Any americans around????????

[pinkroses]

Hi. It is Martin Luther King Jr day on Monday and I've just been told by my realtor that electric companies, etc won't be working that day......so was just wondering if everywhere will be closed.

We are meant to be flying out on Sunday and assumed we could move into our new home but we can't do this now till Tuesday. Is this holiday like our Bank holidays where some stuff, like restaurants are still open or does everywhere close????

[maomao]

It depends, really. Usually it's a school holiday, banks are closed, the post is stopped, but restaurants and shops are often still open.... Not sure that helps at all?

Where are you moving to? (Just being nosey, really )

[sunchowder]

Shops and Restaurants will be open--schools and public type works will be closed for the holiday. I live in Central Florida if I can help at all.

[pinkroses]

Florida....can't wait!!!! Got a nice house sorted in a gated community.

I just want to get over there now. It's gonna be nice to have sunshine for a change

[maomao]

Ah, sounds lovely! Sun? I can't remember what the sun looks like....

Happy MLK day to you and sunchowder! Maybe you'll live near each other!

[pinkroses]

Sunchowder, we are moving to Kissimmee area for about 6 months until we get settled.

Where abouts are you????

[woodpops]

Can we have Martin Luther King day here?? Could do with a day off of work . Stuff I'm already off next Monday, I'm going on holiday!!!

[KateandtheGirls]

Good luck with the move pinkroses. I also live in Florida (in Tampa).

MLK day is kind of a "minor" holiday. So as everyone has said, schools and government offices are closed, but a lot of businesses are still open. When I was working (outside the home) I never was off on MLK day (unlike, say, July 4th).

Let me know if I can help in any way.

[pinkroses]

Thanks. We are looking at moving to Tampa area, but decided to rent a house in an area we have been to before. I insisted on a gated community for safety.......but how safe are they??? Is it worth living in a gated community or are the general housing estates just as safe???

We have got so much to do this week. I haven't even started packing anything yet

[KateandtheGirls]

I live in a so-called gated community, but most of the time the gate doesn't work, and even when it does, once the gate opens there is time for 3 or 4 cars to go through. So IMO it makes no difference to safety. I guess if it's a community with a gate and a security guard checking everyone who comes in, that would be a different story.

On the other hand, most areas here are pretty safe. There is very little burglary, unlike the UK. (My neighbours often leave their doors unlocked.) As far as other crimes - shootings or whatever - while I hate to sound like a snob, if you live in a "nice" area and "nice" community I don't think you have to worry about those things either. I feel safer when I'm here than when I'm staying with my parents in the UK.

[woodpops]

But then your parents live in Nott'm don't they Kate and it's meant to be the gun capital of England here now. It really worrys me at times. What kind of world have I brought my kids into???

[KateandtheGirls]

I know, that is scary Woodpops. My Mum lives in Nottingham, but my Dad lives near Brighton, my ex-stepmum lives in Manchester, and my sister lives in London, so when we're in England we're all over the place.

I didn't quite understand what Pinkroses was so concerned about, safety-wise.

[sunchowder]

I live in Longwood, which is about 55 minutes from Kissimmee. I like it here very much Pinkroses. Have never spent any time in Kissimmee (only to go down to Disney). CAT me if you like. I don't live in a gated community, but feel very safe here. I am an American, my DH is British and his family is in Princes Risborough.

[pinkroses]

My problem is I watch loads of crime shows which always show the us as very bad. Mind, the UK is not great anymore. We regularly have a murder around by us now....that's why we decided it was time to move somewhere new.

I have been to Florida several times and really do enjoy it. I just naturally panic over any little detail....that's just me

Sun, will CAT you and pick your brains if that's ok.

[KateandtheGirls]

You'll love being here pinkroses!

[SofiaAmes]

MLK day is a holiday that is celebrated by all the us states except arizona (unless they've recently started celebrating it). It is like a bank holiday in the uk in that government offices and utilities and offices will be closed. All the stores and most restaurants will be open (except maybe smaller boutiques), with slightly limited hours (though nothing as limited as regular sunday trading hours in the uk). Enjoy america...i miss it terribly.

[expatkat]

What do you miss Sofia? I don't miss America, per se, but I miss New York desperately.

[maomao]

Helloooo expatkat and Sofia! 'Tis nice to "see" you both!

[pinkroses]

Been trying to think what I'm gonna miss in the UK, but can't come up with anything.....except driving. I love my car and the idea of driving in America and having to do my test again scares the hell out of me!!!

Expatcat, I'm sooo looking forward to going to New York. I love big cities!!!!!

[JanH]

pinkroses, once you get used to wrong-side-of-the-road driving in America is blissful.

[Frizbe]

and in defence of Nottm (although I too no longer live there, I pop by twice a week for fitness commitments) its a lovely city and the problems are confinded to a few areas,(and involve drugs...) just like they used to be in Manchester, I can think of a lot worse places you could live!

[SofiaAmes]

I miss the friendliness of people. I miss the classlessness (when we go to the usa NOONE treats my dh like an uneducated lout simply because he has a skin head, lots of tattoos and a working class geordi accent..happens to him all the time here). I miss big roads. I miss customer service. I miss grocery shopping at 9pm on sunday evening. I miss good weather. I miss adventurous architecture.
And of course I miss my family and friends and my house and my cars and my swimming pool....

Pinkroses, the driving test in the usa is a dawdle. Just pick up the booklet from your local dmv and read it once...you should be able to pass the written test on the spot and the driving test you can do after you've been driving on your uk license for a few months and gotten used to everything. The roads are so much bigger, so it's really much easier.

[sunchowder]

Oh Sofia! Good to hear something nice about the US!

[KateandtheGirls]

I agree Sofia, it is a great place.

My husband didn't have tattoos or a skin head. He looked like a "normal" bloke (IYKWIM), but he found that whenever we were outside London and he opened his mouth to speak in an American accent, he would get stared at, whispered about, etc, but no-one would actually say anything to him. He loved England, but found that very rude.

I have to say grocery shopping at 9pm on a Sunday doesn't tend to be something I do very often (nor would I be happy about it if I was), but it's nice to know it's an option!

Pinkroses, I took the Florida driving test last year (I never bothered when I was in New Jersey). It was a doddle. You do need to read the booklet for the written test, but you don't need to spend hours studying it. And for the driving test I never even left the parking lot! I assume it's because I already had an English licence. I assume (hope) that new drivers actually have to go out on the roads. But all I had to do was drive around the parking lot (I never got out of 2nd gear), an emergency stop, reverse (in a straight line, not round a corner), and pull into a pretty spacious parking space.

[pinkroses]

I'm really looking forward to everything. It's a new adventure for us. I'm glad to hear the driving test is easy......it took me four attempts here!!!! My nerves always got me.

We have been busy sorting flights, car hire and a hotel for our first night coz we arrive in the evening. All I need to do now is sort out what stuff we are taking with us and UPS it over. I'm going out with friends on Friday evening to say goodbye....and I'm going to my favourite Italian restaurant as I'll miss it!!

[SofiaAmes]

pinkroses, leave everything behind that you can't carry in suitcases with you. You will find it cheaper and better in the usa. Actually, there are 2 things you have to bring with you in large amounts...PG Tips and English Mustard.