Originally Posted by gingerliu

The thought of moving back and forth doesn't appeal to me. I am single and have no ties, so my family and nieces are everything to me and miss not being part of their weekly lives. I'm also worried that if I move back, I'll miss all the good things of Los Angeles. But I am incredibly lonely, despite friends. I think I would be stronger with my base in England -the north or London and then just travelling for work. I am lazy and I do like the sun here in California and I like how friendly everyone is. I didn't like working in London because you get treated like crap -your boss swears at you, etc. In America, your boss hugs you. I'm afraid if I leave going home for too long that it will be too late to go back. We are alll brave people for living in a foreign country. I did it without thinking -young and stupid -no plan. I have lots of opportunities in LA which I won't have in England. Everyone gets a go here. I will probably go home, have my base near my family and then work abroad again. That's a good plan. It's too late for my own family or for me to buy a house, so I may as well work and travel.

Originally Posted by gingerliu

I didn't like working in London because you get treated like crap -your boss swears at you, etc. In America, your boss hugs you.

Originally Posted by Dee_dee

Oh that's fascinating scbrit, may I ask you, as a returnee, and possibly ping ponger (absolutely no offence intended) from your point of view what are the benefits of the USA over the uk that you have come to realise since you returned to the UK and were able to compare with hindsight. ?

Originally Posted by gingerliu

I have lived in the USA for six years. I am single and 39 years old. Everyday that I've lived here I have missed England. I love England. But missing my family, my ageing mother, my sister, brother and nieces, is absolutely killing me. I have felt alone for the whole time I've been here, despite making friends and having lovers...I've always felt empty and rather depressed. When no one understands your sense of humour or can relate to your past or can even believe that England has a better standard of living than the US, then it's a very lonely time. I was doing much better in England and had to start from scratch in the US. I have lived on the poverty line and have had nothing. In England I lived a wonderful middle class comfortable lifestyle. The US has been wonderful but I think of my future and the lack of healthcare and pension. It scares me. If I was married and had kids here, then things would be different. If I was earning truck loads of money it would also be different. I haven't been on holiday once since I've lived in the US -employers don't give you the time off. I miss taking a cheap trip to Paris or Amsterdam. I miss shopping and clean shops, new cars, and not having to see homeless people everywhere. I miss the food, I miss pubs, Xmas, summer holidays, Bonfire Night, tv, my newspaper. I live in Los Angeles and the weather is fantastic and the people are so friendly. I'm a writer and I work in film and I should be happy but these years without my close family have taken their toll on me. I visited home last week and I cried my eyes out. I think of the future and I don't want a future without my family. My mum is getting older and it kills me not to see her. I can't settle in the US because I think I will leave. I must be crazy to move back to the rain but then I think of evern the rich and famous who still live in England, despite Hollywood wealth or million dollar record sales.
But I don't want to make a mistake. I was always going home because I don't want to grow old in a country without healthcare and work holidays, my mum is getting really old. Should I go now or stay a few more years for my career?

Originally Posted by gingerliu

I have lived in San Francisco, Chicago, and Berkeley. THe Bay Area was lovely but one thing was missing...family. If I go home to my family, I'll be living in the place I escaped 20 years ago but at least I'll have my family around. LA is nice. I think I just need to get away for awhile. I know once I move back home, I'll probably visit LA for some work. Yeh, I must be mad but I am alone here and I'm done with it.

Originally Posted by Barratie

I also have started to see a lot of black taxis (Liverpool is one place this happened) that did NOT know where some well known road was, so they INSISTED I help them setup a GPS route, they do NOT know the city's roads) etc etc etc...

Originally Posted by Barratie

...eastern europeans have migrated here in significant numbers...

Originally Posted by Dee_dee

The figure is closer to 700 per year, approx 13 per million of the population. Scarey in anyones book I would say, considering as you point out, the size of this ''small country''.

Originally Posted by Dee_dee

lol sarah , that was 13 percent not 13