Living in London for a year gave the author insight into English customs. As an immigrant from Chennai, India, English ways of living and communicating were initially unfamiliar. It is important for immigrants to use common polite phrases like "please", "thank you", and "sorry" in conversations with locals. These phrases help immigrants feel less anxious about acceptance and help them adapt to the local culture over time. Examples are provided for appropriate contexts to use each phrase, such as saying "thank you" to taxi drivers or shopkeepers. Using these polite words allows immigrants to feel comfortable socializing with new people in their foreign home.

1. Are you a first timer to UK?
Living in London since a year has given me a great insight about English ways. Hailing
from a thickly populated hustle – bustle region of Chennai city (formerly and better now
as Madras in UK) from Tamil Nadu (India), Londoner life was quite a contrast to me. Only
tourist attraction places are crowded, rest are usually scarcely populated.
Being an immigrant, most of us have English as a second Language. Even though we are
fluent in the language, we are always conscious about the way we speak to the natives of
the land. We have fear or anxiety about our acceptance in their community. We are not
aware of their ways and customs. It takes time to adapt to their way of living and
communication.
Every one of us knows the three magic words but would have seldom used them in our
daily lives. The three beautiful magic words are ‘Please’, ‘Thank You’ and ‘Sorry’. If you
use these words as a part of your communication then you are no longer a stranger to UK.
These words are often used by the people in England and you will be welcomed
everywhere.
Here are few examples how and in which context it is used
‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’
Whenever you ask someone to do anything, you should say please, and whenever someone
does something for you (even if it is part of their job) you should say ‘Thank you.’
 When you get out of a taxi, you should always say thank you to the driver
 You should say thank you to a waiter when they serve you your food
 You should say thank you to a shopkeeper when they give you your change
 You should say please when you ask the taxi driver to take you somewhere, ‘I'd like
to go to Heathrow Airport please.’
 You should say please to the waiter when you order your food, ‘I’d like the panini
please.’
 When you are offered something you want, the answer should never just be yes it
should always be yes please. And if the response is no then should be as no thank
you or just thank you
‘Sorry’
The word sorry in England is almost a reflex reaction. ‘Sorry’ is not necessarily used to
indicate an admission of guilt and English people say it a lot so don't be surprised by it!
 If you bump into someone, or if someone bumps into you – both people say sorry,
do NOT respond by saying ‘that’s ok!’

2.  They say ‘sorry’ if their arm accidentally brushes against someone else’s when
passing through a crowded doorway. They even say sorry if they don't actually
touch them. The other person will probably say sorry too!
 They say ‘sorry?’ when they haven’t heard someone
This formal way of speaking was strange to me at the beginning but gradually became a
part of my communication now. I feel comfortable and confident to communicate to new
people around me and no longer a lost/stranger in the foreign land.
For more simple tips and facts about a foreign country play our culture games in our
website.
- Arthee Jayabaalan, Market Research, CultureDude