I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
Feb 14th 2011, 12:41 pm
#16
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Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
Feb 14th 2011, 1:11 pm
#17
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Feb 14th 2011, 1:12 pm
#18
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Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
First off, I definitely recommend living in a foreign country. You'll learn lots of new things and come to appreciate more of how the world works outside of America; I've found the US to be incredibly parochial.
To get things rolling look at the UK govs immigration site.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
You will definitely find ignorant and obnoxious people wherever you go, the US has no monopoly on those. However, the US does have some knee jerk prejudices that I will be glad to get away from when I return to the UK. The one I hate/love is the reaction I get when people learn that I'm a socialist. American's have no frame of reference for this political theory other than it's bad. I've stopped trying to explain the origins of the British union movement and it's contribution to social justice, The Fabian society or Keir Hardy.
To get things rolling look at the UK govs immigration site.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
You will definitely find ignorant and obnoxious people wherever you go, the US has no monopoly on those. However, the US does have some knee jerk prejudices that I will be glad to get away from when I return to the UK. The one I hate/love is the reaction I get when people learn that I'm a socialist. American's have no frame of reference for this political theory other than it's bad. I've stopped trying to explain the origins of the British union movement and it's contribution to social justice, The Fabian society or Keir Hardy.
Moving right along
The foreigner view of life in the UK has to fit into two parts:
The work side and the play side unless of course you are retired
As an expat, a significant element of your life will revolve around your work side whether it is actually at work, or hanging out with workmates or discussing the work world with other third-party associates/friends. If you are retired, you do not have this LUXURY.
In the UK the social/play element of the above will initially most likely be in pubs and restaurants before proceeding home. This experience and politics and conversation will vary very significantly depending upon where exactly one ends up taking root, be it London, the burbs, Oxford or a provincial town. In the UK the selection of your drinking establishment has a huge bearing on the experience and who you could bump into (literally) be it Wetherspoons, a country pub or a city tavern but the pub is still THE social centre in urban life, less so in the country as drink and drive and costs bite but country pubs are a very special social experience.
The arty/cultural/food exploratory side of life is weekend and long weekend stuff and Europe is blessed with easy access both nationally and internationally but this is entirely separate from the pure work side and in itself is not sufficient to sway the argument unless you have plenty of leave and cash. Indeed for a cultural type guy there are obvious stimulating venues close by such as London*/Oxford*/Cambridge*/Norwich/York*/Edinburgh*/Glasgow and five* out of seven are likely to offer decent employment and study prospects. They really offer the complete package if you have the means while the rest of the UK is definitely less so and this needs to be considered. Five out of seven (not Glasgow and can't speak for York) are also venues where the yob/chav/ned culture is less prevalent and intrusive.
Last edited by Pistolpete2; Feb 14th 2011 at 2:36 pm.
Feb 14th 2011, 1:32 pm
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Vienna, Northern Virginia
Posts: 152
Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
By the way, one area to look at in particular is "Croydon". It's in the Greater London area and is really the main district for the fine arts and other intellectual and cultural pursuits.[/QUOTE]
OMG ....I come from an area about 5 miles from Croydon, and I can tell you it is a sh*t hole!
OMG ....I come from an area about 5 miles from Croydon, and I can tell you it is a sh*t hole!
Feb 14th 2011, 2:53 pm
#20
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,367
Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
The idea of moving to Europe has been floating around in my head for some time. I'm quite dissatisfied with my fellow countrymen here; America seems to be filled with nothing but ignorant, television consuming, droll, and inarticulate morons. There are several factors influencing my want to move to Europe, and most probably to the U.K. since there would not be much of a language barrier, but the main factor is that everywhere I look I see uncultured people.
I'm twenty six and after a short stint of "playing musician" I decided to go back to college to finish getting my art degree. I want to further my skill in art and hopefully make a career out of it. I do plan on going to graduate school as well so I can eventually become a college professor if need be. After obtaining at least my bachelor's degree, I want to make an attempt at living in Europe for at least a year to see if I'd want to move there. I may even consider trying to get into a graduate school there as well. I'll be receiving my bachelor's degree in about a year and a half. I'm curious about a few things, however.
Generally speaking, how welcomed are Americans in the U.K. and possibly France or Germany? Is there anything I need to know aside from acquiring a work or student visa? What is the art scene like in Europe? I know I'll have to work a crappy job or two to get by since work programs may be in place (i.e. Germany requires a certain amount of German applicants to be interviewed before a foreigner can be considered for a job).
I have looked into the matter and I didn't formulate my ideas as naively as some of you may think. I do plan to save up money before I make the venture and I do plan on taking trips out to each country or backpacking through Europe beforehand to see where I would like to go.
I have a growing dislike towards my own country. Besides the reasons I already mentioned, I simply never identified with many people here. I've read hundreds of books, all classical literature, poetry, or good modern writers, I'm highly intelligent, and I have not owned a television in over five or six years. Half the time people think I'm European anyway! I get it often enough, especially by ex-patriots like yourselves because I look strongly German or northern Italian!
I want to be in a place that has a real artistic cultural history, the U.S. simply does not provide that for me. Moreover, I want to get out of this country because I don't agree with what it stands for anymore. I feel my country is in a serious decline and that we are witnessing the time of the fall of America. I want to get out before my country turns to crap. Any suggestions as to how I should scout out places, what I should expect from people, and where I should be looking would be greatly appreciated. Furthermore, if anyone's curious as to the specifics of why I feel the way I do, I'll be more than happy to share my own opinion of my country. Thank you.
I'm twenty six and after a short stint of "playing musician" I decided to go back to college to finish getting my art degree. I want to further my skill in art and hopefully make a career out of it. I do plan on going to graduate school as well so I can eventually become a college professor if need be. After obtaining at least my bachelor's degree, I want to make an attempt at living in Europe for at least a year to see if I'd want to move there. I may even consider trying to get into a graduate school there as well. I'll be receiving my bachelor's degree in about a year and a half. I'm curious about a few things, however.
Generally speaking, how welcomed are Americans in the U.K. and possibly France or Germany? Is there anything I need to know aside from acquiring a work or student visa? What is the art scene like in Europe? I know I'll have to work a crappy job or two to get by since work programs may be in place (i.e. Germany requires a certain amount of German applicants to be interviewed before a foreigner can be considered for a job).
I have looked into the matter and I didn't formulate my ideas as naively as some of you may think. I do plan to save up money before I make the venture and I do plan on taking trips out to each country or backpacking through Europe beforehand to see where I would like to go.
I have a growing dislike towards my own country. Besides the reasons I already mentioned, I simply never identified with many people here. I've read hundreds of books, all classical literature, poetry, or good modern writers, I'm highly intelligent, and I have not owned a television in over five or six years. Half the time people think I'm European anyway! I get it often enough, especially by ex-patriots like yourselves because I look strongly German or northern Italian!
I want to be in a place that has a real artistic cultural history, the U.S. simply does not provide that for me. Moreover, I want to get out of this country because I don't agree with what it stands for anymore. I feel my country is in a serious decline and that we are witnessing the time of the fall of America. I want to get out before my country turns to crap. Any suggestions as to how I should scout out places, what I should expect from people, and where I should be looking would be greatly appreciated. Furthermore, if anyone's curious as to the specifics of why I feel the way I do, I'll be more than happy to share my own opinion of my country. Thank you.
Feb 14th 2011, 3:35 pm
#21
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
Within Europe you have the majority of cities with the highest standards of living and quality of life on the planet barring Tokyo and several in Canada and Australia. The US and UK do not feature anywhere.
Monocle's Most Liveable Cities Index 2010
City Country 2009
1 Munich Germany (04)
2 Copenhagen Denmark (02)
3 Zurich Switzerland (01)
5 Helsinki Finland (05)
6 Stockholm Sweden (06)
7 Paris France (08)
8 Vienna Austria (07)
10 Madrid Spain (12)
Plus the two great cultural cities of Florence and Rome.
Of course Most Liveable has its price and none of these cities will come cheap. You would need your year to just scratch the surface of your research.
Last edited by Pistolpete2; Feb 14th 2011 at 3:43 pm.
Feb 14th 2011, 3:43 pm
#22
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Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,214
Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
6 months before this guy is homesick, 3 if he lives in Croydon.
Feb 14th 2011, 5:40 pm
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
I think this is a wind-up anyway 
Feb 14th 2011, 7:19 pm
#28
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
LOL, you got me. I'm sorry, I was just trying to have a bit of fun while trying to get some information back from you. Thanks for the feedback nonetheless and some of the comments were pretty funny.
As for my situation, well, I currently live in Philadelphia. In all honesty the art scene here is marginal to say the least. There are only a handful of galleries around town and many of the artists in these galleries are awful. Quite frankly I could probably get into one right now if I set out to do it, but I don't want to start off with mediocre work that I see in these galleries all the time. I'm going to school to get some more polish on my technique before I set out to sell my work. The only option I have to pursue a career in art in my mind is to go to New York after or maybe during graduate school. As for my wanting to move to Europe? Well, I've always been infatuated with the painting history there. That, and I honestly think that there are better artists coming out of Europe than the U.S. from what I can tell. I mainly want to go there to train.
As far as being eaten alive in a new place? I feel I adapt pretty well and I'm pretty sociable. I am hard working too. I just want to get away from this place for awhile and experience a different culture. As so many of you know, so few people I know have even visited a foreign country. I don't want to become some 40 year old who has never left the borders of the continental U.S.
I apologize for the jerkish introduction. I was only trying to kid around and play up an elitist American stereotype. We're not all like that you know... In any event, thanks for the input.
As for my situation, well, I currently live in Philadelphia. In all honesty the art scene here is marginal to say the least. There are only a handful of galleries around town and many of the artists in these galleries are awful. Quite frankly I could probably get into one right now if I set out to do it, but I don't want to start off with mediocre work that I see in these galleries all the time. I'm going to school to get some more polish on my technique before I set out to sell my work. The only option I have to pursue a career in art in my mind is to go to New York after or maybe during graduate school. As for my wanting to move to Europe? Well, I've always been infatuated with the painting history there. That, and I honestly think that there are better artists coming out of Europe than the U.S. from what I can tell. I mainly want to go there to train.
As far as being eaten alive in a new place? I feel I adapt pretty well and I'm pretty sociable. I am hard working too. I just want to get away from this place for awhile and experience a different culture. As so many of you know, so few people I know have even visited a foreign country. I don't want to become some 40 year old who has never left the borders of the continental U.S.
I apologize for the jerkish introduction. I was only trying to kid around and play up an elitist American stereotype. We're not all like that you know... In any event, thanks for the input.
Feb 14th 2011, 7:48 pm
#29
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
LOL, you got me. I'm sorry, I was just trying to have a bit of fun while trying to get some information back from you. Thanks for the feedback nonetheless and some of the comments were pretty funny.
As for my situation, well, I currently live in Philadelphia. In all honesty the art scene here is marginal to say the least. There are only a handful of galleries around town and many of the artists in these galleries are awful. Quite frankly I could probably get into one right now if I set out to do it, but I don't want to start off with mediocre work that I see in these galleries all the time. I'm going to school to get some more polish on my technique before I set out to sell my work. The only option I have to pursue a career in art in my mind is to go to New York after or maybe during graduate school. As for my wanting to move to Europe? Well, I've always been infatuated with the painting history there. That, and I honestly think that there are better artists coming out of Europe than the U.S. from what I can tell. I mainly want to go there to train.
As far as being eaten alive in a new place? I feel I adapt pretty well and I'm pretty sociable. I am hard working too. I just want to get away from this place for awhile and experience a different culture. As so many of you know, so few people I know have even visited a foreign country. I don't want to become some 40 year old who has never left the borders of the continental U.S.
I apologize for the jerkish introduction. I was only trying to kid around and play up an elitist American stereotype. We're not all like that you know... In any event, thanks for the input.
As for my situation, well, I currently live in Philadelphia. In all honesty the art scene here is marginal to say the least. There are only a handful of galleries around town and many of the artists in these galleries are awful. Quite frankly I could probably get into one right now if I set out to do it, but I don't want to start off with mediocre work that I see in these galleries all the time. I'm going to school to get some more polish on my technique before I set out to sell my work. The only option I have to pursue a career in art in my mind is to go to New York after or maybe during graduate school. As for my wanting to move to Europe? Well, I've always been infatuated with the painting history there. That, and I honestly think that there are better artists coming out of Europe than the U.S. from what I can tell. I mainly want to go there to train.
As far as being eaten alive in a new place? I feel I adapt pretty well and I'm pretty sociable. I am hard working too. I just want to get away from this place for awhile and experience a different culture. As so many of you know, so few people I know have even visited a foreign country. I don't want to become some 40 year old who has never left the borders of the continental U.S.
I apologize for the jerkish introduction. I was only trying to kid around and play up an elitist American stereotype. We're not all like that you know... In any event, thanks for the input.
Welcome to BE.
Feb 14th 2011, 8:48 pm
#30
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: I'm an American wanting to move to the U.K./Europe and I need advice.
LOL, you got me. I'm sorry, I was just trying to have a bit of fun while trying to get some information back from you. Thanks for the feedback nonetheless and some of the comments were pretty funny.
As for my situation, well, I currently live in Philadelphia. In all honesty the art scene here is marginal to say the least. There are only a handful of galleries around town and many of the artists in these galleries are awful. Quite frankly I could probably get into one right now if I set out to do it, but I don't want to start off with mediocre work that I see in these galleries all the time. I'm going to school to get some more polish on my technique before I set out to sell my work. The only option I have to pursue a career in art in my mind is to go to New York after or maybe during graduate school. As for my wanting to move to Europe? Well, I've always been infatuated with the painting history there. That, and I honestly think that there are better artists coming out of Europe than the U.S. from what I can tell. I mainly want to go there to train.
As far as being eaten alive in a new place? I feel I adapt pretty well and I'm pretty sociable. I am hard working too. I just want to get away from this place for awhile and experience a different culture. As so many of you know, so few people I know have even visited a foreign country. I don't want to become some 40 year old who has never left the borders of the continental U.S.
I apologize for the jerkish introduction. I was only trying to kid around and play up an elitist American stereotype. We're not all like that you know... In any event, thanks for the input.
As for my situation, well, I currently live in Philadelphia. In all honesty the art scene here is marginal to say the least. There are only a handful of galleries around town and many of the artists in these galleries are awful. Quite frankly I could probably get into one right now if I set out to do it, but I don't want to start off with mediocre work that I see in these galleries all the time. I'm going to school to get some more polish on my technique before I set out to sell my work. The only option I have to pursue a career in art in my mind is to go to New York after or maybe during graduate school. As for my wanting to move to Europe? Well, I've always been infatuated with the painting history there. That, and I honestly think that there are better artists coming out of Europe than the U.S. from what I can tell. I mainly want to go there to train.
As far as being eaten alive in a new place? I feel I adapt pretty well and I'm pretty sociable. I am hard working too. I just want to get away from this place for awhile and experience a different culture. As so many of you know, so few people I know have even visited a foreign country. I don't want to become some 40 year old who has never left the borders of the continental U.S.
I apologize for the jerkish introduction. I was only trying to kid around and play up an elitist American stereotype. We're not all like that you know... In any event, thanks for the input.
