Anyone been in us more than 1 year now

[govols 0]

I was just thinking of all of the different stages Tony has gone through since arriving here nearly 4 years ago. Every so often he has an "everything about America is so stupid" moment. I used to get really offended, but after a while, I understood where he was coming from. People don't realize just how different our cultures really are. Even though it would seem that we (UK & US) are so similar, there are lots of differences. We still tell our friends about out issues about communicating.

The first few months after he arrived, everything seem to be a novelty. My friends and family loved to hear him talk and often laughed at some of his expressions. And he, in turn, would laugh at us. I loved to watch him try "American " home cooking ( turnip greens, corn bread, white beans, gravy and biscuits, etc)

Now, after 3 1/2 years here, life seems very normal for us ( and I love normal!) I know he still goes through the occasional "missing life in England" stage but knowing that others have gone through this and survived makes it so much easier!

Any other survivors?

[paulinespens 3]

I have been here now for 20 months I think. It will be 2 years in December. Yeah when I arrived everything was a novelty such as the drive thru banks. They still love my accent here and my wife loves my expressions. Yeah theres things I miss about England but I don't wanna live there again. I see here as home now. I can still watch my football team (soccer) play on tv here and I can order some english dvds from amazon. We still have problems communicating now and again but my wife is s becoming a fan of some english shows and she can understand the accent and slang alot better.

The bread still sucks here lol but I am just so so better off here compared to England.

[annelizabeth 1]

I have been here now for 20 months I think. It will be 2 years in December. Yeah when I arrived everything was a novelty such as the drive thru banks. They still love my accent here and my wife loves my expressions. Yeah theres things I miss about England but I don't wanna live there again. I see here as home now. I can still watch my football team (soccer) play on tv here and I can order some english dvds from amazon. We still have problems communicating now and again but my wife is s becoming a fan of some english shows and she can understand the accent and slang alot better.

The bread still sucks here lol but I am just so so better off here compared to England.

Hi there how're y'all doing?? Glad to hear you are still loving it.

I have passed the four-year mark now and have my citizenship ceremony on the 20th August. Yes, I still miss England from time to time but, to be honest, it is the people I miss most. People still comment on my accent, which is nice. My husband loves British comedies and he frequently orders films and series from Netflix. We still go to pub quiz every tuesday at Molly Malones (Irish pub).

So what things do I miss? I hate to say it, but I wish we had the good old NHS here! I also miss the proximity of Europe - it was so wonderful to be able to hop on a plane for an hour or two and be in an entirely different culture with different smells, food and language. My only other gripe really is the lack of decent vacation time compared with back home. Apart from that, there are many great things about living here and after all, home is where the heart is.

[ddartt1 2]

I have been here for 16 months now and i love it but i still have problems with pronoucing shorts, shirts, shots!

All the best annelizabeth on your citizenship ceremony!

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

Kris is adjusting but its not easy. Alot of things here bother him (banking system, healthcare, mortgages etc) but we are doing well. As it stands we are going to move back across once both my boys have graduated from school and have moved out. (in about 9 years) To be honest i'm excited at the idea.

[paulinespens 3]

I have been here now for 20 months I think. It will be 2 years in December. Yeah when I arrived everything was a novelty such as the drive thru banks. They still love my accent here and my wife loves my expressions. Yeah theres things I miss about England but I don't wanna live there again. I see here as home now. I can still watch my football team (soccer) play on tv here and I can order some english dvds from amazon. We still have problems communicating now and again but my wife is s becoming a fan of some english shows and she can understand the accent and slang alot better.

The bread still sucks here lol but I am just so so better off here compared to England.

Hi there how're y'all doing?? Glad to hear you are still loving it.

I have passed the four-year mark now and have my citizenship ceremony on the 20th August. Yes, I still miss England from time to time but, to be honest, it is the people I miss most. People still comment on my accent, which is nice. My husband loves British comedies and he frequently orders films and series from Netflix. We still go to pub quiz every tuesday at Molly Malones (Irish pub).

So what things do I miss? I hate to say it, but I wish we had the good old NHS here! I also miss the proximity of Europe - it was so wonderful to be able to hop on a plane for an hour or two and be in an entirely different culture with different smells, food and language. My only other gripe really is the lack of decent vacation time compared with back home. Apart from that, there are many great things about living here and after all, home is where the heart is.

Hey we are doing good. Congratulations on your citizenship cermony. I am going to apply for citizenship when the time comes for myself. We will have to try and come down for the pub quiz one day. I work nights so its kind of hard.

I miss the easy access to europe myself such as being able to go to France and Spain. Yep I miss the NHS and vacation time. I think thats something they need to learn about here such as an easier work life balance.

I miss some members of my family and a few friends and I have some long lost cousins who found me on facebook im yet to meet.

[wexford65 0]

I am in a slightly different boat, having officially left the UK in 1995 and lived in Ireland, Austria and Germany for 10 years before heading over here.

I do miss things about Europe (I think to be honest it is more Europe than the UK for me). Food, beer, humor, laid back attitude and more...

The ability to jump on a Ryanair flight and be in Cannes or Milan in 2 hours!

That said I am happy to be here with my wife and three dogs. We have spoken about maybe heading to Ireland or the UK in 15+ years and travel there once a year for me to get my 'fix'. We too visit a British pub every Tuesday night and watch the inevitable BBC America (they actually have some great shows on there).

For any USC reading this thread and wondering why we are here if we are so unhappy think of it this way; overall I love it here but it simply isn't practical to think that EVERYTHING is wonderful. It is no different from any country, some things are great and others not so. I loved living in Ireland but equally I hated certain things there too.

We are in south FL but looking to move away in the next 6-12 months, probably California. The weather is warm but after a few years the humidity tends to get to you!

Paul

[Nik+Heather 121]

I am in a slightly different boat, having officially left the UK in 1995 and lived in Ireland, Austria and Germany for 10 years before heading over here.

I do miss things about Europe (I think to be honest it is more Europe than the UK for me). Food, beer, humor, laid back attitude and more...

The ability to jump on a Ryanair flight and be in Cannes or Milan in 2 hours!

That said I am happy to be here with my wife and three dogs. We have spoken about maybe heading to Ireland or the UK in 15+ years and travel there once a year for me to get my 'fix'. We too visit a British pub every Tuesday night and watch the inevitable BBC America (they actually have some great shows on there).

For any USC reading this thread and wondering why we are here if we are so unhappy think of it this way; overall I love it here but it simply isn't practical to think that EVERYTHING is wonderful. It is no different from any country, some things are great and others not so. I loved living in Ireland but equally I hated certain things there too.

We are in south FL but looking to move away in the next 6-12 months, probably California. The weather is warm but after a few years the humidity tends to get to you!

Paul

I think most of us understand just fine. Moving countries and cultures is difficult, even when we are supposedly so similar!!

I read so that I can help to soften any common issues if possible.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I understand perfectly well, having lived in the UK for nearly 10 years and then returning back here for a different kind of culture shock, only to have to adjust back to what I was used to.

I think the best way to adjust to a new country is that it will be different. And those differences won't necessarily make it better or worse than where you came from. The secret is to enjoy those differences and make the most of them. I know the thing about the UK I miss is access to the Europe, but then if I moved back I would miss road trips to National Parks and through the vast expanse of the American West. I miss pubs from the UK, but if I went back I'd miss diners. I miss British humor but if I was back there I'd miss American optimism.

There are good things about both places - I just wish I could combine the best of both worlds in one single place