Would you do it again?
Sep 19th 2006, 1:42 pm
#16
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: Would you do it again?
With children that young and expecting it to be a 3 year adventure, I'd say definitely do it. It will be a great experience for you all. Seeing you're going to be based in the NE, you'll be able to pop over to the UK fairly often.
Seeing it on tv/holiday is nothing quite like living here, but then again, that is true for most countries.
Seeing it on tv/holiday is nothing quite like living here, but then again, that is true for most countries.
Sep 19th 2006, 1:43 pm
#17
Re vera, potas bene.
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod MA..Davenport FL
Posts: 2,405
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by johnny nofrfolk
I have lived in several countries. and on balance I dont think there is anywhere better than England. We are in a rural part and the quality of life is fantastic. Going for a few days to London and I was able to buy the return tickets from Norwich to London for both of us for £20.
We will have 4 days of noise, shows the best choice of food & wine in the world, then return to our house and garden in rural Norfolk. bliss
We will have 4 days of noise, shows the best choice of food & wine in the world, then return to our house and garden in rural Norfolk. bliss
Sep 19th 2006, 1:45 pm
#18
Re vera, potas bene.
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod MA..Davenport FL
Posts: 2,405
Re: Would you do it again?
I like what I've seen of Connecticut...why people leave there to move to the Cape I'll never know...its a place I would pick to live if I could....
Sep 19th 2006, 1:46 pm
#19
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Posts: 8,271
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by William Shaw
I have a wife and three small children (4, 2 and 3 month old boys). Our initial expectations are for a three year (minimum) adventure/experience of living in a different environment. I don't think that we have romantic expections and are wary of issues such as credit history, political differences etc, but hope to see new things and find an interesting working environment. I don't expect streets paved with gold. If it doesn't work out we will just come back.
It is difficult to get real insight as to the realities of life for a new expat.
It is difficult to get real insight as to the realities of life for a new expat.
A) Lack of social life...depending where you are of course, but the social life in the US is nothing compared to what you can have in the UK.
B) School for the kids. Seriously school here sucks big time compared to UK schools unless you pay serious cash for private schooling.
C) Your working hours. If you are in a full time job forget any idea of long romantic vacations sight seeing around the country. You'll get screw all holiday time and just wont be able to afford it anyway.
D) Health care. In short it sucks and is very expensive. For a family of 5 you will pay well over $1000 a month I would imagine unless you are very very lucky in your employers insurance. Plus any co-pays, deductables etc should you actually use the health insurance.
E) Cost of living. Is high here these days and getting higher. For a family of 3 we pay over $350 per week on food shopping and thats just for basics with no eating out. Sure wages can be good, but dont expect to actually have a lot of spare cash at the end of each month.
On the flipside is the experience that you can only get with actually living and working in another country. To us thats been priceless and we'll carry it with us to the day we shuffle off the planet.
Sep 19th 2006, 1:47 pm
#20
my arm aches
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: the warm waters of Florida
Posts: 2,289
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by William Shaw
I have a wife and three small children (4, 2 and 3 month old boys). Our initial expectations are for a three year (minimum) adventure/experience of living in a different environment. I don't think that we have romantic expections and are wary of issues such as credit history, political differences etc, but hope to see new things and find an interesting working environment. I don't expect streets paved with gold. If it doesn't work out we will just come back.
It is difficult to get real insight as to the realities of life for a new expat.
It is difficult to get real insight as to the realities of life for a new expat.
For sure we've had a good time here and it's been a great experience. If we hadn't done it when we did, we would've done it sooner or later. It's something we needed to try, the problem is knowing when to call it quits and go home. It can easily become a permanent move before you know it, with feelings of being stuck and unable to go back thrown in.
Sep 19th 2006, 1:51 pm
#21
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,271
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by ladyofthelake
We had the same view before coming out here. Have been here for 4½ years and don't know whether to stay or go. The kids are so settled into life here now, it's all they know, whilst we still feel at odds with a lot of everyday life. So, do we uproot them from what they know and go back, or do we have to stick it out permanently now?
For sure we've had a good time here and it's been a great experience. If we hadn't done it when we did, we would've done it sooner or later. It's something we needed to try, the problem is knowing when to call it quits and go home. It can easily become a permanent move before you know it, with feelings of being stuck and unable to go back thrown in.
For sure we've had a good time here and it's been a great experience. If we hadn't done it when we did, we would've done it sooner or later. It's something we needed to try, the problem is knowing when to call it quits and go home. It can easily become a permanent move before you know it, with feelings of being stuck and unable to go back thrown in.
Sep 19th 2006, 1:54 pm
#22
Slight chance of Showers
Joined: May 2006
Location: Norfolk,UK ->Memphis,TN
Posts: 1,158
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by johnny nofrfolk
I have lived in several countries. and on balance I dont think there is anywhere better than England. We are in a rural part and the quality of life is fantastic. Going for a few days to London and I was able to buy the return tickets from Norwich to London for both of us for £20.
We will have 4 days of noise, shows the best choice of food & wine in the world, then return to our house and garden in rural Norfolk. bliss
We will have 4 days of noise, shows the best choice of food & wine in the world, then return to our house and garden in rural Norfolk. bliss
What part of the county?
Sep 19th 2006, 1:56 pm
#23
Slight chance of Showers
Joined: May 2006
Location: Norfolk,UK ->Memphis,TN
Posts: 1,158
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by Angry White Pyjamas
And our and her preference is for her schooling to be completed in the UK.
But then she will grow up being gullible enough to believe we came from Apes!!! And think that Potatoe is spelled Potato.
Sep 19th 2006, 1:57 pm
#24
my arm aches
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: the warm waters of Florida
Posts: 2,289
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by Angry White Pyjamas
Which is why we are making the move back now. Our daughter is just about to start (UK) high school age so we feel we would have to either move now or not till at least in another 8 years when she'd be completing US high school. And our and her preference is for her schooling to be completed in the UK.
Now things are afoot work wise which have made us re-evaluate living here again. We've given ourselves til xmas to decide one way or the other. Shame this didn't happen this time last year.
Sep 19th 2006, 2:24 pm
#25
You Are All Diseased
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Farnham, UK
Posts: 4,511
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by William Shaw
I would be interested to hear from you caustic veterans, if you could start again, whether you would have moved to the US at all and if so what you would have done differently.
Sep 19th 2006, 2:29 pm
#26
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,750
Re: Would you do it again?
I only came to the US because of my wife. I had never intended to go to the US before that. I always wanted to go to Canada, but just a holiday.
If I'd came here on my own, I'd probably be back in the UK by now. I don't like US culture, or the "system". Having said that, I love the mountains and the animals. If we had a cabin in the mountains and no need to work in the city, I'd be in paradise.
If I'd came here on my own, I'd probably be back in the UK by now. I don't like US culture, or the "system". Having said that, I love the mountains and the animals. If we had a cabin in the mountains and no need to work in the city, I'd be in paradise.
Sep 19th 2006, 2:32 pm
#27
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
I only came to the US because of my wife. I had never intended to go to the US before that. I always wanted to go to Canada, but just a holiday.
If I'd came here on my own, I'd probably be back in the UK by now. I don't like US culture, or the "system". Having said that, I love the mountains and the animals. If we had a cabin in the mountains and no need to work in the city, I'd be in paradise.
If I'd came here on my own, I'd probably be back in the UK by now. I don't like US culture, or the "system". Having said that, I love the mountains and the animals. If we had a cabin in the mountains and no need to work in the city, I'd be in paradise.
Sep 19th 2006, 2:32 pm
#28
You Are All Diseased
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Farnham, UK
Posts: 4,511
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
I don't like US culture, or the "system".
Sep 19th 2006, 2:34 pm
#29
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,750
Re: Would you do it again?
Originally Posted by rincewind
Same here, even the wife feels the same way.
Mine too
Sep 19th 2006, 2:35 pm
#30
The Unmod
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Glen Mills, PA
Posts: 8,870
Re: Would you do it again?
Your young children are the biggest asset to getting in the social groups, via playgroups and school, if you can do that, it makes life a whole lot more pleasant.