Originally Posted by Nylon

Jumping Doris that's because the majority of Americans have never lived anywhere else - let alone move to a different location other than where they grew up. I think being American I can pretty much stand by that although of course you don't like to generalize but I would suffice to say it is true. Hey what's the percentage of Americans who don't even hold passports!! Something like 20% I think or 1 out of four Americans. Take my brother for example he has **NEVER** traveled outside of the continential U.S. perhaps I'm being a bit hard (ok so Bahamas and Mexico ) and is living in the same town where we grew up in the same freakin' house! He doens't even hold a passport for a quick getaway if need be. So when you come across Americans giving you that confused look and not understanding why you would prefer to live somewhere else other than the good ol' USA just chuckle to yourself (because it's more than likely they themselves have never lived anywhere else). You don't know what you don't experience!

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Nylon

Jumping Doris that's because the majority of Americans have never lived anywhere else - let alone move to a different location other than where they grew up. I think being American I can pretty much stand by that although of course you don't like to generalize but I would suffice to say it is true. Hey what's the percentage of Americans who don't even hold passports!! Something like 20% I think or 1 out of four Americans. Take my brother for example he has **NEVER** traveled outside of the continential U.S. perhaps I'm being a bit hard (ok so Bahamas and Mexico ) and is living in the same town where we grew up in the same freakin' house! He doens't even hold a passport for a quick getaway if need be. So when you come across Americans giving you that confused look and not understanding why you would prefer to live somewhere else other than the good ol' USA just chuckle to yourself (because it's more than likely they themselves have never lived anywhere else). You don't know what you don't experience!

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Mallory

I just saw it on TV - 27% of Americans have a passport. But that has recently changed, those trips your brother took to Mexico and The Bahamas now require a passport. The days of "going to other countries with yr birth certificate" are over. Also need passport to go to Canada. Lots of new passports to be issued - all those people on cruise ships, etc., who want to get off the boat in other countries.

Originally Posted by penguinsix

I think part of the question that needs to be asked is whether the things that are annoying you now, or reasons you would want to go back now, were obvious from the start, or if they are things that developed over time and you learned about only from staying here?

Originally Posted by jumping doris

I know quite a few people here who live in the house they grew up in!
In a way I envy them that sense of place and belonging.
When we first moved here I was surprised by how many people hadn't seen that much of the US but now I know it's because they don't get much holiday.

Originally Posted by AvromShalom

Knowing what you know now.. bearing in mind that most have been here a few years , given the chance again would America have been your first choice to emigrate too?? or, after having lived here do you wish that you had gone elsewhere??

Originally Posted by Brync

I've tried it both ways ...Met my wife here and she moved to the UK for 13 or 14 years then we moved back over here. This is definitely better...Wish I'd done it years ago....

Originally Posted by TruBrit

ohhh i say

yeah we have too...first my usc hubs lived in the uk 18 yrs and now we've been here 5yrs and no comparison he's a sensible man my man and much prefers life in the uk

Originally Posted by jumping doris

Ok I'll stay for the After Eight hazelnut coffee.And the bagels.

I am sure that there is a part of the US where I would feel really at home, I just don't think it's Pittsburgh.

I really miss being able to walk everywhere and having the High Street with all the local shops.
At the moment I am trying to motivate myself into going out for some shopping. I need stamps for posting to the UK so I will need the post office and then I need the supermarket. They are miles apart with loads of traffic lights and it will take me forever and I won't see anyone I know.
Back in the UK I would walk up to the High street (5mins) and there I would have everything and I would see lots of people I knew. The supermarket was small and I had to drive if I wanted a big shop at Tesco etc.
For me thats the biggest down about living in the 'burbs. I'm sure somewhere else would offer more of what I want but the job's in Pittsburgh

Originally Posted by another bloody yank

http://stlouis.missouri.org/thehill/

This is the neighborhood where I lived from age 6 to 22 when I got married and moved to an ancient flat about five miles away. I lived there again from age 27 to 32 when My wife and I bought our first house two blocks from my parents. It sounds like what you describe back in England. I've never been to Pittsburgh, I don't think I'll bother! I don't blame you for disliking it.

Originally Posted by jumping doris

My MIL was Austrian and she used to always eat pork on New Years Day rather than chicken because "the chicken scratches backwards and the pig snuffles forward". Time to stop being a chicken and become a pig!

Originally Posted by BigDavyG

I used to eat a bacon sandwich on new years day - come to think of it I used to eat bacon sandwiches every day - great times

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl

Smoked bacon sandwiches....yum...

Originally Posted by BigDavyG

I used to eat a bacon sandwich on new years day - come to think of it I used to eat bacon sandwiches every day - great times