If you first came to the UK as an adult, what did you think?

[HangingOnJustAbout]

I went abroad a lot in my teens and 20s but I dont remember much about the countries other than whether I had a good time.

Haven't been abroad for 18 years due to sen kids, just starting to go again and I have quite strong opinions on the places I have been, although I'm sure my experiences in a week in a location or two are not reflective of the whole country!

Would be really interested to hear what some people who first visited or moved to the UK as an adult thought? Where did you visit, what did you think about the people, the landscape, how well things work, whatever else matters to you? How does it compare to where you grew up?

The first time I visited the UK, I was 26 or 27. I visited Manchester. It’s kind of a long story but a friend met a bunch of British colleagues through her office, who invited her to visit, and then I went along with her. this was in 1998, and I thought Manchester was a complete shithole. I also thought British houses were horrible. However, once I got out into other areas, I thought the countryside was really beautiful. I really loved London. I actually met my first husband on that trip and ended up moving to Manchester in 2001. I stayed for 10 years. I never got used to the weather although I think Manchester really changed during that time and became a much more interesting and culturally active city. One thing that really shocked me about England was the poverty

and the attitudes around class. I felt very judged and like I was less than for being an American. we also lived in Hull for five years, what is even more economically deprived the Manchester, although I actually liked it better because I liked living near the sea and all of the seaside villages. I have since moved to Europe and I don’t feel judged in that way anymore. Continental Europeans just really don’t have those kind of class attitudes.. I’m sorry to say this, but I think I can say this because I am actually married to a British citizen, but I think a lot of English people are very snobby no matter where they’re from, and it really is annoying. on a more positive note, there are many things about English culture that I miss living in Europe. I love pubs, I love the shopping. I also love British food. I think it is completely underrated. I love the entirety of British humour and I really really really miss it. Europeans aren’t that funny. I should also say that the first time I encountered using the NHS in the early 2000s was a huge eye-opener for me. I was absolutely gobsmacked that healthcare could be free. It has completely changed my attitudes towards healthcare and I am huge critic of the US system. Where I live now we pay a bit so it is still more similar to the UK. I had a baby NHS and was treated so well. I am devastated that the Tories have run it into the ground.