Originally Posted by lanky spoken here (Post 5359919)

Got cheesed off with the low salary in Texas, and the high cost of healthcare.

If you've not got a college degree here, you're basically stuffed.

My USA wife refuses to move, so thats it:eek:

Moving back to UK mid Jan 2008, its been a good 3 years in USA, but I feel I've missed out on a lot of things.

Anyone else felt this way?

Originally Posted by fatbrit (Post 5360568)

So go and get a degree. You can do it and still work in the US. And there are plenty of financing options. And it don't cost much more than the UK these days but is much more flexible. And as an added advantage, will also give you a good immersion in American culture so you'll be more adaptable. And as the relationship with the wife is obviously over, it's a great way to meet more people.

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 5360796)

Blimey, quite a turnaround. Sorry it isn't working out, Lanky, but how come things changed so quickly?

Originally Posted by lanky spoken here (Post 5362223)

I changed jobs in July and the blatant discrimination when people find out you're not American and a flag waving idiot is amazing.

I do symphathise with all the immigrants who arrive here, the average Texan is poorly educated, narrow-minded and insular.

Originally Posted by lanky spoken here (Post 5362223)

I changed jobs in July and the blatant discrimination when people find out you're not American and a flag waving idiot is amazing.

I do symphathise with all the immigrants who arrive here, the average Texan is poorly educated, narrow-minded and insular.

Originally Posted by fatbrit (Post 5360568)

So go and get a degree. You can do it and still work in the US.

Originally Posted by fatbrit (Post 5360568)

So go and get a degree. You can do it and still work in the US. And there are plenty of financing options. And it don't cost much more than the UK these days but is much more flexible. And as an added advantage, will also give you a good immersion in American culture so you'll be more adaptable. And as the relationship with the wife is obviously over, it's a great way to meet more people.

Originally Posted by jjmb (Post 5360826)

Good luck with the job search. I have had my EAD/now gc for more than 2 yrs and the only job I have had is a crap one at Sears, with the worse hours imaginable. Lasted out for 3 months before I could take it no more.

I have a degree in fine art and 2 yr post grad dip in Art therapy. Unfortunately the college where I did my post grad merged with another university in Edinburgh and lost our records. So there is no way I can get a transcript.

We currently have 3 kids in college (eldest is about graduate, :thumbsup:!) so the money would come in handy but even Target and a call center turned me down. Apparently Call centers aren't keen on non-american voices, according to my eldest daughter. Her ex was a supervisor in one.

To the OP, sorry it didn't work out, how about moving to another state? It might easier elsewhere or is your wife just stuck on Texas?

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Originally Posted by penguinsix (Post 5360883)

I'm sure it is quite a pain right now, and I don't really have an answer for you. I hate to see a marriage end on something like a job or location (as I hate to hear about so many expat marriages that run into these problems) but you probably know more about your current situation than any of us. Good luck with the decisions you are about to make.

As for getting an education, I harken back to a story involving an uncle of mine. He was about 30 at the time and was always considering getting his PhD in engineering, but he was with a family and a full-time job. His wife told him to look into night school and some other types of classes, but then he discovered it would take quite some time.

"It will take 10 years to get his degree" my uncle said. "Do you realize I won't get the degree until I'm 40?"

"So what," my aunt replied. "In ten years, would you rather be a 40-year-old with a PhD or just a 40-year-old"?

Anyway, not directly on point, but thought it worth mentioning if you are looking for ways to stay here. (FWIW, my uncle got his PhD, ran a civil engineering firm for years, retired, but then got bored staying at home and took a part time job at Home Depot, which he absolutely loves as he gets to help people and HD loves because he is an engineer who can offer some pretty good advice)

Originally Posted by NC Penguin (Post 5362195)

Have you considered getting a degree in the US? You seem to have identified the cause of not being able to get a decent wage.

What do you have to return to in the UK and how do you think the move to the UK is going to affect your marriage?

Originally Posted by lanky spoken here (Post 5362216)

I'm a time served tradesman and to be told in Texas I'm only worth $ 9 an hour is galling saying i've had a Grammar School education. The minimum wage in England is more than twice the minimum wage here. American pay stinks, and the vacation times stinks.:curse:

Originally Posted by Rushman (Post 5362425)

get a degree?...He's from Manchester.....be better if we just have a whip round for his fare home.

Originally Posted by snowbunny (Post 5362854)

There's little respect for tradesmen anywhere in the US -- I think there should be, but with so much work having gone overseas, and an endless flow of immigrants, this isn't surprising. Saying that, there are a lot of British tradesmen who complain about the influx from Eastern Europe and they're headed to Australia!

Taking care of your parents is admirable; to me that's a great reason to return. Do you have US citizenship in case you want to return later in life?

Were I your wife, I'd love to try living in the UK, but if she doesn't want to try, then....even if she were to only live there a year I believe she would benefit and learn from the experience.

And try and finish your degree; pharmacists are in ever-growing demand as the population ages.

Originally Posted by Circus-of-Power (Post 5362976)

:curse:....:p

I managed a degree and I'm from Wigan ..Even studied for it in Manchester :sneaky: ...nice dig though I'll give you that one