A Brit who moved to America has revealed one of the biggest culture shocks she experienced – on the very night she arrived in the states.
Amber Peacock, who goes by @_apeacock on TikTok, makes videos about the differences she’s noticed since doing the big move.
She recently shared what her biggest issue is and asked viewers for help, in a video seen by more than 1.5 million people.
The thing that had been puzzling her was actually the differences in bedding – leaving her confused and searching Target for two hours.
The Briton captioned the clip: ‘This wasn’t a great start on our first night living in the US but hopefully you can help me out’.
A Brit who moved to America has revealed one of the biggest culture shocks she experienced, on the night she arrived in the states – and it’s not what you’d expect
She told viewers, ‘Good morning America, I need your help.
‘I’ve just popped into Target to pick up some deodorant because I ran out yesterday and it reminded of an unresolved trauma that I have from the very first night that we arrived at our new home in the US, after moving from the UK.
‘Probably my first big culture shock. So picture this, we get to our new house, we have dinner, we put Rory to bed, we realise that we don’t have any bedding.
‘No worries I said, there’s a Target a mile away. I’m just gonna go there, it’s 8pm, they’re still open.
‘I found the bedding section and immediately went into panic mode.’
The mother of one revealed ‘Everything is so different here. In the UK, you would buy a fitted sheet, a duvet and a duvet set.
‘You’d have to make two choices – one, what colour you want your duvet set, two, how thick you want your duvet.
‘That’s it, ten minutes, in and out, wham bam, thank you, done, bed, go. I was in there for nearly two hours, trying to figure out what I should buy to make the bed.’
She told viewers ”I found the bedding section and immediately went into panic mode’
Amber discovered ‘So we do have duvet sets, couldn’t find any duvets. We also have comforter sets, we also have quilt sets, we have just sheet sets, we also have shams’
A comforter (pictured) is a type of bedding made of two lengths of fabric that are sewn together – it differs from a duvet as it comes with a non-removable cover
She wanders around the store, examining what they have to offer and showing her followers.
Amber discovered ‘So we do have duvet sets, couldn’t find any duvets. We also have comforter sets, we also have quilt sets, we have just sheet sets, we also have shams.
‘What the f*** is a sham? In the UK a sham is like a fake like a sham wedding would be a fake wedding – don’t think it has the same meaning.
‘Here we have pillow covers and pillowcases, what’s the difference?’
She added ‘And of course we have everything in a million different fabrics, sateen, satin, temperature balancing, perfectly relaxed, jersey, velvet.
‘I do know what a bed skirt is but does anyone still use those?’
The TikToker ended her video with a desperate plea to Americans to give her advice: ‘Please, somebody tell me how I’m supposed to make the bed and what I’m supposed to put on it because I’m pretty sure I’ve still not got it right.
‘Just being back in this aisle is giving me the shivers, don’t even get me started on the price of all this’.
It turns out that Amber is not the only one who’s confused by the selection – other Brits chimed in with their questions in the comments.
One person asked ‘Did we ever figure out exactly what a comforter is?,’ meanwhile another wrote ‘I thought a duvet and comforter were the same thing?’
Another shocked Briton queried ‘wait so if you want to change the design on your bedding you have to buy a new comforter ??? isn’t that a pain to wash’.
Amber replied ‘Yes! Machines are a lot bigger here but still a pain’.
Someone from the US explained, ‘If you need warmer bedding you get a comforter set. If you need cooler bedding you get a quilt set. Get a high thread count sheet set’.
Another chimed in with, ‘Pillow cover: protects pillow (don’t need one). Pillow case goes over that. Sham is fancy pillow case that matches the comforter. Comforter is like a duvet that you don’t need to cover.
‘Quilt is a quilt. Sheer sets have flat, fitted and pillowcases included. Sham also means fake here too. And fancy pillow case’.
However, others joked ‘there are no rules with bedding. Do what you want’ and ‘I would be just shipping it from the UK’.
Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
