Last Updated:6:26 PM EST 4/14/10 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: Submitted photo Negra and friends Sam and Maria drink some tea.

"Would anyone like a cup of tea?"

This is the first thing that you say, after "Good morning" of course, when you walk into a U.K. workplace.

I've been an intern at RS Consulting, a marketing research consulting company in the borough of Wandsworth, for about a month and a half now and one of the lessons that I have learned about the U.K. workplace is that making tea for your colleagues when you are making one for yourself is vital.

There are many different little quirks about the U.K. workplace that I have noticed compared to working the United States. Back in Rochester I was a front end coordinator at Wegmans. My workplace environment was fast paced and customer centered. I learned to deal with many different kinds of people, as well as stress and time management. At Wegmans responding swiftly is a must.

This is quite a a contrast to the workplace at RS Consulting. Being a business to business consulting company, the office is quiet and rather small. That was the first thing that I had to get used to: the quiet.

But don't be fooled into thing the Brits are reserved people. The U.K. workplace is very relaxed, much more relaxed than an office you would find the United States.

Conversation over tea and sweets is quite common throughout the day. My colleagues are seen taking snack and tea breaks quite constantly, and spending a good time making tea or coffee for others.

My first week on the job was tricky because I was the American who could not make a good cup of tea. To be polite at the new office, I always volunteered to make everyone tea or coffee when I went to make a cup for myself.

My enthusiasm was met with grim faces. Apparently a prior American intern was absolutely terrible at making tea.

Why is a cup of tea so important? It is quite a cultural difference I must say, but I will not question it; I will just try to make the best cup of tea that I can.

Like I said, the previous intern, who could not even figure out how to work the "electric kettle," paved the way to Americans being stereotyped as making horrible-tasting cups of tea.

No worries though. I made it apparent that I had common sense and as an avid tea drinker made tasty tea.

In addition to the social aspect of tea in the office, the U.K. workplace is also very relaxed with the language use around the office. I can hear colleagues using words, though not directed at any individual or using the words as demeaning, that would be consider

ed inappropriate in the United States. Even the subject matter of some conversations that I have overheard is contrasting to what would be accepted at my workplace in Rochester. However, this unguarded attitude in the office has made it quite easy to socialize with colleagues because we can discuss and joke around much easier.

I have immensely enjoyed my time at RS Consulting and hope that I can remain in contact with all of my colleagues because they have taught me very valuable lesions.

It sounds cliché, but not until I came to their office did I value cultural differences. These differences have made interning very interesting experiences, as well as one that I will never forget.

I hope that these social skills and technical skills I have gained working in the marketing design department will help me further down the road, even if I can make a good impression with a great tasting cup of tea.

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