Moving alone- how isolating is it?
Jul 11th 2008 | 2:15 pm
#46
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
Already au fait with the terminology. You are ahead of the game. I think it would be quite something to know you in private life, Clarice.
Avast, Ugger! You keep your mangy hands off my precious booty, you scurvy dog. I'll have you poled afore the night is through and hanging on my yard arm for three tides.
Avast, Ugger! You keep your mangy hands off my precious booty, you scurvy dog. I'll have you poled afore the night is through and hanging on my yard arm for three tides.
Alrighty mate. I'll keep me grubby hands of yer booty. I'll surrender me chest instead. Arrrrrrrrgh....
(Octang, let's take this to the PM so her thread isn't hijacked with nonsense)
Jul 11th 2008 | 2:18 pm
#48
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 45
From: London
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
Jul 11th 2008 | 2:20 pm
#50
Peace onion
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,686
From: Denver
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
Can't I just work in one more Djibouti joke? Oh, that's Somalia. Never mind.
Okay. And, I'm done.
Okay. And, I'm done.
Jul 11th 2008 | 2:26 pm
#52
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 45
From: London
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
Really into astrophysics and solid state. And I have a thing for lasers. Not sure why- they're just very cool! But now I've joined the dark side and become a bit more of a social/environmental scientist...
Jul 11th 2008 | 3:44 pm
#53
Banned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 214
From: North Carolina
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
Hi everyone. Another newbie to the forum. As seasoned expats I want to pick your brains a little… I have just been offered a position in Washington and have to give an answer by the end of next week. The job is ideal for me at this time- it would be fantastic experience, I’m 24, have just finished my Masters and have no real responsibilities here in the UK. However I’m also a little nervous about moving to a new country where I don’t know anyone! I’m curious to hear from those of you who have done the move alone- how easy was it to settle in and make new ties? Did you feel isolated at all? Are any of you in Washington? What’s it like?
So many questions…
Looking forward to your insight!
Sam
So many questions…
Looking forward to your insight!
Sam
Your experience of the new location and your reaction to it is going to depend on several factors;
1. Are you an extrovert or an introverted person?
2. Do you have a sense of exploring or do you just like your comfy spot on the sofa?
3. Is it easy for you and do you tend to strike up conversations with strangers or not?
4. How have "new things" have been approached/handled/managed by your family while growing up?
5. How much social interaction do you think you need?
6. Have you lived alone before? (very important this one)
6. Will your employer manage the entire move for you?
7. Will you have any time to explore the area before you start working?
8. Will you have cash for a car?
9. Do you think you will definitely need to plug into British folk or are you willing to open your horizons?
You have the benefit of speaking the same language already (sort of
) but I think you will find Americans warmer than the Brits. In my view, its much more adult here
than pesky petulant Britain! 
and we don't have any bogey picking and eating leaders (not in public anyway).Like Poppygirl already said, you can always go back and as you don't have much in the way of commitments, there's nothing to lose really.
Last edited by Anthony919; Jul 11th 2008 at 5:36 pm.
Jul 11th 2008 | 3:59 pm
#54
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
Firstly, you really are a lucky girl, whether you take the opportunity or not!!
Your experience of the new location and your reaction to it is going to depend on several factors;
1. Are you an extrovert or an introverted person?
2. Do you have a sense of exploring or do you just like your comfy spot on the sofa?
3. Is it easy for you and do you tend to strike up conversations with strangers or not?
4. How have "new things" have been approached/handled/managed by your family while growing up?
5. How much social interaction do you think you need?
6. Will your employer manage the entire move for you?
7. Will you have any time to explore the area before you start working?
8. Will you have cash for a car?
9. Do you think you will definitely need to plug into British folk or are you willing to open your horizons?
You have the benefit of speaking the same language already (sort of) but I think you will find Americans warmer than the Brits.
In my view, its much more adult here than pesky petulant Britain! and we don't have any bogey picking and eating leaders (not in public anyway).
Like Poppygirl already said, you can always go back and as you don't have much in the way of commitments, there's nothing to lose really.
Your experience of the new location and your reaction to it is going to depend on several factors;
1. Are you an extrovert or an introverted person?
2. Do you have a sense of exploring or do you just like your comfy spot on the sofa?
3. Is it easy for you and do you tend to strike up conversations with strangers or not?
4. How have "new things" have been approached/handled/managed by your family while growing up?
5. How much social interaction do you think you need?
6. Will your employer manage the entire move for you?
7. Will you have any time to explore the area before you start working?
8. Will you have cash for a car?
9. Do you think you will definitely need to plug into British folk or are you willing to open your horizons?
You have the benefit of speaking the same language already (sort of
) but I think you will find Americans warmer than the Brits. In my view, its much more adult here
than pesky petulant Britain! and we don't have any bogey picking and eating leaders (not in public anyway).Like Poppygirl already said, you can always go back and as you don't have much in the way of commitments, there's nothing to lose really.
Are you now or ever been a member of the communist party
Did you serve with the SS between 1939 and 1945
Do you shop at Tooting Broadway Market after 8pm
Jul 11th 2008 | 4:53 pm
#55
who turned out the light?
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,997
From: WA
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
Good on you for having the adventurous spirit I don't think I could move internationally on my own but would love to have the personality to do so
I lived in Herndon VA and I loved D.C. To me it is the most beautiful city in America. No skyscrapers lots of parks and open spaces, beautiful statues (loved walking the mall) so many things to do, free museums.
We went there at least every week and the only city that I would drive in with visitors and park (very easy).
I miss the whole area - historical things to do. I love history, which I don't get here in WA.
I loved Alexandria it reminded me of Stratford upon Avon (don't laugh
). Georgetown is lovely but all those areas are pricey.
I lived in Herndon VA and I loved D.C. To me it is the most beautiful city in America. No skyscrapers lots of parks and open spaces, beautiful statues (loved walking the mall) so many things to do, free museums.
We went there at least every week and the only city that I would drive in with visitors and park (very easy).
I miss the whole area - historical things to do. I love history, which I don't get here in WA.
I loved Alexandria it reminded me of Stratford upon Avon (don't laugh
). Georgetown is lovely but all those areas are pricey.
Jul 11th 2008 | 10:45 pm
#56
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 35,188
From: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
I agree with what most of the pp's have said - go for it! I've never been to DC so can't give you any insights on the city but you're young, free and single so there's nothing to hold you back.
Better to do it and move back if you hate it than not do it and then regret it for the rest of your life! Too good an opportunity to pass up.
Best of luck.
Better to do it and move back if you hate it than not do it and then regret it for the rest of your life! Too good an opportunity to pass up.
Best of luck.
Jul 12th 2008 | 2:48 am
#57
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 254
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
I lived in "Charm City" for six months and found it a great place to stay. Apartments are cheaper too.
I think it was officially the murder capital of the US when I was there, but like Washington, these frightening statistics relate to a couple of really rough areas (as portrayed in The Wire). Most areas of both cities are safe.
Jul 12th 2008 | 3:28 am
#58
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
Yes, not many people realize how close the two cities are. Fast trains only take half an hour (though Baltimore's Penn is still a cab ride from downtown).
I lived in "Charm City" for six months and found it a great place to stay. Apartments are cheaper too.
I think it was officially the murder capital of the US when I was there, but like Washington, these frightening statistics relate to a couple of really rough areas (as portrayed in The Wire). Most areas of both cities are safe.
I lived in "Charm City" for six months and found it a great place to stay. Apartments are cheaper too.
I think it was officially the murder capital of the US when I was there, but like Washington, these frightening statistics relate to a couple of really rough areas (as portrayed in The Wire). Most areas of both cities are safe.
Jul 12th 2008 | 3:33 am
#59
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,227
From: Hong Kong, mostly.
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
This is a murder map of DC and Baltimore. If you blow up the DC image you'll see pretty much all the murders are on the Eastern half of the city (NE and SE). SE has nice pockets, but also places that remind me of Beirut.
http://www.burgersub.org/murders2k8.htm
Even then, you can be anywhere and crime can happen. I was at a party on Capitol Hill 6 blocks from the Capitol and a guy was car jacked and murdered as we left the house (this was back in the early 90s, when it was a zoo).
Things are a bit nicer now, but no one will ever fault you for being too paranoid.
http://www.burgersub.org/murders2k8.htm
Even then, you can be anywhere and crime can happen. I was at a party on Capitol Hill 6 blocks from the Capitol and a guy was car jacked and murdered as we left the house (this was back in the early 90s, when it was a zoo).
Things are a bit nicer now, but no one will ever fault you for being too paranoid.
Jul 12th 2008 | 3:35 am
#60
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: Moving alone- how isolating is it?
This is a murder map of DC and Baltimore. If you blow up the DC image you'll see pretty much all the murders are on the Eastern half of the city (NE and SE). SE has nice pockets, but also places that remind me of Beirut.
http://www.burgersub.org/murders2k8.htm
Even then, you can be anywhere and crime can happen. I was at a party on Capitol Hill 6 blocks from the Capitol and a guy was car jacked and murdered as we left the house (this was back in the early 90s, when it was a zoo).
Things are a bit nicer now, but no one will ever fault you for being too paranoid.
http://www.burgersub.org/murders2k8.htm
Even then, you can be anywhere and crime can happen. I was at a party on Capitol Hill 6 blocks from the Capitol and a guy was car jacked and murdered as we left the house (this was back in the early 90s, when it was a zoo).
Things are a bit nicer now, but no one will ever fault you for being too paranoid.
