British views on emigrating to America

[Robert&Karen 264]

Saker and Sapphire1965, I have been there many times with her and seen it. There are a group I never heard of before called "Pikeys" who seem to like no one but their own kind, from my limited experiences. As for the standard Englishmen I have met, I asked about their feelings towards my fiancee and generally they find her accent unkind to their ears, a few even said she sounded angry all the time. I think the closest I can relate is that I am in California and if I hear a Brooklyn or New Jersey accent it sounds to me like they are always looking for a fight. I know this to be untrue, it is just an accent. But psychologically that is the initial effect it has on me. When she was in the states however, her accent was loved by all. She does have friends in England but she simply shines while in the states.

On a side note, last night I watched the movie "Snatch" and it had a good deal about Pikeys. I need to research that group more.

[xylo 4]

A pikey is an offensive term for an Irish traveller (a gypsy, though that term isn't appropriate either). In recent years I've heard people calling other people pikeys when they're of low socio-economic class and just a bit 'rough'. Either way, it must be said that you're talking about a very small sub-culture that is not representative of England. There are so many wildly different accents in the UK and people tend to be much more discriminating towards some of the other ones. Glad to hear your fiancée is so at home in the States!

[TracyTN 237]

Agreed. Just because pikeys didn't like your Scottish fiancee means nothing about the rest of the population of the UK.

Most of my husband's friends and family were jealous he was emigrating. They're all sick of England.

[Saker 6]

Thanks TracyTN and chrisandliz,

aorobert, I'm sure you are aware that a small percentage of individuals in any culture are a little less educated, closed minded and generally ignorant than the rest. So you heard "pikey's" say negative things against the Scots or A Scot? you say you heard it from them "many" times? so you obviously decided to remain in their company it seems. Why?

You then go on to say "English Gentlemen" find the Scottish accent "unkind to their ears"?! I simply don't believe that. Those descriptions sound like words used by someone from a culture other than the UK trying to make statements they believe people from the UK would make. It is fiction.

If you believe you can get an idea about a people labelled "pikey's" from a movie then i promise you'll waste your time.

The reason your Scottish partner is gets on so well in the US is unsurprising, it is simply that, like in England, she is accepted.

I genuinely wish you both the very best

[Boiler 45,486]

Why would she want to talk to a pikey anyway?

[TBoneTX 45,284]

lived there for 16years without being loathed had lots of great friends and there was never an issue

(Pardon the intrusion by a mere Colonist) It's always good to live unloathed, si man.

[Fandango 1,439]

There are countless people who are unfamiliar with the immigration process. Hell, before I started, I just thought you can get married and BOOM! you're a citizen.

I blame Hollywood

As for the Scottish being 'despised' by the English, umm.....

[Fandango 1,439]

This made me laugh so much! I'm from the North-West too so I know Bolton. My Mum and sister were similar: "Are you sure you don't just like him because he's American? It'll wear off" Give me some credit! Good old practical Lancashire.

A friend of mine married an American and she asked me the other day: "Don't you think everyone seems to make a fuss over immigration? I didn't think it was stressful at all, really straightforward". She didn't do any of this process though... she just went over, got married, pretended it was a last minute thing and her husband did all the forms! Almost 3 years on, it worked for her.

I lolled too...I lived in Easington Village (Co Durham), and I know Bolton as well.

I have to say, I thought it was pretty straightforward as well. (btw, I am the USC, and actually, I'm no longer with my Brit ex, but that's by the by.) I filed K-1, and I didn't think it as all that stressful either. I did overthink a few of the q's, my evidence, etc...but after taking a deep breath, I filled out the forms, sent em off, went about my life while they were processed. I think some people can get caught up in being immensely frustrated with the wait, but at the time; we both used the time apart to our advantage (ie - I worked a lot, and also spent a bit of time on myself - eg. gym and wedding preparations....he spent a lot of time doing his 'lasts' - I encouraged him to get a season tick to SAFC, and soak up everything he was going to miss before moving). And before we knew it, we were approved.

The demise of our relationship had nothing to do with the process, and was a separate issue.

Edited July 9, 2011 by Anita Cocktail

[DiZZyLoX 114]

There are countless people who are unfamiliar with the immigration process. Hell, before I started, I just thought you can get married and BOOM! you're a citizen.

I blame Hollywood

As for the Scottish being 'despised' by the English, umm.....

we totally thought the same thing...we were so wrong. lol

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

British views on emigrating to America:

Everybody seemed to ask my husband the same question--"Are you gonna get a gun??"

[Boiler 45,486]

Got one

[Hannah+Vito 0]

Yes, there is a hell of a lot of ignorance about what it takes to move to the US. So far I have been told I need to become an au pair, my fiance needs to have a million dollars, that nobody who has been arrested is allowed into the US, that 'you just write to the Embassy and they send you a greencard' (actually, talking to both parents about their experiences in the late 70's that may once have been a little true). Worst of all, there is the immediate assumption that marriage to a US citizen is to gain LPR status. "Would you marry him if he was from Bolton?" Err...I lived in Bolton and yep...I would.

This reminds me of something that I experienced in my visa journey......while i was waiting on my k1 visa processing the local misogynistic pig,,who hated me just because he felt like it and I'm female (like to make my life hell as a hobby)...told me that I wasn't going to get approved you know..because he once knew someone who knew someone who was a trucker t emigrated to CANADA on a WORK RELATED IMMIGRATION VISA TO DO TRUCKING IN CANADA...and they wouldn't want me because I can't offer the USA ANYTHING VALUABLE WORK WISE, what have I got to offer.....this came from a guy who thought he knew it all better than everyone, to the point that at 16 he felt it was a better use of his time to go fishing rather than take his o levels..yup he had no educational qualifications to his name just his practical experience at the jobs he had done over his life (he was a tree surgeon)

and I with my BA HONS degree..had nothing to offer and was going to get rejected based on work related issues for a family visa...

[xylo 4]

...this came from a guy who thought he knew it all better than everyone, to the point that at 16 he felt it was a better use of his time to go fishing rather than take his o levels..yup he had no educational qualifications to his name just his practical experience at the jobs he had done over his life (he was a tree surgeon) and I with my BA HONS degree..had nothing to offer and was going to get rejected based on work related issues for a family visa...

All signs of a classic miserable, bitter and thus jealous person. How glad you must be to have left him far, far behind!

[TeeKol 0]

I was wondering if any of you guys were having problems finding friends in the USA? I moved to PA two years ago and as yet haven't managed to make many friends. I am having difficulty finding opportunities to intigrate into this small community. My work involves health care on a one-to-one basis so I dont even have the opportunity to make friends with colleagues (I dont have any). My husband is an introvert although he has friends he can choose to contact although he doesn't seem to feel the need to. I had a few very good friends in the UK who I interacted with on a regular basis. I was just wondering how you are all getting on in your different areas.

Edited July 10, 2011 by TeeKol

[David And Katie 5]

I was wondering if any of you guys were having problems finding friends in the USA? I moved to PA two years ago and as yet haven't managed to make many friends. I am having difficulty finding opportunities to intigrate into this small community. My work involves health care on a one-to-one basis so I dont even have the opportunity to make friends with colleagues (I dont have any). My husband is an introvert although he has friends he can choose to contact although he doesn't seem to feel the need to. I had a few very good friends in the UK who I interacted with on a regular basis. I was just wondering how you are all getting on in your different areas.

You need to look outside your local area.

Is there a Lions Club nearby (every town in the US seems to have one!). Rotarians?

If your hubby is an introvert you need to get your own friends! One of Katie's friend's husbands (wow) is a decent guy and him and me get along and he's been looking for a guy friend to hang out with (he generally hates other people) so I have someone to go shooting/fishing with etc.

Katie's brother is a cool guy too but he works unsociable hours.

My plan is to join a Lions Club in Schererville (try saying that drunk) and mingle. I guess it helps I have a social hobby (amateur/ham radio) and there are a few clubs in the area. Then again Schererville isn't a one horse town either.

As for us Sasenach's hating the Jocks - utter tripe. There's a LOT of friendly banter between the English and the Scots and most of it is good natured. Personally I adore the Scottish accent on a girl - yes, I include all Scots accents, even broad Glasweigan. Maybe that's where the Scottish lady from earlier is from - it's a hard accent to get your head around, but I'm an accentophile (erm, is there a proper word for that?) as well as being a linguist (no funny jokes from the back, thank you!).

David.