American would love advice re:moving to England
Mar 13th 2012, 8:20 pm
#46
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
I have thought quite a bit about Ireland, and in fact, that was my original idea for years. But the economy is so bad there, I don't know that it's the best choice. Both places appeal to me, truth be told. My grandparents came from Ireland and I grew up with the idea that that was the loveliest place on earth.
Aarrggghhh, it's such a hard decision. It would be easy if I had someone I was going with or to. I have almost too many options.
Aarrggghhh, it's such a hard decision. It would be easy if I had someone I was going with or to. I have almost too many options.
If I were older I would probably look at Bath, Bibury village or I'm not sure.
How much money do you have saved, are you looking to be near a city or out in the country (bearing in mind in England you can get to a city in an hour from almost anywhere) and do you like to be left alone or are you looking for a community atmosphere?
Anyway when you come spend a year renting as that means it'll give you time to scope out the country. Every town and city in england has a very distinct culture and one town may not fit for you whereas one town over it may be completely different.
Last edited by Fitz88; Mar 13th 2012 at 8:26 pm.
Mar 13th 2012, 8:35 pm
#47
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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.
Mar 13th 2012, 8:38 pm
#48
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Mar 13th 2012, 8:43 pm
#49
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Like I said, Brigadoon, or Downton Abbey!
Mar 13th 2012, 8:45 pm
#51
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Wow, who says that kind of thing? I can hardly believe people could be that uninformed about England. It's not like there isn't a lot of information out there, even if you are not looking for it. This surprises me.
Mar 13th 2012, 8:48 pm
#52
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Oh they are all genuine quotes, from well-educated people. In fairness, the one about elegance was from a Japanese woman married to an American.
Mar 13th 2012, 8:51 pm
#53
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
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.
Amusing as they are on the doorstep of Windsor/Egham/Eton.
Mar 13th 2012, 9:12 pm
#57
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
Someone suggested earlier that I might want to consider Ireland, and so I wonder if anyone here might be able to tell me the major, or even minor, differences I would find between Ireland and the UK, especially as regards the things I have been talking about.
Mar 13th 2012, 9:26 pm
#60
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Re: American would love advice re:moving to England
The currency, they speak funny, they're even crapper as sports than England, economy is in even a bigger shitter, probably more rainfall....more expensive to fly to mainland Europe for weekend trips.