Page 35 | Living in America....... summer 2010!

redflipflops · 2010-05-24T15:47:16+00:00

So.... new thread.... please join me introductions: redflipflops - California (central Coast)

tadjennyp · 08/02/2011 05:50

Thanks ladies!

ohmydizzydays · 08/02/2011 11:05

Hi, another newbie joining if thats ok!

Congratulations tadjennyp :)

I have read this (massive!) thread with interest as we are considering move to States. Am particularly interested in talking to MadameDeathStare as dh's parents are in Alabama, nr Talladega.

Dh is American so not a problem from that point of view, and we have two boys aged 4 and 7. I lived in US (Florida) for nearly 3 years and really got to love it and feel at home there, (although v hot!) We returned here in 1998 (just as I got used to it!) due to my work and dh has done well building a business as a self-employed electrician. However, things have been bad for the last couple of years and we've sold house etc to pay off debts. Now we are renting a little bungalow, have a little (and I mean little)bit of money left and those big houses in AL seem to be going so cheap...??

Kids are at great school but we are going to run out of space and 'savings' here pretty soon I fear! I'm just wondering how bad / good it is out there as far as employment / economy / schools, ie do the house prices reflect the areas / schools as they do here? I'm sure they do but are some houses at rock bottom prices available in 'good neighborhoods'?, etc etc Indecision is raining and I am getting very wet!

Just really want a family house again, want kids to have a good life but I know we need to be v cautious...

kickassangel · 08/02/2011 13:34

you'd prob need to do some local looking around to know for sure, but housing here can reflect 'good' or 'bad' areas, but it can also just reflect that there's a lot of space.

i live in a small town just outside a v nice city (the american equivalent of cambridge). housing is so cheap compared to the UK - about 1/3 of the price, but that's because we're in the mid west, the moment you're away from the city land is plentiful. we have a huge house, brilliant schools (pretty much the best in the state), lovely little local town & only 5 miles from a vibrant, cultural city.

it really is as perfect as it sounds.

BUT we're also not far from Detroit - where they are bulldozing areas of the city as they can't afford to maintain it, and schools are closing. so cheap houses there are in drugs/crime/violent/abandoned areas, with high taxes each year and v few services (roads not being repaired etc).

So do some research locally - if you can afford to, take a trip & just drive around everywhere you're interested in, and visit local schools - here they are v open to people just dropping in to have a look.

jabberwocky · 08/02/2011 14:06

Congratulations, tad!! So happy that little Samuel is here safe and sounds :)

MacMomo, one of my very best friends lives in Las Vegas! House prices are extremely reasonable atm b/c developers overbuilt during the bubble, so a very good thing there. A lot of people think of Vegas only as the strip but of of course there is much more to it. She absolutely loves it, has a 14 year old son who is doing great, loves his school etc. And just a short drive out you have beautiful areas to visit if you like the outdoors.

ohmydizzydays, I live in the South - not Alabama but could tell you some bits. I have been to talladega a couple of times for the Nascar race (yes, my secret is out!) but the racetrack is really outside the city and since the airstrip is right there we never actually drove in. However, the Alabama beaches are beautiful and houses everywhere are so much lower than in years past. So, even in a terrific neighborhood you can still get a great deal. And the South has a lower cost of living than other areas. Our little city changed to the Magnet School program a few years ago. You get to choose one of four options for elementary school. Ds1 goes to the International Baccalaureate School and loves it! Ds2 is in a private pre-school that is lovely. It is 5 days a week and including lunches only cost about $400 a month.

ohmydizzydays · 08/02/2011 17:37

thanks kickass - good advice. I saw on tv about Detroit - is pretty unbelievable.

We would come over to look around first if we could but unfortunatley no funds so if we come, it will be a case of packing up and getting on the plane!

jabberwocky, that's interesting about the Magnet school system - not heard of it, will look it up.

Another thing I was wondering about is sport in schools, particularly football / soccer - do most schools have soccer teams as well as the more traditional american sports? My ds1 is football crazy.

ohmydizzydays · 08/02/2011 18:35

thanks jabberwocky by the way for your thoughts / info on Alabama - I know that the taxes and cost of living are generally lower in the south as you say. Where are you from originally? We live in Croydon / greater london, but have lived in cambridgeshire too - could go back up there as is bit cheaper but worried if stuck in the fens we'll wish we went to America!

jabberwocky · 08/02/2011 18:52

I am originally from the US - one of the minority on MN I discovered the site many years ago when googling for PND support.

From what I have read on here London is mega-eexpensive. Alabama will probably be shocking (in a good way) in the lower cost!

fridakahlo · 08/02/2011 20:25

Just from recent experience of looking in NJ (so not sure how much that would apply to AL). The trend we noticed is that a house in a nice area going cheaply would be in major need of fixing up, so I guess if you and your husband were up to it, it would be a good way of finding something.

ohmydizzydays · 08/02/2011 20:37

Yeah, its really shocking to look at some of the house prices out there - seems too good to be true compared to here and London is like a country on its own when it comes to prices, but I guess we just would have to get out there and see. Lots of ground to cover.. I think you are in AR? What's it like there is it considered the 'deep south' as Alabama is? Dh has an uncle there and relatives in North Carolina also. I remember when we were in Florida alot of people seemed to move to North Carolina - perhaps it was for marginally cooler weather!

Am thinking of doing a pgce - does anyone know of an equivalent qualification in the US? While I was there I worked in a fruit company in customer care and did some substitute teaching..

thanks frida, yes we'd be up for that, all we seem to ever buy is total 'fixer uppers'. maybe wwill start by trying to speak to a realtor? not really had any experience of them in US as previously rented from dh aquaintance.. Good luck with everything over there, congrats on new house

jabberwocky · 09/02/2011 01:23

Yes, I'm in Arkansas so not really Deep South. TN is considered Mid-South and then you go towards Mid-West so I think we are just sort of generic Southern

The South certainly has more than its fair share of Conservatives with a liberal (no pun intended) amount of rednecks sprinkled through. So you need to know that upfront. As long as that doesn't bother you or you are good at staying out of political debates then no problem. It also has very friendly people who take Southern Hospitality to the utmost and will meet you at the door your first day with a casserole in one hand and freshly baked brownies in the other. I have visited many areas of the country and have found something to like everywhere. Being born here I guess I have just wound up staying in the area although I have lived in various cities over the years.

kickassangel · 09/02/2011 01:33

dizzy - we moved here from fenland (near st ives) & much prefer it. of course, that doesn't say how you'll feel, but i can give you some comparison points.

and kids have plenty of opportunity for soccer where we are - US football not done til older as it's a bit rougher. soccer doesn't have the same kudos as soccer when they get older, but your ds may well adapt by then.

i have to say that i LOVE small town america. yes, it is a bit small town & parochial, and we're in left-wing liberal area of the US (still plenty of deer hunters though), but people are v welcoming & far more relaxed/accommodating, especially with kids. expect to have doors held open, people offer to lift heavy things etc for you.

kickassangel · 09/02/2011 01:40

oh, and dizzy they have a bachelors in education here. don't know what qualifications you have, but if you contact any post-16 education places you went to & ask for your 'academic transcript' then you can submit that to an agency (each state board of education has its preferred ones, and you can prob find out online), they will give you american equivalency. for 'a' levels i just need the certificates.

once you have that, then you can either get a state licence for teaching, or use any 'credits' you have to go towards a Bachelor of Education.

I am going through this process & last week went from having one degree (in UK) to two and a half!! (in US)

ohmydizzydays · 09/02/2011 10:26

Haha, jabberwocky, I love that, 'a liberal amount of rednecks sprinkled through'! I've come across a few of those in Fla I think and even my dh, being a native floridian, has some of it sprinkled into him too me thinks

I know a big part of dh yearns to return home to some of that southern hospitality you talk of, along with dreaming of owning a pick up truck once again!, despite his total anglesisation(?) over the last 13 years. Also having more space for kids would be a dream. We will see..

Kickass, when we moved over from States we lived first in Warboys for 6 months, then bought a house in Ramsey, (in 1998, for £39,000!!!) I worked in Fenstanton and regularly went to St Ives at lunchtimes! We were up there for 2 years when dh got offered a job nr Croydon (where I grew up) and here we've stayed, had kids and heommoraged (sorry for sp error, but YKWIM) money ever since! I am trying to get work now ds2 is 4 and at school, but seems every one else is too and what with all the cuts, we are wondering is it all worth it.

Info on academic transcript and credits really helpful, thanks, will check it out. 2 1/2 degrees is pretty impressive! My degree is in Art History, basically (useful!)

It's nice to be back near family and old friends where you grew up, but this really is so pricey and just don't seem to be getting the work. Anyhow will keep trying for now, and then give up

PenguinArmy · 09/02/2011 14:06

Sorry to crash post with back reading, but I was wondering what you do if you find out your pregnant over here. Just go and see your doctor and take it from there?

PenguinArmy · 09/02/2011 14:07

opps sorry that was meant to apologise for not having caught up on thread

ohmydizzydays · 09/02/2011 16:26

yep, pretty much go to your doctor and take it from there! are you from the US? :)

PenguinArmy · 09/02/2011 16:47

no, I moved here in the summer. Plan was to work here for two years, but it's one year contract with the option to extend. We'll see how my boss feels about it all now.

ohmydizzydays · 09/02/2011 20:27

Sorry, I thought you meant you were from US and asking what to do over here in UK! But I think the doctor would be a good place to start in America too!! where abouts are you in US?

tadjennyp · 10/02/2011 00:54

Depends on your insurance penguin. If you have a GP you might need a referral to an OB/GYN but often they can do that over the phone. He/she might need to be in network but you should be able to find a list of providers easily from your insurance. (You can tell I've done this recently ).

kickassangel · 10/02/2011 02:56

dizzy - i lived in bluntisham, so pretty close to warboys. also grew up in kent & have been to croydon a few times - well, more like gatwick.

penguin - are you telling us something?

jabberwocky · 10/02/2011 04:23

Penguin, it does depend a little on your insurance I guess. I asked around when pg with ds2 and made an appointment with the OB who was very highly recommended by other mothers in playgroups, etc. She was a fabulous doctor! So you may or may not need a referral but even if you do you should have a good range of choices.

PenguinArmy · 10/02/2011 08:56

thanks, all sounds terribly confusing, but I need to see the doc anyway and yes I'm telling you something .

Do I wait until around 8 weeks?

Grockle · 10/02/2011 09:14

Penguin, sounds exciting.

My primary care physician did a blood test but I was seeing her about something else. I must've been about 10 weeks

jabberwocky · 10/02/2011 15:37

Congratulations!
I think they did my first ultrasound at 8 weeks so go ahead and make your appt for then. They will give you lots of information when you call and also on your first appointment.

tadjennyp · 10/02/2011 17:55

Unless you've had a previous ectopic, 8 weeks is soon enough, really. Same as at home. Another thread baby!