I think I'm becoming an American. When my best mate at home started getting excited about the Tory leadership race and emailing me about it I wasn't even slightly interested. I still read a bunch of British blogs on culture and politics, but I've noticed that in the last year I just don't care as much. In fact I am more interested in Canadian and European issues these days. Living in such a self-interested place like the US has made me much more aware and interested in the world - probably because nobody else gives a toss. I remember having a discussion about this before and someone (Vegas I think) saying that one day you realise that you forgot to check-up on the British stuff like you used to every day. I guess that's what has happened. Having said that I know a 50 year old guy from Wallsall who doesn't care about US politics but is very much up to snuff on British goings on. In fact the only thing he watches on tv is Coronation Street. He's been here 16 years but still seems to frame his life around the fact the he will go home one day.
Do you care about it at all anymore? Have you taken more of an interest in an effort to remain British? Or did your interest end the moment you stepped foot in your new land?
Just the football as much as I can keep up with it. Also whatever news headlines strike my fancy. Not much overall though.
Nope, but then I could'nt give a toss what goes on here either,lol.
I think expats, are expats for a reason, if I was that bothered about the UK, I would never have left.
Though I do watch the footie still )
When my best mate at home started getting excited about the Tory leadership race and emailing me about it I wasn't even slightly interested.
On a side note, every one of the potential Conservative leaders seems like a tosser (in the usual Tory mould) anyway. :shock: :grin:
No not at all in politics of the UK.
I have totally left the UK behind.
I do read the news headlines on Yahoo and will click on one that catches my eye but no more than I would from US or world news.
The only reason I return to the UK is to visit family and have a vacation as would any visitor.
I still look at the national news on the BBC website and the BBC news on TV (when I get the chance) and I look at the my local news website too, and I listen to BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester on the internet when I get the opportunity.
I got to be honest, I can't bring myself to watch the Houses Of Parliament on C-Span. I follow politics but I just get so sick and tired of watching the jack-in-the box MPs and all the crap that goes on during stuff like PM's question time. I was burnt out on it after leaving the UK. Don't get me wrong I like the cut and thrust of a good debate but it get's to be like a pantomime. wink
I still read BBC news daily and read a few papers online at the weekend. Since I only plan to be here for two years there was is never the sense of permancy about living here that many of you have.
One of the perks of being an ex-pat though is that people ask 'What do the British people think of......America/Bush/Hot Dogs/etc etc/' so for a few seconds I get to be an Ambassador and people hang on my every word. Though recently I've been saying - "I have no idea what British people think I haven't been there for ages. I'm beginnig to feel like a New Yorker"
Still I was in the UK two weeks ago. Things have changed and I've lost touch. I was amazed to discover that every child under 16 in London gets free travel all the time -I never read that in the papers. London was different in lots of little ways - but I also think I'm a very different person to the one that came out here. Different interests and ideas.
I went for a meal with a friend and became quiet agitated when we had to stand at the door for two minutes waiting to be seated because there was no one there to greet us. And the service was very slow (even though I moan about the service in the US being too fast shock ). Getting back to New York felt good.
I used to be dead religious about checking the BBC news, my local newspapers, stuff like that.
But I've been here nearly 8 years now... you just kind of drift away from the UK stuff as you get used to things here. And I think not having visited the UK since I left has something to do with it too.
I gave up trying to play Ambassador Of St James' Court after about a week.
I think I'm becoming an American. When my best mate at home started getting excited about the Tory leadership race and emailing me about it I wasn't even slightly interested. I still read a bunch of British blogs on culture and politics, but I've noticed that in the last year I just don't care as much. In fact I am more interested in Canadian and European issues these days. Living in such a self-interested place like the US has made me much more aware and interested in the world - probably because nobody else gives a toss. I remember having a discussion about this before and someone (Vegas I think) saying that one day you realise that you forgot to check-up on the British stuff like you used to every day. I guess that's what has happened. Having said that I know a 50 year old guy from Wallsall who doesn't care about US politics but is very much up to snuff on British goings on. In fact the only thing he watches on tv is Coronation Street. He's been here 16 years but still seems to frame his life around the fact the he will go home one day.
Do you care about it at all anymore? Have you taken more of an interest in an effort to remain British? Or did your interest end the moment you stepped foot in your new land?
Everyday the first thing I do is look at BBC.CO.UK, and check the weather, then I read the headlines, I then look at the Guardian website, then check soccernet.com for the sport. Then I go to the Radio 2 website and play Steve Wright in the afternoon for the previous day. Then I sigh and realise where I am.
I could not give a flying f**k what happens here. I don't watch television, I rarely read US news and although I really know that most Americans are okay and I like the people I work with, I cannot get enthused about this country, I really am just counting the days until I go "home".
I have just realised I am probably not the best person to ask :neutral:
I think I'm becoming an American. When my best mate at home started getting excited about the Tory leadership race and emailing me about it I wasn't even slightly interested. I still read a bunch of British blogs on culture and politics, but I've noticed that in the last year I just don't care as much. In fact I am more interested in Canadian and European issues these days. Living in such a self-interested place like the US has made me much more aware and interested in the world - probably because nobody else gives a toss. I remember having a discussion about this before and someone (Vegas I think) saying that one day you realise that you forgot to check-up on the British stuff like you used to every day. I guess that's what has happened. Having said that I know a 50 year old guy from Wallsall who doesn't care about US politics but is very much up to snuff on British goings on. In fact the only thing he watches on tv is Coronation Street. He's been here 16 years but still seems to frame his life around the fact the he will go home one day.
Do you care about it at all anymore? Have you taken more of an interest in an effort to remain British? Or did your interest end the moment you stepped foot in your new land?
Everyday the first thing I do is look at BBC.CO.UK, and check the weather, then I read the headlines, I then look at the Guardian website, then check soccernet.com for the sport. Then I go to the Radio 2 website and play Steve Wright in the afternoon for the previous day. Then I sigh and realise where I am.
I could not give a flying f**k what happens here. I don't watch television, I rarely read US news and although I really know that most Americans are okay and I like the people I work with, I cannot get enthused about this country, I really am just counting the days until I go "home".
I have just realised I am probably not the best person to ask :neutral:
To be honest, the Tory leadership race isn't that exciting. They all look like they're named Rupert or Timothy.
I was surprised when talking to a coworker this morning who had been to stay in the UK. She was staying with her brother in Essex and said she didn't bother going into Central London as there were terrorist warnings about the tube/buses each day last week. I didn't know that. It may have been something I'd have kept up with more a couple of years ago.
then check soccernet.com for the sport.
Do you think the new soccernet.com web page format is crap? I can't find anything nowadays.
To be honest, the Tory leadership race isn't that exciting. They all look like they're named Rupert or Timothy.
Or Geoffrey. With a double barrelled surname.
i don't take much notice but did see that there could be an interesting juxtaposition if David Davis wins the Tory leadership. he's working class and Tony is a public schoolboy.
then check soccernet.com for the sport.
Do you think the new soccernet.com web page format is crap? I can't find anything nowadays.
This is actually a good point, I find myself hopping between this and bbc.co.k to get what I need. But whatever format the results are in...SPURS are still 2nd in the table !!!!!