American would love advice re:moving to England
#91
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Thanks for your comments. I will say again, I am aware that no place is ideal and that there is violence at some level everywhere. But believe me when I tell you that the gun thing here is bad. I mean, people are afraid to say anything to someone who cuts them off in traffic because people shoot people for such things. A lady working in a store in a nice town not far from here was shot to death after a holdup.
In regard to NHS, I would be resident in a short period of time if I move there and have my Irish citizenship.
Is there a lot of animal abuse there . I surely hope not.
In regard to NHS, I would be resident in a short period of time if I move there and have my Irish citizenship.
Is there a lot of animal abuse there . I surely hope not.
Re. animal abuse - all I meant was that there are not things like doggy parks which you can get here. In most public parks dogs must stay on a lead. Also if you rent property it is almost impossable to find a landlord that will allow you to have a pet there.
#92
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
I honestly didn't find it that hard to find a rental property in the UK that would accept pets (we have two cats). About half the properties we considered turned us down because of pets but the other half had no problems with it. Perhaps it's different if you're renting a flat rather than a house.
#93
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 22
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
There may not be quite as big a gun problem in the UK but it is rising. Innocent kids have been caught in the crossfire of gang fights. Knives however are a massive problem as is the gang culture.
Re. animal abuse - all I meant was that there are not things like doggy parks which you can get here. In most public parks dogs must stay on a lead. Also if you rent property it is almost impossable to find a landlord that will allow you to have a pet there.
Re. animal abuse - all I meant was that there are not things like doggy parks which you can get here. In most public parks dogs must stay on a lead. Also if you rent property it is almost impossable to find a landlord that will allow you to have a pet there.
That's an unfortunate thing about back home there's a bit of a glass half empty kinda vibe.
#94
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Bev
#95
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
No Britain doesn't have the extreme weather that America does, but it's impossible to describe the grim depressing feeling of waking up and seeing that it's grey and rainy for the 7th day in a row. No, Britain doesn't have the gun problem the US has, but it does have a real binge drinking problem that means more casual violence and an unpleasant atmosphere in even some of the prettiest towns come night time.
As Sally pointed out, those are things that are very hard to explain to somebody who has not experienced them. I spent 5 years in the UK and enjoyed most of my time there but having grown up and lived in sunnier climates, I knew what I was missing and so was relieved to move to somewhere with more sunshine.
OP, the weather might be more predictable in the UK, but be aware in that it will also be less sunny and greyer than where you are now. Just coming at it from the angle of someone not from the UK who moved there and away again...
#96
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 681
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Going to live somewhere is completely different to holidaying, so on that front I too would be saying "go for it". I too have moved countries both with and without having visited first, and honestly the holiday in no way prepared me for the reality of living somewhere where my language was questioned, though it was also an English speaking country.
English is a complicated language and my USC oh and I can still be talking about 2 different concepts using the same word, and I am not just talking the obvious ones such as candy/lolly, bum/fanny, diaper/nappy or cordial/koolaid.
Some of the things I needed help with was using phones, accents are harder without body language, getting a job because I wasnt a local and dealing with bureacracy.
I still think its doable, but my caution would be, dont burn all your bridges just in case you feel returning to the USA is your best way forward if all doesnt meet your expectations. In the thread Over 50's plus moving back some have found it's ideal, others have returned to the US.
Best wishes with whatever you decide, at least you can research fully and be prepared for the change of culture. Being flexible and without too many preconceived ideas may be the best way to avoid disappointments.
English is a complicated language and my USC oh and I can still be talking about 2 different concepts using the same word, and I am not just talking the obvious ones such as candy/lolly, bum/fanny, diaper/nappy or cordial/koolaid.
Some of the things I needed help with was using phones, accents are harder without body language, getting a job because I wasnt a local and dealing with bureacracy.
I still think its doable, but my caution would be, dont burn all your bridges just in case you feel returning to the USA is your best way forward if all doesnt meet your expectations. In the thread Over 50's plus moving back some have found it's ideal, others have returned to the US.
Best wishes with whatever you decide, at least you can research fully and be prepared for the change of culture. Being flexible and without too many preconceived ideas may be the best way to avoid disappointments.
#97
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Or you could just move down south. Much lighter, for much longer in Oxford compared to York, far less rain and miserable grey skies too.
#98
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
We lived in the Midlands so closer to Oxford than York. And I experienced living in both the not-so-lovely city - Coventry - and the really pretty - Leamington Spa - and regardless, still not enough sun for my southern French temperament. This is of course just my humble opinion
#99
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 397
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
I really appreciate all the comments here. I must say, this is a lovely community. Everyone is so willing to give helpful opinions and information.
#100
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,294
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Foxes scream; they sound like a female screaming. They always do that at night and the early hours of the morning!
You won't hear many foxes in the countryside as the farmers' control the numbers, but in cities and towns, the councils are very poor at fox control. The little scavenger type foxes that use to reside in cities are now being replaced by big blooming predator type foxes that have moved in from the countryside. Some of those are 16" and bold as brass; one passed me in the street in broad daylight! A lot have mange too.
Oh and we have heartworm (called French heartworm) in England now, or otherwise known as lungworm. The vet surgeries have been giving out lots of warnings that this is now in the UK. It got into the south west and then moved across the county to London and the rest of the south of England.
You won't hear many foxes in the countryside as the farmers' control the numbers, but in cities and towns, the councils are very poor at fox control. The little scavenger type foxes that use to reside in cities are now being replaced by big blooming predator type foxes that have moved in from the countryside. Some of those are 16" and bold as brass; one passed me in the street in broad daylight! A lot have mange too.
Oh and we have heartworm (called French heartworm) in England now, or otherwise known as lungworm. The vet surgeries have been giving out lots of warnings that this is now in the UK. It got into the south west and then moved across the county to London and the rest of the south of England.
Last edited by formula; Mar 16th 2012 at 4:48 pm.
#101
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,294
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
I notice Salmond is now looking for ways to stop Scotland having to pay for EEAs education. Good luck with that one.
#103
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Not sure I'd say all the EEA citizens... according to this article, there are 6000 fewer European applicants to English universities for 2012, but only an additional 1000 (slightly less in fact) to Scottish universities.
Interesting to read that one student has been exercising his EU right to live elsewhere in the EU and is now allowed free university education in Scotland as an EU student. I wondered if that was a route for students from England, NI and Wales to get free university education in Scotland and it looks like it is.
#104
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
I wonder if the word has got round yet, that the UK has 4 countries and the rules are different? Give it time.
Are you sure you don't work for The Daily Mail?
#105
Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
1500 squid a year to go to Dutch uni's and free in Germany, and plenty of universities in those countries were offering courses in English so language wouldn't be a issue.