Orangepants

My advice would be to not fixate on one place. Sure you had a great summer, but you'll have plenty more. I too spent a summer in the US between 2nd and 3rd year in Virginia Beach, VA - had a blast (on the Work America program). I went back, got my education but knew from a young age that there was a big wide world out there and I wanted to see the world. I didn't leave because I didn't like the UK but was looking for adventure.

Got a job with an international company and they sent me all over. Somehow ended up in the US but there are cool people all over the world (and in the UK).
Most of my UK friends would not trade places with me in the US for anything - cannot understand how I ended up here as they have a lovely life and happy friends in the UK. Negativity breeds negativity.

Living here now is VERY different from my 3 month debauched stay in VA!! Thank goodness

Sally Redux

Good post! At 20, he should be open to lots of new experiences. Cool people and things to do in both countries, and many others.

My nephews who are around the same age had a blast at uni in the UK and seem happy at work now. The 'gloomy' stereotype is daft.

Golden Boy

Don't over think this. He knows what he likes and what he doesn't, and we don't have to get our feelings hurt if he doesn't like us..

Its merely a preference

I will say though that Raleigh, North Carolina is a lot friendlier than say, Seattle Washington or Portland Oregon. Those cities are almost every bit as doom and gloomy as the UK.

Its called Southern Charm and the girls in Raleigh were raised to look good, smell good, and cater to their mens every need. In other words: They're great!

"A little Mayberry living could go a long way."

kins

I actually met him when we were both living in London, so it wasn't a long-distance relationship, which made things much easier.

Sally Redux

http://britishexpats.com/forum/europ...5/#post9878598

MMcD

More offensive whopper stereotypes
This doesn't auger well for your own "transplant"

RoadWarriorFromLP

There's always time enough later to be close minded.

Pulaski

Probably not, because the Chartered Accountant qualification isn't recognized in the US. They have Certified Public Accountants, so you'd have another set of exams to study for. You might get a three month or two year secondment, but a transfer while not impossible is fairly unlikely. Post qualification you might try to find an employer with transatlantic operations, for example an oil and gas company or pharmaceuticals company and then see if they would transfer you.

Good luck! Despite all the nay-sayers I love it in the US and have no interest in returning to the UK.

Cain0

That is exactly what was getting me down. Im not depressed because I have some sort of underlying mental condition, in fact, most of the time, even in the UK, I feel completely happy. However, I just absolutely love the freedom you have over there to be whatever you want to be and not be judged for it. Im not trying to say that the UK is an awful awful place. In fact, im glad that I was born there instead of 90% of the rest of the world. Im just saying, that in the UK, everyone has their place and if they try to break out, you get slapped back down. It just totally isn't for me.

Im feeling a lot better today anyways. I have thought up a 7-8 year plan to get over to Raleigh on a permanent basis:
1) Finnish my degree and try to get a work placement in the USA for my work experience gap-year.
2) Work for 3 years in the UK whilst saving up basically every penny that I earn.
3) Go over to the USA and do my masters degree. Then the years work experience in industry at the end of that.
4) In these three years in the USA, hopefully, I will find
a) A lovely women who I care for dearly that I can marry.
b) An employer who will sponsor me for an H1-B visa.

Even if I do not get this, I will have a masters degree from a US university which will make moving to Canada/Australia easier.

What do you think guys??? Any changes that I can make.

steveq

Same here. Then I waited 30 years for the chance to move :-)

Steve

Sally Redux

You sound happier today

It's good to have a plan, who knows what will come along in the meantime.

RoadWarriorFromLP

You're 20 years old, and as far as I can tell, you've been to two places. Your experience is limited.

Emigrating to the US is one of the more difficult options. Meanwhile, you have a passport with the benefits of both the EU and the Commonwealth; take advantage of it, expand your horizons and see a bit more of the world.

It sounds as if your circle of "friends" at home aren't really friends, and that you've fallen into a rut at home that involves doing things that you don't care for with people whom you don't like. Breaking away from those people is probably your best option; the location where you choose to do that may be secondary.

Sally Redux

Harder to be flexible about one's life later on with kids etc.

MMcD

Sounds great
But even more importaant.....having formulated that plan - even tho you're back in UK (for time being, at least)...you're no longer depressed!

Owen778

It's not a bad plan, though two things come to mind:
- Studying in the US is usually expensive, especially if out of state / out of US
- Make sure the Masters knowledge is internationally transferable, since your plans may change. I'm not sure why a US Masters would be more suitable for Canada or Australia than a UK Masters.

For the time being, I recommend you do two things:
- If you have friends from Uni, or even relatives, who you like and are not in Manchester, call them and say "I'm bored at home. Can I come and stay with you for a few days?"
- Once you graduate, aim to move away from Manchester, to help you find a new circle of friends. London would be the most obvious place to go.