YankeemovingAbroad

My options seem to be as you said,bank to bank transfer, or go through a exchange service.I was thinking about opening account with a international bank such as Barclay(located in New York city),Bank of America ect in hope of keeping the fees to a minimum. I believe its possible to avoid hugh fees sending the money from the States.

The trick is to do the same once its been transfered and converted to the UK.I don't mind small fees but there has to be away around the conversion fees charge by exchange companies,I hope.A few sources mentioned a conversion rate based on a percentage of the total transfer.

I'm thinking that can't be correct for every method of conversion & transfer.I checked a few exchange rate charts and they were quoting a 2.5--4.0% rate on the dollar.To transfer 800k by that method would not be cost effective.I will call a few banks tomorrow to see what a international bank to bank wire & conversion would be.It should make sense(I hope) that a international bank located in GB and the USA, perform a transfer & the conversion(based on current exchange rate) for a small service fee for their customers.Hopefully the fee will be for the transfer and not a conversion.

kevin747

Hi I just seen this post.Why would you want a gated community in the uk.?

As for lack of ethnic diversity.Scotland has less strife with immigrant groups than anywhere else in the ukeg The BNP have not made any inroads politically.

Cheers

kporte

In Edinburgh and Glasgow maybe, but the rest? you don't need the bnp, there are plenty of bigots around. for ethnic diversity, you need to go south

kevin747

There are bigots everywhere.I do think Glasgow and Edinburgh are both decent cities in comparison to lots of places in the south or north of England.

kporte

they are fantastic cities and the poster would be happy in either imo but for ethnic diversity, most of scotland is a bit sparse. not saying racist, just not that used to a big mix of cultures. and yes there are bigots everywhere sad to say

YankeemovingAbroad

Are you being a little PC? You can tell me,it just us

If a city/area/region is progressive,it can be a nearly all white place(all any ethnic place) and other ethnicities will be very welcomed.A person of a different ethnicity might garner a great deal of attention for looking different to the natives but not in a bad way.Know what I mean?

I've been to places like that in America and in South America.My features(skin,eyes,hair,height,whole package,Not that package,sorry)made me stand out.It just caused more people to approach me out of curiosity.Iowa is 99.5% white but they are very cool with people of color who are visiting there.Ask President Obama who had one of his biggest winning percentages in that state .

Years ago I attended my first year of college at the University of Wisconsin.This was in the 1980's not a very progressive time in several regions of America. Rural wisconsin at that time was extremely progressive.Being a wided eye African American kid was not a issue.To this day it has that same open minded reputation.Interestingly enough,Wisconson is more progressive the further away you live to the big city because of lower crime.

Are there serious racial problems in Scotland out side of Glasgow & Edinburgh ? Would rude comments be made to my face because I'm African American?Would it be safe for me to go to a Glasgow & Edinburg pub where some of the people might be a bit over the top because of drink?Sadly there are situations were ethnicity does matter and because of it being a issue, wise precaution has to be taken for one's own safety.

Once while living in Argentina I wanted to go to a soccer match .It was a hugh game between their two best national teams.My friends there advise me not to go because in their opinion I would have been mistaken for a Brazilian.Twenty thousand people(mostly male many drinking alcohol) and bad blood between Brazilian and Argentine soccer fans potentially would have gotten me an ass whipping of a life time.What is said about misplaced anger?

YankeemovingAbroad

Its freaking 29 degrees in many regions of the uk and snowing

Never lived in a country were the weather is nearly the same east,west,north and south.Not a warm place to escape to.I think its true,the UK is a place to live in the spring and summer

Jules Europe

Kind of suprised to hear that Iowa and Wisconsin are so progressive and certainly didn`t know that. Tell me where are the most racist states in America? I always think of Alabama and Mississippi etc being full of rednecks etc but saying that, once read a couple of years ago about Klan membership in the states and I think Michigan or somewhere similiar came out on top!!!

By the way Argentinians are notoriously racist and black people are often victims of this there. I know an Argentinian through work here in Spain who is racist in his comments...............needless to say, straightened him out on the error of his ways

Jules Europe

Told you so!!! And the couple of degrees warmer that the south normally has MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. Yes spring and summer is the time to spend in the UK.

YankeemovingAbroad

Wisconsin probably has some of if not the most friendly people in America.Jewish friends of mine from New Jersey went for vacation there to the Lake districts, and repeated the stay several years later to a different area of the state.Each time they've gone the people and place have consistently been wonderful. They recently sold everything in Jersey and move to Wisconsin.

There is a sign on highways entering Wisconsin that reads if you are a bigot or not accepting of others this is not the state for you to call home.That for the most part is Wisconsin! The only draw back about Wisconsin is the weather.COLD does not describe how low the tempts can drop.I managed one year at University there made great friends and in the end the weather ran me to New York.

I lived in Alabama for nearly eight years and spent many fun weekends gambling at the casinos in Mississippi 45 minute drive by car.Alabama is not horrible(not really) but it is a state that is 20+ years in terms of evolution behind most of America.Minorities are accepted to a limited degree socially by the older whites.Many(not most) younger whites have (bless their heart) similar hang ups but not to the same level.Which is strange because most young(age 20's to mid 30's) people usually are just the opposite in most states.I'm from the north,plural societies are normal to me.

Older and middle aged whites who accept Blacks,Latinos,Asians too closely can be given the cold shoulder by other Whites in Alabama.Interestingly enough,there are many many MANY interracial couples there from Mobile to Birmingham. Mississippi impress me with their casinos but not much else

I would say the most racist states are Louisiana,Texas,Mississippi,Alabama, many of the southern states.As far as Michigan is concern there are pockets of Klan members in many states but especially where there are no economic opportunities.A state with economic problems(ie no jobs,high rate of unemployment)is a idea recruiting ground for that sort of thing.

Sadly the Latinos are now the most targeted ethnicity in America by racist groups.These hate groups fear that Latinos will in time be the largest ethnic population in America.That is no reason to hate them. The states which tend to be the least progressive can be identified by their voting pattern.

Jules Europe

With black Americans firmly an important foundation of American society its obvious the bigots will now turn their racial hatred toward latin Americans and have seen that by the year 20?? Spanish will be the primary language in many parts of the USA etc. So who then will they hate then given that latins will form a very important part of American society? As for racism here in Europe, it very much depends on where you go and to be fair the UK is pretty relaxed in these things, much more so than say in France which is very ethnically diverse but has high levels of racism etc

kevin747

I think you would have less bother being African/American than if you were white American. It's a funny country sometimes is Scotland.I've been abused by fellow Scots for having the wrong football scarf on. Generally it all depends where you go and who you mix with.
We still have communities hence no need for "gated communities".
Good luck with your decision. I don't think people will blame you for George W Bush

YankeemovingAbroad

Thanks Kevin the Scot

YankeemovingAbroad

I've had a few good friends who happen to be Latinos.They are really good people and its ashame that they are being mistreated.People in America should just get over it,Latinos will become a powerful base in this country.They are already deciding elections and they are very loyal to this country.And the women ain't badI met several in Argentina

YankeemovingAbroad

Jules

Have you spent time in France? What is your over all opinion of the french people and the country?I know they are going through growing pains socially and there does seem to be room for improvement in terms of racial acceptance as you mentioned in your post.

People in America were shocked when Oprah was racially profiled in Paris. But there are many wonderful things about the country as well.The culture,the health care system are both considered to be world class.Could you live in France? Is France amazing enough that you would want to live there?