UK vs USA was your life better in UK or USA

[Cupcakeicecream]

Just out of curiosity really. For those who have lived in either country which did you prefer and why. I'm trying to weigh up the pros and cons. Eventually want to be living in the USA. It's always been a dream. I want to give my child a better quality of life and I feel that USA is better suited. I feel that there are more opportunities. But of course health care costs and gun laws put me off slightly.

I've experienced the church thing here in NY - it's been assumed (from many of the people I've met and worked with) that you are of a religion of some sort and will be active in your church / temple / whatever community.

I concur on the special education provision, especially in the early years as I know we wouldn't receive what we have now if we were back in the UK (meaning we won't return any time yet) however, I do know even within my area the provision and easy access to it differs massively, which seems to correlate with property taxes - i.e. the more money going in the more there is available. Its v common on my local parent special ed groups for ppl to be looking to move county or district to one where provision is vastly improved

We did a move like that to a neighboring county that was still within commuting distance for our work. The provision was adequate where we were, but the program in the other county was better suited to our son's needs.

It’s interesting to hear about the church thing because that didn’t happen to me at all over several decades. But I’m not white, so that might change people’s assumptions.

Religion does take on a different form there, however.

I've never been asked about church. Nobody I know goes to church apart from on Christmas Eve.

I think you are much more likely to be asked where you worship in smaller communities rather than big cities.

One aspect of my US experience that I really like is the strong culture of volunteerism. Not just church-related, but it is extremely common for companies to sponsor employees to volunteer for various charities and community service. Now, I realise that they get good publicity for this, but I also know from experience that once you volunteered as part of a corporate "volunteer experience", you are very likely to continue volunteering in your own free time. Pretty much everyone I know does some, whether food bank, park clean ups, habitat builds.

Yes pretty much everyone who's capable does beach clean ups, town clean ups, meals for housebound or ill people here regularly.

We also have an island fund for people who need money. Richer people donate and anyone can apply for help. Sometimes it's for help with health care, sometimes help with fuel costs for heating, sometimes for driving lessons, music lessons etc.

It's pretty heartwarming living here.

Yes, I agree about the expectation that everyone will give back

I was shamed the first year we were in the US and school organised a winter clothing drive for less privileged students (it's so cold and snowy that no proper boots etc = cannot got to school). I thought we had been generous buying four sets of decent hat / scarf / gloves - until I bumped into a friend who was taking in six pairs of Merrell boots... Admittedly they were very well off, but I'd never seen such generosity at any school in the UK

Yes the Americans are more generous- we have noticed that. Yiu are just expected to give, plenty, regularly.

Fascinating thread.
We’re into our 2nd year here in the US and we’re asking ourselves the same question. In fact, whether we go home next summer or wait it out a bit longer.
Just like Hatchee says at the biginning of the thread; we were persuaded by our relo. consult. to move into a massive house in the suburbs. It’s true the house is gorgeous and beyond anything we could find at home. However, we have to drive everywhere, the kids feel isolated having lost their independence living in a market town at home, and our furniture looks too tiny .
We’ll be looking for a smaller townhouse close to schools and a social life, and reduce the driving when we go back.
We do struggle with the racial discrepancies too. In fact it’s so inherent I believe much of it is an unconscious cultural thing.

We have a smaller house in the US having moved from UK countryside to a city. But we do lots of walking, have a tube system and lots of buses. Great museums etc.
The weather is terrible during winter, health care is ridiculous, it is expensive to live in and society is pleasant but very transactional.
But, the US is the size of Europe. Our experience won't be the same as someone outside of our Midwest city.
Longer term I don't want to live in the US but I don't want to return to UK either. Despite the weather I dream of Canada.

My life was better in the USA.

People are nicer
Schools better
Healthcare better
More things to do
More job opportunities
More space

Another gun shooting

12 dead

Right? Quite happy my kids are growing up 1000s of miles away from the 'thoughts and prayers' crowd. I have a friend in Pittsburg who is struggling with childcare cover because the schools are closing due to perceived shooting threats. I am really not making this up.

I have friends who moved from UK to USA, they were there around 10 years and kids went to schools etc. They loved it. They only moved back to UK because of healthcare, parents getting old etc. Their life in US sounded incredible though. Don't think I'd move there atm with Trump/ guns

The US is so big, it's like talking about Europe as one country - the states are as varied as countries in Europe. We live in Massachusetts which has some of the strictest gun laws in the country and crime rates are low, quality of life is good. I'm very sure life here is extremely different to living in the Deep South. You just can't compare the UK to the US as one country.