The American Obsession...
 

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).

Re: The American Obsession...
 

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...

Re: The American Obsession...
 

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.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

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

Re: The American Obsession...
 

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

Re: The American Obsession...
 

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...

Re: The American Obsession...
 

:goodpost:

Re: The American Obsession...
 

That sounds spot on to me!

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Yup... I agree!

Ian

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Yep, watch out for those dumps in Alabama! :D

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

Re: The American Obsession...
 

As opposed to...

http://media.al.com/wire/photo/alaba...40c3d165cd.jpg

http://www.onejourneyatatime.com/sit.../09us23008.jpg

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.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

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/

Re: The American Obsession...
 

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.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

"Wherever you go, there you are."

Re: The American Obsession...
 

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.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

I was quite happy living in Scotland until my job moved to California so I moved with it.
I've mostly enjoyed being here and certainly made far more money than I would have in the UK but after 12 years ready to move home to enjoy the UK and Europe before we get too old. I miss the pubs, walks, restaurants, music venues etc..

I really have enjoyed all the travel over here, especially driving in the deserts, Death Valley, Nevada etc because it's so different from back home.
Also obtained citizenship so whatever's in the future at least there's plenty choice of where to live. The idea is to go back for long enough so that at least my American wife will obtain her UK citizenship.

If you measure quality of life by how content and happy you are, I've not felt that much difference between California and the UK. Different yes but not particularly better.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

I think that is the key to success....

Exactly how I felt before I came here too! I was pleasantly surprised. Possibly because I was lucky to find some great, worldly American friends when I first moved here.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Kind of where most of the jobs are though! ;)

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Having being very lucky and worked and lived in various countries over the last 20 years and worked throughout many states in the USA, I would only ever live where I am presently and will be forever.

Coming from Scotland originally, the weather is a huge factor difference for me - putting a smile and a skip into your day when the sun shines 95% of every morning. Having the beach within a short bike ride and the snow mountains within a couple of hours compares to nothing else I have experienced.

Wanting to be part and having/building a community of great friends Brits and Americans and also playing a sport that bonds you every weekend with family and friends is what keeps you happy and grounded in the place you live. If you want to be a sour puss and complain about your job, living in america and your only doing it for you hubby or wife and etc etc etc etc - then dont complain at all.
You will never be happy and most likely you will never be happy no matter where you live.

Negative people belong in the crappiest of countries with the crappiest of weather and economy - there you can thrive on the negative outlook that greats you with the chirping of the birds on your fine drookit morning!!!!! Rant over.

I love my country of birth and will never forget my roots, I love my life and where I live now, I embraced it with head and heart, all or nothing. You get exactly what you put into life.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Oi! Don't forget about us Houstonians!!!

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Let's not forget the people who just want to *visit* the US for a holiday, but can't for one reason or another. The amount of inconvenience some subject themselves to in order to be able to visit the States is, frankly, astounding. Waivers, travels to & interviews in unfriendly embassies, police checks, letters of recommendation, etc. etc.

Why not just go to Disneyland Paris instead of Florida? Or the Caribbean if it's heat & sunshine you're after? Amazing...

Re: The American Obsession...
 

IMO, currently the US is a dream more for people from third world countries than for people from developed countries. In the US, no matter what third world country you may be from, there is always a community in the US with people like you (as an example. Fremont CA has a very large Afghan community and Minneapolis MN has a very large Cambodian and Somolian community).

However what had surprised me was that when I worked at a Japanese company, when I asked one of the Japanese mangers about how he like his time in Europe (he previously was an expatriate in Europe), he said he preferred living in America since he felt Europe was similar to Japan. That surprised me since I don't see any similarity between Europe and Japan but I guess that is in the eyes of the beholder.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

I meant big cities in general! If the majority of professional jobs across the country are concentrated in big cities rather than small towns then of course most of the threads are going to be about going to the big cities.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

It's how I felt too until I met my husband/made a number of close American friends during my PhD and actually bothered to learn something about US history and culture for myself instead of relying on the blinkered perspective of the European news media. I still expect the culture shock to be bigger that when I moved to France, Austria or Germany, but I will consider it an education :D. Plus I am excited about having a large fridge with an ice maker. Not that I am superficial or anything :p.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

That wasn't the sentiment of what I wrote (and I don't think it was COSPhil's either). I AM only making the move because it's where my husband needs to be but that doesn't mean I can't and won't enjoy the experience as well. I quite agree that you get out of these situations what you put in.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Correct - I am exceedingly fortunate to have some friends already in the city I am moving to due to my job with the Olympics I've spent the last few years working with, to be marrying a wonderful lady, and to be moving to a beautiful part of the country where I feel like I fit in quite well.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

you will have a great time. I have Lots to be grateful for living in the USA.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Don't underestimate the happiness a fridge/freezer with an icemaker can bring!! :rofl: I LOVE my kitchen here. You just can't have a big kitchen with a big fridge/freezer in many houses in the UK.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

:goodpost:

Re: The American Obsession...
 

I lived on the East Coast for a year when I was 18, and I can safely say that the US was not in my master plan for where I wanted to live when I grew up.

At Uni in the UK, our whole house used to watch Neighbours and Home and Away and Australia definitely featured in places we wanted to go and live. The USA never entered anyone's head.

Now 3 out of 4 of us actually live in the US. Go figure!

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Alot of you guys seem to focus on the negatives and dare I say it, sound slightly homesick. There are many positives to USA.

For me Canada is too cold and Australia too sparse. Vancouver may tempt me, but I would like to visit it first. My trip to Australia next year may change my opinion of that country and I qualify for 3 different visas there, 2 permanent and 1 temporary.

Besides, doesn't every Irish man have an emigration gene?

Re: The American Obsession...
 

When I was 15 I said I'd never go on a plane, nor to the US. Two years later I was on a plane to the US (Summer Camp). Now I live in the US!

In terms of location we're 8 timezones away from my parents and 9 timezones in the opposite direction away from my wife's parents.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

I can't wait :rofl:. The fridge in my current apartment is so small that none of the shelves is tall enough for an upright jar of pickles.

EDIT: And when I live in America my pickles will come in bucket sized jars.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Love, work or weather are the big three. Or there is something you can do that you can't do where you come from.

Canada and the US are different countries, you can't really equate the two although people try to (I mean I knew a lot of people spoke French and they were more left-leaning). I thought this to some extent before I moved to Canada but it is culturally, legally and in many other ways a very different place. I would say the gap is definitely larger than it is between say, GB and Ireland. Even France and Germany share various similarities because of the EU that the US and Canada do not.

Even if you go into an American chainstore there are differences. You think aha, I'll go into a Burger King. Prices are twice what they are in the US, they sell poutine, they use the InterAC system for payments, currency is different, the staff are more likely to be Indian or Filipino than they are in the US where they are often latino, etc.

I'd say a Burger King in the UK has less differences, frankly.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Good question, there have been so many recently with the 'lifelong dream' thing going on. I would guess it is mostly down to movies/TV shows and possibly music from the US which present a glamorous image. When I am back in England, people generally assume that salaries are higher, vacations longer and absolutely everything is cheaper in the US than the UK. They don't understand any of the healthcare problems and lack of workplace rights either.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

I'd agree with that. Apart from Florida.

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Depending on the time of year, my wife is 11 or 12 time zones away from her mother. The reason for her obsession? "There's not enough room for two queens in the castle."

Regards, JEff

Re: The American Obsession...
 

and they said "Beasts of the Southern Wild" was all fiction

Re: The American Obsession...
 

Seriously? Ok, between TO and Buffalo, I can imagine. But wages in Buffalo are way lower. What about a like-for-like comparison?

Re: The American Obsession...
 

I wish they sold that in the fast food chains down here. I had some in an A&W a few years back in BC and loved it.