hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
LOL well I'll wait until the weekend when I'm off and have the time 
Adjusting to a new life in the UK from the US
- Thread starter Ameriscot
- Start date
LOL well I'll wait until the weekend when I'm off and have the time
Just remember with a blog it's best to read it backwards as the latest is first.
Since I've lived here I've had many visitors from the US - family and friends. I'm considered quite a good planner and tour guide. Most have been good guests, a couple have not.
One of them came in March because the airfares went up in April. It was cold. So she complained the whole time that it was too cold here.
The other one told me to go ahead and plan everything, she trusted me. She wasn't thrilled. She's the type of traveler who enjoys going on coach tours and has been all over Europe. She doesn't want to see the 'real' country, she likes anything touristy, tacky touristy. And I didn't provide that. I took her to the Isle of Iona which has beautiful, white sand beaches. She had no use for beaches unless it was hot weather. She hasn't been invited back.
One of them came in March because the airfares went up in April. It was cold. So she complained the whole time that it was too cold here.
The other one told me to go ahead and plan everything, she trusted me. She wasn't thrilled. She's the type of traveler who enjoys going on coach tours and has been all over Europe. She doesn't want to see the 'real' country, she likes anything touristy, tacky touristy. And I didn't provide that. I took her to the Isle of Iona which has beautiful, white sand beaches. She had no use for beaches unless it was hot weather. She hasn't been invited back.
Oceana
Oceana
- Location
- Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Well, I'm currently in Canada, born and grew up in Scotland. Lived in (southern) Ireland, Denmark and Australia, with short (3 -4 month) stops in New Zealand and US. Phew! I'm just glad to be able to stay put in one place now! However, a son is in the midst of moving to Holland, so it's back on the plane and over the pond again...
I thought of Portugal for retirement and still like the idea, but just can't be bothered with all the upheaval of moving there, so I think is wet and wonderful BC, Canada for me.
I thought of Portugal for retirement and still like the idea, but just can't be bothered with all the upheaval of moving there, so I think is wet and wonderful BC, Canada for me.
Wow! You've been around. I've always had itchy feet and way back in the 1980's I had the notion that in the future I'd live in another country. At the time I didn't think I'd want to leave the US permanently. But have changed my mind. We are in a home amidst gorgeous scenery, a beautiful 1/2 acre garden thanks to my hubby, and a convenient location to Glasgow for airport and shopping, etc.
But as many times as I've moved (23) you'd think I'd be happy to stay put. I've always looked forward to the next place I'd be living, and now I have that and feel a bit letdown.
I've thought about moving to a warm climate but I'd miss Scotland too much. So we solve that by going somewhere warm in the winter.
i admire your spunk in moving to Scotland. I have learned to never say never, but I cannot think of any circumstances where I would leave the US permanently. I would like to visit Scotland and Ireland both. My father's people were from Scotland. He was always very proud of his heritage. My mother's people were from Ireland. I enjoyed reading, look forward to more.
Yesterday was my hubby's 66th birthday. On his 51st birthday we met in person for the first time after communicating online and by phone. We had seen photos of each other so had a good idea who we were looking for. We arranged a meetup in the terminal of Heathrow Airport in front of a specific shop. A very good meeting! :sentimental:
Anyway, it seems like a very long time since I lived in the US. It feels just slightly foreign to me when we visit, even though it's an annual visit. We don't always rent a car when we visit, but when we do I find it very awkward to drive on the right side of the road. It just doesn't feel right, even though I drove on the right side for 30 years before moving away.
I've known expats who repatriated and they are surprised at how difficult they found it to readjust. Bill Bryson who moved to the UK in his early 20's and moved back to the US about 20 years later found it very difficult - as described in his book 'I'm a Stranger Here Myself'. He did eventually move back to the UK.
Anyway, it seems like a very long time since I lived in the US. It feels just slightly foreign to me when we visit, even though it's an annual visit. We don't always rent a car when we visit, but when we do I find it very awkward to drive on the right side of the road. It just doesn't feel right, even though I drove on the right side for 30 years before moving away.
I've known expats who repatriated and they are surprised at how difficult they found it to readjust. Bill Bryson who moved to the UK in his early 20's and moved back to the US about 20 years later found it very difficult - as described in his book 'I'm a Stranger Here Myself'. He did eventually move back to the UK.
Everyone comes back to the UK..
I think that says something about us...
Aye! There are so many Americans I've talked to in person or online who want to know how to move here. Some are heartbroken to find out they can't. The only drawback for me is that I miss out on big chunks of my granddaughters childhoods. Skype is just not the same. But, I'm not moving back. Ever.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
It's funny tho' just how many Brits have and would love to move to the USA...
Apart from your husband Annie..what is your best reasons for staying here..compared to the USA?
Apart from your husband Annie..what is your best reasons for staying here..compared to the USA?
jujube
SF VIP
I read in a book somewhere where the author was explaining the problem of understanding his teacher was the problem of "proper Scottish dialect meeting ancient Scottish dentures". That has always made me laugh thinking about that.
Love Scotland - the people are friendly, funny, have good attitudes. The scenery is the best in the world, the history and evidence of it, value of preserving historic sites and languages, lowlands Scots language, the charm and character of buildings, the NHS, free bus and prescriptions, values, more left wingers.
And the view from my house!
You must have had a problem understanding the Scottish dialect at first?
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
LOL..I am Scottish born and bred as you know, you don't have to sell it to me chikadee. and it's lovely to have so many Americans here in the UK .. but honestly I am just curious , ...the USA is vast, so aren't there many places in the US that provide all of those things?
Just makes me wonder why sooo many Brits migrate to AmericaYes, at first the local accents were a bit difficult. The Glasgow accent took me years to understand, but I didn't hear it every day.
LOL..I am Scottish born and bred as you know, you don't have to sell it to me chikadee. and it's lovely to have so many Americans here in the UK .. but honestly I am just curious , ...the USA is vast, so aren't there many places in the US that provide all of those things?
In a word. No. There is no place in the US that provides every single one of those things. There are huge differences in attitudes, the US has too many guns, too many evangelicals in power, too much homophobia and racism. Not bashing the US, but I'd rather be here.
Also, the US has no ancient sites (except for a few native American ones in the SW), which I love. No NHS. In Scotland nobody cares if you go to church, people don't ask you your occupation right off the bat when they meet you. In my immediate area (village) there is zero crime.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
For quite a long time I planned to vote No. But then the more I thought about it, the more I read and heard, the more I started leaning to Yes. My hubby who reads everything about UK politics is also a good source.
I voted Yes for many reasons which I won't list.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Ah yes that part I do know....it's such a travesty that so many professionals get paid so little here compared to their worth...and thank God the US recognise that.
Thinking about my upcoming 15th anniversary living in the UK so I'm reviving my diary.
I've been asked many times why the UK and not the US.
My desire to live in Ireland (I'd fallen in love with it on a trip) was what lead me to finding my husband online. He wished me luck in finding a good Irishman but we continued our massive emails then phone calls - 3 times a day.
My husband would never live in the US. He loves to visit but that's it. Also he had a good career in the UK, I had a job.
N.H.S. N.H.S. N.H.S.
Proximity to Europe. Easy short trips to my favourite city - London.
No one ever knocks on my door trying to convert me to their religion.
In Scotland you are never far away from stunning scenery, or historical sites.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
I've been asked many times why the UK and not the US.
My desire to live in Ireland (I'd fallen in love with it on a trip) was what lead me to finding my husband online. He wished me luck in finding a good Irishman but we continued our massive emails then phone calls - 3 times a day.
My husband would never live in the US. He loves to visit but that's it. Also he had a good career in the UK, I had a job.
N.H.S. N.H.S. N.H.S.
Proximity to Europe. Easy short trips to my favourite city - London.
No one ever knocks on my door trying to convert me to their religion.
In Scotland you are never far away from stunning scenery, or historical sites.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Congrats on being here in the UK for 15 years Annie..I'm glad you love my home country so much,. Apart from his career what are the main reasons your husband wouldn't wish to live in the USA permanently?
15 years on April 15.
He loves Scotland.
He finds it difficult to find restaurants he likes. Food is too high in fat and sugar. The tendency to dump cheese on everything. He does love the craft beers though but brewpubs rarely have food he will eat. He can't eat high fat or creamy foods.
NHS. NHS. NHS.
Too many right wingers, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, fundamentalists. (Don't throw rotten tomatoes at me, didn't say everyone was like this.)
Football (soccer) and rugby not very popular.
Scotland is a much better place to grow old with free bus, free prescriptions, govt makes it easy and cheap to make your home energy and heat efficient.
Besides he's put 20 years into this garden and house.