Immigrating to the US

[Rich_L]

As long as you're happy, living in that regularly sounds pretty horrible to me. Anything much over 20-25C should only be holiday weather although your job probably isn't too bad in that regard.

That's the best thing about SB Year-round average temps of 25C with daily sunshine, low humidity and a cool on-shore breeze, with the occasional stints of scorchio weather every now and then (it just happens today is one of those!). Oh and a rainy day maybe once, twice a year

It is pretty entertaining though here when the temperature drops below 60F (15C) and everyone shuts up shop, wraps up and won't come out outside until it 'warms up' again

 

[deuse]

Perhaps you could tell the story of how those 4 years went, it would be very interesting to see how a 14 year old manages to emigrate to the USA and purchase land by the age of 18?

Where did I say I emigrated to the US at 14? I said I planed to.

In 1975 there was hardley anyone north of Clearwater and it was cheap.
And in Florida you only have to be 18 or above to enter into a contract.
I got a bank account there by the way of my irish friends.

I started work at the Pedmore House stourbridge at 14.5 years old.
I did not drink or smoke(at that time) I never had a car I stayed in and saved like hell.

I then got a job as a bar stamper at 16 and that made me loads of money.
You forget Fox that in the 70s-80s jobs were plentiful and they paid well.

Then all I did was go back and forth buying and selling in the US. Is that enough lol.

Oh and if you ever want to go to FL get a job as a janitor because after doing a 1pm to 9.30pm shift for 3 years
You go on to be the head janitor and that pays you $25 an hour with health and 8 weeks off a year

 

[knowledge123]

There aren't many places where it is practical to get by without a car. Americans generally don't do walking!

True, even in the smaller cities there is a lot of space in between suburban and city center areas. I have been working on my driving license and am ok in every area except freeways.

 

[deuse]

True, even in the smaller cities there is a lot of space in between suburban and city center areas. I have been working on my driving license and am ok in every area except freeways.

What's the driving test like in Seattle? In florida you take it behind the test centre no other cars about

And don't you just love the 4 way stop signs..In Clearwater they put a 3 lane roundabout by the beach
it was so funny watching the yanks getting it wrong.

 

[Rich_L]

Haha, in the local newspaper they got a bunch of letters from disgruntled citizens when they installed a couple of mini-roundabouts in SB to replace 4-way stop signs, stating that they were 'dangerous traffic hazards' which would most likely cause accidents to sky-rocket.

Heaven help said people if they ever visit Milton Keynes

 

[deuse]

Haha, in the local newspaper they got a bunch of letters from disgruntled citizens when they installed a couple of mini-roundabouts in SB to replace 4-way stop signs, stating that they were 'dangerous traffic hazards' which would most likely cause accidents to sky-rocket.

Heaven help said people if they ever visit Milton Keynes

That would be funny to watch that

Mind you I have made an ass of myself years ago because I did not know you can turn right at
the traffic lights when they are red in FL but you can't turn left at traffic lights in New jersey

 

[Fr0dders]

Haha, in the local newspaper they got a bunch of letters from disgruntled citizens when they installed a couple of mini-roundabouts in SB to replace 4-way stop signs, stating that they were 'dangerous traffic hazards' which would most likely cause accidents to sky-rocket.

Heaven help said people if they ever visit Milton Keynes

SOMEBODY E-MAIL THEM A PICTURE OF THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT !! (as in the 10 or so mini roundabouts ,not the one from the 80s kids TV show :/ )

 

[G-MAN2004]

The US now offers an paid-for green card for $500,000 dollars (around £320,000) per person LOL

I'd do that in an instant, even if it meant living in a crappy apartment.

I know we're not eligible to take part in the lottery, but do you reckon there is a chance of them including the UK again in the near future?

 

[guyfawkes5]

I disagree with most of what you say. From Virginia north is crap and so is CA the mid west is great.

And who told you that you had to be wealthy to go?
Looks like you have been watching to much tv or you holiday there a lot and think you know it all.

But to the OP 7-10 years is a good plan, go and buy cheap land and sit on it till your ready to go.

I would agree with Fox from my own limited experience living there, that emigrating to America without personal connections or relative financial security would be a mistake, more so than in other countries. It seems America's famed social mobility works both ways.

 

[Kutter]

True, even in the smaller cities there is a lot of space in between suburban and city center areas. I have been working on my driving license and am ok in every area except freeways.

Just got my drivers licence today, i didnt know that as a British licence holder, i would have to take the theory and driving test for New Hampshire. Jeese i took my test in 87 and today i was actually nervous driving round with the examiner. I had to drive into the town center, do a parallel park, he took me to a couple of no right turn on red to try and catch me out. I was really relieved when they said i'd passed lol.

I dont think i could live in Cali like Rich L, i prefer having 4 seasons and a nice snowy xmas.

 

[Rich_L]

To be fair, that's SoCal - Northern California has seasons I believe

That said, this winter I will be endeavoring to one weekend both surf, and ski in the same day, which you can do if you ski Big Bear in the morning and then drive to the coast (2-3hrs) and surf in the afternoon. points x million

 

[manic111]

I agree with this.

My mother is American, she is resident there and many moons ago I had to jump through hoops to get an American passport as I was born here with a British Father.

It's a nightmare, besides Canada is a far nicer place to live.

Really? I'm the same as you - American mum, English dad, born here - and have had both a US and English passport from birth...

 

[Clipsey]

Why does this thread show up every few weeks it seems?
People have very different views on 'living' in the States, most seem a bit out of proportion I'd guess.
All I can say from my experience, is that it is a LOT easier to live in the States. In every aspect of life, rich or poor. If you are truly determined and want to work hard, there is money to be made no matter what level of education you have.
Again, depends on cities and what 'living' is to you.

 

[Totality]

If you are able to get a working holiday style visa for the USA (if you are a student) try that and live there for a while. You may find that living somewhere is vastly different from going there on holiday (and by that I mean get past the first couple of months where you still feel like a tourist).

I've been in New Zealand now for about 6-7 weeks working and it's a lot different to what I expected from being on holiday! The working hours are longer and when the novelty wears off about escaping the UK, you begin to think "Is the UK really that bad or was it the media that made me think that?!".

New Zealand is good, don't get me wrong, but when you live somewhere the rose tinted glasses fade away and you start to notice the bad stuff!

 

[knowledge123]

What's the driving test like in Seattle? In florida you take it behind the test centre no other cars about

I've not taken my license test yet, only done the computer and visual test to get my learners permit.
From what people have told me, you use your own car and go out on the streets and drive as directed by the instructor. That wouldn't be a problem if the Department of Licensing was not on a very busy, major, road. Fun!

And don't you just love the 4 way stop signs..In Clearwater they put a 3 lane roundabout by the beach
it was so funny watching the yanks getting it wrong.

Haha, in the local newspaper they got a bunch of letters from disgruntled citizens when they installed a couple of mini-roundabouts in SB to replace 4-way stop signs, stating that they were 'dangerous traffic hazards' which would most likely cause accidents to sky-rocket.

Heaven help said people if they ever visit Milton Keynes

Haha! There's a roundabout near me and it is quite scary how many people go around the wrong way.

I was there one day when a car took it waaaay too fast, hit the kurb and deflated one (if not both) of his front tyres.

Just got my drivers licence today, i didnt know that as a British licence holder, i would have to take the theory and driving test for New Hampshire. Jeese i took my test in 87 and today i was actually nervous driving round with the examiner. I had to drive into the town center, do a parallel park, he took me to a couple of no right turn on red to try and catch me out. I was really relieved when they said i'd passed lol.

Well done! I never needed to drive in the UK, so this is all new to me. Parallel parking is something I need to work on, also, before I take my test.