VJW

Hello Just dropping by to say hello. We arrived in Albany NY in September 2011 and I'm just about recovering from the whole relocation experience. We've moved from Gloucestershire UK. It's the second time over here for us. We lived in Mystic CT from 1999 to 2002, moved back to UK and now we find ourselves back in the NE. I have seen enough packing boxes to last me a lifetime. Albany seems a nice place to live, although we have yet to explore very far. We have a 9 yr old daughter, a very lazy mutt, I am a trailing spouse (ex teacher), and my husband is a scientist. Looking forward to hopefully meeting a few local brits and sharing our wealth of information we have gained over the year. Thanks to all the moderators etc... this site wasnt even here in 1999, it has made everything so much easier second time around. Regards Victoria

ohwottodo

Hi Where in Glos did you live? that's where I am originally from?
xx

scrubbedexpat094

Hello Victoria & welcome to BE. These forums are extremely useful for finding out alsorts of things you need to know about immigrating as well as for making some great friends. I was very relieved when I first found this site.

Ping-ponging does get a wee bit tiring. Mind you, some of our stuff is still in packing boxes & we've been in NZ for 5 years (this time) now .

Happy posting

VJW

We were living in The Forest of Dean for eight years. although I'm originally from Shropshire. The Forest was so beautiful although lots of wild boar now and it was near on impossible to let your dog off the lead. Mind you, its the same here although no boar, our dog no longer roams free on a walk, bit of a shame really, he's not too good on the lead.

Gloucester still has the reputation for being Grotty Gloucester, and Cheltenham is still very nice. Do you miss it?

ohwottodo

Omgosh I am born and raised from the forest! from Coleford originally, where did you live?
that's awesome
I live the forest but I do not miss it, my dad and 2 brothers are there with their families even though I call it "home" I wouldn't live there again.
that's more of a personal thing though, I've sort of grown up there and moved on now.
just shows what a small world we really live in! x

VJW

It is a small world. We lived in Pillowell, I used to work at St. John's Primary School in Coleford. My dad still lives in Christchurch on Park Road. How wierd. I know what you mean about going back, it is where you grew up. I grew up in Shropshire and would never go back. You move on, that is life. But the forest is lovely, we still have a holiday home in Lower Lydbrook by the River Wye. Florida is fab. I would chose Florida over the Forest any day.

ohwottodo

crazy!! my grandparents are in lydney and my eldest he's 15 now used to go to
play school at st johns we are thinking about moving back to the uk
I don't really want to but everything here is $$$
our visa is good for another 3 years but we are not making enough money
to even pay our mortgage :/
as the kids are getting older we have college to think about and on one
wage it's going to be impossible.
I love it here and have the best friends ever but we have to think long term
to keep renewing our visa every 5 years at $$k a time is so stressful
I'll keep writing my list of pros and cons lol

VJW

You know college in UK is expensive now too that tuition fees have kicked in. Probably on a comparable level to college in the state where you live. We're going to encourage our daughter to learn a skill, something that is always in demand then there should always be work. I guess you have to enjoy life as much as you can in the present. Life in the UK is expensive but life over here is much more expensive now too since we lived her last. Soon the bubble has to burst. Good luck in everything.

Jerseygirl

Hello there. I see you are finding you're way around the forums...if there is anything you need help with...please give me a shout.

Rosemary

Hello and a big welcome to BE.

Excellent information can be found in the BE Wiki, not forgetting the Living and Moving Abroad forum that will help you, another set of great help is the permanent threads at the TOP of each forum, they are very pertinent to that particular forum and makes sensible reading.

Moderators deal with any problems that arise such as inappropriate posts, spammers etc, you will find their names at the bottom right hand side of each forum's index in bold font.

Please contact me if I can give you any further help.

Rosemary

VJW

Thank you I feel so welcome, and I love these smiley faces

dreadsoc

Hi VJW

Welcome to BE from me too.

Looks like you are already finding your way around which is great, so as you love them here are a few more smiles to add to my welcome :



Dread - x