Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
Aug 27th 2007, 6:47 pm
#886
Who?
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
5 flights!
Didi you know that before you packed all of her gear? If it were me, there would have been a pile of "you really don't need this" stuff at the bottom similar to the pioneers throwing out all their heavy furniture along the Oregon trail!
Did you meet her roomate(s)? I'm guessing she's in a dorm...
Didi you know that before you packed all of her gear? If it were me, there would have been a pile of "you really don't need this" stuff at the bottom similar to the pioneers throwing out all their heavy furniture along the Oregon trail!Did you meet her roomate(s)? I'm guessing she's in a dorm...
She had a lot less than most. I was amazed at just how much stuff some of them had.
She is rooming with her friend from high school so that's one less hurdle.
There were elevators but they took so long and there was always a long queue in front of us.
Lots of her stuff was packed in empty beer boxes and we got some very funny looks, particularly when we (jokingly) moaned about how much we had had to drink to get the boxes!
Aug 27th 2007, 6:57 pm
#887
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
She had a lot less than most. I was amazed at just how much stuff some of them had.
She is rooming with her friend from high school so that's one less hurdle.
There were elevators but they took so long and there was always a long queue in front of us.
Lots of her stuff was packed in empty beer boxes and we got some very funny looks, particularly when we (jokingly) moaned about how much we had had to drink to get the boxes!
Aug 27th 2007, 7:00 pm
#888
Who?
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
It is amazing, I remember kids whose dorm rooms werre furnished better than most newlyweds apartments. I'm sure it's worse now with all of the electronic stuff. I had a boombox radio. No one had a TV and computers were rare. This was wayyy back in '91 so I'm sure it's all different now.
Aug 27th 2007, 7:10 pm
#889
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
All those kids at all those dorms with all that stuff all across the US, the power usage must be tremendous! No wonder tuition is so high, it's not the education, it's the electric bill!
Aug 27th 2007, 7:17 pm
#890
Who?
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
Aug 27th 2007, 7:32 pm
#891
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
She had a lot less than most. I was amazed at just how much stuff some of them had.
She is rooming with her friend from high school so that's one less hurdle.
There were elevators but they took so long and there was always a long queue in front of us.
Lots of her stuff was packed in empty beer boxes and we got some very funny looks, particularly when we (jokingly) moaned about how much we had had to drink to get the boxes!
Happy Uni Parenting.
Aug 27th 2007, 9:00 pm
#892
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
It is amazing, I remember kids whose dorm rooms werre furnished better than most newlyweds apartments. I'm sure it's worse now with all of the electronic stuff. I had a boombox radio. No one had a TV and computers were rare. This was wayyy back in '91 so I'm sure it's all different now.
We didn't have boomboxes and I think we had two tvs on the floor. It was a co-ed dorm-pretty racey for those days.
Aug 27th 2007, 9:14 pm
#893
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
I predate you by some length and my freshman year was spent listening to the Woodstock album blaring from multiple rooms at the same time-especially the "Fish Cheer."
We didn't have boomboxes and I think we had two tvs on the floor. It was a co-ed dorm-pretty racey for those days.
We didn't have boomboxes and I think we had two tvs on the floor. It was a co-ed dorm-pretty racey for those days.
Reg. Frank R.
Aug 27th 2007, 9:17 pm
#894
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
I predate you by some length and my freshman year was spent listening to the Woodstock album blaring from multiple rooms at the same time-especially the "Fish Cheer."
We didn't have boomboxes and I think we had two tvs on the floor. It was a co-ed dorm -pretty racey for those days.
We didn't have boomboxes and I think we had two tvs on the floor. It was a co-ed dorm -pretty racey for those days.
Aug 27th 2007, 9:28 pm
#895
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
Alas yes, I do date back to the Dark Ages-I was at UVM-University of Vermont in the Experimental Program-co-ed dorms and 2 hour seminars not classes in the basement of the dorm rather than a classroom. Either Pass or Fail, no inbetween. Radical.
Aug 27th 2007, 9:59 pm
#896
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Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
Reg. Frank R.
Aug 27th 2007, 10:24 pm
#897
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 86
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
Well I am sure I will get through this entire thread by about 10pm tonight 
but I just wanted to comment on the OP point.
I too get that homesick feeling, but a week home with my brothers/family soon puts that right
I think last time I went home I ate fish and chips 4 times in a row, America just can't get that batter right!
I actually miss the grey skies and the feel of English rain, believe it or not, I really miss the morning bird chorus (Vs the grasshoppers and cicada one in NC!), and the freshness of the winter frosts on my face. All the silly things we take for granted I guess.
As for English taxes, I think America gets taxed through the arse on other things too. Plus they have to pay their own medical.
I have found, prices on other things even out. For instance, sure clothes may be cheaper here.
(Example, Sketchers shoes in England, around £40-£50 EACH, (About $80-$100), here, I can get 3 pairs for that! A girls dream lol)
But I find food shopping in America is very expensive. In England, I could feed my self for a month on about £50. That was proper food/meals, not pot noodles! :P . Here I can spend $100-$150 a week easy (for my husband and I), I find it's the fruit n veg that costs the most.
It's the same with my husbands wages. Here, it sounds like a hell of a lot, but if he did the same job in England, his English pay converted to American, would mean he would get a notable amount more working there.
As for "100,000 quid for a poky terraced in Lancashire, is quite ridiculous" OhMahGosh! That's cheap compared to the South!. In the area of Surrey I was living in, A studio flat alone costs around £147,000 with a 3 bedroom house reaching around £360,000 and they are semi detached.
My home town of Canterbury at the moment, which is 50 to 60 miles outside London, with in the city walls a 3 or 4 bedroom house is about £400,000 at the moment, but you can get a 1 or 2 bedroom house for less then £100,000 outside the city walls, just depends if you aren't picky about the kind of area you live.
As I said, all in all I think with everything it pretty much evens out. I do miss certain things about England but I prefer the "way of life" here. It certainly is a lot more relaxed and friendly.
but I just wanted to comment on the OP point.I too get that homesick feeling, but a week home with my brothers/family soon puts that right
I think last time I went home I ate fish and chips 4 times in a row, America just can't get that batter right!I actually miss the grey skies and the feel of English rain, believe it or not, I really miss the morning bird chorus (Vs the grasshoppers and cicada one in NC!), and the freshness of the winter frosts on my face. All the silly things we take for granted I guess.
As for English taxes, I think America gets taxed through the arse on other things too. Plus they have to pay their own medical.
I have found, prices on other things even out. For instance, sure clothes may be cheaper here.
(Example, Sketchers shoes in England, around £40-£50 EACH, (About $80-$100), here, I can get 3 pairs for that! A girls dream lol)
But I find food shopping in America is very expensive. In England, I could feed my self for a month on about £50. That was proper food/meals, not pot noodles! :P . Here I can spend $100-$150 a week easy (for my husband and I), I find it's the fruit n veg that costs the most.
It's the same with my husbands wages. Here, it sounds like a hell of a lot, but if he did the same job in England, his English pay converted to American, would mean he would get a notable amount more working there.
As for "100,000 quid for a poky terraced in Lancashire, is quite ridiculous" OhMahGosh! That's cheap compared to the South!. In the area of Surrey I was living in, A studio flat alone costs around £147,000 with a 3 bedroom house reaching around £360,000 and they are semi detached.
My home town of Canterbury at the moment, which is 50 to 60 miles outside London, with in the city walls a 3 or 4 bedroom house is about £400,000 at the moment, but you can get a 1 or 2 bedroom house for less then £100,000 outside the city walls, just depends if you aren't picky about the kind of area you live.
As I said, all in all I think with everything it pretty much evens out. I do miss certain things about England but I prefer the "way of life" here. It certainly is a lot more relaxed and friendly.
I have been in USA for 3 years now, and enjoy living in the US very much.
It took me a while to adjust to the different work ethic situation and a more relaxing way of life as opposed to a constant "making ends meet" in England.
I can sympathise with people arriving and after a few years becoming unhappy with life here, BUT you have to work at it. I take a yearly holiday with my USA wife to England, visit parents and friends and enjoy it
, but at the same time, I am glad to get back on a plane to Texas.
Its so depressing to wake up to grey skies, council tax bills and having to make a choice whether to eat or pay bills, as I used to do in Lancashire.
We live modestly in USA, car & truck 4 acres and detached house paid for, with nice sunshine and very few bills.
England has just become too expensive these days, which saddens me, as summer in England is indeed glorious and wonderful, with days out and watching football or cricket.
Housing costs alone have prompted me to pen this letter, as 100,000 quid for a poky terraced in Lancashire, is quite ridiculous.
If I won the lottery, I'd move to the south coast, but failing that, I'm happy as a sandboy in the USA.
It took me a while to adjust to the different work ethic situation and a more relaxing way of life as opposed to a constant "making ends meet" in England.
I can sympathise with people arriving and after a few years becoming unhappy with life here, BUT you have to work at it. I take a yearly holiday with my USA wife to England, visit parents and friends and enjoy it
, but at the same time, I am glad to get back on a plane to Texas. Its so depressing to wake up to grey skies, council tax bills and having to make a choice whether to eat or pay bills, as I used to do in Lancashire.
We live modestly in USA, car & truck 4 acres and detached house paid for, with nice sunshine and very few bills.
England has just become too expensive these days, which saddens me, as summer in England is indeed glorious and wonderful, with days out and watching football or cricket.
Housing costs alone have prompted me to pen this letter, as 100,000 quid for a poky terraced in Lancashire, is quite ridiculous.
If I won the lottery, I'd move to the south coast, but failing that, I'm happy as a sandboy in the USA.
Aug 28th 2007, 12:22 am
#898
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: Homesickness "grass is greener" syndrome
Well I am sure I will get through this entire thread by about 10pm tonight but I just wanted to comment on the OP point.
I too get that homesick feeling, but a week home with my brothers/family soon puts that right I think last time I went home I ate fish and chips 4 times in a row, America just can't get that batter right!
I actually miss the grey skies and the feel of English rain, believe it or not, I really miss the morning bird chorus (Vs the grasshoppers and cicada one in NC!), and the freshness of the winter frosts on my face. All the silly things we take for granted I guess.
As for English taxes, I think America gets taxed through the arse on other things too. Plus they have to pay their own medical.
I have found, prices on other things even out. For instance, sure clothes may be cheaper here.
(Example, Sketchers shoes in England, around £40-£50 EACH, (About $80-$100), here, I can get 3 pairs for that! A girls dream lol)
But I find food shopping in America is very expensive. In England, I could feed my self for a month on about £50. That was proper food/meals, not pot noodles! :P . Here I can spend $100-$150 a week easy (for my husband and I), I find it's the fruit n veg that costs the most.
It's the same with my husbands wages. Here, it sounds like a hell of a lot, but if he did the same job in England, his English pay converted to American, would mean he would get a notable amount more working there.
As for "100,000 quid for a poky terraced in Lancashire, is quite ridiculous" OhMahGosh! That's cheap compared to the South!. In the area of Surrey I was living in, A studio flat alone costs around £147,000 with a 3 bedroom house reaching around £360,000 and they are semi detached.
My home town of Canterbury at the moment, which is 50 to 60 miles outside London, with in the city walls a 3 or 4 bedroom house is about £400,000 at the moment, but you can get a 1 or 2 bedroom house for less then £100,000 outside the city walls, just depends if you aren't picky about the kind of area you live.
As I said, all in all I think with everything it pretty much evens out. I do miss certain things about England but I prefer the "way of life" here. It certainly is a lot more relaxed and friendly.
but I just wanted to comment on the OP point.I too get that homesick feeling, but a week home with my brothers/family soon puts that right
I think last time I went home I ate fish and chips 4 times in a row, America just can't get that batter right!I actually miss the grey skies and the feel of English rain, believe it or not, I really miss the morning bird chorus (Vs the grasshoppers and cicada one in NC!), and the freshness of the winter frosts on my face. All the silly things we take for granted I guess.
As for English taxes, I think America gets taxed through the arse on other things too. Plus they have to pay their own medical.
I have found, prices on other things even out. For instance, sure clothes may be cheaper here.
(Example, Sketchers shoes in England, around £40-£50 EACH, (About $80-$100), here, I can get 3 pairs for that! A girls dream lol)
But I find food shopping in America is very expensive. In England, I could feed my self for a month on about £50. That was proper food/meals, not pot noodles! :P . Here I can spend $100-$150 a week easy (for my husband and I), I find it's the fruit n veg that costs the most.
It's the same with my husbands wages. Here, it sounds like a hell of a lot, but if he did the same job in England, his English pay converted to American, would mean he would get a notable amount more working there.
As for "100,000 quid for a poky terraced in Lancashire, is quite ridiculous" OhMahGosh! That's cheap compared to the South!. In the area of Surrey I was living in, A studio flat alone costs around £147,000 with a 3 bedroom house reaching around £360,000 and they are semi detached.
My home town of Canterbury at the moment, which is 50 to 60 miles outside London, with in the city walls a 3 or 4 bedroom house is about £400,000 at the moment, but you can get a 1 or 2 bedroom house for less then £100,000 outside the city walls, just depends if you aren't picky about the kind of area you live.
As I said, all in all I think with everything it pretty much evens out. I do miss certain things about England but I prefer the "way of life" here. It certainly is a lot more relaxed and friendly.
