American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Never mind....

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

to want to move to UK you would need a little more patience than that.

3 hours> no responses> post removed.....you are expecting too much too quickly!

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Yes, I was just composing another. I had thought that perhaps I posted in the wrong place because I am an American.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I am thinking of packing up myself and my dog and moving to England. I am a single woman in her 50's, self employed and looking for a place that will feel like home. I have never been there but I feel that it well may be that place. I have read, studied, Googled, youtubed, and I am not just coming up with the idea...I have thought about it for years, and now is as good a time as any.

I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or experience to share with me about this kind of relocation.

People have suggested, and understandably so, that I vacation there first, but I wonder if I shouldn't just go for it.

Any thoughts?

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I wouldn't say it's the wrong place but what exactly would you like to know? Do you have a visa? citizenship? a job placement? do you know anyone over there? family?

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I think we were posting at the same time!!!

I would ABSOLUTELY suggest you go there on vacation and I think 99.9% of the people on this board would agree.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I am self employed so I don't need a job, no family, know no one there, am applying for Irish citizenship by descent which will give me the ability to live in the EU without a problem if I understand correctly, don't know about a visa. I have read about the different types and I am not sure. I think that if I come as a visitor then I can't apply for residency, but if I get my Irish citizenship before the six months is up I think I could stay, but I am not sure. That is something I would need some advice on.
I also would just like some feedback regarding the whole idea.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

What is it you think the UK will deliver? Which part would you go to?

Obviously your options will depend on whether you can get the citizenship.

It would seem sensible to visit first.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Whilst this is a good place to ask...you'd probably be better off asking in http://www.uk-yankee.com/ which is geared towards USC's.

Though if you read threads in this forum and in the US forum, you'll an idea of what people come against being an expat, because although the language is the same and you think you might have a idea about life over there, you don't and you really can't take what you perceive from a holiday or from tele to equate to actually doing it.

Which isn't to say you shouldn't give it a shot :)

Good luck and welcome to BE.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

What I think the UK could deliver? Better weather ( don't laugh..I live in a place that has blizzards, below freezing temps, then tornadoes, then high, unbearable heat and humidity, then about a month of Fall), a safer environment, more culture, more civility, more natural beauty, pretty villages, history, a seemingly much kinder attitude towards dogs.it just appeals to me in every way.i don't know where I would go, that is something else I thought I could get some suggestions about. I know it would seem more sensible to visit first, but that is costly and I would have to leave my dog in a kennel. I am hoping someone here says it wouldn't be goofy to just move without visiting first.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Thanks very much! I have checked out that website..I will do it again. What I find interesting is that here, people who are from there actually confirm many if the things I have imagined being so great about England. They actually miss / appreciate the beauty, the nice , decent people,t he way of life. I realize that one never knows what it is like until you live somewhere.
I have to say, I am struck by just how lovely everyone posting here seems to be.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Of course we love it and agree with all that :) but as bob says, moving countries is a big step and shouldn't be rushed into - especially if money is a bit tight. What about something like a house swap to keep the costs low and give you more of an idea of everyday life.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Go for it! Take me with you!!!

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

A house swap is not feasible right now, but thanks for the suggestion.

I think the thing that concerns me most is the culture shock possibility. I wonder if everyone goes thru that. I also wonder if the word "shock" is a bit much. I have never been to another country so I have no idea. Also, learning to drive on the other side of the road could be a bit daunting.

I wouldn't be missing anyone here, my immediate family has sadly all passed away in the last few years. I make friends easily. But again, I have never tried making friends in another country.

What I can tell you is there is so much that appeals to me about England that I truly think I would be happy there. But it is huuuugge leap. I guess I am looking for words of encouragement here.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I couldn't in all conscience advise someone to just move to a country on the basis of what they imagine it will be like.

I think you need to find a way to visit and then you will be able to plan your move so much better.

You can probably get some good advice at the UK-Yankee site Bob quoted.

I do wish you lots of luck with your plans though!

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

You're probably right....

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Do you want to move to the UK mostly because of a desire to leave the usa, or are you in need of an adventure at this point in your life?

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Read the Daily Mail online, that will show you another "culture"

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

And then ignore everything you've read, because the DM has a reputation for being very right wing and exaggerating everything and is full of rubbish. ;):lol:

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

:rolleyes:

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I would say you must visit. This is because since I`ve been in the US I`ve seen how Britain is portrayed from the outside. I think the portrayal is out of date, no, worse than that, a complete fiction, and probably unrecognisable to most British people.
Britain and Ireland IMHO are over romanticised. The pageantry, history and castles and all that are a very small part of British life, but from this side of the pond it`s about all you are shown.Sometimes I feel like I must come from Brigadoon!
It`s fair to say that there will be significant culture shock especially because we speak a common language, but what will niggle is the day to day differences and inconveniences of being an "outsider". I know what I`m talking about having been in the US for five years.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Daily Mail report news as well, the riots last year, the police who was blinded then killed himself,, the phone hacking scandal, etc etc It does not hurt to know all aspects of life here. Its not all cobbled streets as some think.
Reading this site as I do daily, so many people want to leave, even those who are working, have a home. They think life will be better somewhere else, get there and its the same, you have to work, go to school live.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I see the latest threat is militant secularists.

What a load of utter cobblers that rag is.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I think shock is just right. My wife's experience was like that. And mine was not disimilar when we tried CA.

Disorientated, frustrated, perplexed. Whatever the adjective it is often beyond the 'fish out of water' feeling of general travel.

Good luck with whatever you try to do. But I'm another vote for at least paying a visit. While the UK might not cover the geographical scale of the US it does have a wide variation from region to region.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I would give somewhere like Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury, Edinburgh or Bath a look. They are all quite educated places and will have that typically english feel I figure you are trying to find. To top those places top UK in highest average IQ. I'm sure the universities give them a bump.

Bath and Oxford definately have a look at!!

You will be seen as an outsider though. My experience of travelling through Canada is that most people are interested to hear where you are from but every now and again someone makes a comment that is pretty offensive and I'm occasionally an ambassador for britain, eg "Union station just has gates that let anyone through, I know in London" *points at me* "they have dedicated exits and entrances".

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

For climate, you could move to many places in the States that have better.

Picturesque Britain does exist, and if you're self-employed you certainly could live in a village etc etc, or in a small market town with medieval features intact. You'd stand out, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't be welcome.

Apart from driving on the left -- and often down narrow, and/or streets -- it's the social customs and communications that might throw you. They're simply different and it takes a while to learn, like a new language.

It does sound crazy to just move, especially if money's so tight you can't afford to visit for a month or so, but crazy sometimes works.

Bev

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Not the cheapest places to live though....but if the budget is there and interested in Oxford, got a mate that's just put up his house up for sale a couple days ago in Chipping Norton...but he's setting up viewings for this weekend and said already had 7 people arrange a viewing and one offer on the table sight unseen :lol:

I'd say places around Cornwall have to be checked out as well as Yorkshire and the whole lakes and forests as they're just such a different lifestyle to the south.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I dunno. I read the UK Yankee forum and it seems that many Americans who move to the UK seem to adapt pretty well. They usually don't move for economic reasons and educate themselves on the perils and pitfalls beforehand. While tourists might have a romanticised notion of Britain and Ireland, I don't believe this is the case when applied to US expats living in Britain. I think British expats often have a much harder time adaption to the US because they don't realise how longer working hours, less opportunities to socialise and the political system will affect them personally. Those are not issues you can really research much as it depends on you personally. In my case, it's been too much of a hurdle to overcome.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

The more you say, the better I feel about my idea of moving over there. I don't think I have an idealized view of Britain. I read the online newpapers and consider myself fairly well informed and don't think everything there is perfect, but I can tell you that there is a list a mile long of reasons why I don't like it here and I would like it there.

Better weather, no blizzards, tornadoes, earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, insane heat and humidity
More easily accessible cultural activities that appeal to me
NHS
More beautiful towns
A wonderful attitude towards and love of dogs
Safer
More civil people
No mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus
No coyotes wandering even in cities attacking small pets in their yards
Generally proper use of the English language
Love of gardens common wherever you go

Am I wrong?

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I don't know how much you know, but everywhere is the US has some weather problems. I would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire relocating in the US. That's me. Other people find they can stand the threat of earthquakes or high heat and humidity and alligators and huge insects, or loooonnng winters, etc.

And I can afford to visit, but it is costly to fly back and forth and to board my dog, who would not be happy. If I could just go straight there it would save a lot in time and money and stress, IMO.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Can you tell me a bit more about the differences?

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Just different way of life.

Partly because of the work environment, generally different jobs etc and a lot stems from that probably.

Things do tend to be a lot more hectic down south compared to the north, you do tend to find people more brisk about things in London than up north etc, etc.

Worlds apart within miles of each other, probably only with a mocking of the French and Germans as a common denominator :lol:

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I believe I would have a better quality of life in the UK. And no, I don't need adventure, just change, for the better.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I agree with maybe 65% of this.

As far as the English language goes, our education system isn't too great either and many people don't speak proper English back home and often use regional slang.

More civil people? Hard to say. Chavs certainly aren't civil, but when it comes to things like driver courtesy, holding doors open and general manners, Britain wins hands down.

Gardens...we are a nation of gardeners, but you may not find so much pride in surroundings on council estates. For the most part though, I find British suburbs to be much greener.

More beautiful towns...some are, but we have many more grotty, run down towns and cities. I haven't been back to the UK in nearly a decade, but you should Google Street View places like Wolverhampton, Kettering, Watford, Stoke-On-Trent and you'll get the picture.

Anyway, if you are serious, 1) go to the Home Office website to determine visa eligibility, 2) go on holiday to Britain but explore outside London and 3) talk to American expats living over there to get an American perspective. I could be considered somewhat biased ;) and it's been nearly a decade since I lived there. I've been told that it's changed since then in several ways.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Quality of life is generally relative. Man Americans associate that only with financial prosperity. I believe that it's a combination of many factors. From your perspective, you would really have to spend some time in the UK to determine whether or not your QOL would be enhanced or diminished.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

Why would she google run down towns when she works from home? Being able to determine where she lives without worrying about traffic/commuting means she can pick the cream of the crop in where she lives.

Assuming she has some money behind her too means she could get beautiful victorian cottage in Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire if she still wants access to London and if she decides to go up north or to the south west her money will only take her further.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I meant to give her a better idea of how British towns & cities are in general...to give her a broader idea. Not all look like London, Oxford and Warwick :)

If she has money, it won't be an issue. That's the variable though that I haven't figured out from her posts.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

The good thing about run-down towns is they are never too far from somewhere better. My kids were so amazed last summer when a short drive took us to so many different places. Also I have noticed a tremendous amount of regeneration going on over there.

Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
 

I think it would be helpful or interesting (or not :) ) for me to elaborate on some of the things that bother me about living here, and reasons I want to leave.

Firstly, I live in a very nice neighborhood, tree- lined streets, nice little downtown area, a quiet suburban town that is considered safe. But in the last year a small neighborhood bank inside the grocery store a few blocks away was held up at gunpoint and robbed, the little pizza place a few blocks down was also held up at gunpoint and people having some sort of dispute were shooting at each other a few blocks from there. It's shocking to me and yet, because of the way things are here, people just take it in stride. On the news today they said a suburban school is on lockdown for some reason. Violence is all too common in the US. Look at what happened to one of our congressmen last year, shot in the head whilst talking to people outside a grocery store.
Now the weather: our winters are freezing cold, and I mean really cold as in, you can hardly breathe, you can't stay outside and walk lest you fall on the ice or drive any distance without carrying an emergency kit in case your car breaks down and you have n o heat, then in Springtime, now, the tornadoes begin. It's terrifying to hear sirens go off and be told to seek shelter immediately in your basement. We are in a place called "tornado alley" and there have been many that have hit near me. Then summer arrives with high heat and humidity, making it unbearable to go outside because again, you can barely breathe. It's like being in a sauna, but worse. Then there are the mosquitoes. They have gotten an early start here this year. You have to spray insect repellant on to protect yourself from being bitten and contracting West Nile Virus. You have to give your dog pills and sprays to keep them protected as well, because mosquitoes carry heart worm disease and that can kill your dog. And when you go in and out of the house you have to do it really fast lest you let any of them into the house. If they get in you are up all night trying to find and swat them.
Then there are the coyotes. I can't let me dog be out in the yard alone. They are so bold now that they aren't even afraid of humans. So if you happen to be out walking your dog they can come up and try to grab it and you are instructed not to turn and run because they will chase after you.
And then, the all-important health care issues. The fact that every person does not have health coverage is outrageous. I couldn't get it for years, now I can but pay over $400 a a month plus a $2000 deductible and 20% co-pay. And doctor's visits are ridiculously high.

So, there you have it, or some of it.