Originally Posted by Patrick

Until going home stops feeling like failure and starts feeling like the solution.

Originally Posted by Lesley1020

<<snip>>

I am off back home to Glasgow on December 30th, so I guess the timing is good to have a think about things and see how I feel being back home, maybe its just a down moment, but the down moments seem to be lasting consistently longer. Before, my main consideration was being able to stay on my medication here, which incidentaly, they have approved (the drug company) for a further 3 yrs for $100 a year. Lately, I have been getting such bad side effects, and with such a low success rate am wondering if it is worth it to pay a lawyer my last pennies every month in the hope of staying on to get it.

I guess my question is - how long does everyone think you should reasonably give it before you throw the towel in and go back - and at least be able to conclude that you gave it a fair shot?

Originally Posted by Patrick

Until going home stops feeling like failure and starts feeling like the solution.

Originally Posted by NC Penguin

I've sought out people and groups that I have common links with since I can't related to the two common themes that bind people together in my area, e.g. church and family.
<snip>
I've had to take proactive steps to carve myself a life in the US. It's taken time and having a job has helped.

NC Penguin

Originally Posted by doctor scrumpy

Depends where you are in the US I guess. The secret to the US is to remember that it is not one country, but at least 50 different cultures rolled into one. The outlook on life in NY is totally different to the Mid-West, deep south or LA etc.

Originally Posted by jpr

'since I can't related to the two common themes that bind people together in my area, e.g. church and family.'

We are also in NC (Charlotte) , been here for 6 months and feel really out of place and can relate to NC Penguins comments and the original poster.
Like a lot of Xpats the house prices back home and pitiful exchange rate may keep us here (in USA) longer than we want. Will try this meetup.com site though.
Karen

Originally Posted by Lesley1020

It's ittle miss indecisive me again! :)

I read with great interest the thread about liking/not liking living here. As the weeks/months have gone by and I've reacted to situations around me, my opinion on living here has changed on a somewhat daily basis! Although lately, I am hating living here more each day.

I don't know when the switch was flipped, because I went through a phase earlier this year when I was just grateful to have hte opportunity that I do - but now I am seriously considering, once and for all, throwing the towel in.

The biggest issue for me (and no offence meant to anyone) is that I have never met such insincere, fake people in my whole life. Maybe I am generalizing too much, and just made poor choices, not quite sure on that one. I too am sick of the long working week, non existent vacation time (yeah so much for enjoying all the wonderful sights I was going to see in my first year! if it wasn't for some of the wonderful people on this site, I wouldnt have gotten past the South LOL) and the insular, so far up their own arses attitude in general. Yes, I know that it's different, and that I should try and embrace the changes and live with it - after all it was my choice to come here but it's bloody hard some days. I have a colleague in work who won't even talk to me now since I made it clear in a discussion one day that I certainly would not have voted for Bush, had I been eligible to vote!

I am off back home to Glasgow on December 30th, so I guess the timing is good to have a think about things and see how I feel being back home, maybe its just a down moment, but the down moments seem to be lasting consistently longer. Before, my main consideration was being able to stay on my medication here, which incidentaly, they have approved (the drug company) for a further 3 yrs for $100 a year. Lately, I have been getting such bad side effects, and with such a low success rate am wondering if it is worth it to pay a lawyer my last pennies every month in the hope of staying on to get it.

I guess my question is - how long does everyone think you should reasonably give it before you throw the towel in and go back - and at least be able to conclude that you gave it a fair shot?

Originally Posted by Jabba1

I would recommend that you move back to Glasgow with all due haste. America should be lived in only by those who are capable of adjusting to the different mindsets, personalities and political views exhibited by Americans. While I've never been to Glasgow, I can assume that everyone there will have the same mindset as your own. Everyone will hate Bush as you do, and no-one will come across as shallow or fake. Perhaps in time we Americans will come to think and act in accordance with British standards- we've got some nerve attempting to develop our own attitudes and dispostions with regards to leadership and national interests. We should attempt harmonize our views with those of our bretheren from across the pond with due haste. If we should fail to do so, may I recommed and immeadiate declaration of war on the US by the UK (and particularly the Scottish). We will be quite easy for you to defeat since- as Americans- we are much to lazy and shallow to stand up and fight for what we believe in. Once your victory over us is secure, you can begin a program of "purification" with regards to the American citizenry. That is, you will train us to think and behave the same as yourself. You will begin programs in cooperation with American public schools systems- these programs will be desinged to insure that American children will be taught to think and act as proper British subjects should, and should sevrve to discourage any type of independant thinking, ideals or attempting to find one's own beliefs rather than succumbing to those beliefs established for us by our British masters. Once we have been transformed into a proper British thinking society, you may again decide to move back to this side of the pond. And since the US will be a British conquered territory and subject to British rule, you will no longer need such trifles as Visas or green cards. You will simply be able pack and move as if moving to another part of the UK. And as a British citizen comming over to live in the US, you will enjoy "special" priviledges not accorded to ordinary American citizens under British rule. You will have fist dibs on healthcare, have special disounts on gas (petrol) not accorded to Americans and be able to cut in front of any American in que lines- whether at the cinema or shopping malls or eating establishments. Since we Americans will be a conquered people, we shall have no choice but to yield to our British rulers in such instances.

Yes indeed, all will soon be right with the world. :D ;)

Originally Posted by jpr

WHAT A DIPSTICK...no wonder your hated throughout the universe

nuff said

Originally Posted by Jabba1

If you will notice the smilies at the end of my post, you will realize that it was intended as a joke along the same lines as the "Open letter to the US" thread.