What was the transition like?

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Lessee...

My curling thingy is 250v, my straightener is 250v and my hairdryer is...you've guessed it, 250v.

Please tell me these will work in the US I don't use the straightener all over my hair, but it does wonders at taming my fringe since it likes to curl a little like the rest of my hair.

Magpie.

[DairyFarmer 1]

There are a few options available to you to use you 240/250 items (like ones from the UK) in the US where the items they use and their power system are 110/120.

My Parents are moved all over the world (Mexico, UAE, US, Norway, South Africa as well Australia) and use these boxes in both directions depending on where they bought an item.

The thing to watch for is what wattage is your item. Like do you have a 2000w hairdryer if so make sure you don't buy a 500W converter. It may initially work but will burn out b/c it can't support the energy drain (ask my step-mother) Basically you will have to buy another.

The 3000W we are buying.

RadioShack Converter Option

Edited January 27, 2009 by DairyFarmer

[Laura+Tom 2]

Lessee...

My curling thingy is 250v, my straightener is 250v and my hairdryer is...you've guessed it, 250v.

Please tell me these will work in the US I don't use the straightener all over my hair, but it does wonders at taming my fringe since it likes to curl a little like the rest of my hair.

Magpie.

Sorry they won't work. If they say on them something like 100~250 then you'll be ok. If your straighteners are fairly new GHD's then they will be dual. If not you'll just have to buy new appliances in the US.

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Sorry they won't work. If they say on them something like 100~250 then you'll be ok. If your straighteners are fairly new GHD's then they will be dual. If not you'll just have to buy new appliances in the US.

Bother. I'll double check with Knight if he's got converters up there like Dairyfarmer, but it looks like it'll be easier to just get new stuff and give my old stuff away. Thankums guys.

Magpie.

[*julez* 124]

When I bring my US hairdryer to the UK and use a power converter I have to keep the dryer on low heat and low speed, otherwise I am dealing with a flame thrower! I nearly burned off my hair the first time I visited!

[Kim and Nath 0]

Forget the baking after over 3 years here i've come to realise not only is the food you can buy limited but its almost impossible to buy the ingredients to make the things your used to in UK so you have to just get used to whats here.

No more

Meat Pies

Decent Bread or butter

Curry

Chinese food

Chocolate

and many many many other things

Just get used to Ribs, barbecue sauce and Chicken wings and you won't be to dissapointed

I've promised Nath (and his mother gave me Maw Broon's cookbook for Christmas) that I'll learn how to make Scotch pies. I really enjoy them as well. I'm the American, but I'm having a hard time not visiting for a good chippy. I actually bought some chippy sauce, which is a HUGE difference from HP, which is all you can get in the states.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I guess you need to decide if you want to spend $80 (plus tax and shipping) to get a converter to run your hair dryer or get a brand new 1875 watt hair dryer for $15 at Target. In the long run, I think you're going to eventually use American appliances when you burn your others up, so I would just save the packing space and cost of shipping those small appliances and buy some new ones.

Mags made me think of a new word difference

Fringe = Bangs

[Kim and Nath 0]

I haven't made the move yet but I have spent many months there.

The UK seems to have a big safety cushion that the US doesn't.

Work ethic is the main one, I think. In the UK, people *generally* don't care about their jobs (though this depends on where you are).. it's something that brings the money in of course and it's still important to enjoy your job, but it's not the end of the world if you lose your position, and you can always fall back on the vacation time and/or other jobs nearby if you've had enough. In the US, it seems that everyone puts 100% into their jobs, even when it comes to their attitudes and presentation. They work damn hard in comparison for little benefit, and I think that's the biggest culture shock I'll experience.

It's the same with colleges; in the UK, there are so many restrictions on when you can start paying back your loan, though in the US, you must get a job and pay it back, or they'll come down on you like a ton of bricks. That's the impression I've gotten, and I've heard the same thing from people too. You also MUST get a job while in college to get by, but in the UK, it's easier to go through three years of university without having a job.

I find it MUCH more friendly over there. If you started chatting to someone in the UK, they would think you're a complete #### I reckon, but in the US, it seems normal for people to ask how you are, etc. BUT I also find that a little uncomfortable in some situations where the other person is selling something. It's one thing being polite because you want to be polite to someone, and I love when that happens, but it makes me feel *off* when waitresses are nice in an obvious-fake way because they want to get a decent tip.

I too sometimes feel uncomfortable speaking because people turn to look at me, but Bill tells me that they're just surprised and actually like the English accent. I also get a bit tired of having to repeat things; not because they can't understand me with an accent (everyone has said that it's clear and pretty much a generic English accent) but because they spend the first time concentrating on the fact that I have an accent, if that makes sense, so lose concentration.

The driving thing, obviously. I'm used to taking the bus and train everywhere, so I'm learning to drive straight away because I have to.

Whenever I was over in Scotland, I found that people were ok friendly - though come to think of it, it was mostly old people waiting for the bus who were chatting to me.

I live on the east coast, and even though Nath is from Edinburgh (which I think has one of the nicer Scottish accents), when he's first over here visiting, people have a hard time understanding him. I had to order for him when he visited last May, after he repeated himself twice and finally the waitress asked me what he said. I think it may also do with his shyness, and he speaks low.

I personally think he could use his accent to his advantage in terms of getting a job. Americans are suckers for that.

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

I guess you need to decide if you want to spend $80 (plus tax and shipping) to get a converter to run your hair dryer or get a brand new 1875 watt hair dryer for $15 at Target. In the long run, I think you're going to eventually use American appliances when you burn your others up, so I would just save the packing space and cost of shipping those small appliances and buy some new ones.

Mags made me think of a new word difference

Fringe = Bangs

I know that one! Well, I know girlies who'll be happy to have the appliances. I'm reluctant to let the straightener go 'cause it was such a good one, but they'll use it more than I will in the US. I'm gonna wind up with a whole list of stuff that needs replacing.

At least my electric toothbrush should be okay.

Magpie.

[DairyFarmer 1]

We're buying a converter for a few reasons including my laptop, but also for my Radio which is about 80 years old. It is an Original His Majesty's Voice (now known as HMV) it is the size of and doubles as a side board and some other items I shipped from Australia.

Edited January 27, 2009 by DairyFarmer

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I go away for two days and I miss a duvet debate! What a shame. All we need is Alan and StP to join in and we'll be having exactly the same conversation we were having a year ago...

Might dig up my old "Paean to a Duvet" I wrote then too...

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I seem to remember Allan having that debate all the way back in 2005. It's the debate that will never die!

[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.

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

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.

I think I'll figure that stuff out when I get there. Oooone thing at a time... :: head explodes ::

Magpie.

[DairyFarmer 1]

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.