Initial impressions of Florida
 

Hi,

Just a few comments from a brit who has just landed in Florida (a month)

That's right, I live up the road from Disney and laugh at holiday-ing brits as they succumb to the delights of International Drive.

But the honeymoon period is over and 2nd stage culture shock is creeping up, i'm craving certain English things like crazy. The job hunt is frustrating and driving is a pain. But I know things will be better in the long run :)

In short my wife is from here and gave it a good crack of the whip in England but missed the US a lot and could not settle. 3 years and a lot of money later we are here and i'm positive about things.

So how do you stay conected to English-ness?

As a creative i miss Englsih/European style. I know New York is up the road (ish) but Florida is a laid back holiday state, with bad taste. Any tips on getting UK clothes shipped cheap?

Also I really don't want to loose my accent, anyone got weird anglo-american ones going down?

TV and Football. i just give up on these. TV here is so bad I just have to leave the room.

Driving. Is anyone else shocked at how easy it is for young americans to get a license and then drive a huge dodge ram?

Food. I love it here, but my body took weeks to adjust with stomach aches, anyone else get that?

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Adapt, Improvise, Overcome.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Ray's right......however, to soften the blow a bit. You can get football, most of the good games and some bad ones on a combo of Setanta and Fox Sports....Direct TV.
Clothes....suck it up and buy the US rubbish and save your money till you go home on a visit.
Tea? The larger finer grocery stores sell PG Tipps and the most obvious sweets and snacks.
But the deal is you really have to sink your teeth in here if you are to stay here for any length of time. Join a gym, club anything to immerse yourself for a while.
I have been here 16 years and sometimes its good, sometimes I struggle and eventually I will go back to the UK.

Good luck with a job. Once you get that secured everything else will come.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Thank you, that helps a lot :) and your both right. I guess I saw my wife go through the same things first so I knew what was coming. But being in the middle of it is different to knowing!

I'm doing ok, just a few minor niggles. Job hunting is never fun and tends to bring out the frustrations even more.I had a decent job high up and now have to prove myself again. My wife is incredibly understanding and has been through it!

The hard part is that friends back home are starting to forget me a lil, which is to be expected. But I plan on throwing myself into the culture and usually make friends easily, i'm laid back so should be ok.

Clothes, yeah...I think i'll foot the shipping bill ;)

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Shop at better stores.

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Ha ha. Been there. Done that. With me, I was going to educate the masses over here on Britpop etc. Now I think back on my clothes and arrogance, I shudder.

British fashion is naff, mate. You'll get over it.

As a creative, try to seek out urban hipsters.
Just get some retro glasses, a bike messenger bag, sit and spin pants, grow a goatee, purchase and learn to ride a fixie, and wear old canvas sneakers.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Yep; that's about it....

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Carry Imodium with you :

Seriously it takes time, you will adjust give it a chance :D

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

ha ha..sage like advice, which i'm working on ;)

as for learning NFL? Not yet, I plan on educating them on the importance of the 4-4-2 in football. It's funny that only a few people here actually remember the world cup in 94!

I've also found a few TV chanels that run faulty towers, although my US mother-in-law is still to get it I think.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Seriously... get a fixie.

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Unfortunately this.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

You're about as green as they come!:lol:

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Learn NFL FFS! Get someone to tape it and send it over. Why do you want to dress like the scruffy feckers over here? Get a loud shirt shorts and flip flops I did

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Now *there's* your karma-worthy post of the day!
(I didn't realize you are already in Portland, you should've said so)

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

:lol:

and the best of luck to the OP....

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Yeah. I think they showed couple of games on Lifetime from that one. Didn't drum up much interest.

The 2002 and 2006 world cups were pretty popular over here, though, but teh time difference is weird.

Seriously, though, learn NFL. It's well worth it.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Huh American clothes are naff, badly made cheap looking!
Football....I get more football games than my dad in the UK. As for NFL....Love it. There is also college basketball, particularly in March during March Madness. Your friends won't forget you when they realise where they can come stay on the cheap!
The american music scene is a bit lame in my humble opinion. However, I got XM Radio and they play loads of English stuff. Sirius radio I believe has Radio 1 if you are still young enough to enjoy that.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Exactly. The OP needs a Tommy Bahama shirt, Sansabelt trousers, flip-flops, and a yellow Cadillac. Instant Floridian.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

You forgot the Semi-auto ...

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

:ohmy: You're right. Add a Glock 26 and a Galco holster.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Prefer a high noon holster in horsehide myself

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Have you become a ' Sky Marshall ' ,so soon ? LOL

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

As an addendum to Ray's good advice, "Don't fight it, the more you fight, the more you will hate it".
You have not told us how old you are or type of clothes you are looking for. Or maybe I missed it.

Good luck.
Reg. Frank R.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Morning: Football :beer: -> Afternoon: American Football :beer: :beer: -> Evening: Baseball :beer: :beer: :beer:

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

The 1994 World Cup was the best attended ever even though the number of finalists subsequently was increased from 24 to 32.

Absolutely. By far my favourite US sport.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Do what we do - DVD's from Amazon! You can find a lot of British television shows on Amazon. My god, we've got the entire series of Upstairs Downstairs; Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett); Little Britain; Men Behaving Badly; Only Fools and Horses...you'll also find loads of great DVD's at BBC America shop online. We have more than enough great stuff to watch.

You might also look into UK Nova.

Cheers and enjoy all that Florida sunshine!:shades_smile:

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

It is definately kinda weird at first .... I struggled at the grocery store ... tv was different ... but rather than miss what I had ... I began to realise what I have ... ok I miss kebabs and fridays chippy night ... but I now have huge steaks ... nice weather ... even if the nice weather lasts too long ...

as for clothing fashion .... its t shirt and shorts in the south ... New York would just frustrate you ... expensive ... and still not find the fashion you had back home ...

I have been here 3.5 years ... and I am glad I am here

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Winn Dixie do OO'Pa Gyros or something like that it makes a very passable donna kebab

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

now it's the world series....which countries are playing in that i wonder :rofl:

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Has a better ring to it than North American+Japan series.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

That's my day today!

9.30am: Chelsea v Liverpool, with bacon and egg sarnie and hot sweet tea.

1pm: Bucs game, while cooking beef and Guinness stew.

8pm (ish): Rays game, drinking the rest of the Guinness that didn't go in the stew.


I hated American football when I moved here but once I learned the rules, I grew to love it! Baseball has taken me a bit longer, but I'm getting there.

I was never into fashion anyway, I've always been a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl. That's evolved into capris, flip flops and Tshirts but still... lol

Good luck with the transition, I really love it here now but yes, I do get homesick, and there will always be things I miss about England. :)

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Oh, and sign up online for Netflix or Blockbuster. We have Blockbuster and have seen a TON of British shows on DVD!

Publix has a little section of British food, usually on the ethnic food aisle. I found Fry's Turkish Delight there yesterday! They also have Maltesers, Cadbury's Flake, Crunchies and Penguin bars.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

OH wow!! Malteasers.. They are my fav? Which Publix did you find them in? I haven't seen any british food in any of the publix around my area, I am in the Tampa area too. I have seen some bits in Sweetbay, bisto, teabags, beans etc but not seen any chocolate/ sweet stuff.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

World Market carries a good assortment of British food stuffs as well. Candy, Heinz Baked Beans, Pickled Onion, Tea, etc. :thumbsup:

Also, do a Google search for British tea rooms/tea shops in your area. I think there are quite a few in Florida, you lucky devils. :)

Last resort, of course, would be online British shops. Expensive but sometimes - it's worth it. (Especially where Malteasers are involved. :lol:)

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

I'm in Wesley Chapel, and I've seen an assortment of British choccies in the various WC and New Tampa area Publix. Maltesers have been a recent addition though, I've only seen them the last couple of times I've been in.

Also, there are a couple of pretty good Brit shops around Dale Mabry. One's in Northdale, called Brittans (I think) and they have a great selection of Brut stuff. The other one is on Himes near Hillsborough; I haven't been in there but it's close to my OH's office and he gets my beloved Cheese & Onion Walkers from there.

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

Talking of English "Style" I've just been to Busch Gardens theme park today. There were tons and tons of Brits there; more noticeable than usual I'd say, must be the "winter sun" crowd.

What I really noticed a lot were the amount of English blokes wearing capri pants. In my opinion its the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen, and if that's what English "Style" has become - I'm glad I left the UK before that became fashionable.... ;):lol:

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

I had to laugh at you saying that as my hubby says the exact same thing! :rofl:

Re: Initial impressions of Florida
 

I remember coming on holiday to Orlando... they cater a lot to British tourists esp around I-drive. I remember there was a British pub at the Mercado, and many shops on I-drive/Disney World (Epcot) that sell English goods.

Just googled it... the pub is called The Cricketer Arms (8445 International Drive)

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You've got to be kidding. :blink: I really don't think I could respect a man wearing Capri pants.

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Oh I don't know. If he has good legs, a bit of a tan.....