Saw this on the BBC
http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6412083.stm
I suspect we could ad tot he list, not just those who have recently returned, but those who have recently visited.
Also, for those who have been expats for a while... what has changed where you are?
For me, here, now everyone else sees what a loser GWB is and the damage his presidency has done to the US.
Over there, my fear is that Britain seems to be becoming a less tolerant place, particularly where muslims are concerned.
I'll try to think of something more positive as the day wears on...
Agreed, Bush is certainly on course eto have the most spectacularly awful presidency ever.
Who can explain this?
16. A wag was something a dog did with its tail.
Apart from being someone who is witty.
A lot has changed in the town in which I have lived for the past 12 years. It is now multi-ethnic and there are half a dozen Indian restaurants in town where previously there were none.
What I noticed recently is a lot of pavement cafes. Don't know if it's something to do with the new smoking ban ready to take effect.
Also, for those who have been expats for a while... what has changed where you are?
The Sahara is about to go boom. Which is a shame really. There should be some history in Vegas. And I don't mean the Neon Graveyard or the Mormon Mud Hut. And the smoking ban, which doesn't apply in a casino, surprisingly enough. Oh yeah, and the McMansion developments like Mountain's Edge are losing money hand over fist. Nobody wants to drive 25 minutes to the nearest 7-11, let alone 40 minutes to a real food store. Just miles and miles of identikit cheaply built houses where you can hear your neighbours flush the toilet, no pavements and no kind of shops. Way to build a community there.
For me, here, now everyone else sees what a loser GWB is and the damage his presidency has done to the US.
Yeah, it's amazing how many people I know currently claim to be "Libertarian" or "conservative but not a Republican". And so many of them have "Support Our Troops" magnets with very small "Made In China" writing.
last time I was back. I gob loads of eastern europeans. Its like they have up housed and all come to the UK lol
The congestion charge. Sounds like a bloody cold lol
And Rob S you say the Uk has become less tolerant place maybe thats due to the fact people have taken advantage of it and still give the people the middle finger instead of a thank you. Its a two way street, but some folks want to make it one way. That inturn that creates intolerance on both sides.
I haven't been back in nigh on 20 years and my girlfriend over there says, No, I'll come to you, it'll probably be more like something I recognise. (Talk about USA being back in time.)
I just think once you've left a place you can never go back and find what it was you left. All things move on.
Here in N. Ca. we sometimes get rainy Sundays which are just like the N. of England in the 50's and 60's. Nothing open, nothing happening, you expect a cenotaph ceremony. I quite like them. We make tea and crumpets and all that familiar stuff.
However, from what I'm reading, I wouldn't want to go back. It's sunny here now, 70's and possible 80's this weekend.
I'm a climate junkie. 8)
Also, for those who have been expats for a while... what has changed where you are?
The Sahara is about to go boom. Which is a shame really. There should be some history in Vegas. And I don't mean the Neon Graveyard or the Mormon Mud Hut. And the smoking ban, which doesn't apply in a casino, surprisingly enough. Oh yeah, and the McMansion developments like Mountain's Edge are losing money hand over fist. Nobody wants to drive 25 minutes to the nearest 7-11, let alone 40 minutes to a real food store. Just miles and miles of identikit cheaply built houses where you can hear your neighbours flush the toilet, no pavements and no kind of shops. Way to build a community there.
For me, here, now everyone else sees what a loser GWB is and the damage his presidency has done to the US.
Yeah, it's amazing how many people I know currently claim to be "Libertarian" or "conservative but not a Republican". And so many of them have "Support Our Troops" magnets with very small "Made In China" writing.
thats how its always been and always will some folks dont like being on the losing side and will deny who they voted for some ones who wont ...Stand up and be counted ... they look around before they raise there hand or read what others have said before they write .
others will always vote republican 40%no matter what while other will always vote democrat 40% no matter what ...
The 20% left are the ones who decide who gets tobe the administation they vote with a real underatanding of the problems and not apon strict party lines ....
being a libertarian brings its own choices as to whom to vote for in my mind no party /or candidate will have a platform i agree 100 %with so as most libertarian do i vote for the lesser of the 2 evils .either that or not vote at all which then is the greatest evil of all
its a very thin line between either party candidates as to who is themost believable or who will screw up the most ......
last time I was back. I gob loads of eastern europeans. Its like they have up housed and all come to the UK lol
The congestion charge. Sounds like a bloody cold lol
And Rob S you say the Uk has become less tolerant place maybe thats due to the fact people have taken advantage of it and still give the people the middle finger instead of a thank you. Its a two way street, but some folks want to make it one way. That inturn that creates intolerance on both sides.
Goose, I think this has always been the way with immigrants - including us, we are supposed to adapt to them rather than the other way around, but sometimes we have our own ways of doing things and no particular desire to adopt theirs.
However, itis worth keeping in mind that the overwhelming majority of Muslims in Britain are not immigrants, they are natural born Britons. In the past people seemed, at worst, indifferent to this minority. My perception based on what friends and relatives tell me and what I read online is that there is agrowing intolerance of all things islamic.
On the upside, and in a bid to stop this thread turing political, other changes since I've been here would be a 24 hour pubs and (keeping in mind what I do) the new Supreme Court.
Neither particularly witty.... still working on that.
A few things that have changed.
The right to remain silent without incriminating yourself has gone.
People overly using the term "oxymoron" to seem clever and/or educated.
There's stuff to watch on tv after midnight.
Tuscany is not cool anymore.
Wide screen tellys
Blair is the new Thatcher
CCTV everywhere.
Was Tuscany ever really cool?
/Postcard from Chiantishire regards
Was in the middle 90s if you were a pretentious middle class plonker. D
Rob you sorta avoided the statement that its a 2 way street lol. To me it has to be
give and take on both sides. I know many Muslim folks and they are great people but don't they have to help control their own community as well ?