Things I've Learned From Watching British Reality Shows

I’m a British video junkie.  On any given day of the week, you can find me on YouTube scouring for biographies, documentaries, or news.  And then, there are the reality shows… not a genre that I normally associate myself with.  However, in the past year or two, I’ve uncovered some gems.  The Great British Bake Off, and more recently, Escape to the Country.

The Great British Bake Off is along the same lines as the American Cupcake Wars or even Chopped.  But, what I am looking for aren't necessarily the sweets that are created as much as peeking into another lifestyle and another dialect.  From sponges to proofing, it’s been an interesting trip via video to the UK.

The Great British Bake Off

Here are some terms you may not be familiar with if you’re an American watching the Great British Bake Off:

Sponge: Sponge Cake – one of the basic British desserts is a Victoria Sponge.

Proofing: Rising (as in letting your dough rise).  I was actually interested to see they had proofing drawers!

Bap: Is a bun.

Pasty: a savory turnover.  Cornish pasties are very well known in Britain and contain meat and vegetables.  Pasties can be very dry.

Pudding: A dessert/cake. Not like American pudding at all.

Grill: Broil

Cling Film: Saran Wrap

Saucy Puds: Cakes with a soft middle (like a lava cake)

Fairy Cakes: Small cupcakes

Treacle: Molasses

Golden Syrup: a light treacle

Caster sugar: Very fine granulated sugar.  Not confectioner’s sugar.

Sultanas: Raisins

Watching the show is a beautiful and artistic way of acclimating yourself to the everyday life and language of the British.

Escape to the Country

This gem of a show has really opened my eyes to so many things, not the least of which is how amazingly diverse the English language is!  You not only learn about the history of certain locations and counties, but how homes are bought and sold in the UK.

One thing I learned just today is that you have to have a special mortgage for wood-built dwellings.  This mortgage can be tricky!  One couple gave up on a home they loved because it was too complicated (so they moved to Lithuania instead!).

Historic homes may be marked as Grade 1 or Grade 2 listed.  These types of homes require specialists and special planning permission when it comes to renovations. In Scotland, these dwellings are called Category A or Category B. (See how much I learned???)

It is obviously much harder to buy a home in the UK, and it’s not just the hefty prices!  If you have a mortgage on your home and want to buy another place, you need to first get a buyer to buy your house.  And the person’s home that you are buying will also need to find another home… it becomes a mortgage closing chain.  Any break in the chain can shut down the purchase plans for a number of buyers.

It’s much easier if you’ve sold your home outright and, perhaps, moved into a rental space for some time before moving on.  It’s extremely easy if you’re independently wealthy!

Some real estate terms you may not have heard are:

Bespoke – means custom.  A bespoke kitchen.

Bijou – means small.  A bijou en-suite.

En-suite – is just a bathroom attached to a bedroom.

Snug – is a small reception room

Reception Room – is lounge, dining room, or conservatory

Conservatory – usually a glassed-in sun room

Box – very small bedroom

Kitchen Range vs. Cookers vs Stove/Oven – evidently oil-fire kitchen ranges are greatly preferred in the UK for their economy.  They will have the typical oven/stovetop arrangement.  Cookers are single appliances made up of a hob (stove top) and at least one oven. 

Bungalow – a one-story dwelling which, oddly enough, seems to be looked down on vs. multi-level living!

Floors – note that the ground floor is the American first floor.  Their first floor would be our second, and so on.

The other extra from my viewing is to get a better idea of geography of the country.  I can now locate Somerset vs. Wiltshire and Hampshire vs. Dover.  There’s even a tiny county I’d never heard of before called Rutland (which is evidently only 17 miles long!). 

Summary

If you are interested in immersing yourself in another culture, I’ve found watching British reality shows to be a very handy way to acclimate.  Of course, there are other types of British shows you could view, but the reality shows offer the linguistic dumpling and then a view of what they’re talking about.  They not only tell you houses are expensive, but they give you the averages in each county.  They not only mention a pudding, but they show you one.  I honestly believe that without this learning tool, I’d be much less up on England for my next trip.  So, huzzah to the reality shows of GB.  And may the treacle be with you!

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of terms and such, but I hope it helps.