COSPhil

I am genuinely interested in this subject...

I've been a "viewer" of this form since the early summer, an avid viewer and member/poster since September 2012.

I am fascinated with the number of people who post with their obsession with moving to the US, sometimes particularly NYC or another specific city but alot of the time the entire country of the US.

Although I do like US culture (and North American - US-Canadian culture in general), my main reason for moving is my better half who I met through work here in the UK is American. It's fantastic I have the opportunity to live and work in the US and I am grateful for it but I wouldn't be moving if it wasn't for her.

So, why the obsession? Especially when Canada offers many of the same "benefits" of living in the United States and is much easier for British nationals to visit (especially those under 30 who can achieve an IEC visa).

Bob

Holiday in the sun to Disneyland and then watching someone snap their fingers on Eastenders and able to move here in a matter of days make it all seem very easy.

Plus people probably want to move to an area they've seen a lot of on tele/movie or been on holiday rather than some random dump in the middle of Alabama...

Bink

From my time spent on this forum, I think people coming on here fall into one of the 3 categories:

1) Their work is moving them to the US
2) They have fallen for a USC and are moving here to be with them
3) They want the 'American Dream' and believe life here is better than life elsewhere.

Many of the people from category (3) have only ever been here on holiday or more worryingly, never at all. Their opinion is mostly based on the media's potrayal of the US (especially NYC) and a notion that anyone and everyone can 'make it' here. Sadly, this is simply not the case.

Maybe a little generalising on my behalf but I believe it to be true for the most part.

ian-mstm

Why?

1) People are gullible and often make irrational choices.
2) They watch too much TV.
3) They visit for a week and think it's so much better than where they currently are!
4) They "love the lifestyle"... as though that, on it's own, should provide sufficient motivation.
5) They hate where they currently are.

and, my favorite reason...

6) They want to get away from the government!

Ian

SEL_boy

The fools! Don't they realise there is a government here too?!

Chrisdc

The US has built a powerful, psychological "brand" that appeals to people all over the world.

American dominance of mass-market entertainment makes it more likely that potential immigrants will be aware of, and drawn to, the US. No-one dreams of moving to Montreal to make it in the movies, or Vancouver to make it in the fashion business.

The grass is always greener, and the US has made a huge effort to have the greenest-looking grass on the block. Those dissatisfied with their personal situations, work prospects and love lives think that moving here will solve all their problems!

It's often said in the forums - and I agree with this - if you are the kind of person who is generally optimistic and happy with your lot, you will have a successful move, ignoring the negatives and enjoying the positives. If you are moving because you are unhappy with your lot in your home country, you most likely be unhappy with your lot in the US...

Jerseygirl

COSPhil

That sounds spot on to me!

ian-mstm

Yup... I agree!

Ian

Mallory

Yep, watch out for those dumps in Alabama!

http://www.google.com/search?q=gulf+...w=1366&bih=643

Bob

As opposed to...





Anyone can pull out nice or horrid photo's about all parts of the US, doesn't change peoples perceptions and stereotypes of the place without actually knowing anything about it.

It's why the majority of threads of hopeful wishing of moving to the US consists of Orlando, NYC, San Fran or LA and very little of any where else unless there's a job or family to move to.

Mallory

Ha ha! I love funny signs. I recognise that one from a movie!

Here's another strange one in MA.

http://www.mediaite.com/online/anti-...ing-its-idiot/

MarylandNed

I think this is definitely a key component - maybe THE key component.

Like many other people on this forum, I grew up in the UK on a steady diet of American movies, TV shows and music. This dwarfed the output of other English speaking nations. And the fact that the US is mainly English-speaking appeals to Brits in particular (the other major competitors being Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in this regard) and also to the many people around the world who learn English as a 2nd language.

The US is seen as THE nation of immigrants. It certainly used to be but whether that is as true now is open to debate. However, the perception of the availability of the "American Dream" persists for many potential immigrants.

In terms of a comparison with Canada specifically (I lived there for 7 years but now live in the US), the US has much greater diversity in terms of geography, climate, and economy. If someone really doesn't enjoy winter weather, living in most places in Canada could be a real issue regardless of how much easier it is to emigrate to Canada. The much larger US economy means job/career opportunities are more plentiful. Also taxes are lower and salaries higher in general in the US. Of course, there are other pros and cons of living in the US as opposed to Canada but people usually only initially think of geography, climate and economy before they move as these are the most obvious factors in terms of potential lifestyle.

Cardienscarf

"Wherever you go, there you are."

Apfelkuchen

Ditto. I'm excited about moving to the US primarily because it will put an end to nearly four years of a long distance relationship, and I'm sure I will enjoy it because I'm going into it with a positive attitude and have lots of experience of living in foreign countries, but it would certainly not be my first choice of place to live if my husband's job didn't tie him to home.

Come to think of it, though, among my friends and peers (mostly Europeans of various nationalities in their mid to late 20s, in or recently out of grad school) contempt for America is far more prevalent than the desire to move there. I think a lot of them pity me. If mass-market entertainment draws people to the US then I suppose frequent Grauniad readership has the opposite effect.