Have you (the Immigrant) Changed Since Moving to the USA?

[Artegal 1]

Do you think you have changed since you moved to the USA? When you go back to your country of birth do your family and friends there say you have changed? Have you really changed or is there just a perception of change.

This was the discussion on the local latin radio this morning. The example they said was that a lot of Mexicans that have lived in the USA when they return to Mexico have red or orange hair.

My wife has changed in the following ways: She is not in the sun so much so her skin is a lot lighter. She also has gained more weight--for being pregnant and just in general because we eat more regular here in the USA then she did in her country.

So what do you think about changes to you because you live in the USA--myth or real?

[hockeygal 0]

my sister has changed since she's been in the US. Now she says "uh huh" instead of "You're welcome"

Interesting topic. I am not in the US yet, but I am curious to know what differences people see in themselves, if any.

[CanGal 1]

I've picked up the accent down here in tennessee. I can hear it in myself sometimes but my family and friends back home say I sound really different.

[sukie175 0]

My mum says I say 'Huh' now and that I am alot more active here than I was at home. I think I am much more relaxed, stressfree and a whole lot thinner (due to illness though).

The biggest thing though is I am sooo much happier here than in the UK, life in Ok especially is totally different to my stressed out life near London. I have no doubt I will live longer and happier thanks to my emigration!

[rob&ana 0]

I am definitely more responsible. From being single and spending all the money in trips and clothes...LOL. To being married and sharing all the expenses. OUCH!!!...

All in all, my Mom thinks responsability suits me. And I think that being married to Rob is worth all the responsability...

[Arvinda 0]

I don't say PLEASE and THANKYOU as much as I used to back home in England!!! I have started liking mexican food which I never really liked before ..

[Reba 2]

I recently had a Canadian tell me that I sound more American than my husband does This was when we were visiting Scotland for a friend's wedding. I told her that I'd probably sound like a Canadian Scot by the end of the week. I can't help it, I just pick up accents without realising it. I mostly had to pick up the accent here when I started working at Domino's because some people couldn't understand my own accent

I don't get out dancing anymore. The last time I danced was the last time I went home to visit.

I don't drink anything near like I used to, mostly because I've got no one to drink with, and I don't like drinking alone. Even one beer alone seems rather pathetic.

I watch TV a whole lot more than I used to.

And I have 2 giant fricken dogs.

[SanDan 0]

Hmmm I don't care what other ppl think of me here as much as I did back home. I'm just more relaxed and comfortable when it comes to appearance, what I wear etc. I don't think my personality has changed and I haven't heard any comments about my behaviour changing from my friends and family.

[wong_watkins 1]

I'm definitely being more Americanised...more open minded, more talkative and more easy going.

I used to be kind of shy and get upset very easily if people say negative things about me. But now I'm just more of a happy person because I don't really care about what people think about me as much as I used to.

When I went back home after being a foreign exchange student 4 years ago, almost all my friends have said that I have become so much more stubborn. When I make a decision I would just go for it no matter what. I guess it could be a bad thing but I think it's because I have become much more confident about myself.

I think I have also become a much stronger person(emotionally)..and I have started to want to look prettier, doing things like putting make-up on..lol

[Vi Mazzella 4]

I definitely changed, Now I'm being more careful with my money. I have more responsabilities and I'm not going shopping every week (we have bills to pay). My skin is not as dark as used to be (hubby always mentions that) and I lost weight. I say "So.." ,"Hi","whatever" all the time.

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

The biggest thing though is I am sooo much happier here than in the UK, life in Ok especially is totally different to my stressed out life near London. I have no doubt I will live longer and happier thanks to my emigration!

I totally agree with this. The pace of life here is so much more relaxed, people are friendlier and have a brighter outlook on life, unlike the UK where everything is doom and gloom all the time.

I took my blood pressure in Walmart the other day (for the second time), it was 107/80.. in the UK it was 128/80 usually (132/80 at my medical!) I think that says it all.

Also socializing here is much nicer. Everything's more casual than the UK and you don't have to be worried about getting tangled up in a drunken riot as you leave somewhere!

My sister listens for an accent change everytime I call her, nothing yet apparently!

I've learnt to like gardening since I've been here. My mum is so happy!!

Helen

[Donal78 0]

I have to say im much more confident in myself since i moved over. I admire the states for been upfront moreso than my own country Ireland.

One of the reasons why i moved here was to prove something to my family if that makes any sense. I actually watch alot less TV here in the states thna ireland.I have settled back down with the food as i went nuts when i first moved over.

[munchkins 0]

The biggest thing though is I am sooo much happier here than in the UK, life in Ok especially is totally different to my stressed out life near London. I have no doubt I will live longer and happier thanks to my emigration!

I totally agree with this. The pace of life here is so much more relaxed, people are friendlier and have a brighter outlook on life, unlike the UK where everything is doom and gloom all the time.

I took my blood pressure in Walmart the other day (for the second time), it was 107/80.. in the UK it was 128/80 usually (132/80 at my medical!) I think that says it all.

Also socializing here is much nicer. Everything's more casual than the UK and you don't have to be worried about getting tangled up in a drunken riot as you leave somewhere!

My sister listens for an accent change everytime I call her, nothing yet apparently!

I've learnt to like gardening since I've been here. My mum is so happy!!

Helen

Although not there yet (not too long now I hope) from all the many times I have spent with my daughter and her family over there I already know that I will change, mentally and health wise.

I agree with all that above, the pace of life is more relaxed, the quality of life in Jaxs with the beautiful weather means I will enjoy my weekends more , where over here many weekends are spent stuck in the house because of the abysmal weather And then before you know it you are back to work on Monday and feel no benefit at all.

When I have been visiting I have always felt as if years have been taken off me and that can only be good

[Kajikit 65]

Well, my diet's definitely changed... I eat a lot more preprepared food (I'm lazy and DH is used to it, and I've mostly adapted to eating crud!) with the result that I've gained about thirty pounds in 18 months

My attitude has changed too... in that I never even used to remotely imagine myself living in the USA, and I was only coming because my fiance was here. Now I'm here and I'm happy and I can't imagine going back! I don't even particularly want to go visit...

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Now I'm here and I'm happy and I can't imagine going back! I don't even particularly want to go visit...

I'm due a visit back to UK in November and dreading it! If it wasn't for missing the family, I'd quite happily never step foot on UK soil again.

I never thought I'd say that, England has always been home, but either I've changed or England has... think it's a bit of both.