What made you decide to bring your fiance/spouse/etc. to the U.S. instead of relocating to his/her native country?

[silvermoondust 0]

I did move to DH's native country of Scotland in May 2005. It was OK at first, although I struggled with a lot of homesickness for the first year. I got the hang of living here and I even got a job. However the more I thought about starting a family and going back to school, I thought back home would be better for me. DH was considering moving to the states, but he wasn't sure he was ready.

We ran into some marital problems that began early 2007 and by the summer of 2007, I was depressed and I just wanted to go home. We thought about making a fresh start in the states.

I wanted to be closer to family there as well, since I am much closer to my family than he is to his own.

I moved back June 13, 2007. Funnily enough I found out I was pregnant about 2 weeks after I got home! So good thing I made it home in time.

DH was just approved the IR1 visa. I think it'll be so much better this time around. We have a lot of support there. There are so many opportunities for us. Plus I am going back to school to finish up my degree in science and go to pharmacy school. and we feel confident that raising our daughter there is the best thing for her. So we are pretty optimistic about our future.

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm guessing she is...

what makes you so flabbergasted at such a statement? parts - in fact most, if not all - of the UK are extremely expensive, compared to here; even after more than eight months I still catch myself thinking or saying 'wow, that's so cheap!' about all sorts of everyday things

let alone things like housing...

I want to go back to the UK as soon as it's feasible, but certainly financially it's making a lot of sense for us to be in the US (although that's not the reason we're here, and I wouldn't let it stop me going back)

And here I am thinking it's the opposite. I guess that's Socal for you

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I'm guessing she is...

what makes you so flabbergasted at such a statement? parts - in fact most, if not all - of the UK are extremely expensive, compared to here; even after more than eight months I still catch myself thinking or saying 'wow, that's so cheap!' about all sorts of everyday things

let alone things like housing...

I want to go back to the UK as soon as it's feasible, but certainly financially it's making a lot of sense for us to be in the US (although that's not the reason we're here, and I wouldn't let it stop me going back)

And here I am thinking it's the opposite. I guess that's Socal for you

I would agree about SoCal! Housing prices here are still insane, in spite of the financial meltdown.

Cost of living comparisons is very much a Your Results May Vary-type of thing. Since STP is comparing Houston to the UK, she is certainly finding it much cheaper.

I personally would rather struggle to make ends meet in the US, than live in a council house on the North Peckham Eastate. But that's me......

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'd rather drive a cab in New York City than go live in India.

[tom&tata 2]

I'd rather drive a cab in New York City than go live in India.

Seriously? Understand work/financial aspect, but anything else? I am curious.

[rebeccajo 14]

I personally would rather struggle to make ends meet in the US, than live in a council house on the North Peckham Eastate. But that's me......

Why? Because the streets here are paved with gold?

I dunno. I'm not trying to pick a fight at all. And I'm not trying to be 'right'.

I guess I'm just one of those 'anamoly' Americans who loves my country but doesn't necessarily think everything about it is 'the best'. And here's the odd thing - I was raised in a time when that was what we were taught.

I often tell the story of walking around the UK with the strangest thoughts running through my head. My 'programming' was kicking in and (even though I consider myself to be somewhat enlightened) I still was a little amazed that people were living as well as they do in America. Odd.

Thing is, there are a LOT of Americans who really do think that no where else on earth do people live as well as we do. And I kind of think the rest of the world believes it too.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'd rather drive a cab in New York City than go live in India.

Seriously? Understand work/financial aspect, but anything else? I am curious.

Life in India is much harder than here. Day to day stuff.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Well, the streets here aren't paved with gold but the North Peckham estate is one of the most soul-destroying places in Britain. I think living in a council house isn't as rosy as you are suggesting.

And yes, I agree. People in the UK can live as well as Americans. I know this because I've done it and I generally agree that things could be better there on the lower end of the salary scale, particularly because one doesn't have to worry so much about healthcare. But everyone's experience can be different depending on where in the country they are living and where in America they are comparing it to.

[tom&tata 2]

I'd rather drive a cab in New York City than go live in India.

Seriously? Understand work/financial aspect, but anything else? I am curious.

Life in India is much harder than here. Day to day stuff.

Okay. Because I find it that in Indonesia, some day to day stuff are actually easier if you have access to good paying job. Yes, I would rather drive a cab in US than drive a cab in Indonesia for sure.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'd rather drive a cab in New York City than go live in India.

Seriously? Understand work/financial aspect, but anything else? I am curious.

Life in India is much harder than here. Day to day stuff.

Okay. Because I find it that in Indonesia, some day to day stuff are actually easier if you have access to good paying job. Yes, I would rather drive a cab in US than drive a cab in Indonesia for sure.

Maybe Indonesia isn't as corrupt. I see India on those 'top 10 corrupt country' lists all the time (with Pakistan, various African countries), I don't recall seeing Indonesia on it.

[tom&tata 2]

I'd rather drive a cab in New York City than go live in India.

Seriously? Understand work/financial aspect, but anything else? I am curious.

Life in India is much harder than here. Day to day stuff.

Okay. Because I find it that in Indonesia, some day to day stuff are actually easier if you have access to good paying job. Yes, I would rather drive a cab in US than drive a cab in Indonesia for sure.

Maybe Indonesia isn't as corrupt. I see India on those 'top 10 corrupt country' lists all the time (with Pakistan, various African countries), I don't recall seeing Indonesia on it.

Indonesia is the most corrupt if you ask me

Edited February 17, 2009 by tom&tata

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'd rather drive a cab in New York City than go live in India.

Seriously? Understand work/financial aspect, but anything else? I am curious.

Life in India is much harder than here. Day to day stuff.

Okay. Because I find it that in Indonesia, some day to day stuff are actually easier if you have access to good paying job. Yes, I would rather drive a cab in US than drive a cab in Indonesia for sure.

Maybe Indonesia isn't as corrupt. I see India on those 'top 10 corrupt country' lists all the time (with Pakistan, various African countries), I don't recall seeing Indonesia on it.

Indonesia is the most corrupt if you ask me.

Then how is day to day life easy?

I give you one example. I was 15 and needed to get train tickets to Calcutta for 3 people. They told me the train was booked. I went home and got yelled at by people who know better. They told me to go back and this time ask for mr so and so and go to his office. I did it. He wanted money. Over and above the fare. I paid and got the tix. Great seats, btw. Point being you gotta know people to get regular stuff done there. Same thing happened when my grandfather tried to pay his electric bill. His own bill, he wanted to pay it. They wouldn't take the money. Why? Because then a different government dept would issue orders to take the property for unpaid debt. Someone wanted the land. Someone in our family had to hook him up with someone higher up the food chain, pay a huge bribe to him of course, just so he could pay his bill.

[tom&tata 2]

I'd rather drive a cab in New York City than go live in India.

Seriously? Understand work/financial aspect, but anything else? I am curious.

Life in India is much harder than here. Day to day stuff.

Okay. Because I find it that in Indonesia, some day to day stuff are actually easier if you have access to good paying job. Yes, I would rather drive a cab in US than drive a cab in Indonesia for sure.

Maybe Indonesia isn't as corrupt. I see India on those 'top 10 corrupt country' lists all the time (with Pakistan, various African countries), I don't recall seeing Indonesia on it.

Indonesia is the most corrupt if you ask me.

Then how is day to day life easy?

I give you one example. I was 15 and needed to get train tickets to Calcutta for 3 people. They told me the train was booked. I went home and got yelled at by people who know better. They told me to go back and this time ask for mr so and so and go to his office. I did it. He wanted money. Over and above the fare. I paid and got the tix. Great seats, btw. Point being you gotta know people to get regular stuff done there. Same thing happened when my grandfather tried to pay his electric bill. His own bill, he wanted to pay it. They wouldn't take the money. Why? Because then a different government dept would issue orders to take the property for unpaid debt. Someone wanted the land. Someone in our family had to hook him up with someone higher up the food chain, pay a huge bribe to him of course, just so he could pay his bill.

The ticket part - I guess it is difficult to adjust unless you know the right channel. I understand that part. If you have lived there, I guess you are kinda expected to know better than that In Indonesia, I think recently they are doing a lot better in that area. It used to be big issue - the train ticket during public holiday. As soon as the ticket booth opens, no more tickets were available. The insiders were taking huge profit. Not so much anymore recently.

The electric bill saga - that kind of scenario would usually happens a lot more in smaller city or rural in Indonesia. In Jakarta, it would bring too much attention from the media or lawyer.

I have no idea in India, disparity of income is huge in Indonesia - between people who lacks education & people with good education & good paying job. It may sound cold but labor is cheap - a lot of things you do here, you can hire people to do that for you.

Edited February 17, 2009 by tom&tata

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My Indian counterparts at my company have told me it's not unheard of in the industry to burn down the offices of your competition.

[bora bora 1]

I'd rather drive a cab in New York City than go live in India.

Seriously? Understand work/financial aspect, but anything else? I am curious.

Life in India is much harder than here. Day to day stuff.

Okay. Because I find it that in Indonesia, some day to day stuff are actually easier if you have access to good paying job. Yes, I would rather drive a cab in US than drive a cab in Indonesia for sure.

Maybe Indonesia isn't as corrupt. I see India on those 'top 10 corrupt country' lists all the time (with Pakistan, various African countries), I don't recall seeing Indonesia on it.

Indonesia is the most corrupt if you ask me.

Then how is day to day life easy?

I give you one example. I was 15 and needed to get train tickets to Calcutta for 3 people. They told me the train was booked. I went home and got yelled at by people who know better. They told me to go back and this time ask for mr so and so and go to his office. I did it. He wanted money. Over and above the fare. I paid and got the tix. Great seats, btw. Point being you gotta know people to get regular stuff done there. Same thing happened when my grandfather tried to pay his electric bill. His own bill, he wanted to pay it. They wouldn't take the money. Why? Because then a different government dept would issue orders to take the property for unpaid debt. Someone wanted the land. Someone in our family had to hook him up with someone higher up the food chain, pay a huge bribe to him of course, just so he could pay his bill.

The ticket part - I guess it is difficult to adjust unless you know the right channel. I understand that part. If you have lived there, I guess you are kinda expected to know better than that In Indonesia, I think recently they are doing a lot better in that area. It used to be big issue - the train ticket during public holiday. As soon as the ticket booth opens, no more tickets were available. The insiders were taking huge profit. Not so much anymore recently.

The electric bill saga - that kind of scenario would usually happens a lot more in smaller city or rural in Indonesia. In Jakarta, it would bring too much attention from the media or lawyer.

I have no idea in India, disparity of income is huge in Indonesia - between people who lacks education & people with good education & good paying job. It may sound cold but labor is cheap - a lot of things you do here, you can hire people to do that for you.

Are you sure you're not talking about Brazil ?

I still want to live there again