What was the transition like?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Here's some info about laptops from Nick. A UK laptop will work because the power suppy will say something like 100-240 volts. It just switches automatically. The only problem is the plug. You can use a travel adapter plug, or get a new "figure of eight" cord (Nick's description) at radio shack, or as Nick did...cut the UK plug off the end and replace it with a US plug. If the laptop has a cord coming out of the laptop, then the brick thing, then another cord going to the mains, the part of the cord going to the mains pulls out of the brick and has a figure eight connector. That's the part he replaced on one of his laptops with a US version. Did the same thing with a Sony camera charger.

On his desktop computer. He pulled all the bits out (drives, motherboard, cables, memory) and left the case in the UK and packed the bits. Then we went to Fry Electronics store and he bought a US case that had a power supply in it. Then he put all his computer bits in the new case and had his exact same computer but in a new case. Of course he's a computer guy, so it was easy for him...I might be challenged by assembling a computer.

Quick question then, mine has the brick part it does say 100-240 volts, but it doesn't have a figure eight it has like a figure 8 but with 3 circles instead of two is it the same.

Nick calls that a cloverleaf adapter or Mickey Mouse plug and here's the US cord at RadioShack for $6.99

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...oductId=2117945

He said if somebody plans to cut off the plug and replace it. US plugs and wires are black and white. UK are brown and blue.

Black=Brown

White=Blue

Edited January 27, 2009 by Nich-Nick

[rocks 494]

He said if somebody plans to cut off the plug and replace it. US plugs and wires are black and white. UK are brown and blue.

Black=Brown

White=Blue

thanks.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I did that figure 8 thing for my laptop and it cost about $1.50 and works like a charm

and yes, maven; I'm still president of the anti-duvet brigade, but as we have it on GOOD authority that they CAN'T BE BOUGHT IN THE US CAN'T CAN'T CAN'T much good may it do me

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

It's all your fault, StP, that you apparently can't buy a duvet here for love nor money. Why are you repressing us duvet-loving souls? WHY?

[Alex & Rachel 78]

I'm experiencing first-hand the problem with US employment laws after Alex was laid off earlier this month with only five days' notice and a severance that didn't even cover the rest of the month's pay. It's a little scary! We are so fortunate that his parents live nearby and are being very supportive. I couldn't have asked for better in-laws.

Fortunately I managed to find a duvet my first day here in BB&B. The local IKEA also has a huge selection. I was quite surprised, if there's anywhere you don't really need a duvet it's in California (such beautiful weather we've had!). It was the first thing I wanted to buy - I get so cold at night and Alex only had a couple of old blankets.

I've actually found the transition easier than I expected, though granted I've only been here a couple of months. I rarely get commented on my accent, but then nearly everyone I have met or socialise with is either an immigrant themselves or has travelled extensively in Europe. It's actually crazy how few people I have met have actually lived all of their lives in the US.

There is a British food store here that carries the few items I can't find in the regular supermarkets. However, I've been pleasantly surprised by how much is actually available in the regular supermarkets and you also find other things in unexpected places - for example, Costplus carries quite a few McVities biscuits.

[Gemmie 142]

So we're getting a multi-region DVD player so I can bring my collection.

Will the PAL discs still work?

Stupid question?

Nevermind - apparently for like $20 more, you can get the NTSC/PAL converter with it too.

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

Going through all this is pretty interesting. Thus far for Kris his biggest challanges have been finding food he can eat and enjoy. Unfortunately he is a very picky eater so this has been a challange for us both. He's still very hesitant to drive. Not because of the rules but because alot of the drivers in this area are a bit insane and such.

Thankfully he found work without too much of a hassle. (he actually had 2 offers) It makes it easier because we work for the same company so we can just carpool. I know he misses the things that were familiar to him over in the UK and I know he hates the hot weather we get here in Texas but so far so good.

Now trying to explain how our banking system, insurance system and all the wonderful things (cough) about the infrastructure of the US is a whole different story!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So we're getting a multi-region DVD player so I can bring my collection.

Will the PAL discs still work?

Stupid question?

Nevermind - apparently for like $20 more, you can get the NTSC/PAL converter with it too.

Nick did some kind of region hack with my dvd player right after he got here and his UK DVDs play on my recorder now. It's all on the internet by dvd model. Sometimes it's as easy as punching a series of numbers and keys on the remote to "unlock" the region codes. On my Pioneer model, he had to burn a disk on the computer with some kind of firmware update (provided by the hack site), insert that into the dvd player, and press a button on the remote.

He said VHS tapes are a different issue. It will be recorded in either NTSC or PAL and the machine would have to support both. Much more complicated because video tapes tend to be analog while DVDs are digital and easier.

[Krikit 1,163]

I don't know how you possibly found a duvet here in the US, Rachel. They don't have them here.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Nick did some kind of region hack with my dvd player right after he got here and his UK DVDs play on my recorder now. It's all on the internet by dvd model. Sometimes it's as easy as punching a series of numbers and keys on the remote to "unlock" the region codes. On my Pioneer model, he had to burn a disk on the computer with some kind of firmware update (provided by the hack site), insert that into the dvd player, and press a button on the remote.

He said VHS tapes are a different issue. It will be recorded in either NTSC or PAL and the machine would have to support both. Much more complicated because video tapes tend to be analog while DVDs are digital and easier.

Need to add something: He looked up something just now and it says my DVD player has a PAL/NTSC 16 mb converter built in to the machine.

Found that on dvdoverseas.com

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My DVD player cost $30 at Best Buy and I was able to do a hack (I googled) that made my player region free so I could play all my UK and Hong Kong DVDs.

Trust me, if I can do it anyone can

[Stinky Monkey 1]

Going through all this is pretty interesting. Thus far for Kris his biggest challanges have been finding food he can eat and enjoy. Unfortunately he is a very picky eater so this has been a challange for us both. He's still very hesitant to drive. Not because of the rules but because alot of the drivers in this area are a bit insane and such.

Thankfully he found work without too much of a hassle. (he actually had 2 offers) It makes it easier because we work for the same company so we can just carpool. I know he misses the things that were familiar to him over in the UK and I know he hates the hot weather we get here in Texas but so far so good.

Now trying to explain how our banking system, insurance system and all the wonderful things (cough) about the infrastructure of the US is a whole different story!

Where are you in Texas? I will be going there to live and now I am getting worried about driving, but how else can you get about???

I will miss public transport not that I use it much but at least it is there if you need it, especially if you go on a drunken night out

[Erynn 0]

I got engaged last.. September I think it was (it's complicated). To my yankee.

I've been staying with him in the US for a month now... going home in march. The cultural shock is surprisingly small, except in the UK I would walk EVERYWHERE. Nearest supermarket, 45 mins walk, I would get my little granny-trolley and walk there, get my stuff, and walk back. Here, I can't walk anywhere. Well, I could, but... yee, that's dangerous. We're in Atlanta. I keep nagging him about going places we can just go for a walk .He stayed with me for a month in the UK and was suitably horrified by my insistence we walk everywhere. You should have seen him the first time I made him cross a road with no lights. That was amusing. He went all pail and sweaty. He did make an ok pedestrian by the end of the month though.... still didn't like it. My parents lived twenty minutes walk away and he would still jump at the chance for a lift. *rolls eyes*

Food? Well, we're eating what I cook at the moment. We found a wonderful thing. 'Farmers market', and 'World market'. Everything I wanted for the making of my food, I have. All fresh stuff. Great. I grant you herbs and spices confused me for about a week, but the internet is a wonderful thing.

There is also a UK imports place, which I'm hoping will stock HP sauce, being the only thing I'm missing at this point. And is the malt vinegar weaker here or is it just the brand I picked up at the supermarket randomly?

And cheese. I miss the cheese I used to eat. There's some English cheddar but it's not the right stuff /sniff. Trying Wisconsin cheese to find a comparable brand... which seems to be working fairly well. Fairly.

I miss my duvet. The duvet argument is amusing me a great deal surprising the things one doesn't think of, huh? But I wouldn't need it here anyway. Far too warm... I have a 10 tog queen size at home (for my little single bed) that I will miss horribly.. but won't need. At any time. Once everything goes through.

The people are surprisingly easy to adapt to if one follows the 'monkey see, monkey do' rule. I watch my fella. I do what he does. All is good. And "Sorry, English," oh yes... I'm making that excuse already. Works surprisingly well.

The first week was really bad culture shock, but I think by the time I actually come here to live, things are considerably less odd than I would have first expected.

When we get an electric kettle. Which we will. Oh yes. He thinks a camping kettle is a real kettle. We've had words.... I brought a tea-pot with me. I'm that sad. Now we need a kettle. The internet provides good tea

One thing: I'm never going to get used to the bird song.

Yea, that's right.

The pair of us are up before/at dawn every morning. And the birdsong is weird. It's wrong. And strange. And I'm not going to get used to it. It's got to be the weirdest bit.

And we just have two DVD players in his computer at the moment... one set to region 1, one set to region 2.

And that was my useless two cents.

btw, Hi, new, etc.

Edited January 28, 2009 by Erynn

[Hannah+Vito 0]

It took him a while to understand employment here also. No contracts here - no tribunals. Just 'at-will' employment.

Quite right too. I think this is a BRILLIANT system. If you turn up for work on time and do what you're paid to do, then you have nothing to fear. Here, lazy, idle, pig sh!t thick retards are protected by a raft of poxy employment laws. HR departments throughout the land have to tread on eggshells to get rid of undesirables. I'm all for "employment at will" because the tail should never be allowed to wag the dog.

He still goes to the 'wrong' side of the car sometimes - and it's been 3.5 years!

I do that sh!t all the time

i keep doing that when i am there but i dont drive and Vito keeps threatening to throw me the key i hope he doesnt carry out his threat one day

[Laura+Tom 2]

I got engaged last.. September I think it was (it's complicated). To my yankee.

I've been staying with him in the US for a month now... going home in march. The cultural shock is surprisingly small, except in the UK I would walk EVERYWHERE. Nearest supermarket, 45 mins walk, I would get my little granny-trolley and walk there, get my stuff, and walk back. Here, I can't walk anywhere. Well, I could, but... yee, that's dangerous. We're in Atlanta. I keep nagging him about going places we can just go for a walk .He stayed with me for a month in the UK and was suitably horrified by my insistence we walk everywhere. You should have seen him the first time I made him cross a road with no lights. That was amusing. He went all pail and sweaty. He did make an ok pedestrian by the end of the month though.... still didn't like it. My parents lived twenty minutes walk away and he would still jump at the chance for a lift. *rolls eyes*

Food? Well, we're eating what I cook at the moment. We found a wonderful thing. 'Farmers market', and 'World market'. Everything I wanted for the making of my food, I have. All fresh stuff. Great. I grant you herbs and spices confused me for about a week, but the internet is a wonderful thing.

There is also a UK imports place, which I'm hoping will stock HP sauce, being the only thing I'm missing at this point. And is the malt vinegar weaker here or is it just the brand I picked up at the supermarket randomly?

And cheese. I miss the cheese I used to eat. There's some English cheddar but it's not the right stuff /sniff. Trying Wisconsin cheese to find a comparable brand... which seems to be working fairly well. Fairly.

I miss my duvet. The duvet argument is amusing me a great deal surprising the things one doesn't think of, huh? But I wouldn't need it here anyway. Far too warm... I have a 10 tog queen size at home (for my little single bed) that I will miss horribly.. but won't need. At any time. Once everything goes through.

The people are surprisingly easy to adapt to if one follows the 'monkey see, monkey do' rule. I watch my fella. I do what he does. All is good. And "Sorry, English," oh yes... I'm making that excuse already. Works surprisingly well.

The first week was really bad culture shock, but I think by the time I actually come here to live, things are considerably less odd than I would have first expected.

When we get an electric kettle. Which we will. Oh yes. He thinks a camping kettle is a real kettle. We've had words.... I brought a tea-pot with me. I'm that sad. Now we need a kettle. The internet provides good tea

One thing: I'm never going to get used to the bird song.

Yea, that's right.

The pair of us are up before/at dawn every morning. And the birdsong is weird. It's wrong. And strange. And I'm not going to get used to it. It's got to be the weirdest bit.

And we just have two DVD players in his computer at the moment... one set to region 1, one set to region 2.

And that was my useless two cents.

btw, Hi, new, etc.

Welcome!

That was good info. I'm doing a recce of Montgomery in April, hire a car and see what the area is like and what it has to offer in regards to supermarkets, stuff to do etc. It's going to be new for Tom too as he'll be arriving there in March so we can both explore together. I'd like to visit Atlanta too, it's only a couple hours away so it's doable.