Some uncomfortable truths

[homesick_american 1]

I understand how he feels; I thought the UK was a miserable country and I was miserable over there. My life has improved tremendously in the 3.5 weeks that I've been here; I have recruiters fighting over me for jobs, I've made a ton of friends, and the standard of living is just so much higher here than over there; there's really no comparison. I was insane for moving to the UK; the only good thing I can say about the time I spent there is that I made a good chunk of money off the sale of my house. That's about it. I have no desire to return to the UK in the short term and if I never set foot in that country again, I could deal with that.

Having said that...I don't think it's a good idea for him to renounce his citizenship. Usually it's a reversible decision but it's not easy to do and he could always change his mind in 5, 10, 15 years. I think he should keep his UK passport. It isn't as if he will have many if any obligations in the UK. He can just tuck his UK passport in a drawer and let it gather dust, but I'm a firm believer in keeping one's options open. I'm quite happy to let my permanent resident visa lapse, but I'm not British. I never turned my back on my native country and I never would.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Having said that...I don't think it's a good idea for him to renounce his citizenship. Usually it's a reversible decision but it's not easy to do and he could always change his mind in 5, 10, 15 years. I think he should keep his UK passport. It isn't as if he will have many if any obligations in the UK. He can just tuck his UK passport in a drawer and let it gather dust, but I'm a firm believer in keeping one's options open. I'm quite happy to let my permanent resident visa lapse, but I'm not British. I never turned my back on my native country and I never would.

I completely agree with you that he shouldn't renounce it, but he is stubborn as the day is long. I have a crafty plan though... He listens to my Dad when supplications from everyone else have failed, including his mum. My Dad just has this way about him -- he is just so reasonable and calm that he can sway Bruce towards doing uncomfortable and difficult things. I tend towards the ranting and raving (now where did I get that from? *cough* Mom *cough* ), which doesn't work on the boy at all. Quiet reason, that's another kettle of fish!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Simplest answer is that Bruce can wait till eligible for US naturalisation, naturalise, get US passport and then conveniently "forget" to renew Brit one.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Simplest answer is that Bruce can wait till eligible for US naturalisation, naturalise, get US passport and then conveniently "forget" to renew Brit one.

I have mentioned that this is the path of least resistance, and it is the one he will probably follow -- he says his family motto is "Never volunteer"!

[Lansbury 19]

I should of said my husband DOES miss the bacon! lol

Ohhh the bacon!!

Go for it Lansbury! I'm midway through joining the American masses in the medical field. Something I always wanted to do in the UK, but the idea of being a paramedic around London just filled me with fear. As well as learning the medical side, I also have to learn my way around the Township! I think that may be the bigger hurdle of the two. Not looking forward to trying to drive backwards through cones in an ambulance for my driving certification, but it'll be fun I'm sure.

Best of luck to you. One of the best courses I did in my police career was an advance driving course at Hendon. Six weeks of real fun, and one or two moments of terror. We had to reverse at speed through a slalom course, it came with practice.

[Lansbury 19]

Having said that...I don't think it's a good idea for him to renounce his citizenship. Usually it's a reversible decision but it's not easy to do and he could always change his mind in 5, 10, 15 years. I think he should keep his UK passport. It isn't as if he will have many if any obligations in the UK. He can just tuck his UK passport in a drawer and let it gather dust, but I'm a firm believer in keeping one's options open. I'm quite happy to let my permanent resident visa lapse, but I'm not British. I never turned my back on my native country and I never would.

I completely agree with you that he shouldn't renounce it, but he is stubborn as the day is long. I have a crafty plan though... He listens to my Dad when supplications from everyone else have failed, including his mum. My Dad just has this way about him -- he is just so reasonable and calm that he can sway Bruce towards doing uncomfortable and difficult things. I tend towards the ranting and raving (now where did I get that from? *cough* Mom *cough* ), which doesn't work on the boy at all. Quiet reason, that's another kettle of fish!

It isn't a problem if he does renounce it. If he ever wanted it back all he has to do is get a form from the British Embassy fill it out send the fee and he gets it back. Friends in Zimbabwe had to renounce their British citizenship to renew their Zim passports, and two weeks latter claimed it back again. All the Brits in Zim were doing the same thing.

[no name 1]

My fiance is wholly dissatisfied with the state of Britain right now - pretty much with everything about how the country is run.

I'd be a helluva a lot prouder of Blair than I would of our own leadership debaucle.

Grass is always greener, I suppose. I have many friends who would gladly move to Canada or Europe if they only could get away from HIM.

Edited July 20, 2007 by devilette

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My fiance is wholly dissatisfied with the state of Britain right now - pretty much with everything about how the country is run.

I'd be a helluva a lot prouder of Blair than I would of our own leadership debaucle.

I always think America isn't the place it used to be! I guess the whole world isn't.....

[TracyTN 237]

My fiance is wholly dissatisfied with the state of Britain right now - pretty much with everything about how the country is run.

I'd be a helluva a lot prouder of Blair than I would of our own leadership debaucle.

Grass is always greener, I suppose. I have many friends who would gladly move to Canada or Europe if they only could get away from HIM.

Oh I hear you - I didn't mean it as we are better somehow (particularly in the leadership area). It was more just a general statement about his feelings now on the UK.

[homesick_american 1]

My fiance is wholly dissatisfied with the state of Britain right now - pretty much with everything about how the country is run.

I'd be a helluva a lot prouder of Blair than I would of our own leadership debaucle.

Grass is always greener, I suppose. I have many friends who would gladly move to Canada or Europe if they only could get away from HIM.

That's kind of stupid and short-sighted. If all they want to do is to get away from Bush, all they have to do is be patient; he's out of there in January 2009. That's less than a year and a half away.

Blair is a slimy, smarmy, lying toad. He's no better than Bush. In fact, he's worse. He's at least smart enough to know better.

[no name 1]

My fiance is wholly dissatisfied with the state of Britain right now - pretty much with everything about how the country is run.

I'd be a helluva a lot prouder of Blair than I would of our own leadership debaucle.

Grass is always greener, I suppose. I have many friends who would gladly move to Canada or Europe if they only could get away from HIM.

That's kind of stupid and short-sighted. If all they want to do is to get away from Bush, all they have to do is be patient; he's out of there in January 2009. That's less than a year and a half away.

Blair is a slimy, smarmy, lying toad. He's no better than Bush. In fact, he's worse. He's at least smart enough to know better.

Wow, so now my friends are stupid?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I suppose even though HE will be gone the 28% who think he's doing a good job will still be around.

[TracyTN 237]

Blair is a slimy, smarmy, lying toad. He's no better than Bush. In fact, he's worse. He's at least smart enough to know better.

Then I guess its a good thing he's not PM anymore!

[Dr_LHA 3]

My relationship with my home country is basically "absence makes the heart grow stronger". I've not lived in the UK for more than 8 years now, and I don't really miss it that much (never suffered from homesickness). However I love it when I go back, doing all the British things, eating decent food again and drinking decent beer, watching football matches.

I usually spend about as much time there as I need before I start to get sick of all the bad stuff like the violence, crime, poverty, weather etc.

Honestly though, right now I'm more homesick for living in SoCal than I am the UK. That's the place I really want to move back to.

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

I should of said my husband DOES miss the bacon! lol

Ohhh the bacon!!

Go for it Lansbury! I'm midway through joining the American masses in the medical field. Something I always wanted to do in the UK, but the idea of being a paramedic around London just filled me with fear. As well as learning the medical side, I also have to learn my way around the Township! I think that may be the bigger hurdle of the two. Not looking forward to trying to drive backwards through cones in an ambulance for my driving certification, but it'll be fun I'm sure.

Best of luck to you. One of the best courses I did in my police career was an advance driving course at Hendon. Six weeks of real fun, and one or two moments of terror. We had to reverse at speed through a slalom course, it came with practice.

My dad says the same thing. He's never forgotten his Hendon days!

Thanks for the good wishes