To wish it was easy to move to the USA

[Highway65]

I've been watching The Pioneer Woman on Sky the past few evenings. It's utter drivel but I LOVE it!! It's this blog writer/cook living in Oklahoma and it just looks ace! All cowboys, horses and massive ranches. I want to live there.

Infact, there are loads of places in America that I would like to live. Europe has plenty of highlights too of course. Not where I live, it's just grey!! But I reckon I should have been born American.

I have family living in California. They both married Americans to get their green cards. I would be up for that if I wasn't happily married

I have lived in the US 7 years and I love it. flyingspaghettimonster and Bulbasaur pretty much said it all for me already.

OP, I married an American for his green card but somehow here we are still married 15 years later :-)

Dds would love to live in America (from what they have seen on the telly) I have Canadian citizenship, all dcs are entitled to it too, but they don't want to go there...

I've only been to Canada once but I would say it was the best of both worlds; the space and stunning landscape of the US with the more reasonable politics and healthcare of the UK. Your daughters should consider themselves lucky VeryStressed!

YANBU OP

Verystressed, It's easy to understand why your daughters feel drawn to the US through their love of the TV programmes. Of course it's not real but The OC versus Eastenders!? No contest really!

I was nineteen the first time I went to stay with family in California for 3 weeks. When I came home, my mum had missed me so much and was waiting for me to tell her all my stories. She still recalls to this day, over 20 years later, that she had never seen me so sad because I had wanted to stay in America.

My aunt and cousins have a fab life over there.

Strange, I don't see what the great attraction is.

You can't walk anywhere in the US (maybe in NY, SF) but you drive everywhere - who would choose to do that?

And noooooo public transport.

People are very religious, that, ime, is how you meet people similar to you, so a problem if you aren't into it.

TV is diiiiiiiire.

No Radio 4, public radio a couple of hours a day.

True the weather in some places is much better. But heat which also brings mosquitos and humidity is not good.

Socialising always includes food (or religion) and in restaurants it is enormous helpings, being brought up to eat everything on my plate it's hard to manage your weight.

People seemed to me very guarded about discussing politics etc. So conversation is usually very superficial (ie boring).

People are wealthier with more stuff (loads of stuff, especially stuff with engines), and big roomy houses. But this is because fuel is cheap, so heating or cooling not such an issue as here in the UK.

Education is a lower standard than here I think, hence everyone studies to Masters level (because their Masters is equivalent to our degree). Though this may very state to state.

The scenery in places is def spectacular, but UK is greener and more beautiful (though tiny in comparison).

No, Uk for me.

If only it were as simple as 'tending to my own grass' that would be fine. I don't think I'm under any illusions about life in the US, especially considering that the state I would want to live in has one of the highest murder rates and is, in many ways, one of the most dangerous places in the US to live, but I would still move there if I could for the chance of enjoying the richness of the culture that exists there and the opportunities available for my son (although I will always be glad I didn't have to give birth to him there as it would have cost a fortune!).

I spent the morning listening to Radio 4! Sure, the 6 hour time difference puts things rather out of sync (the Archers first thing in the morning takes some getting used to) but all the main BBC radio stations are free and easily available on the Radio iPlayer app.

Yes, you can listen to Radio 4 in the US, but it's not the same! What's discussed is not so relevant eg referendum, divorce laws or whatever. You need to be involved in the what is going on where you live, but somehow that doesn't seem easy to find out about in the US, not many newspapers etc.

I'm moving soon and still flip flopping through my emotions about it. It's definitely what's best for my family as a whole but definitely not what's best for me.
We're moving to a very nice area in the suburbs of a mid size city, the last time a lived there 4 women were shot and killed at a gym 1 mile away from my house. Friends on FB have been talking about how when their kids have play dates they've started to ask if there are any unlocked guns in the house

Oh I see! Yes, there's no local equivalent of Radio 4, that's true.

I think NPR (National Public Radio) is a rough equivalent to Radio 4.

I've only been to Canada once but I would say it was the best of both worlds

SHHH!! don't tell everyone, or they'll all want to come

NPR plays jazz or other less than popular music most of the time. But BBC world news at 8am or thereabouts in Texas and Calif if I remember correctly.

I lived and worked in Virginia for a while, but couldn't bring myself to stay.
The level prejudice to anyone who was gay, black or even slightly different really got me.
You can have a loaded gun on your lap as you drive, but should you want one bottle of wine you must visit the liquor store in the few hours it is open and then transport said bottle of wine home in a brown paper bag locked in the boot of your car.
I worked in a Uni the under age drinking was horrific, the hazing was horrible and after I left a gun man killed 32 people and injured another 17.

I'd have loved to do a year or two in the US, but visas so hard to get I had to settle for Europe. It does seem a real shame.

I have an American friend who married her French DP (while living here in France). They have applied for a visa for him as they both want to go back and live in the US. But because they are not loaded/being sponsored by a big company it is taking FOREVER for them to get his visa, they applied almost two years ago and have been jumping through hoops ever since but STILL not got there...

YANBU.

I'd love to work there… and I potentially could (was asked by managers whether one day, I'd like to work there). But once you have a DH and family, that decision becomes difficult. Because… you know… DH would also need to find a job.

Would only ever live there though if DH and I commanded big salaries...

there are amazing things about living in the US. Great weather, huge houses, and Americans really like having fun and are enthusiastic and friendly. I get Radio 4 through the internet and have it whenever I want. If I'm in the car I listen to NPR which has better science programmes than R4.
People are indeed much more religious that in the UK, and you certainly can't do the casual swearing and insulting so prized back home. You spend a lot of time driving.
There are things like coyotes and possums and skunks which you have to be careful of (they like to jump out of the rubbish - not coyotes, they sit in front of your house and howl).
DC were shocked by having "shooter drill" at school -- they all have to hide in absolute silence, while a teacher tries to break into the barricaded classroom! There is a code which goes over the tannoy to alert children to hide from the gunman.
DH loves it (cowboy boots, truck, gun etc) and I can see the fun in it but worry about the racial and social inequalities and MY GOD the current Republican attacks on women's rights are unbelievable.

doziedoozie Almost none of those things you've described is true of where I live in the US. Except the dire TV, that's true. So I watch UK TV using a DNS service, and without having to shell out for a TV license.

What TheSpork said. Plus all the crazies with guns

I want to go to Canada or USA.

Funny how everyone is saying about the TV being rubbish, I only really watch American shows Though when me and DH went to NYC once we tried to watch a film in the hotel and the constant adverts made it really difficult. There were adverts every time someone said a sentence - or at least it felt like it.

YANBU OP Id love to give America a chance and move there, or Canada too.

lonecat. What's hazing?

It's a practice in American Colleges (further education) where you're initiated into a sorority...sometimes in mean, violent or sexual ways. Very bad tales from some colleges.

Doziedoozie

You can walk in some places in the US (as you said... NY, SF). And to be honest, I am in the UK, and even here, I drive everywhere. Luckily, we live right in the center of a small town right now, but in previous houses we lived in, we needed two cars. Outside of London (and any bigger city), public transport isn't great. Probably comparable to the US.

I think you'll find that even in the US, people meet people outside of the church, too.

TV is not dire. I hate Eastenders & co. Most TV shows I watch are American. You can watch Sherlock & Dr Who on BBC America.

There are apps these days (like TuneIn) that lets you listen to any radio station anywhere in the world.

Weather can be crap in the UK. The US is big enough for you to choose where you want to live.

Socialising often includes food in the UK. Re. enormous helpings in the US - no one is making you eat. My American friends are perfectly slim. To be honest, when I was there, I was embarrassed because I ate a lot more than them!

Discussion about politics - depends who you talk to in the US and how they are like intellectually. Older people may be more restrained, younger people who are intelligent and educated actually like to debate.

Houses are way better. Bigger. Not because of fuel costs, but because they have more land. So what if fuel is cheap? You know fuel price here in the UK is only so high because of taxes...

Education depends on where you live (just like in the UK). I enjoyed high school in the US and the broader undergraduate degree, I believe, lets you find subjects that you're passionate about.

UK offers nice scenery. Middle Earth-like but not quite as nice as New Zealand. The US is big enough for you to see a desert and the Pacific in one day.

Seriously, I don't think the UK is as great as you think it is...