life in the US of A
Oct 31st 2003, 9:35 pm
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 44
Re: life in the US of A
Originally posted by datcha
Its as good as I thought it would be! Apart from just starting to look for work, everything has been smooth and every day is different.
People in the UK thought we were mad to just sell everything, leave work and move to the US with no house, no jobs and no cars lined up when we got there but we're here and we're doing it!
Its as good as I thought it would be! Apart from just starting to look for work, everything has been smooth and every day is different.
People in the UK thought we were mad to just sell everything, leave work and move to the US with no house, no jobs and no cars lined up when we got there but we're here and we're doing it!
Thanks. Postie
Nov 1st 2003, 3:52 am
#33
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Arizona
Posts: 961
Originally posted by dylan&helen
wow thanks for all the replies everyone.
makes me feel good.
I am sick of fish and chips by the way... cant wait for the change.
I sense a lot of mixed emotions about living in the US... one thing i don't know about is your ages, i am sure things will be different at different stages of your life.
I am 30, my wife is 24 and my son is 3
wow thanks for all the replies everyone.
makes me feel good.
I am sick of fish and chips by the way... cant wait for the change.
I sense a lot of mixed emotions about living in the US... one thing i don't know about is your ages, i am sure things will be different at different stages of your life.
I am 30, my wife is 24 and my son is 3
Nov 1st 2003, 4:34 am
#34
Rock Goddess
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 1,429
I'm 36, and having fought my way up in my career and becoming a homeowner in London, starting again is pretty daunting let me tell you. I think the older you are the better you are equipped to emigrate both experience-wise and financially, but emotionally I think it's harder. I've spent so long in London that living somewhere else is just unthinkable. I hate looking at a map of Phoenix and not being able to make head not tail of it, but I can find my way round London with my eyes shut.
Nov 1st 2003, 5:24 am
#35
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,296
Originally posted by Rockgurl
I'm 36, and having fought my way up in my career and becoming a homeowner in London, starting again is pretty daunting let me tell you. I think the older you are the better you are equipped to emigrate both experience-wise and financially, but emotionally I think it's harder. I've spent so long in London that living somewhere else is just unthinkable. I hate looking at a map of Phoenix and not being able to make head not tail of it, but I can find my way round London with my eyes shut.
I'm 36, and having fought my way up in my career and becoming a homeowner in London, starting again is pretty daunting let me tell you. I think the older you are the better you are equipped to emigrate both experience-wise and financially, but emotionally I think it's harder. I've spent so long in London that living somewhere else is just unthinkable. I hate looking at a map of Phoenix and not being able to make head not tail of it, but I can find my way round London with my eyes shut.
Hey you are just the right age to get 30 years service in to keep your health coverage when you retire- since you probably won't be able to retire till you're 68. There we are thought you'd appreciate that bit of trivia
I came over here when I was 36- you're old enough that you won't lose your accent or your 'British" identity and young enough to adapt well-you can enjoy the best of what's out here
Some things are better here, some things better in UK.
I'm absolutely delighted that we now have front loading washing machines here yey! Very expensive of course but they're here...AT LAST!!
Nov 1st 2003, 9:57 am
#36
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 808
Originally posted by Rockgurl
I'm 36, and having fought my way up in my career and becoming a homeowner in London, starting again is pretty daunting let me tell you. I think the older you are the better you are equipped to emigrate both experience-wise and financially, but emotionally I think it's harder. I've spent so long in London that living somewhere else is just unthinkable. I hate looking at a map of Phoenix and not being able to make head not tail of it, but I can find my way round London with my eyes shut.
I'm 36, and having fought my way up in my career and becoming a homeowner in London, starting again is pretty daunting let me tell you. I think the older you are the better you are equipped to emigrate both experience-wise and financially, but emotionally I think it's harder. I've spent so long in London that living somewhere else is just unthinkable. I hate looking at a map of Phoenix and not being able to make head not tail of it, but I can find my way round London with my eyes shut.
Sounds to me like you should stay on that side of the pond. What led to the decision to move stateside?
Nov 1st 2003, 8:22 pm
#37
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: life in the US of A
Originally posted by datcha
People in the UK thought we were mad to just sell everything, leave work and move to the US with no house, no jobs and no cars lined up when we got there but we're here and we're doing it!
People in the UK thought we were mad to just sell everything, leave work and move to the US with no house, no jobs and no cars lined up when we got there but we're here and we're doing it!
Yeah we're going through the same thing. A bit scary I suppose, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm originally from California, but we're not going back there, unless we find jobs there. We're starting out in Oregon and then seeing where we go from there. Best of luck!
Nov 2nd 2003, 1:27 am
#38
Rock Goddess
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 1,429
Originally posted by Jabba1
Sounds to me like you should stay on that side of the pond. What led to the decision to move stateside?
Sounds to me like you should stay on that side of the pond. What led to the decision to move stateside?
I also disliked the visa process. I've been waiting all this time without knowing quite when I was leaving. My bloody company made me think I might even be leaving a year ago, and trying to live out of boxes is a pain. They make you go through all of that and you don't know until the last minute that you even are allowed a visa. You can't let yourself believe it will happen until you get that visa in your hand, and then all of a sudden everything goes mental. Why can't the approval be just that...an approval? It's doesn't mean much if you still have to go through an interview. I think the interview should happen earlier in the process so you can make definite plans. For me it's a bittersweet victory.
Nov 2nd 2003, 1:36 am
#39
Rock Goddess
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 1,429
Originally posted by Taffyles
Hey you are just the right age to get 30 years service in to keep your health coverage when you retire- since you probably won't be able to retire till you're 68. There we are thought you'd appreciate that bit of trivia
I came over here when I was 36- you're old enough that you won't lose your accent or your 'British" identity and young enough to adapt well-you can enjoy the best of what's out here
Some things are better here, some things better in UK.
I'm absolutely delighted that we now have front loading washing machines here yey! Very expensive of course but they're here...AT LAST!!
Hey you are just the right age to get 30 years service in to keep your health coverage when you retire- since you probably won't be able to retire till you're 68. There we are thought you'd appreciate that bit of trivia
I came over here when I was 36- you're old enough that you won't lose your accent or your 'British" identity and young enough to adapt well-you can enjoy the best of what's out here
Some things are better here, some things better in UK.
I'm absolutely delighted that we now have front loading washing machines here yey! Very expensive of course but they're here...AT LAST!!
Hmmm...working till I'm 68? I can't even bear to think about it! Maybe I'll win the lotto by then.
Nov 2nd 2003, 4:47 am
#40
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 165
Re: life in the US of A
Originally posted by postie
Glad everythings going well. So, how did you do it? Did you go over on a visitors visa and hope for the best or some other way. I'd really like to know as my family want to get out there to be with her American family
Thanks. Postie
Glad everythings going well. So, how did you do it? Did you go over on a visitors visa and hope for the best or some other way. I'd really like to know as my family want to get out there to be with her American family
Thanks. Postie
My wife is from the USA and we married and lived in the UK for the last few years. As we were married for more than 3 years and as we lived in London, I was able to file and be approved directly through the US consulate in London (so no long waiting periods using a US-based Immigration Service Center) and I was issued a full (ie. non-conditional) residency visa.
Nov 2nd 2003, 4:49 am
#41
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 165
Re: life in the US of A
Originally posted by AmerLisa
Yeah we're going through the same thing. A bit scary I suppose, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm originally from California, but we're not going back there, unless we find jobs there. We're starting out in Oregon and then seeing where we go from there. Best of luck!
Yeah we're going through the same thing. A bit scary I suppose, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm originally from California, but we're not going back there, unless we find jobs there. We're starting out in Oregon and then seeing where we go from there. Best of luck!
We have initially gone for Southern California as all her friends and family are there but we're not against the idea of other parts of the country if need be. Actually got an idea to try and live on the East Coast for a while at some point in the future.
The main struggle was getting here so everything else we do from now on isn't probably gonna be as heavy as that was!
Nov 2nd 2003, 4:56 am
#42
Under Achiever
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 185
my wife and I are in the same boat as you, we have been married for almost 5 years and she has live here in the Uk for all that time, I agree is does save a lot of hassle with US immigration and we are thankfull for that as some members seem to be living a nightmare. Incidently her US accent is waining a little and I keep correcting her Derbyshire slang which sounds well trippy coming from an American.
Nov 2nd 2003, 1:22 pm
#43
CA to TX to Jamaica
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Location, Location.
Posts: 4,887
I miss my family and friends. I'm still in the visa-hell process, so I'm not really 'living' here yet, despite the fact that I've spent the majority of this year here.
I'm dying for a decent king-prawn vindaloo! My husband keeps me stocked up with Ribena! We have a Brit shop in town but I can't bear to go there. It's like a corner shop with hugely inflated prices. Would love a Sainsbury's though!
My local supermarket has just started stocking the Pataks curry sauce mixes. But I do miss Colmans shepherd pie mix.
I don't miss the 'politics of envy attitude', the weather, the misery and general unhappiness of the UK. I love that people here are so happy and friendly. I love the area I live in, it's suburban but the beach is less than a mile away. And drive thru! My son's school has a drive thru pick-up and drop-off. Sure beats having to get there 20mins early so you can find a parking space!
And the sales! I love the sales.
I'm dying for a decent king-prawn vindaloo! My husband keeps me stocked up with Ribena! We have a Brit shop in town but I can't bear to go there. It's like a corner shop with hugely inflated prices. Would love a Sainsbury's though!
My local supermarket has just started stocking the Pataks curry sauce mixes. But I do miss Colmans shepherd pie mix.
I don't miss the 'politics of envy attitude', the weather, the misery and general unhappiness of the UK. I love that people here are so happy and friendly. I love the area I live in, it's suburban but the beach is less than a mile away. And drive thru! My son's school has a drive thru pick-up and drop-off. Sure beats having to get there 20mins early so you can find a parking space!
And the sales! I love the sales.
Nov 2nd 2003, 1:23 pm
#44
CA to TX to Jamaica
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Location, Location.
Posts: 4,887
Oh and ordering pizza delivery online and barbecuing nearly every night.
Nov 2nd 2003, 1:30 pm
#45
Pagan Sex God
Joined: May 2002
Location: Living in Oblivion
Posts: 3,668
The honeymoon is over for me, I am not unhappy but I am not as arse wipingly happy as most brits seem to be on this board - then again I am a realist and don't think just because gas is cheap and I can buy an acre I am going to be happy.
Patrick
Patrick
