wordfool

I'm a newly minted USC going through the same debate with his American OH... I've narrowed down the things I miss from the UK to two basic categories -- social aspects of British life and the NHS!

From what I can tell, life in the UK can be as potentially shit as I seem to remember when I commuted daily, dealt with British bureaucracy and watched half my earnings vanish before I'd got them into the bank. Makes me realize how straightforward rampant capitalism and a constitution can make many aspects of life in the US (YMMV, of course).

But spending the first 27 years of my life in the UK made me who I am socially, and that's what I miss most. Even my best friends in the US sometimes feel like mere acquaintances to me. Silly buggers still keep quoting Monty Python at me

And then there's the NHS... sweet jeezus I miss not having to worry about healthcare! It doesn't help that my OH and I are both self-employed, of course, but even when we were gainfully employed and had company plans, it was still an often-expensive hassle. My dad in the UK, meanwhile, has to have a heart valve replaced and so far the process has been a doddle for him... right down to picking the hospital.

Jerseygirl

I think of each US state as an EU country...so yes that makes sense.

My daughter is now engaged to a lovely Canadian guy. Reading some of the threads/posts in the MBTTUK forum could somewhat complicate matters...obviously his roots are in Canada.

Similar scenarios that don't figure into the equation when one is considering becoming an expat.

beachgal21

My dad (now 80 years old) found out at the age of 78 that he had early stages of prostate cancer. The NHS started treatment within weeks and within 12 months he was given the all clear. I related this story to a neighbor here in the US, who told me that had this happened here, that it would be unlikely that health insurance would have stumped up for any treatment at all. The view would have been that because prostate cancer is a very slow progressing cancer and because of my dad's age, it was more likely that he would have died of other causes before the cancer got him.

AmerLisa

Well that's my point.....

AmerLisa

Ahhh, yes.... You're lucky you only have the one daughter to contend with, and hopefully you'll all be together in one country, wherever that may be...

I know what you mean about knowing the "ropes".... that was one of the biggest reasons I had for moving back to the US, although the "ropes" had changed a bit, they were still more familiar to me.

AmerLisa

Sally Redux

Yes I was going to ask you about that...at least he's nice

I certainly never thought of any of this when I moved.

Jerseygirl

I don't think many expats consider our children when they reach adulthood...we only think of the immediate future.

For instance...if my daughter has a child and then longs to go back to the UK but her Canadian husband doesn't...she is then tied to Canada.

We spent Christmas in the UK this year. We overheard our daughter talking to my best friend whose daughter is my daughter's best friend from the day they started school at 4 yrs old...she said she wished she'd never moved from the UK. It broke my husband's heart.

The connection she has with the UK and the people is so obvious...I'd never really noticed it before. Her last visit to the UK was 5 years ago when she was 20...before that she was 14.

Sally Redux

People are very quick to say, "Children are adaptable" and override their feelings...what your daughter said really must have been heartbreaking.

We did what we did and have to live with it.

Jerseygirl

That's what I said to my husband...my daughter living in the UK/US/Canada is what's made her what she is today.

Giantaxe

Depending on a patient's age and the general prognosis of the cancer, doing nothing is often the best approach for older people. This - for once - probably has nothing to do with health insurance: I have a relative in the UK who's lived with prostate cancer for over a decade. He's now in his late 80's and something else almost certainly will cause his death before prostate cancer does.

traceym

Just happened upon this, spoke to 17year old tonight who's been in the Uk for 2 weeks, I asked him if he was looking forward to coming 'home' tomorrow, he said no not really, breaks your heart every time (this from the kid who's applying to US Uni's) call me confused.com!

Jerseygirl

Hey tell me about it. My daughter was 11 when we moved here in 1996. After high school she went to uni in Toronto and is now living and working there. She's in the UK at the moment and having a fab time.

Move over confused.com.

traceym

Oh if only I knew what I know now all those years ago, I'd be childless and selfish (in the nicest possible way) for sure!

Jerseygirl

I wouldn't be childless but I think I would have stayed in the UK.