Inability to stand on head.

Wow... 'sniff' the day before I flew out to Seattle 20 years ago my Dad said, 'Just remember you'll always be English, don't break your leg in America, you'll have to pay and mind your manners, Americans pray before meals.'. Love and miss you Dad x

Started with one, then two and so on and so on. Then everyone was here.

You must check out the Texas belles, they do have one, and they love the english accent.

Our son turns it on and off now and he has lived in the states for 20 years, and can barely remeber living in the UK.

My BiL lives by the accent. It is noted in some studies in the US that UK accent implies intelligence and sophistication. Always helps in interviews.

It is what it is.

Not to mention the many other perks:

Travel to every climate/season by car.
Lower taxes (Minus Health care)
Less Government regulation ( Compared to EU) although an issue now.
Space.... to do what you want

I think it's odd that people would say that Caifornians don't have an accent. Of course they do.

My point is that I would rather listen to a nice (although maybe not a Valley girl) Californian accent around the house than a Glaswegian one. To be honest there aren't very many UK accents that I think are attractive.

Midwestern is also fine by me. The South and East Coast not so much.

I guess it depends on who you ask and how long they have subjected to the accent.

For example everyone says that Coloradans do not have an accent either, however when I first arrived back in 2006 everyone had one, fast-forward 6 years and they still do have the accent, it is just that I do not hear it anymore and my closest friends and family do not hear my accent.

However for others who have not been around the accent, it is as clear as day to them. I have a friend from Texas who comes up to Colorado to climb with me a few times a year and he always comments on my accent and I his. My parents came to Denver last year for the first time and couldn't get over the way people spoke-- my wife included and to me, my wife doesn't have an accent anymore.

I do agree though Caley, I can't think of one single UK accent that is particularly attractive to me, but there are certain US ones that I love to hear.

They certainly do but, while the trend has started to change, it is still the case that, in most age groups, the majority of California residents were not born in California so actually finding someone with a "California accent" can be difficult, especially in some areas.

While it is very true that most californians are not native. With the past 2 or 3 or more generations growing up with T V, regional accents have been softening nationwide. And probably in many areas of the western world.

Having lived in the South (Texas) the West (California) and now the Midwest (Wisconsin), I have made the following observations.

a. You cant beat a southern drawl on a good looking woman.

b. Californians have a generic accent due, probably, to the mass migrations to that state during the last century.

c. Not all the people in the Midwest sound like and extra from Fargo (the movie).

As for English accents, being from Manchester, I am biased in the favor of the North West, but I have to say I do like the Geordie accent.

Maybe that should read "You can't beat a good looking woman with a southern drawl". Boy, there has to be a better way of saying that.

Moved over with my American wife at xmas & like with everything there is good & bad.
So in comparison, the health system is beyond corrupt & truly not sustainable in this economy or in it's present state, saying that neither is the NHS.
Religion yes it's a big thing we have made many new friends who are Christians, we are Agnostic & they have been very respectful of our choices as have we of their's & that has worked out really well.
The price of petrol is a joke but still better then back in the UK.
Wages in comparison to housing, transport, food & the such is much better over here though there is way to much emphasis put on college degree's even when the job so doesn't need one to actually carry out the job in most case's.
As for Australia, my best friend wants to emigrate there but is having to get a degree in the field he has worked for over 15 years before they will even consider them.

Have lived in both Australia and the US. 22 years in Sydney, 7 years in New York and now 18 months in California. We relocated to the US from Oz for my husbands work, but will be returning to Australia for family reasons.

Generally speaking, the British expats here in the US are of a different educational background to many of the expats that go to Australia. Most are professional university educated who have been sponsored in by their employers, whereas in Oz there has been a great demand for tradesmen in recent years and there is different criteria to become a permanent resident.

I find that both places have their pros and cons. I love the positive attitude here in the US, the physical beauty and diversity of the country and the fact that its not as isolated from the rest of the world as Australia is. However I hate the medical system here and the poverty, for many people they are but one pay cheque away from living on the streets. Australia on the other hand does have a reasonable welfare system with a good safety net and at the moment the economy is good and there is little unemployment. It has certainly been good to us both financially and socially over the years. However it's climate is very very harsh and this can be reflected on it's people to some extent. For many, it can also be seen as a cultural backwater and a bit boring.

Who the hell are you to criticize people's accents? I suppose you speak Queen's English???????

As a Glaswegian who was actually mildly amused by his comment, let me ask... who does he have to be?

Ian

The Californians sound rather nasal for my liking, especially the women.

Constantly using the word "like" too, although that's really caught on now all over the US, only it's bloody annoying and makes grown women sound like high school students.