Second week in US, homesick starts!
Jul 18th 2017, 3:32 pm
#16
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
I would have thought that eating "typical" US foods and watching US tv programmes would have made the homesickness much, much, much worse.
I couldn't give a hoot about a lot of US tv but take away my iplayer and I'm a very unhappy PF.
In my 15 years of living outside the UK, I think that living in a culture/country not your own is a continuous low level of stress, like tinnitus perhaps that you don't notice most of the time. I need my little bit of Britishness (food, friends or tv) to retreat to so that I feel fortified to go out there again.
Jul 18th 2017, 3:40 pm
#17
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
It sounds like you've agreed with me because that is exactly what I meant by "long-term home sickness issues". 
BTW I wouldn't recommend US TV to anyone it is almost entirely çräp.
BTW I wouldn't recommend US TV to anyone it is almost entirely çräp.
Jul 18th 2017, 4:15 pm
#18
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 0
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
Look for new fun things to do, try not to obsess about things you used to do. 
Embrace your new environment!
Jul 18th 2017, 4:33 pm
#19
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
I'm a big believer in this! I understand that until you get into your home, OP, it will be difficult to start settling in, but when you do, please look ahead to the great things your new environment has to offer, not back to what you had before. Don't look for Brit meetups, instead join local organizations that mesh with your personal interests, whether they be reading, dogs, needlework, cooking. It really will help, OP! Best of luck.
Jul 18th 2017, 4:39 pm
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
I'm a big believer in this! I understand that until you get into your home, OP, it will be difficult to start settling in, but when you do, please look ahead to the great things your new environment has to offer, not back to what you had before. Don't look for Brit meetups, instead join local organizations that mesh with your personal interests, whether they be reading, dogs, needlework, cooking. It really will help, OP! Best of luck.
Jul 18th 2017, 4:45 pm
#21
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
I attended such an occasion once, and only because I didn't have the option not to as it involved OH and work. The woman, from London, looked me up and down and went, "Well, you don't sound as if you come from Yorkshire . . ." and ignored me for the rest of the evening!
Jul 18th 2017, 4:53 pm
#22
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
That was my policy when I moved here way back when, including turning down those "I know someone from England, you must meet them" kind of invitations. Now I've been here for ever and am a few decades past "home-sickness", I do do more "British" stuff and watch more British television.
I get homesick for France and in particular the food....
Jul 18th 2017, 11:29 pm
#23
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Joined: May 2016
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,277
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
Second week finished , the best thing for the second week is we signed the contract for our own rented house . Hurray ! Another week, we should be able to move in.
For this week , I have learned 1) always bring a cardigan with you. No matter where you go and how hot is outside , always bring a cardigan with you . Because as soon as you go inside of a mall or restaurant , it will be freezing cold
For this week , I have learned 1) always bring a cardigan with you. No matter where you go and how hot is outside , always bring a cardigan with you . Because as soon as you go inside of a mall or restaurant , it will be freezing cold
My wife has the a/c so low I have to wear a sweater in the house
2) don't order a ice tea with little ice. I ordered a ice tea and told the stuff I don't like too much ice . However I m wrong . It's not about I like it or not , it is about I need it or not . Soon after 5 minutes , that's once called ice tea is turning into a warm tea...ever since that , I stop order the drinking without ice ..
3) don't feel dodgy if your estate agent ask you to meet up in a coffee shop. Seriously I didnt feel comfortable at all after my agent told me . I thought meeting in the coffee shop to give the deposit is just wrong. Later I checked with my local friend she said it is totally normal. What can I say , they probably just love coffee!
3) don't feel dodgy if your estate agent ask you to meet up in a coffee shop. Seriously I didnt feel comfortable at all after my agent told me . I thought meeting in the coffee shop to give the deposit is just wrong. Later I checked with my local friend she said it is totally normal. What can I say , they probably just love coffee!
The first house I bought, the estate agent was English, from Feltham. We became friends and through him I got to meet a lot of other British people in the area. Mostly Scots as it turned out, and friends for life, most of whom have sadly passed on.
Second week is a bit harder for me , since husband is at work , i m on my own and children are getting enough with living in a hotel and no toys no friends, they cry every other day and saying they want to Go back. Frankly , I also miss England , miss our home in Sunbury . Miss my local MS, Miss have a walk to the river to feed the ducks. Actually I secretly had a little cry the other day when hubby turned on the radio magic FM. I never thought I will be this homesick, because firstly I m not English and secondly I have done international move before. However I have ignored the fact that 15 years is a really long time in my life and I was in my comfort zone. Anyway I m sure I will be ok after all and especially hubby promised me he will get me English TV somehow . I really miss BBC!
Thanks for listening to my rambles and have a great week guys.
Thanks for listening to my rambles and have a great week guys.
Also in this area channels 9,10,(PBS} show a lot of British stuff and Channels 162 and 167are BBC channels.
For starters try TVCatchup - Channels
Jul 18th 2017, 11:41 pm
#24
in Northern California
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 284
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
Amen to that. But a lot of British TV is pretty dreadful these days.
The OP's move provides an opportunity to drop TV entirely. You'll save a ton of money compared to a cable subscription. And you'll have about 5 hours of extra time each day (based on average USA viewing) do engage in healthier and more constructive activities.
Seriously, it doesn't take that long to wean a family away from the box :-)
The OP's move provides an opportunity to drop TV entirely. You'll save a ton of money compared to a cable subscription. And you'll have about 5 hours of extra time each day (based on average USA viewing) do engage in healthier and more constructive activities.
Seriously, it doesn't take that long to wean a family away from the box :-)
Jul 18th 2017, 11:41 pm
#25
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Joined: May 2016
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,277
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
That was my policy when I moved here way back when, including turning down those "I know someone from England, you must meet them" kind of invitations. Now I've been here for ever and am a few decades past "home-sickness", I do do more "British" stuff and watch more British television.
Jul 18th 2017, 11:54 pm
#26
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
..... The OP's move provides an opportunity to drop TV entirely. You'll save a ton of money compared to a cable subscription. And you'll have about 5 hours of extra time each day (based on average USA viewing) do engage in healthier and more constructive activities.
Seriously, it doesn't take that long to wean a family away from the box. ....
Seriously, it doesn't take that long to wean a family away from the box. ....
It took us a number of years to finally admit that we weren't getting value for our cable contract, not even close. Now we just dip into Netflix occasionally.
I'm off now to tend my tomatoes and cucumbers, work on the fence, grub out some tree roots with a mattock, and remove the garage door opener so I can replace it. Who needs TV?
Jul 19th 2017, 3:02 am
#27
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
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Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
From experience, everything changes once you're out of the hotel and in your own place. We almost packed it in after 3 days in a hotel with 3 young kids.
Jul 19th 2017, 3:03 am
#28
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Jul 19th 2017, 3:20 am
#29
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Joined: May 2016
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,277
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
Luckily we found an apartment with lots of European immigrants, so my wife got to hang out with other women in the same situation during the day. Every day was like being on vacation and on the weekends explore the area.
Happy days. I don't believe similar situations apply anymore?
Jul 19th 2017, 4:35 am
#30
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 111
Re: Second week in US, homesick starts!
My wife has the a/c so low I have to wear a sweater in the house
I wouldn't think that was usual, although I haven't bought a house in a long time.
The first house I bought, the estate agent was English, from Feltham. We became friends and through him I got to meet a lot of other British people in the area. Mostly Scots as it turned out, and friends for life, most of whom have sadly passed on.
There are ways you can get British TV here, We watch BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
Also in this area channels 9,10,(PBS} show a lot of British stuff and Channels 162 and 167are BBC channels.
For starters try TVCatchup - Channels
I wouldn't think that was usual, although I haven't bought a house in a long time.
The first house I bought, the estate agent was English, from Feltham. We became friends and through him I got to meet a lot of other British people in the area. Mostly Scots as it turned out, and friends for life, most of whom have sadly passed on.
There are ways you can get British TV here, We watch BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
Also in this area channels 9,10,(PBS} show a lot of British stuff and Channels 162 and 167are BBC channels.
For starters try TVCatchup - Channels