ChocolateBabz

What has been your experience?

We love it, summer weather is great, lots to do, more expendable income.

Are you glad you moved?

Yes

What is your experience with medical?

It pi$$es me off royally (the bureaucracy) thank the stars we haven't had to use it much.

And, the general cost of living?

About the same as UK but more bang for your buck

Employment? (We're both IT professionals)

Hubby was a UK - US transfer in O&G service sector (long time employee of same company) I am avoiding going back to work like it's the black death

Of course we miss family and friends, some food things but in general we are pretty settled and happy.

BikerBear

I've been gone for 10 years! A LOT has changed in that time... I'm just asking for people's opinion of the CURRENT situation. Nothing more, nothing less.

So far, all I've received is bitchy comments.... Sorry I asked...


Moderator, please remove mu userID

WEBlue

Yes, what exactly IS the question? Is your wife asking, "Should I get US citizenship?"

If that's it, check the BE Wiki on Advantages/Disadvantages of USC as well as the thread JAJ links above. Have your wife read both through and make a decision....

I think the upshot of both the BE Wiki and that thread are: If you have family living in the USA, or if you ever expect to live there yourself = yes, get USC. If not = USC can be more trouble than it's worth.

cluedweasel

In a way, I would take a lot of what I say with a pinch of salt. I live in an area that my wife moved us to, and to say it hasn't worked out would be an understatement. We used to live in the Santa Cruz area in California and I liked it a lot.

On the other hand I find a lot of the attitudes in the US, especially on the right wing, a little hard to take. I know people here who work 60+ hours a week doing 3 jobs who barely make enough to pay for rent and food who are told it's their fault because they "don't work hard enough."

One of my neighbours was diagnosed with lung cancer (she doesn't smoke) for the 3rd time. She's already lost her house and all her savings from the costs of the last course of treatment. Now, not only does she have to worry about a potentially terminal disease, but how her family (hubby and 4 kids) are going to live.

To be honest, I'm probably making more money than I would in the UK, I live in a nice, big house and have $80,000+ worth of cars on the driveway. Does it make me happy though? I'd much rather not have to worry about losing it all if I (or my wife) falls ill or if my job disappears with no notice one day. Yes, it's a wonderful country to see, but not if you only have 10 vacation days (that also count for sick days) to use.

Some of this stuff doesn't matter at all to some people. As long as they are happy and comfortable, they're fine, and good for them. It's just not for me though.

markonline1

72 degrees without a cloud in the sky here
San Fran less than an hour away.

Yum!!

Never had that accusation. It's never even been implied.


I have a well built house sitting on approx an acre of land. I'll take that over what I had in the UK every day of the week.

An outdated misconception.

I watch the 6 Nations religiously (thanks for nothing France). Of course, unlike rugby, NFL players use their bodies to block, hence the pads and helmets.

Sally Redux

The procedure is to send a message to admin asking to close your account.

bewildering

If you are unhappy in the UK you have to find out why, because changing location may not influence what is making you unhappy.

I love the USA. But I also loved living in England, Scotland and Germany. How you enjoy a place depends on YOU. As an example, I enjoyed climbing and playing Rugby in Europe, but when i moved to the USA i started and enjoy surfing and running.

There is great feeling of space in the USA. I feel the UK is very, very small now.

You need medical insurance over here. But you need that in other countries as well. The UK is a bit of an anomaly.

Everything in the west in a little more expensive these days - people are not comparing apples with apples in that regard. The basics for the western lifestyle ultimately depends on oil price, and that has been high for nearly ten years. So you cannot compare food prices in the UK 10 years ago with prices now in the USA. The Economist uses an interesting method for comparing prices, and this comparison shows things are mostly the same depending on exchange rate.

WEBlue

Actually those comments ARE the opinions.

A vocal number here are more than ready to head home to Blighty. You might want to listen to them because there's a chance your wife would react the same way to American life.

On the other hand, some here quite like their "American" lives and have no plans to leave, as evidenced by this recent thread:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=820830

Hotscot

Also.

It's not a question and answer session here.
It's more of a bunch of mates with conflicting personal opinions having an animated discussion down the pub.

(However you also have interlopers declaring "facts" when they're nothing of the sort.)

cluedweasel

I don't want to turn this into another health insurance thread, but the European model of health care insurance is a very different beast from the American one. A lot of my friends and family back home think that it's a case of paying your premium and that's it. They don't know, or understand, deductibles, co-pays, networks, treatment coverage, prescription costs, etc. We now have full insurance through my work and it's considered a premium plan. In the first two months of a year, we've already shelled out over $2000 on top of premiums.
For anyone coming to the US with any sort of condition that needs treatment, it is an important consideration.

Uncle_Bob

Oh really and i thought the earth was flat

I suggest jumping in your hot hatch and taking a ride back to a land where everyone thinks there should be no horse called jack and that every horse should cross the finish line at the same time

And where your government is charging you 70% tax on petrol which is why you find a hatch so acceptable in the first place

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

I'm living my dream at the moment thanks, so nitpick at American all you want. I see an individual with a similar attitude called Piers Morgan that got fired recently ....

AmerLisa

I only lived in the UK for 5 years and was shocked at the transformation of things when I came back to live in the US. This isn't your Kansas anymore, Dorothy and no one can tell you how much things have changed, good or bad, you have to experience it for yourself. Reverse culture shock is a bitch in itself!

People have told you their opinions good or bad, bitchy or not, what exactly do you want to hear?

Sally Redux

Surely not contentious to say that someone coming to the US should be aware of the differences in healthcare delivery.

Uncle_Bob

The OP is returning to the US not coming to the US.

kimilseung

We don't get many rage quits in these here'parts,.