E3only

55 hours a week is very normal for me. Around the busy times (3 weeks every quarter) it’s 65-70 hours with ease (with weekend work)

Compare that with Australia – people are on the piss at about 3 pm on Friday. I am told the UK beer culture is just about the same.

meauxna

10! I've been bamboozled!
I only get 3. Unpaid.

This is what I'm sayin'... what is the Florida 'lifestyle' that isn't the same savagery, but with humidity?

E3only

Whenever I come across statements like “UK is this that, there is no this no that” and then throw that statement to say how wonderful US is – that does not fly with me.

The only bit the OP didn’t do that almost everyone from the UK wanting to move to the states is moan about EU immigration: D and how easy it is for non UK citizens to get in!

Jerseygirl

I'm wondering if the OP's been to Florida.

'I've heard and read great things about the lifestyle, the people, the quality of life'

E3only

Exactly. My first post on this thread asked that question. OP has not been to Florida and is relying on hear say and other peoples judgment and experience!

It’s weird that it’s almost always Florida or California – and moan about English summer

tonrob

Don't forget all the bloody immigrants!

Sally Redux

Bloody TV licence

Bob

You don't think that doesn't happen over here? Be in for a surprise

Mike_C

Well, seems like people are rushing to shoot me down in flames here. The fact is I'm at a very early stage of looking at this as an option. If it's something I do decide to do I'll be looking to do it as soon as I can, why would I procrastinate? No, I've never been to Florida but I'm a big boy and I'm not swayed by watching Miami Vice or any US based dramas. My thoughts are based on long conversations with a good friend who's been living in Fl for 10 years and it's something I definitely want to look at. I'm not sure why the assumption's been made that I'll need to be on the piss by 3pm on a Friday or that I'll be put off by the working hours. I'm not scared of working for a living and I'm not desperate to go to Fl so I can lounge around by my pool drinking beer. I want to work for a living in a challenging, English speaking environment and given the feedback I've had from my friend I think it's definitely something I should explore further.

There's some really good advice from some people on this thread which I'm grateful for. The additional sarcasm and cynicism isn't what I was looking for but hey, if that's what gets you off, crack on.

Cheers,

Mike

tonrob

Hey - don't let people sway you. I was a big Simpsons fan and now I live in Springfield!

(Well, just outside it).

Duncan Roberts

And you think Florida is an English speaking environment? From what I know from friends and family who have lived and visited there, it's split English/Spanish speaking and becoming more Spanish than English.

goldenstate31

yeah I dont think i could immigrate to the U.S if i had to work for somebody. The UK certainly provides better benefits for its UK employees.
(come back to the Uk your'll get 4 weeks paid holiday)

meauxna

Mike: whether or not Florida itself is a good choice is a good topic for this thread. However, you'll find out that most people don't want to spend the time typing out answers about the cost of living and other practical matters when there is no chance the individual will be able to move.

I suggest you review the pinned thread in the Immigration forum and read some threads there. That will give you a better idea if you will have a route 'in' or not. If not, you'll probably want to expand your research.

Searching 'Florida' in this forum will give you an explanation of the responses to your post.

BMP

Hi Mike,

Maybe I should explain something as a newbie and ex-resident of the states. Moderators and long time members of this board really dislike two things:

1. Complaining about your home country.
2. Asking FAQs which you could find out yourself.

Number 2 is obvious, but with regards number 1 you should be aware that often the worst thing about the UK is people never realizing they have had it so good. Its not until you live in a foreign country for a length of time that you realize every country has ups and downs - so people thinking the streets are paved with gold somewhere else are deluded (not saying you are one of these.)

One final thing to remember is that not everyone on the forum wanted to emigrate. I may have to go back to the states because of my USC wife, but would prefer to be in UK - very few people on her are your cliched channel 4 documentary immigrant.

In summary the only ways to emigrate to the states are:
1. marry USC
2. be very rich or famous
3. transfer to US offices of your company
4. study in the US (expensive)
5. be uniquely skilled in it (over 300m USCs)

there are a few other paths but these are the main ones. all US immigration is painfully beaurecratic and slow!!

cheers Brian.

p.s. I knew you were sincere...

paranoidandroid

Hey Mike,

Hopefully your friends in FL will give you some decent advice and steer you in the right direction regarding employment, and what to expect over here.
As far as it goes you need to do some reseach into what type of visa will allow you to come to the US and reside and work. Some of that has already been covered here.

I'd have to say that right now that the job market isn't great for anyone here in Florida, and jobs in construction are particularly hard to come by. You'll obviously know your qualifications, limitations and qualities better than anyone else. Maybe you're not actually in the construction industry anyway?

You're right, the language is English here, and though we have plenty of residents that do speak Spanish as a first language they are in a minority. It's not a major problem to anyone really except those that can only speak Spanish and don't want to actually learn English The similarities basically stop at the English language really, despite it being basically the same, it's still a foreign country.

Whether or not the US is better than the UK to live in probably really depends on the individual, their situation and their personal point of view. A lot of immigrants that live here point out the negatives at every turn, but they still remain in the country so it can' t be all bad.
I've lived here a while, so can't really comment on what life is specifically like compared the UK anymore, and in any case my being negative or positive isn't going to answer your original question.
I would suggest a trip over here to start with, maybe a couple at different times of the year so you can compare things and get a feel for the place and see if it's even what you want. Personally I wouldn't take a chance on relocating a place and country that I'd never actually visited, if that happened to be the case, but of course nobody knows someone else's living conditions or their state of mind towards where they have to live and work.

Glad you can take the negative comments with a pinch of salt. Sometimes on an internet forum that's the only way.

Good luck.