In 2009 as a ‘Johnny Just Come’ (someone who is new to a place), a friend invited me to a birthday party. I said “great! I will attend”. Then he added, “the cost of meals (drinks inclusive) per person should be around £20”. Do I have to pay to attend someone’s birthday party?” I exclaimed. He then said that’s how it is done here. Anyway, I did not attend again.

A couple of years later, I thought I understood this “culture”. On this occasion, some British friends invited me to a dinner party at an exotic restaurant. When they brought the menu, I checked and ordered only what I could afford.

The others were busy ordering and eating everything eatable and drinkable. When the waiter brought the bill, I thought everyone was going to pay for what they ordered. But instead, they asked the waiter to split the bill equally among us.

“Should I begin to explain to them that I do not have enough money or that I will only pay for what I ordered?” I thought to myself. To avoid stories that touch, I called a friend to transfer some money to my account and I was able to pay the bill.

These “invitations” are different from the one I used to know. Here (in the United Kingdom) it means, “we want your company, but you will be responsible for your bills”. In fact, my friend was almost embarrassed. She sat with a group of friends but refused to eat anything because she did not have any money on her. But when the bill came, they split it equally and included her. She informed me that she was sweating profusely until one person from the group said it was not fair to include her since she did not eat anything.

I hope you have that one friend that you can always call when you are in trouble?