Think very carefully.
We moved to the states for a work opportunity and it’s been very difficult.
Pro’s
Houses are lovely, so spacious and well designed.
Internal flights are inexpensive.
Schools are very inclusive and so children of all ages and abilities mix together.
It’s a great country of oposites so you can see many different types of places within a short trip.
Con’s
Where you are the support for Trump is enormous. So while you think that that’s people’s choice you have to deal with racist, homophobic, misogynist people daily. If you don’t feel the same way then you don’t fit in and that’s tough. It’s something that you are very much aware of, people feel so strongly about Trump and these beliefs and when you are surrounded by that attitude it’s unnerving.
Gun culture is a thing. It’s perfectly “normal” to see people in the store with a gun on their hip, at the petrol station etc.
The cost of living is huge. Food bills are large.
If your husband is paid in pounds and has to convert to dollars your take home pay can be affected by the exchange rate.
It is very very different to the U.K. I thought there would be more similarities than differences. People have a very different mind set and in my experience so far it feels like stepping back in time in terms of women’s equality.
You have no credit score for 12 months minimum. So to buy a mobile or home phone contract, car insurance, house insurance etc you have to pay upfront for 12 months and these things are very expensive compared to back home. Eg car insurance for us back in England was £260 a year, it’s $2000 for 6 months here. You have to have cash to cover this stuff. Oh and they don’t do internet banking payments here, no standing orders or chip and pin! Everything is done by Cheque which you have to pay for.
Health insurance doesn’t always cover what you need, make sure you have dental plans as well as medical.
People do not go out of their way to help you. For example if you call an office and get the wrong dept the call handler won’t put you through, they wish you a nice day and hang up. Also people do not take ownership of anything. So you might speak to someone and arrange to call them for an update. When you call in again they will claim not to know anything about it. It’s hugely frustrating when you first arrive and are sorting out school places, banks, getting a car etc.
If we had known what it would be like we would not have come. It has cost us a lot of money personally despite generous allowances from my husbands employer.
The homesickness can be crippling and not helped with the time difference.
If you are happy where you are I would stay in the UK. If you want to Pm me feel free.