Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Well I have read the entire thread , so I feel I can add my two penneth worth.

I moved to the US in 1983 , I was 21 at the time, the first 7 or 8 years were difficult, I wasn't so much homesick as culture sick. I was living in the San Francisco Bay Area at the time which many people consider paradise, I personally thought it was shite.

I was all set to go back to the UK. Although there was nothing really waiting for me in there except my mums couch.

I never had a much money, no degree, just a love of art and a strong back. I decided to move further north to a really beautiful part of the states, I figured if I was going to be broke I may as well live somewhere I liked.

It took a while to settle in but eventually my neighbours became my family and frankly even though I miss the UK dearly I feel I would also miss my adopted home just as much.

Like Sultan I am never really satisfied ,so I have to be careful not to blame all my ills on external sources, I whinge and moan regardless of where I am :)

Over the years I worked hard and set up a photography business which is finally giving me a decent living and I get to go back to the UK fairly frequently, in fact I am over there right now. Ideally I would like to live half the time in both countries although I am not sure how feasible that is.

Life is meant to be lived, not worrying about what may happen in the future whether it be healthcare or guns, ( don't own one by the way ).
I could have taken a depressing job and got great health coverage, but then again I would have needed it as my situation would have made me sick anyway.

We are all dealt our cards , how we play them is up to us, some are fortunate some are not, there are no guarantees and life goes up and down, sometimes you need to get sad just to realize when you are happy.

I wish you ALL, all the best, you made a tough decision crossing the pond and you should be proud that you got off your ass and did something interesting at least.

Anyway I'm off for a full English breakfast down the cafe.

Oh one quick tip, stop watching the F*****g news, it's just one disaster after another that most of us have no control over.

Anyway take care !

Mick

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

If your middleclass America is great but unfornuatly unlike Britain or Australia where I'm from America is not a legitimate first world country. There are loads of poverty which are compareable to many third world countries. It's through this where the danger can occur. This can be avoided though.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Now there's some good advice . . .

It's amazing how people can take a chain of natural disasters that have been happening for billions of years that suddenly get more publicity than before and it's now the end of the world!

I imagine the Romans must have thought that 2,000 years ago when Vesuvius went pop, but I believe Italy is still here. We've been beating the living shit out of each other ever since we learned to walk on two legs and we keep coming back for more.

Switch off the TV and go have a wank or something equally productive and we'll all still be here tomorrow.

Sorry - went off on one there. The end times brigade are pissing me off lately :lol:

(Handing the thread back now :o)

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Coastieexat - good post but....





YOU BU99ER!!!

Give my right arm for a full english in the greasy spoon by the DLR bridge in Limehouse right now. Oh, hold on - I can't - I gave that for a box of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes earlier in the week. Damn, gonna have to be one of the legs or I wont be able to lift me fork!

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Do you not see the irony in your comment? You only cited one sentence in JerseyGirl's post. :confused:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I've lived in the States for 20 years. First, Minneapolis, now San Francisco. I grew up in Worthing, Sussex and have gone back many times for vacation to England and Ireland (where my mum lives) ...

I have always been pretty comfortable money-wise (after poor college days) here in the US, and aside from the "dot com crash" in the early 2000s, I've always had good jobs. I went to art school in Mpls, and this was paid off in a couple of years. I went into design and then web stuff. So my world is not suffering from the "recession": it depends what profession you're in. And I've always rented -- so not caught up in the housing crisis.

I also started a Masters degree in psychology a few years ago (but this is not paid off yet!) So I know a number of people in social work etc. They are doing OK, but they get paid very badly. There are lots of lower middle class people in America: they pay the most for everything. You don't see them in the movies! Anyway, I stayed in web design.

Recently, I've wanted to try living in the UK. I know some things have changed there. Yet I miss something essential. Perhaps I like the overall beliefs in England: More social welfare to take care of those less fortunate. Better non-private schools. Healthcare as a safety net to all. (You can choose private care if you like and it's WAY cheaper than the US). Less "wild west" thinking: in the US it's every man for himself, self-made man stuff. I also prefer England's separation of church and state. You will not hear a British politician saying the word God! I still find American patriotism and religiosity embarrassing and backward. Also, in San Francisco, there is a huge influx of Asian and Hispanic. This effects the culture in many aspects. (I'm really tired of hearing 3 announcements on the bus: one in English, Chinese then Spanish, and having to read posters in a mess of languages. My voting card was nearly impossible to decipher! It's all so politically correct and I don't think it helps anyone out).

Well, sorry for the ramble. Got lots more to say... I think one has to experiment in life. Live here, live there. See how it feels. Have fun with it -- not worry too much. Don't take the so-called "news" too seriously -- it's just a point of view (if there's 10% unemployment, that means 90% are EMPLOYED!) . Anyway, I think I'm ready to get "unsettled" myself -- and try the UK for 2 months this year.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Re: Your comment on the influx of Asian and Hispanic people, and messages in multiple languages, that's pretty common in the UK too - not necessarily public announcements, but public documents, etc., are often printed in English, Hindi, etc. Same thing with local government offices - I think there is a lot of provision for non-English speakers here, including eastern European, etc., TBH.

And then of course there's all those Welsh language road signs ... but let's not get into that. :rofl:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Don't forget Scottish Gaelic! :p

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Actually, church and state are specifically NOT separate in Britain.

I guess the speakers of other languages might find the announcements useful.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

[QUOTE=Sally Redux;9136255]Actually, church and state are specifically NOT separate in Britain.

QUOTE]

The churchgoing population is significantly smaller and declining in the UK, so there's probably little mileage in politicians ramming the religious rhetoric down their consitituents throats.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Legally speaking that's true. However, religion tends to play a much more intrusive part in American politics than it does in British.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

It's one of those stange conundrums.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

That's the best thing I've read all year.. and the hardest advice for me to take.

lol, I went to look up the definition of "first world country": "The concept of the First World first originated during the Cold War, where it was used to describe countries that were aligned with the United States."
That would sort of make the US the default ultimate first world country.

I wonder how many 'legitimate' third world countries you've spent time in.. poverty is never pretty, but I don't think the poorest parts of the US compare to some of the developing places I have been.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Yes, Canada can be pretty horrific...

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

While I usually roll my eyes heartily whenever anyone comes out with comments about developed nations such as the USA or UK being "third world" in any way, the one exception I can think of is when I visited the south west USA and was struck by how similar some of the indian reservations were to parts of South Africa I've traveled through.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Yeah, the reservation land in Washington state is Not Great.

I know, but I try to not rub it in on the relatives still living there. :)

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

It has to be said, there are some pretty grim areas in the US.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

NFS. Check out the crappiest place thread...

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I am a USC who has been living in the UK for 3 years. In my opinion, there isn't THAT much of a difference. I wouldn't worry too much about the gun violence...Brits I have spoken to seem to have this idea that everyone in the USA owns a gun and will shoot you as soon as look at you, but this is ridiculous. I'm from Washington DC, which has one of the highest levels of gun-related deaths in the US if not THE highest, and I have never been threatened by violence or known anyone who has been shot or even mugged. However just the other day, in my UK neighborhood, a man was run through with a samurai sword and killed. There are pros and cons with both I suppose, for instance it seems like employees in the UK have no concept of the term 'customer service' when compared to their US counterparts, but the UK has (in my opinion) much better healthcare coverage. All in all, I think that whilst both places have their little idiosyncrasies, both good and bad, neither country is 'better' than the other. So no, the USA is in no way terrible compared with the UK.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

A very balanced view of both countries. Each different but unique in their own way. As for myself, think I could live in either and be equally happy :)

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Agreed!:thumbup:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

By way of comparison, I am a UKC living in Washington DC.

I agree that the impression that daily random gun crime is rife here is misleading, it's not half as prevalent as it's made out. But just about everyone I know who lives in the city has been mugged or worse. And we've had one murder per day so far this year. I used to live in Peckham, and even I think that's a bit much.

As far as customer service vs healthcare... again, you're right.
But being kept waiting at the till while the girls behind the counter finish their conversation vs being left destitute or dead because you can't afford your medical bills... well, I know which one I find easier to put up with.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Thank you!

It drives me nuts when people use "depreciating" instead of "deprecating" in that particular context.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I certainly was not saying just US customer service makes up for the nation's healthcare issues, I was just listing random pros and cons, as I feel that both countries are pretty equally matched as a place to live

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

:thumbup:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Wow, you are going to love it on this site, then - there are typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical faux pas everywhere. You might need to book a session with your shrink. :eek:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Yep you're right there is just no excuse for bad customer service.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Depends how hungry the place is and how badly they want to keep their customers...... you are correct there is NO excuse for bad customer service.....especially when you are a woman......and dealing with a man driven occupation......:frown:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

One thing I don't get, perhaps people know the answer, but why is there such a bad stigma about check out folks etc not being allowed to sit in the US?

I mean, if you're stuck behind the till, what's so wrong with being able to sit? Able to serve the customer just as well, but being made to stand is kind of discriminatory to pregnant women, people who can't stand for very long etc.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Yes I don't understand that.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

It's a genuine question, any ideas?

As for quality of customer service...I've found it to be both, equally great, and as equally as shit in both countries...minimum wage folks either care, or don't and no sparkly veneer really changes that.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

With you there Bob. I dont think the customer service here is anything special - have had good and bad here, good and bad in the UK. The only difference I see between the 2 is the (in my view) unwarranted self-congratulatory back-patting over customer service in one of the countries....not saying which one;)

As for the standing - maybe the payouts on lawsuits for piles and fat arses are higher than the payouts for varicose veins and sore feet ? Although I noticed last time back in the UK that our local Sainsbury's had done away with their checkout seats as well.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

One of the things that really impressed me when I first came to the US was the great customer service. Oh - how things have changed!!!! Customer service (or the lack of it) has gone to the dogs in the past decade.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

It's the whole "slippery slope" concept.


It would certainly be discriminatory if the rules suddenly chaged mid-stream. They knew the situation when they were hired... they chose to work there.

Ian

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

In my opinion customer service in the US is far better. I had to take a job in the UK where the whole job was providing customer service, and during the training I could not BELIEVE how lax the people doing the training were, not to mention my fellow employees, when it came to treating the customer right. In my experience, in the UK, customer service reps aren't usually outrightly rude, but they make it very clear that they do not give a crap. Like, when I walk into a US store, it is common for me to be greeted with a smile and a "Hi, how are you? Can I help you find anything?" Here, not so much. I worked at 2 clothing retailers in the states, and at both there was someone who's job it was to do just that.If I had acted like I've seen UK store employees do, eg. ignoring the customer, not saying a word to the customer whilst ringing them up but rather talking loudly to a co-worker across the store, etc. I would have had a severe dressing down fro my manager.Obviously not ALL US customer service is good and not ALL UK customer service is bad (granted, I've only been living in Scotland) but overall I'd say there is a big disparity. Even the difference between Irish and British CS is quite noticeable.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I agree with Brittany. I'm British and lived in the US for a few years whilst going to university, and the customer service was far better, without question. When I have a question about an item in a shop, the nice smile and reply I would get from an American worker was so much nicer than the dead-behind the eyes stare I now get when asking questions of British sales associates.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Lived in the States for 6 years moved back 2 years ago, the thing that shocked me the most about the USA was the level of poverty experienced by so many, I volunteered at one of many soup kitchens/homeless shelters, its just astounding how so many people are forgotten about and left to live like this in the richest country in the world. Most of the areas surrounding the big cities are little more than slums. I have never seen anything near this in the UK and I have lived in some so-called poor/rough areas.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Ever been to the east end of Glasgow? It is horrifying. Life expectancy in the east end of Glasgow is lower than that in Iraq, something like 54, whereas in most first world countries it is in the 70s and 80s. Really sad.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Is that your personal opinion or can you please point to some statistics on that? I don't dispute what you're saying... and it's been a long time since I've lived in Glasgow, but that's a significant age difference.

I should point out that it's unfair to make a comparison between a specific part of a city, and the average for an entire country!

Ian