I remember trying to explain the uk class system to my cousin. She could not understand it. Her only understanding of class was those who "work and have jobs as working class and those who don't.
Where am from the concept of invitation didn't exist or still does not. People just turn up at your house. People will travel for two days and just turn up. No notice given most doors are left open during the day when someone is home. If I arrive and the door is closed, it means people are not home. You walk away.
In the uk you know someone has adopted British ways when,
They call people turning up to your house.
They expect a phone call before coming
They don't expect to be fed when they turn up
The amount of sugar they drink changes to two tea spoons.
They don't boil their milk with tea in the same kettle or source pan but add it to their tea from a jug.
Tea with milk isn't referred to as English tea any more. And you start to refer to what was known as normal tea as tea with water (I can't translate properly)
When every day normal potatoes is no longer sweet potatoes but potatoes. (From Irish/English potatoes to just potatoes).
When you know the amount of people attending your wedding and not the whole village and there relatives too from another village turning up.
When you don't have to cook food with random people turning up in mind. Just in case.
Once my mum and group of family members and friends where watching question time. Two of them demanded they were to be taken to BBC question time because the people where talking rubbish. They didn't know you had to be invited. Secondly, that it's filmed in advance. Thirdly, that it might not be nearby, they assumed they would just be let in. Not forgetting the show airs a 10pm
When you go to a cafe to order a hot beverage and you don't have to question whether to ask for an escort. Not to be stared at like you have just asked for a prostitute instead of biscuit/ doughnuts or whatever nibble you want.
To use the word "walk someone to the door" instead escort you to the door. Not only that. You don't walk with that person half way to their house sometimes because they are too polite or scared to say thank you , I can walk from here.
You don't have to use the word soda instead of fizzy drink.
When you don't have to involve all of your family members including extended ones in your marital issues.
When you can't just move in with a relative because you don't like at your house.
When meat isn't a priority but any other food on the plate and they have equal value or vegetables are sometimes seen as better for you.
When you don't have to insist your child seats with a guest you have invited when eating. And also share the same food.
When you don't remember the last time you used your fingers to eat food instead of a knife and fork. More so, if it's the traditional food that is not English.
When the word "please" becomes a concept you can grasp and understand and at the end or beginning of every sentence when asking for something because it's considered polite and not the tone of your voice as way to plead and ask things.
You have learnt not to kneel down when greeting someone elderly person. When you don't mind when someone you does not understand this calls you an English child.
When rudeness to elderly people is seen as ok and you don't flinch when that happens.
The concept of old people living alone becomes acceptable and it no longer bothers you.
When you feel pity and sadness when you see street children on tv and you would not have butted an eyelid before.
When all dogs sleep in the house and not outside and fed scraps. (I know someone who had food that was going off and offered it to their neighbour to feed the dog, and thought it was acceptable behaviour. I had to explain why it was so wrong to do so in England)
When you can sort off grasp why and how some people love their dogs more than humans and not see it as white thing.
When your normal clothes become traditional clothes and you refer to them as that. Only now reserved for special occasions of cultural purpose.
When your children can eat fish fingers and not feel like you are making a protest by not giving them your traditional food.
Phew! I could go on.