Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Aug 1st 2005, 5:45 am
#76
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by Celtic_Angel
I may just get off me arse and go for my citizenship pretty soon 
I've been here nearly a decade , the stuff that many on here whine about is stuff that bothered me years ago....you've got to let it go and move on or like Fig said you're stay is miserable...if you can't beat em join em I say !
now how i'll be feeling tomorrow may be entirely different
I've been here nearly a decade , the stuff that many on here whine about is stuff that bothered me years ago....you've got to let it go and move on or like Fig said you're stay is miserable...if you can't beat em join em I say !
now how i'll be feeling tomorrow may be entirely different
God, nearly a decade for us tooo
Still, rather be here than there, even though it cost mucho more
Happy days
Aug 1st 2005, 5:46 am
#77
Back Again
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by Perfumdiva1
Also, Bangkok had no McDonald and Pizza Hut 17 years ago now they are over-run with them, sad sad sad
PD1
thankgoodness America is a free country.
Aug 1st 2005, 5:52 am
#78
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by Celtic_Angel
that's alwful I'm sure those poor people are rounded up at midnight at gun point and forced to enter these establishments, parted with their hard earn cash and made to...I don't think I can say it..."shudder" eat the crap they pass off as food.....
thankgoodness America is a free country.
thankgoodness America is a free country.
You will probably find most of their customer are from the Western world with a few locals thrown in
It is what it is...
Still prefer a good green curry myself, or a visit to the open air cafe to a Micky D any day
But this is still a new experience for many, and therefore many will try, as we would do in our own cities, tapas, curries, sushi etc..
America is what?????
Aug 1st 2005, 5:53 am
#79
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by Fig Newton
It is likely that this thread will not last for too long as at least one person that has the power to censor threads that they don't like will likely have their way again. See the thread, and specifically the last post, "Things that disturb you about the US" to see what I mean.
My first piece of advice would have to be to avoid threads such as those I referenced above. People that engage in these kind of threads are usually miserable, negative, and simply anti-American. Those kind of people can cast a dark cloud even in a tornado. Don't mistake their supposed humor and good nature for joining their clique as good will. Misery loves company with these kind of people. If you are looking for something positive to help with your move and what you should expect then these are the last kind of people you should talk to.
Respect the culture of the country you have chosen to live in. It is foolish and disrespectful to expect things to be the same as where you came from and beyond crazy to expect it to change just to make you more comfortable. It isn't going to happen so you may as well accept that fact. Dwelling on negative differences and things you are not used to or do not have any desire to accept is only going to make your stay miserable. It will certainly affect your attitude in at least subtle ways that will be projected to those around. People will notice.
Americans don't like people that constantly complain. A complaint here and there and a dissenting voice tends to only be tolerated by people that do something about their misery. Even then eventually people will simply tell you to quit whining, to just shut up, and get on with it. At that point don't be surprised if they simply avoid you, even more so since your are a newly arrived immigrant.
Lose the sarcasm that is common in the UK. It is not going to go over well outside of a comedy routine or show or movie, especially with Americans you don't even know. Sarcasm in every day American life is considered rude and not funny.
Avoid spending too much time in these kinds of forums as they often interfere with assimilating into a new culture. Keeping one foot in the UK is not going to help you be happy in a new country, especially if you plan on staying.
Accept the political and social differences of America in comparison to Europe. Even many of our Democrats are more to the right than you would think. Avoid the depressing and futile political mine field in the already difficult process of assimilating into a new culture. You may disagree with gun culture in America but the country has had such a gun culture since even before the country was formed, and even much more so. Don't expect such things to change in your lifetime, if ever, and nor should you expect it to.
It is foolish to judge a country many times bigger than your own on the one place you have chosen to live in. Every part of a country, its states, and its cities have their less desrable areas and their own character.
Get out and travel the country as often as you can and talk to people. Most Americans are easily approachable and like to converse so it isn't rude to simply start up conversations with strangers as many in Europe think. Being too reserved is a prescription for loneliness and few friends.
Finally, keep a positive attitude. Life is tough enough without what should be your best cheerleader, yourself, bringing you down. Make the best of whatever situation you decided to get yourself into or the ones that life hands you. Conditioning yourself to be miserable in what you percieve to be difficult situations, like any other habit, can be with you for the rest of your life, and is as destructive as they come.
Many will respond to this thread, assuming the thread still exists, in a very negative way but they will only prove what they really are, as they did in the referenced thread and others within this forum. Read that thread and see for yourself the kind of vileness that you can expect from such people when someone disagrees with them.
To those that are not anti-American, hostile, and look forward to their stay in America, I say welcome to America and good luck. To all the others happiness is just a plane ride away. Let me know if you need help with the tickets.
My first piece of advice would have to be to avoid threads such as those I referenced above. People that engage in these kind of threads are usually miserable, negative, and simply anti-American. Those kind of people can cast a dark cloud even in a tornado. Don't mistake their supposed humor and good nature for joining their clique as good will. Misery loves company with these kind of people. If you are looking for something positive to help with your move and what you should expect then these are the last kind of people you should talk to.
Respect the culture of the country you have chosen to live in. It is foolish and disrespectful to expect things to be the same as where you came from and beyond crazy to expect it to change just to make you more comfortable. It isn't going to happen so you may as well accept that fact. Dwelling on negative differences and things you are not used to or do not have any desire to accept is only going to make your stay miserable. It will certainly affect your attitude in at least subtle ways that will be projected to those around. People will notice.
Americans don't like people that constantly complain. A complaint here and there and a dissenting voice tends to only be tolerated by people that do something about their misery. Even then eventually people will simply tell you to quit whining, to just shut up, and get on with it. At that point don't be surprised if they simply avoid you, even more so since your are a newly arrived immigrant.
Lose the sarcasm that is common in the UK. It is not going to go over well outside of a comedy routine or show or movie, especially with Americans you don't even know. Sarcasm in every day American life is considered rude and not funny.
Avoid spending too much time in these kinds of forums as they often interfere with assimilating into a new culture. Keeping one foot in the UK is not going to help you be happy in a new country, especially if you plan on staying.
Accept the political and social differences of America in comparison to Europe. Even many of our Democrats are more to the right than you would think. Avoid the depressing and futile political mine field in the already difficult process of assimilating into a new culture. You may disagree with gun culture in America but the country has had such a gun culture since even before the country was formed, and even much more so. Don't expect such things to change in your lifetime, if ever, and nor should you expect it to.
It is foolish to judge a country many times bigger than your own on the one place you have chosen to live in. Every part of a country, its states, and its cities have their less desrable areas and their own character.
Get out and travel the country as often as you can and talk to people. Most Americans are easily approachable and like to converse so it isn't rude to simply start up conversations with strangers as many in Europe think. Being too reserved is a prescription for loneliness and few friends.
Finally, keep a positive attitude. Life is tough enough without what should be your best cheerleader, yourself, bringing you down. Make the best of whatever situation you decided to get yourself into or the ones that life hands you. Conditioning yourself to be miserable in what you percieve to be difficult situations, like any other habit, can be with you for the rest of your life, and is as destructive as they come.
Many will respond to this thread, assuming the thread still exists, in a very negative way but they will only prove what they really are, as they did in the referenced thread and others within this forum. Read that thread and see for yourself the kind of vileness that you can expect from such people when someone disagrees with them.
To those that are not anti-American, hostile, and look forward to their stay in America, I say welcome to America and good luck. To all the others happiness is just a plane ride away. Let me know if you need help with the tickets.
You claim that your posts have been positive. Well, newsflash here - they weren't. They were just negative in a different way.
I'm not going to enter into a battle of words with you, I'm just going to point out one or two things. Take them as you will.
Firstly, sites like this are a Godsend for expats like us. Until you have experienced the emotional rollercoaster of moving to another country and giving up everything you are used to, you have no way of understanding what it is like. Your stint in Germany does not compare, because you were working for America, with Americans, albeit in a different setting. You may believe that you experienced the culture - in fact, I'm sure you did, but while you were doing so, you had the fallback of all your compatriots experiencing it right along with you. You could hear an American accent whenever you wished, chat about TV programmes or food or whatever it was that you were missing whenever you wanted to. Most of us do not have that luxury. We are assimilating into a new culture and there are some things we need to get used to. We don't have the liberty of being able to whinge about them with dozens of other Brits during the day, so we do it on this forum.
If, as an American citizen, you are hurt and upset by the things we choose to complain about, it begs the question - what on Earth are you doing frequenting a board like this? What exactly is your link to British Expats? Or is it some masochistic desire to get yourself all riled up and hot under the collar? I do think that, for the good of your blood pressure, you need to steer clear of these forums. You are not British. You are not an Expat. Why are you here? Not that you don't have the right to be, but it doesn't seem to be doing you an awful lot of good.
You want us to be more accepting of a different culture (i.e. yours) and yet you are not being accepting of our culture. You chose to come to a British Expats site (which should, by definition, be full of Brits) and argue with us about something which is very much part of our cultural identity - whinging. You don't think we should be doing it. And yet at the same time you complain that we are not accepting the American culture. You can't have things both ways. To us, this site is like a little corner of Britain. I don't go and stand in the middle of Safeway and shout "Jesus christ! You can't even buy ground almonds in this shit hole! What the hell is this country coming to?!" - I save my whinging for the forum. What you are doing is basically coming into the UK and telling us to stop being British. It isn't going to happen.
I don't expect the USA to be just like the UK; after all diversity is a wonderful thing, so I integrate as best I can while I'm out in the real world. I do, however, get homesick every now and then. When I do, it's nice to be able to share some of the things which are getting me down with other people who have gone through or are going through the same thing. The important thing for you to note is that this doesn't mean we hate your country. You're right - we chose to come and live here. It just means that it's not our home and there are some things we miss which we can't get or are different over here.
If you insist that everyone who comes on here has to be positive and upbeat about America, you are removing one of the outlets that we have for frustration and homesickness. To be quite frank, this site is to help British expats settle in and stay sane. It is not intended to make American citizens feel proud of themselves and their country.
Aug 1st 2005, 5:55 am
#80
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by Perfumdiva1
America is what?????
I don't know how that place stays in business 
Aug 1st 2005, 6:00 am
#81
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by Wintersong
I don't go and stand in the middle of Safeway and shout "Jesus christ! You can't even buy ground almonds in this shit hole! What the hell is this country coming to?!"
Besides, Safeway is crap anyway and way over priced for their stuff!
Aug 1st 2005, 6:00 am
#82
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by Wintersong
...
I don't go and stand in the middle of Safeway and shout "Jesus christ! You can't even buy ground almonds in this shit hole! What the hell is this country coming to?!"
...
I don't go and stand in the middle of Safeway and shout "Jesus christ! You can't even buy ground almonds in this shit hole! What the hell is this country coming to?!"
...
Aug 1st 2005, 6:02 am
#83
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by ImHere
You dont? Well perhaps thats where Im going wrong
Aug 1st 2005, 6:05 am
#84
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by ImHere
You dont? Well perhaps thats where Im going wrong
they have Safeway in America?
Aug 1st 2005, 6:05 am
#85
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2004
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by ImHere
You dont? Well perhaps thats where Im going wrong
Aug 1st 2005, 6:10 am
#86
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by anotherlimey
"support the troops" stickers
Mine reads: Support our terrorists, not theirs.
Would I be safe?
Aug 1st 2005, 6:10 am
#87
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by anotherlimey
I mowed down 12 Mexican immigrants today in a Dodge Ram; they all refused to put "support the troops" stickers on the back of their cars so I had no choice. One even refused to eat pancakes with syrup while in his death throws, so I ran over him again.
Sweet! I aimed at a party of cubans and some Haitians but the damn RV wouldnt swing fast enough and they managed to dodge out of the way. I couldnt back up to get them due to the 3 F350 super duties and the 2 local sherriff cars that were chasing them getting in the way. I did manage to give them a couple of rounds from ma' 12 bore in passing though.
Aug 1st 2005, 6:12 am
#88
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by AmerLisa
No, its your humongous RV and big bad ass truck.
Come an' listen to ma' story bout a man named Jed.....Yeeehaaaw
Aug 1st 2005, 6:15 am
#89
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by Celtic_Angel
lol they have Safeway in America?
they have Safeway in America? http://www.safeway.com/Employment/Em...OurCompany.asp
Aug 1st 2005, 6:15 am
#90
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Re: Advice for Those Emigrating or Those Just Emigrated to America
Originally Posted by Celtic_Angel
hehe in the sense that we can choose to eat at MC Donalds I don't know how that place stays in business
I don't know how that place stays in business I hear ya
I know we have the choice where to eat, but my boys keep dragging me to Chipotle, so no choice for me really..
Chickfilla, (sp???) I love you, and have not forsaken you, we shall reunite once again when the kids are back at school...........
Lovingly PD1
