What are the GOOD things about living away from the UK and...

[SuperBunny]

more specifically, living in the US?

I dislike the fact that I can't think of 1 good thing to say about being here and that I remember the UK being a perfect place to which I want to return. I know it has it's faults but what are they?

And what is wonderful about the USA?

My only problem with the Uk was living in central London - lack of space - the rat race - awful schools in my borough & juggling motherhood and work.

I live in Asia where it is sunny, good transport, great schools, affordable childcare and better housing.
Good cultural life ( different so challenging) and great holidays at our doorstep.

Await to hear what's wonderful about USA. I have an idealised vision (for the best and the worst)

Am not impressed by international schools. But the amount of living space is a big plus.

I would be interested to hear answers to this too - we moved to the US six months ago, and I am having trouble seeing the good in it some days. Everyone says it is much cheaper in the US, but we must have moved to THE most expensive part (Connecticut) as we are no better off than we were in London. Property tax is ridiculously high, you have to pay someone to empty your bins, there is no child benefit and, obviously, no NHS (never again will I complain about the NHS), etc etc. And the supermarkets are crap and expensive - I really miss Sainsburys, which is a worry in itself!
The weather is definitely better. Some days that is the only thing I can think of!

Good in Sydney - weather, facilities for kids, outdoor life in general, eating out.
Bad in Sydney - everything overpriced, houses sale/rent extortionate, no M & S, Topshop, Boots (bahhhh!), Sydneysiders very closed and tough to get to know (bar Ninedragons and MNexpats), no fires at christmas apart from DH's attempt at a barbie.

Good in Brighton - the pier, the chips, the shopping (ahh the North Laines), bonfire night, the music/art scene, lovely friendly Brightonians
Bad in Brighton - druggies, drunks, pollution, crime, attitude from so called trendies, West st, Stag and hen do's, property prices falling by 25%, grey dismal weather, pebbles on the beach

So I'm torn. My heart will always be in Brighton and we will return one day but for now I have to try and make this work - far too far away to envisage giving up.

Superbunny - how long have you been away from the UK?

Oh don't get me going on Sainsbury's - god I miss it. Miss flying to France to see mum and dad too and going to those great markets.

Thanks everyone. I'm not sure this is helping - I am now missing Sainsbos too.

I've been away for 5 1/2 years. I thought things would get easier but I fear I am becomming more anti-America as time goes on.

To be fair, I love this city. But I need more than that. When I meet new people, they often ask, 'what do you like about being here?' and I struggle to answer

I know what you mean superb. I think the problem is that our little island is so condensed with culture, religion, race etc that nowhere else will possibly match it. As much as it has a lot of problems at the moment, its still a real gem to me.
Do you ever go back?

I think you're right, Brighton.

I've been back twice but can't go for the foreseeable future due to visa issues.

Part of the problem is the circumstances that cause me to be here (too involved to go into on here). But I need to accept that this is the way it is and find some good things instead of feeling increasingly resentful.

Howdo, I used to live in CT, before I moved to the Midwest, so you have my sympathy. Why are you not on our US thread ?

I live here. You met my family and I. And you still are not happy? What more could you want???

Well Dooney, that was wonderful and obviously makes each day much more bearable

That's lovely, Cali.

I just need a kick up my arse and to remember that it could be MUCH worse.

MadameDeath, you have a good point. One thing I hate when people visit me is that they always compare the US to the UK yet I think I do it more than I realise. I must stop. I think that would be a good step.

Thanks for posting, everyone. Feel better now

You could be living in the middle of nowhere in the Midwest, and be surrounded by loads of Palin-loving crazies, I guess.

Oh Dooney, don't! Living in Obama's neck of the woods lulls me into thinking that the rest of the country think the way my neighbourhhod does. I forget I live in a Deomcratic oasis. I'm scared about the election. If it goes well, I can add 'sensible President' to my list of good things but I do worry...

hey - I've been in the US for 15 years and right now I have a really hard time coming up with good things - especially right now as the political climate scares the life out of me, I disagree with the majority of the US foreign policy, health care is a nightmare - most people are only one major illness away from the poor house, and the absolutely WORST thing is I can't get my 6 year old to spell MUM correctly , or for that matter say Tomato .

I would give anything to move back to the UK - although - I do understand that the grass is not always greener on the other side, and when I read the BBC web site and the other sites on MN I feel quite sad about the UK these days, but its still home and the US will never be home to me.

Sorry SuperBunny, I realize this is not helping and I think it is just me being a grumpy old lady, some things I do like, the weather, the snow, the mountains, the wildlife my friends and my job and of course my beautiful son who was concieved with the help of the wonderful doctors in the US, one thing I know is that this would not have happened so quickly if I had had to rely on the NHS.

I lived in Northern Virginia until March - we were there for just shy of two-and-a-half-years. Good stuff? I felt free of other people's assumptions, bizarrely. Most people have a view of what a typical Brit is like, but it doesn't leave room for the class and geographical nuances you can get saddled with back home. I felt able to be myself because people I met could put my idiosyncracies down to being a foreigner and forgive me for them . I did things I would never have done at home - saw a polo match, watched monster trucks, took my other half kayaking, walked rapidly away from bears, flew to NY for a day...

I think what really helped me was making a group of friends who let me forget I was an outsider. We were on the same sports team - shared goals and all that - and we really enjoyed trying new things together. They took me to Delaware to see pumpkins being flung for miles by complex catapult-type efforts, for example. And tubing in the summer. And hiking. I miss it, even taking Sainsbury's into account!

God, I sound like an American Pollyanna!

GenerationX, actually, it does help. In that it makes me feel like I am not the only grumpy old lady around. But you have good points.

PollyAnna Unclefluffy, my BF always puts my oddities down to my being British. I haven't corrected him yet

Remembering the new things I have done here is good. For example, I am sitting here munching on kettle corn that we got at the Apple Orchard on Monday. I had never been on a hay ride, to an orchard or picked my own pumpkin in the UK. So there are good things.

Thank you all for comforting me!

I used to enjoy being 'foreign' when we lived in the US.

There are advantages such as lots of space, but that also brings its disadvantages too.

Depending on where you live in the US, you can end up in a place where neighbours are really friendly and where it is normal for kids to play out on the streets and walk to school on their own.

You can buy into a good school district, if your area is made up of small independent districts.

You really appreciate the UK.

Don`t miss the U.K weather

And I don`t like the international schools But no choice in that

Do miss Marks and spencers
Shopping on a Sunday
sensation crisps
sour creame and chive dips
bacon and sausages
clothes shopping being cheaper
the list is endless ........

But would I want to move back yet
Eeerrrr no way

Feeling a bit low superbunny? Hope you've woke up feeling more positive but if not, remember its good to mope sometimes!
I know everyone gives the weather as the most obvious plus for the us but for me its more than that - its the seasons. I love autumn here. The colours are beautiful and you can really enjoy them on a crisp sunny day with bright blue skies ( not the same as grey drizzle of Scotland). I like that Halloween and Thanksgiving as so big that CHristmas doesn't really become a focus until December. I love that my kids get to play in deep snow (again Scotland offers drizzle). I love that everyone rushes outside to play (or watch) sport as soon as spring comes and that there is a sport and a level for everyone from highly competitive to my ds's soccer where kids wander off the pitch when they've had enough! And of course, I love the hot summers (Scotland still offering drizzle!).
I love the shopping; Target is my second home. I love the way children are welcomed at restaurants. I love boneless wings. I love cheap Californian wine. I love that my neighbour takes her daughter to the busstop in her pjs so I feel smug if I manage to get my jeans on . I love that I am 2 dress sizes smaller without losing any weight. I love that I have actually lost some weight because their chocolate is so bad. I love the nutty things Americans do like carry hand sanitizer at all times but also swim in the local lake, or refuse to say the word toilet.
There are so many things I could moan about but Im not going to. I am going to be positive today and Im dragging you along too!!