GeoffM

That didn't sound right so I looked it up - the Philippines has around 12m citizens abroad compared to the UK's 5m. Then I noticed the "industrialised" bit, but apparently the Philippines is a "newly industrialised country". So I guess it's a case of lies, damn lies, and then there are statistics. Slam in a few adjectives to create the answer you're looking for! (you as in one, rather than Mr P)

Pulaski

Yeah, it's a bit of a cop-out, because what it really means, based on population, that there are more British living outside the UK than there are expat French, Germans, Italians, or Americans, .... and perhaps Russians, all other countries are either smaller, and therefore unlikely to reach the same number, or deemed to be non-industrialized ..... but with a population of 1.3bn, you'd think that 1/2% of Chinese might have emigrated, and you'd think it would count as "industrialized" by now?

GeoffM

China is "newly industrialized" too , whatever your take on that is. Seems that is a bit of a woolly definition so profs can pigeonhole the country into a nice compartment depending on the phase of the moon.

But it's interesting that only an estimated 3-6m Americans live abroad which I guess is about 1-1.5%, compared to the 10-12% for Brits and Filipinos.

Maybe the American Dream really is alive and well - for Americans as well as foreigners? With emphasis on the "dream" bit.

Sally Redux

I meant a burning desire for people to move there.

Sally Redux

There was another recent thread from someone who had never visited but had a desperate need to move here.

Cardienscarf

Ha, same here. If somebody had told me 25 years ago that I was going to up and move to the States (and, of course, it wasn't that simple), I would have thought they were barking. After nearly 22 years here, I think I'm the one that's barking.

I had the fantasy about moving to Australia. I do have family there and I did visit when I was 5.

Now I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I do know that wherever you go, there you are.

bombadil

Interesting responses, I have met a lot of people who have expressed interest in at least visiting the US, probably everyone I have ever brought it up with. I haven't met many if any people who have overtly shown the same passion as I do.

I think there is something there for everyone. It's so big, it has some of the worlds largest and culturally interesting cities and yet some of the most beautiful wildernesses and rural areas. It has a very interesting inspiring and sometime dark history, but no matter where you find yourself on the political spectrum you will most likely find something in America that appeals to you. From the counter culture to the fiscal conservatism (allegedly) of the republicans. It's really a world in it's own. But you can be reasonably sure it won't shake your western value-set to much. I think the sense in which America is known to itself as the land of opportunity is probably quite false (especially as I have no opportunity to go there), but really, no matter who you are, once your in America you will have the opportunity to at least pursue the life you want. Now I know if i got there I would be working my ass off, but personally once I had got everything in a good place and had some time and money I would have to do an east > west road-trip

I think the increased exposure to American media also makes it feel like a second home almost. Many of the older generation will have been exposed to primarily British media, but now it's all American sitcoms, films and websites - at least growing up as British comedy can be much more challenging or offensive (of course not always).

Hotscot

Substitute Europe for America in your description and you'll be closer to the truth

davidsk

I guess America so attractive to so many people is because it is so difficult to get in through the legal immigration system.

When I first visited the USA, I was surprised to see so many fit people and so many runners instead of the reported 70% overweight (including 35% obese).

Regarding saving, have you tried spending £10 a week for food? You could actually eat very healthy meals rather than junk food. That was what I did when I wanted to save money for my study. Having said that, now one lunch often costs me about that.

Noorah101

That's because the overweight ones were not out there running and exercising, so you just couldn't see them. LOL

Rene