neil

...but that's all right because you get paid more here.

Bob

what, holiday? that's insanity....how can a country continue to function if people are allowed to have time off and enjoy it...

Elvira

You could always move to North Dakota.

Or Minnesota.

jumping doris

Apart from the devil that is healthcare...vacation time is the worst thing about living here.

OH has gone from 6 weeks to 2 and has to do another 3 years before he gets an extra week.
Yes he gets more money and may have better prospects but.....he works longer hours and we find the cost of living much higher here.

One of the things that was a big plus for moving here was a chance to see the US but on 2 weeks holiday a year thats not going to happen.

Circus-of-Power

The Human Resources guy nearly fell out of his chair when I informed him at the interview that in the UK I had 35 days paid vacation....and that this was not unusual.
Managed to persuade them to give me 2 weeks a year as opposed to the one week normally given to new starters

Dan725

If he doesn't like it, tell him to move out of his bloody 20 room mansion then!!!

Dan725

A real victory, to be sure

Tight sods, one week off for new starters? That really really takes the piss. Just imagine if that was in the UK - they'd be wondering why no-one was taking the job.....

Circus-of-Power

Should have asked for 3 weeks .....still get pissy about having to work on Boxing Day and Good Friday though

One of my co-workers just became entitled to 3 weeks vacation (10 years service) he actually complained Said he didn't know what he would do with all that vacation time .....I could have slapped him :curse:

Dan725

Ah yes, the Boxing day and Good Friday thing - I think that's what kills Christmas/Easter for me here, as well as the fact that not many people take a week or two like they do in Europe.

I've never understood people who say they don't know what to do with vacation time - shows a real lack of imagination I think. I've heard it quite a lot here, not only jokingly, but serious too....

Jerseygirl

It's not really that high for NJ...get used to it.

Roland Hulme

We're not home owners, so that might have something to do with it - but our cost of living is WAY, WAY less than in the UK.

Still can't find a decent cheap white wine, though.

jumping doris

We have three children, one at college here

Our property taxes are high and our gas bills are high in the winter. We pay more for water but electricity is cheaper.
Childrens activities are expensive....cheerleading outfit nearly $400 is one example.
Sports stuff tends to be expensive.... eg ski bus with the school in January is $400. Everyone goes though so it's hard to say no when you are pressing your kids to join in and make a go of life here.

Only OH can work, the rest of us have been on H4 visas etc etc.

Don't get me started on wine and PA's stupid rules.
My friend is from Long Island and feels like she has died and gone to hell now she lives here.

BigDavyG

Wouldn't miss a boxing day at home for the world - prob my favourite day of the year.
If I was here I would prob rather work, as it wouldn't quite be the same anyway...no bookies to have your king george bets, no boozer to go to watch racing, footie and play pool and cards - just wouldn't be right

Elvira

So where are you now

lisag8070

Thats exactly what my OH says....whats the point....
when you've not got your family and friends to share it with the Xmas holidays just aren't the same...

In the UK, we usually spend Boxing day overdosing on left-over Turkey and eating the mega sized box of quality street whilst playing Trivial pursuits and drinking enough booze to sink a battleship and we have an absolute blast, especially when the whole family's there (12 in total)....lets just say things get out of control ....but in a good way....