Curious....

[Fandango 1,439]

Probably, but I've lived in the UK for five years and I can say in all certainty that it sucks ### here.

It isn't as if we didn't discuss the move and weigh the pros and cons. I don't think it's appropriate to taunt me just because YOU don't want to live in America. If you want to leave, leave.

Just out of curiousity, what is so bad about your area in the UK? I have only been to London for a few days, so really have no opinion about living there or anything. Still, I can't believe though that there is so much to really hate about the UK. I mean, is there nothing redeeming about it at all?

London is practically a different planet from Yorkshire. You can't even compare the two. I wouldn't live in London either but for completely different reasons.

I am not really going back to the US because I hate Germany. I could see living here for a longer period of time in theory. I like the health insurance here, social net, recycling, public transport, open air festivals (oh the open airs...*sniff* I will miss those), the plethora of organic products, ease of family-based immigration, and bread you could break a car window out with.

See, I'm tired of all that. Food festivals here suck anyway.

The US isn't perfect and I didn't originally sit around and dream of the day I would return. I don't really miss the responsiblity of a car, though I do miss the freedom I had with it. I am not looking forward to the immigration process. I am not looking forward to getting raped by health insurance companies. I am not looking forward to the possiblity of being totally out on my ### if I lose my job. I am not looking forward to having to put my daughter in daycare. I am not looking forward to having to pay a lot to go back to uni like me and my husband want to. I have no idea where you can get a döner in Indy (heh). I am not looking forward to having to see my mother again on a semi-regular basis. Brrrr....

We have to have a car; can't escape from that. Instead of getting raped by health insurance companies, we get ###### over by the NHS and its sub sub sub sub standard care. I got tired of going to the GP, asking a question and them saying "I don't know, why don't you see a consultant" then waiting months and months to see said consultant just so they could tell me what I already knew. Doners are so nasty, I can't believe you eat those.

However, since my husband and I are not interested in being on Hartz IV or working 400€ jobs the rest of our lives (we have our pride, you know?) with the way things are looking now, we are going to try our luck in the US. Unemployment is high here, employers are fickle, and you can easily fall into the welfare trap. School system is pretty outdated overall. I think the odds are bad that we would ever own our own house. I want better for my family than that. I have my family, friends, support in the US. They are ready and willing to accept my husband as one of their own. I am grateful for that because, even after two years, I still don't have much of that kind of real support here. Both of us really have a chance at getting good jobs in the US like we just don't have here.

We couldn't afford kids here; we'd be living hand-to-mouth, it's pathetic. If you want a good job in the UK, you have to live in one of the big cities where the cost of living is obscene and any extra money you make is eaten up and more by the extra cost of living. If you don't want to live with a four figure overdraft, then you take your chances in one of the small cities as we are doing. I make less money now than I did six years ago in the US. It's pathetic. Money is a huge factor, I will admit.

So what I guess I am trying to say is that no country is perfect. Although we have decided to leave Germany, possibly forever, it isn't because we can't find any good in it at all. I am sure the same has to be true even just a lil bit for the UK.

The thing is, the things I used to like about the UK are some of the things that now drive me nuts about it. I guess I got older and changed. I'm sick to death of mamby pamby political correctness and nanny state-ism. Puke. Of course the United States isn't perfect, but I'd rather deal with its problems than struggle to survive in the UK. "Making do" seems to be the national sport here, but I'm ###### tired of that. ###### 'making do.' I want a little luxury in my life.

You're a 'half empty' girl aren't ya?

I think you're caught up in just complaining a lot imo....Yorkshire is lovely, and speaking for someone who's lived in the NE for years, I have to say that a lot of what you're complaining about may be down to luck, not the area as a whole.

NHS suck? Go private.

As I said, I lived there for years and never worked, and although my D has a very very good job, it's not like he's a millionaire or owt, and we were able to live very comfortably there on one salary. We took trips all the time, went out every weekend, had the best kit as far as tv/sound systems (D is an audio snob),etc....on one salary. Granted, he'd prolly make triple or more if he had his job in London or somewhere bigger, but as you said cost of living's higher too...so it's all relative

But hey, I'm not here to tell you to stop hating it, but I do think it would be a shame if you spent the remainder of your days there just thinking how sh!t it is, because when you move here, that part of your life is going to be over. And most people *yes, you can reply with 'I'm not most people'* would regret that, instead of being able to look back when you're older & be all 'hot damn, I did that. And it was fun'

But the crux of my post was basically to give a shout out to the NorthEast, cos it's the second best place on this earth to be And to add to this thread, we're looking to get a winter home there...prolly in about 5-10 years. Yes, I said winter home...cos FL sun just spoils the holidays sometimes

Edited October 1, 2006 by LisaD

[homesick_american 1]

You're a 'half empty' girl aren't ya?

I don't think you know me well enough to comment either way.

I think you're caught up in just complaining a lot imo....Yorkshire is lovely, and speaking for someone who's lived in the NE for years, I have to say that a lot of what you're complaining about may be down to luck, not the area as a whole.

Perhaps, but we're still leaving.

NHS suck? Go private.

With what money? The shrapnel left over from my pathetically small pay packet after I've paid out the monthly obscene costs of living here?

As I said, I lived there for years and never worked, and although my D has a very very good job, it's not like he's a millionaire or owt, and we were able to live very comfortably there on one salary. We took trips all the time, went out every weekend, had the best kit as far as tv/sound systems (D is an audio snob),etc....on one salary. Granted, he'd prolly make triple or more if he had his job in London or somewhere bigger, but as you said cost of living's higher too...so it's all relative

Well, I'm very pleased for you. I don't know anyone here in York who can afford to live on one salary. We sure as hell can't, and my husband makes over 30,000 pounds a year...a high salary for this area.

But hey, I'm not here to tell you to stop hating it, but I do think it would be a shame if you spent the remainder of your days there just thinking how sh!t it is, because when you move here, that part of your life is going to be over. And most people *yes, you can reply with 'I'm not most people'* would regret that, instead of being able to look back when you're older & be all 'hot damn, I did that. And it was fun'

It sounds like you're trying to tell me how to live my life. I get enough of that in my mother's weekly phone call.

But the crux of my post was basically to give a shout out to the NorthEast, cos it's the second best place on this earth to be And to add to this thread, we're looking to get a winter home there...prolly in about 5-10 years. Yes, I said winter home...cos FL sun just spoils the holidays sometimes

Good; I hope you can afford it. Real estate values in the scenic areas of North Yorkshire have skyrocketed. Our house has doubled in value in the last 4.5 years, and we live in a bog standard 1960s semi in a bog standard part of town.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

housing prices have skyrocketed in the US in the past 5 years too, you know

I honestly don't know how I managed all the years in the UK (with all my holidays, nights out, gadgets, etc) I really don't

[homesick_american 1]

housing prices have skyrocketed in the US in the past 5 years too, you know

I honestly don't know how I managed all the years in the UK (with all my holidays, nights out, gadgets, etc) I really don't

Yes yes, robin, I've been told about the US real estate boom. House prices have been pretty steady in Texas, though, and the city we're moving to is one of the most affordable in the country. We could buy a mansion for what our house here is worth.

I don't know how you managed either. My husband and I make nearly 60,000 pounds a year combined and we would have trouble affording children. I can't wait to get out of this hellhole.

[LaL 418]

I can't wait to get out of this hellhole.

Homesick - you certainly have expressed you dont like where you live numerous times. Just a quick question. Why didn't you DCF to leave?

[luvaLimey 0]

Yes, and I am... but only for a year.

Then, we're coming back to the US.

[homesick_american 1]

I can't wait to get out of this hellhole.

Homesick - you certainly have expressed you dont like where you live numerous times. Just a quick question. Why didn't you DCF to leave?

What on earth kind of question is that? My husband's visa should be issued any day now and as soon as we sell our house, we're out of here.

Our application was sent to the US Embassy in London and we have dealt ONLY with them. If that's not a 'DCF' then I don't know what is.

[LaL 418]

I can't wait to get out of this hellhole.

Homesick - you certainly have expressed you dont like where you live numerous times. Just a quick question. Why didn't you DCF to leave?

What on earth kind of question is that? My husband's visa should be issued any day now and as soon as we sell our house, we're out of here.

Our application was sent to the US Embassy in London and we have dealt ONLY with them. If that's not a 'DCF' then I don't know what is.

well your profile says CR1/IR1. You do not have to rudely reply. I was going on the information you provided.

[homesick_american 1]

I can't wait to get out of this hellhole.

Homesick - you certainly have expressed you dont like where you live numerous times. Just a quick question. Why didn't you DCF to leave?

What on earth kind of question is that? My husband's visa should be issued any day now and as soon as we sell our house, we're out of here.

Our application was sent to the US Embassy in London and we have dealt ONLY with them. If that's not a 'DCF' then I don't know what is.

well your profile says CR1/IR1. You do not have to rudely reply. I was going on the information you provided.

Yes, because that's the visa we applied for. You can get those from the embassy in London too, you know.

People assume way too much around here.

[Fandango 1,439]

You are such a rude cow

[homesick_american 1]

You are such a rude cow

So are you.

[Fandango 1,439]

...just wanna lash out at everyone, dontcha?

LalBrandow was only trying to help...which is a lot more than a lot of people would have done....oh but you're Ms Entitled Girl, arent ya?

Gimme a fkin break and get over yourself hon, you're really not that special cos you hate where you live

Oh and me? I'm selectively rude...I don't snip at ppl trying to help me...and to ppl I like, I'm a pussycat...but you wouldn know owt about that side

Edited October 2, 2006 by LisaD

[homesick_american 1]

...just wanna lash out at everyone, dontcha?

LalBrandow was only trying to help...which is a lot more than a lot of people would have done....oh but you're Ms Entitled Girl, arent ya?

Gimme a fkin break and get over yourself hon, you're really not that special cos you hate where you live

Oh and me? I'm selectively rude...I don't snip at ppl trying to help me...and to ppl I like, I'm a pussycat...but you wouldn know owt about that side

You're back on ignore where you're going to stay. You are the one who attacked me when you were thoroughly unprovoked, jumping in when nobody was addressing you.

Have a nice life.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My husband and I make nearly 60,000 pounds a year combined and we would have trouble affording children. I can't wait to get out of this hellhole.

I really have to laugh out loud at how hard it must be to get by. And I thought people in the third world had problems. Does this hellhole have a jacuzzi and wireless internet?

[LaL 418]

Yes, because that's the visa we applied for. You can get those from the embassy in London too, you know.

People assume way too much around here.

wow - there is no reason for you to be rude to me. I was asking an honest question, again based on the information you provided, as most people select DCF if that is how you are filing as it is a special circumstance.

No matter I see you just want to throw piss around.

Edited October 2, 2006 by lal_brandow