Jamackabi

It's all very surreal. I am in London today for work and it doesn't feel like I'm here, if that makes sense? My mind is elsewhere. I am full of excitement, but also full of unanswered questions from the huge list of things that we need to get done literally as soon as we land. I will post any questions on here if the answers aren't already listed somewhere on previous threads.

I finish my current job tomorrow, which doesn't leave a lot of time to play with considering we are driving to the hotel at Gatwick tomorrow evening for our flight on Friday. Seems fitting for us though, we always do things at a frantic pace!

I will post once I have made it to the other side, thanks for all your help and guidance along the way guys!

Gf_121

This is the bit im coming to terms with, travelled around a lot of the US and been wanting to move for a while. Its finally happening, initially to Nebraska, which is never somewhere I have looked at moving to or even visiting... But hey, it will be an experience!


OP - In the run up to your move is there anything that's come up that maybe you hadn't initially thought of that's needed sorting be it this side of the Atlantic or the other? I am 6 weeks from moving and its all come about quite quickly and fairly out of the blue (I had been enquiring with work, but they always said it will be a little while yet, then all of a sudden it was "we need you ASAP").

Jamackabi

I don't think anything has come up so far that has surprised us really, we have done a lot of research and thankfully my wife is a lot more organised than me.

Moving this early has meant we are slightly rushed though. We were approved in January, and had initially planned to move in June this year. However, that was all subject to change dependant on if one of us were offered a job stateside. Thankfully, I was offered a job last month after only a couple of weeks of applying for positions. If I am honest, I didn't anticipate securing something so quickly. They wanted me to start pretty much straight away, but I've managed to hold them off for a May 1st start date. Wrapping up everything here in the U.K whilst trying to plan our lives in the U.S in just a few short weeks has been challenging. I think we have just about managed it though. We've decided not to ship stuff, and kind of use this as a fresh start. So, our whole lives are being crammed into 4 suitcases!

excpomea

18 years and it still catches me out.
I see you're ex services, Ex RN myself.
We have a pretty big facebook group of EX RN/RM guys over here.
Helps keep me in contact with the service side of my life.
You may find a similar group ref your regiment. Might be good to look into.

Jamackabi

Thanks for the tip, I'll have a look at any Facebook groups there may be. I'm quite keen on getting myself some hobbies! I play golf now, but only really when I'm stateside with my father in law so I expect we'll play a lot more considering I'll be living at the in laws for the first 6 months. Wouldn't mind playing in a 5 a side football (soccer) team if they exist locally, I'll check in a few weeks once I've found my feet. It'll help with making me feel at "home", if I am interacting and socialising with others.

One quick question on you being ex Royal Navy, do you ever mention you are? I remember mentioning I was in the British Army when visiting California a few years back and I received discount in a store somewhere. I remember we also mini golfed down in Hilton Head a couple of years ago and the lady running the joint asked if any of us were veterans, to which I said technically yes, but UK Armed Forces. She gave me my round for free and thanked me for my service. I've certainly not experienced any of that here in the U.K, kinda nice.

Owen778

Derailing the thread slightly, Rete, but a bedsit is not a rental or apartment, in British English that would be a flat. A bedsit is basically a rented room in a shared house, with each room rented separately. Usually it would have a lock on the room door. Probably a shared bathroom, but maybe with a small electric stove for cooking and / or a sink inside the room.

dave2702

+1 from me, all the bedsits I've rented in the UK have always just been a single room in a house. The room would have a bed, TV, Stove and sink. The toilet/bath was usually shared between other bedsits

Much smaller than a Studio Apartment (unless you live in NYC)

dj6372

It is a big jump, my only real advice is accept that you are in the USA, things are different, if you constantly compare with the UK, you will drive yourself nuts lol.

I found the transition quite easy, but being ex RAF and also an ex RAF Brat I'm used to changing countries every 2-3 years!!

I have just moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta, and that in itself is a total change!!

You will find things you love n loathe (my American wife misses the UK more than me!)

I have access to English Bacon (now that is necessary) Marmite and choky bikkys, life is great.

Enjoy the new lifestyle, get out, meet people, indulge in the local way.

Learn to speak American to save issues at Subway.......ask for ledduce n tomayto, a boddle of wadder, you'll be fine.

Have fun and welcome to America, Land of the Free...........and a lot of crazy Brits

MidAtlantic

dj6372

Oh I forgot to mention, if you get yourself a Retired Service Card, (I got mine through the RAFA), you will find all manner of discounts, my wife will always ask! Me being the typical Brit will shuffle my feet and be too embarrassed to ask lol.