Moving to America...

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Most people assume I'm moving for the weather when I tell them I'm shortly to be moving to the USA. I'm going to Seattle. It's not all that different in terms of weather than the UK but since when was weather a reason to uproot your whole life? I don't even want warm weather. I worked in India for several months and the heat almost killed me.

I think of using weather as a reason as a polite way to not really insult a country by perhaps giving more negative reasons. Sometimes my British relatives will use it rather than go into a tirade about other not so light issues.

[millefleur 5,046]

Most people assume I'm moving for the weather when I tell them I'm shortly to be moving to the USA. I'm going to Seattle. It's not all that different in terms of weather than the UK but since when was weather a reason to uproot your whole life? I don't even want warm weather. I worked in India for several months and the heat almost killed me.

People in the UK mostly think the whole of the USA is like Orlando, Florida. They think it's warm and sunny year round everywhere and that people spend their free time in theme parks. They actually can't understand why I'm going to Seattle (even though I tell them that's where my husband happens to live!). Really it's none of their business why I'm moving. I've actually found the ones who claim to not understand why I would move there are actually jealous that they're not going and hiding it by pretending they think I'm making a wrong decision. I just tell them that I don't question their choice of vehicle, their living room decor, the names they have given their kids (and I know people whose kids have been given completely ridiculous names but that's a whole other discussion!), what they eat or drink so why do they feel the need to question my lifestyle choices. Live and let live, people!

Ha, I'm from Florida originally and it is NOT sunny everyday! Florida has insane storms and hurricanes, not exactly Southern California fun in the sun. But I guess by British standards Florida seems like a kind of exotic paradise, hehe. Why Orlando? Orlando is boring apart from the amusement parks, seriously....it always cracks me up that foreigners have this idyllic view of Florida. Americans actually think Florida is a crazy, rogue state filled with crazies and retirees, it's constantly the butt of the joke. Feel like it's more accurate, despite being an exaggeration.

I'm headed to the Pacific-Northwest, too....basically the same weather as B.C., Canada! I hate hot weather, that's why I'm a Canada fan! I actually could never live in Florida or a hot place again, so weather for me would be a really important factor in any move I make.

[USAUAinCZ 38]

I think of using weather as a reason as a polite way to not really insult a country by perhaps giving more negative reasons. Sometimes my British relatives will use it rather than go into a tirade about other not so light issues.

too true. When I was talking to my girlfriend's parents about where we may want to live I mentioned Philadelphia as I have a lot of family there and I would have a decent job waiting for me. The look on their faces was hilarious. They were like "Doesn't Florida have better weather?"

[NikLR 13,227]

There is less snow here but it's hotter in the summer. I prefer the weather to where I grew up than here with definite seasons. I enjoy the speed limits here though

[millefleur 5,046]

too true. When I was talking to my girlfriend's parents about where we may want to live I mentioned Philadelphia as I have a lot of family there and I would have a decent job waiting for me. The look on their faces was hilarious. They were like "Doesn't Florida have better weather?"

AGAIN, the Florida weather stereotype! Seriously, where did it come from? I can't understand it, being a native Floridian...are the hurricanes and tropical storms just not that known about to most people? The power outages? The trees falling in the streets? The torrential downpours? Sorry for getting off-topic guys, but I'm just curious where these stereotypes come from.

[USAUAinCZ 38]

AGAIN, the Florida weather stereotype! Seriously, where did it come from? I can't understand it, being a native Floridian...are the hurricanes and tropical storms just not that known about to most people? The power outages? The trees falling in the streets? The torrential downpours? Sorry for getting off-topic guys, but I'm just curious where these stereotypes come from.

My girlfriend and her family have been to Key West a handful of times and thought it was the greatest place on earth. I think that is why they just assume Florida is a great place.

[millefleur 5,046]

My girlfriend and her family have been to Key West a handful of times and thought it was the greatest place on earth. I think that is why they just assume Florida is a great place.

Ahhh, OK, so they go there for a vacation and just assume the entire state is like that year round. Got it. It's kind of like foreign tourists visiting only New York City and then assuming the entire US is like that. Makes sense now.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

AGAIN, the Florida weather stereotype! Seriously, where did it come from? I can't understand it, being a native Floridian...are the hurricanes and tropical storms just not that known about to most people? The power outages? The trees falling in the streets? The torrential downpours? Sorry for getting off-topic guys, but I'm just curious where these stereotypes come from.

Last time I went to Florida it was August and I couldn't even walk from the car to a store because it was so hot and the air was so heavy with humidity. I was winded and this was in my athletic playing sports days. I finally understood why there was so much obesity in the south. Up here in the far and cold north, people get the idea that it is always -20, but save a few days a year when the wind chill is so cold that it will freeze your face off, you can go for walks and be outside.

[millefleur 5,046]

Last time I went to Florida it was August and I couldn't even walk from the car to a store because it was so hot and the air was so heavy with humidity. I was winded and this was in my athletic playing sports days. I finally understood why there was so much obesity in the south. Up here in the far and cold north, people get the idea that it is always -20, but save a few days a year when the wind chill is so cold that it will freeze your face off, you can go for walks and be outside.

Florida in August is death. Unless you're on the beach, it's basically impossible to be outside, most of the year even, not just in August. People just don't walk in Florida. The first time I left Florida and went to non-Southern places as a kid, I was blown away that people didn't need air conditioning 24/7 and that people could actually open windows, because the air outside was pleasant and bugs weren't going to fly in!

[RodDetroit 118]

As a Canadian citizen it's become quite the challenge when explaining to my family/friends why I'm choosing to leave Canada to move to the USA. With all that's going on there (politics, nation-wide violence, police brutality) it's hard for them to understand what desire (aside from my fiancé) I have of being there.

I've mentioned better work opportunities and better weather, since I will be moving to Southern California but other then that, I'm not too sure what else I could really say!

What are your thoughts? And what have been some of your responses when telling people why you chose to move to the US?

yeah I got to live in Canada for a year before I moved to the US, I felt that the Canadian media insist about how great Canada and everything in Canada is borderline special and unique , dont get me wrong theyre many great things about Canada but its a very new country with many people from different backgrounds, I would have stayed in Canada but i was there under the Canadian holiday working visa and they dont allow you to remind even if you have a stable job. Its a very political correct country to the point that if you speak your mind and is no once again, political correct you will be labeled , The country is bilingual yet only 5% of the population speak french daily and they want to push it everywhere.

[NikLR 13,227]

Just like in the USA, in Canada it's about WHERE you live. Each part of the country is unique.