t have taken so long. But you do need a period of adjustment and not freaking out anymore because your partner enters something the wrong way. But some things are too innate. For example, in Germany (and every other country where you drive on the right side of the road), you are being taught as a child to approach it, turn your head left-right-left, and then cross the it. Here in the UK, it would be the other way round – looking right-left-right. But I just can’t do it! It’s too deeply rooted.

The other big thing, however, is the fact that the UK uses miles instead of kilometres. Which is, of course, stupid, and I will die on this hill (there we go, ROMS is happening again!). This, however, wasn’t too difficult to get used to as a driver – possibly because I wasn’t driving before. I assume it would take a bit longer to not instinctively follow the speed restrictions we have in Germany.

So all that being said – it is quite a change, as your old frame of reference doesn’t fit anymore. It’s quite spooky at the beginning as well – but eventually, as with all things, you’ll get there.

[Picture by Georg Hiles – thank you!]