What is the positive in returning to UK
Jun 25th 2015 | 11:05 pm
#107
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 94,307
From: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
I really sympathise with your story and your family loyalties, but please - get citizenship before you go to the UK.
This forum has many sad stories of posters who are stranded in a place they do not wish to live in because they cannot return to whence they came, for visa/passport reasons. For pure convenience and an escape route -sort it
This forum has many sad stories of posters who are stranded in a place they do not wish to live in because they cannot return to whence they came, for visa/passport reasons. For pure convenience and an escape route -sort it
Jun 25th 2015 | 11:18 pm
#108
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 89,088
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
I really sympathise with your story and your family loyalties, but please - get citizenship before you go to the UK.
This forum has many sad stories of posters who are stranded in a place they do not wish to live in because they cannot return to whence they came, for visa/passport reasons. For pure convenience and an escape route -sort it
This forum has many sad stories of posters who are stranded in a place they do not wish to live in because they cannot return to whence they came, for visa/passport reasons. For pure convenience and an escape route -sort it
Jun 26th 2015 | 3:39 am
#109
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,654
From: South Bucks
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
You know what I think it is great of you both to think along the lines of having a wonderful adventure and having lived close to Windsor and that area, you will love it! Expensive though and rent will be around £1000 for a flat let alone for a house which would be much more! Again I say get your citizenship. Your grandad is long gone and so has the wars! Loyaltly only goes so far before you and your wife's interests come first. Also what others say, your wife unless she is British also will need some sort of settlement visa unless you are just going for a holiday. As a Canadian married to a Brit she will not need a visa to enter Europe either for a holiday. So maybe go on a holiday first and then come back and sort out everything. Good luck!
Jun 26th 2015 | 4:57 am
#110
Realist
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 24,667
From: UK
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
Jun 26th 2015 | 5:20 am
#111
Was in Canada, now home.
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,388
From: Devon
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
Where is Novo going? To the UK, or France?
I thought he was going to France, and I was thinking to myself that a retired professor who speaks French going to live in a country where he already owns a house wasn't exactly Ranulph Fiennes standard adventurous.
But if he's going to live in Newcastle, that's another matter entirely. Respect!
I thought he was going to France, and I was thinking to myself that a retired professor who speaks French going to live in a country where he already owns a house wasn't exactly Ranulph Fiennes standard adventurous.
But if he's going to live in Newcastle, that's another matter entirely. Respect!
Jun 26th 2015 | 5:42 am
#112
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 30,259
From: Europe (to be specified).
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
Where is Novo going? To the UK, or France?
I thought he was going to France, and I was thinking to myself that a retired professor who speaks French going to live in a country where he already owns a house wasn't exactly Ranulph Fiennes standard adventurous.
But if he's going to live in Newcastle, that's another matter entirely. Respect!
I thought he was going to France, and I was thinking to myself that a retired professor who speaks French going to live in a country where he already owns a house wasn't exactly Ranulph Fiennes standard adventurous.
But if he's going to live in Newcastle, that's another matter entirely. Respect!
I'm going to both. 51/49 UK/FR at least for now.
Jul 2nd 2015 | 7:40 am
#113
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 148
From: UK>Canada>UK & Loving it!
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
The point is that when compared to the rest of the world, they are far more alike than different, but you wouldn't know that because to you, the differences are huge.
But c'mon, it's an exaggeration to say that the food is different (go somewhere truly different and then say that), or supermarkets are different (Safeway and Morrisons and Tesco etc. are nearly identical Safeway and other mega-supermarkets in the US), Many of the same names in the shopping malls. Steering wheel is on the right, that's true... The UK HAS public transport, the US largely doesn't. That's a plus... Culturally, different, but not like the difference between say, Italians and Brits. And I'm not referring to language.
If you live in the UK, that's all you know, and then move to Canada - potentially big culture shock - for some.
Brits do seem to exhibit an elevated sensitivity or even adversity to things 'not British'. The food is shite, the beer is shite, the meat is shite.. the way they hold a fork is shite.. they way they say 'fraance' is shite... Drivers are idiots...I hear it all the time on expat forums like this, as well as personally from other Brits.
But I never hear that stuff from Americans. In fact, Brits often view America with despise, but conversely, (if they have any opinion at all) Americans generally express positive views of the UK, Europe, etc. Perhaps out of ignorance, but they just don't seem to have the same predisposition to dislike it.
Americans who visit us are delighted to take in the local atmosphere, and I've never heard a complaint that there's no McDonalds or TGI Fridays down the street.... I do hear lots of complaints about Spanish, Germans, crap food, no proper cuppa, no HP sauce etc. from Brits, but precious few complaints about Brits from other nationalities.
Therefore, I would be inclined to suspect that moving FROM the US or Canada to the UK would render less culture shock, simply because the yanks (and presumably, Canadians) don't seem to exhibit quite as much dependency or favouritism for 'all things American/Canadian' (and I'm not referring to flag-waving).
</rant>
But c'mon, it's an exaggeration to say that the food is different (go somewhere truly different and then say that), or supermarkets are different (Safeway and Morrisons and Tesco etc. are nearly identical Safeway and other mega-supermarkets in the US), Many of the same names in the shopping malls. Steering wheel is on the right, that's true... The UK HAS public transport, the US largely doesn't. That's a plus... Culturally, different, but not like the difference between say, Italians and Brits. And I'm not referring to language.
If you live in the UK, that's all you know, and then move to Canada - potentially big culture shock - for some.
Brits do seem to exhibit an elevated sensitivity or even adversity to things 'not British'. The food is shite, the beer is shite, the meat is shite.. the way they hold a fork is shite.. they way they say 'fraance' is shite... Drivers are idiots...I hear it all the time on expat forums like this, as well as personally from other Brits.
But I never hear that stuff from Americans. In fact, Brits often view America with despise, but conversely, (if they have any opinion at all) Americans generally express positive views of the UK, Europe, etc. Perhaps out of ignorance, but they just don't seem to have the same predisposition to dislike it.
Americans who visit us are delighted to take in the local atmosphere, and I've never heard a complaint that there's no McDonalds or TGI Fridays down the street.... I do hear lots of complaints about Spanish, Germans, crap food, no proper cuppa, no HP sauce etc. from Brits, but precious few complaints about Brits from other nationalities.
Therefore, I would be inclined to suspect that moving FROM the US or Canada to the UK would render less culture shock, simply because the yanks (and presumably, Canadians) don't seem to exhibit quite as much dependency or favouritism for 'all things American/Canadian' (and I'm not referring to flag-waving).
</rant>
Jul 2nd 2015 | 7:57 am
#114
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 148
From: UK>Canada>UK & Loving it!
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
But that is the BIG issue.
I am versed in architectural / construction methods in Ontario and have a good working knowledge of the Ontario Building Code.
That does not transfer to England which has it's own architectural / construction methods and building code.
I would be starting at the bottom... which is OK, provided I can provide for rent / food etc.
I am not looking to be a millionaire, I would be satisfied to make ends meet as the balance of my life in England would be exciting.
I am versed in architectural / construction methods in Ontario and have a good working knowledge of the Ontario Building Code.
That does not transfer to England which has it's own architectural / construction methods and building code.
I would be starting at the bottom... which is OK, provided I can provide for rent / food etc.
I am not looking to be a millionaire, I would be satisfied to make ends meet as the balance of my life in England would be exciting.
Jul 2nd 2015 | 8:16 am
#115
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 9,740
From: bute
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
Great things about the Old Country ?
Public Libraries
NHS
Public Libraries
NHS
Jul 2nd 2015 | 9:20 pm
#116
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,221
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
After a year post return, there are so many things that are great! The weather for us in the past year has been really good. Great summer last year, promise of a good one this year. Very mild winter with many sunny days, even if a bit nippy. Food in the UK has improved immensely, with the introduction of ingredients from all over the world. So much to do, especially if you live in a city. I am in London and we live a very quiet life but we could be doing something different every day if we wanted to. NHS has been brilliant for us so far. I love our long walks exploring and looking at the beautiful historical buildings.
On the negative side? 0!
On the negative side? 0!
Jul 2nd 2015 | 11:45 pm
#117
Was in Canada, now home.
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,388
From: Devon
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
What is positive is going to depend on what your needs and tastes are, and where you are coming from, isn't it?
I thought healthcare in Canada was OK, in some respects better and in some worse, than the NHS. The public library system in Alberta is superb, far better than the UK's.
I thought healthcare in Canada was OK, in some respects better and in some worse, than the NHS. The public library system in Alberta is superb, far better than the UK's.
Jul 2nd 2015 | 11:48 pm
#118
Was in Canada, now home.
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,388
From: Devon
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
For me it is, among other things, the English countryside. Although Canada has superb scenery, the prairies are rather dull and flat and I missed songbirds.
Jul 2nd 2015 | 11:54 pm
#119
Dichotomus tinker
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,700
From: Ontario, Canada
Re: What is the positive in returning to UK
After a year post return, there are so many things that are great! The weather for us in the past year has been really good. Great summer last year, promise of a good one this year. Very mild winter with many sunny days, even if a bit nippy. Food in the UK has improved immensely, with the introduction of ingredients from all over the world. So much to do, especially if you live in a city. I am in London and we live a very quiet life but we could be doing something different every day if we wanted to. NHS has been brilliant for us so far. I love our long walks exploring and looking at the beautiful historical buildings.
On the negative side? 0!
