British Expatriate Network

In another thread it is mentioned that many of the folks on Britnet have been here for a long time.
So, for those who have been here some time, how long since you left the old country and what are the changes that have occured to you that may not have, had you stayed in the UK? How has your life been different in your country of choice rather than the country of your birth?

For myself I left England for the USA twenty years ago. I lived in Arizona for a couple of years then moved to Oregon where I still live.

I been married to Mr. Melhug, an American, for those same twenty years and we have almost finished paying for our home. Our vehicles are paid for also and may be old now by some standards, but we have no payments on big things. We do not have credit cards any more either and save for what we want... pretty much as I have always done. But we are debt free, just about.

Since coming to the USA, I have been able shrug off the shyness I had back home, and have also been able to be open about my beliefs, (Wiccan) despite being married to a Christian.

I have learned to drive here, just a couple of years ago, which is something I would never have done in England... I dislike driving anyway and I used public transport over there. Since Mr Melhug had his heart attack we have been very glad that I did learn!

I have put on a considerable amount of weight here, but whether that would have happened over there too I do not know.

I think the biggest change in me is in my attitude towards formality etc. Whereas I would dress up to go out in the evening over there, I wear jeans and casual clothing here.
I have only been back to England once since I moved here and was so shocked at the changes over there that I may never go back again. It was not the country I had left and too many years had passed so the changes were so obvious.

I know many of you on here have taken citizenship of your country of choice... and I am going to do the same. I have lived in this house longer than I have lived any place and have lived with Mr. Melhug longer than with any other person including my parents... so I have no doubt I will end my days here too.

I know that many of the changes that have happened to me may have happened had I not left England, but I think that being in the USA has been the catalyst for many of them.

How about you?

My appologies if this subject has already been done!

Melhug, sorry to hear of your hubby's heart attack, I hope this is being managed now.
His nibs and I have had the worst 3 years of our life and are now in our "we're getting better" year.
He had a stroke, but I wouldn't let him lose consciousness, which destroys brain cells due to lack of oxygen, and he recovered with innumerable therapys and fabo docs, and was back at work in 2 months . Most people think he's lying if he tells them he stroked out. Some actually tell us the docs are worng and he must have had an ischemic attack, at first I was atonished, nowadays I just look at them and say, ' you're in retail when you could be a doc?"
I collapsed after he was declared well, the doc, an Indian, the wife of his doc, I have no faith in docs they always find something wrong, discovered I have an autopsy disease, (ie generally found at autopsy) which oddly enough one of his cousins residing in S. Africa also has. Turns out we grew up in the same area, makes me think it's enviromental.
Anyone remember the cleanliness of the 50's and 60's in the N.West of UK.
So we're both medded up to the eyeballs and slimmer and happier than in ages. I'm full of metal stents, and re growing a kidney, yeah, even the techs who see this are like, wow, how d'ya do that, like I'd know.
He's been back once to UK, for a funeral, me, I haven't been back at all in 20 years, I know it won't be the same, I know I won't like it.
I'm happier here, freer to do the crazy stuff I've always liked doing, and formality, well, I'm in California, you want socks with the sandals, that's as formal as we get. roll lol

I think this is always a good topic. Been here 7 years now. Been home about 4 times, try to get back every 2 yrs or so. Miss home (and I still call it home) yep sure do. Miss friends, family and my job. Tend to look at it that i am only 10hrs away if I need to go home and have been stuck in traffic jams in the UK for 7 hrs lol.

Changes yep been alot, my folks think I would be nuts, if I went back, but will always have that yearning I guess. May just head off to another place you never know lol.

I often wonder how those from our small group of friends on here have found changes, when they left the Uk, came here for several years and then gone back to the UK.

What they liked before they left and what they hated and what has changed. Would they have moved in the first place lol

I'll give you a response when not I'm pissed. Which I am now. D

Opps, Brandi is getting . . . oi. ... gotta go D

You're drinking brandy? :mrgreen:

I read it as "Brandi" - as in a woman.... :shock:

I read it as "wishful thinking" :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :wink:

mrgreen lol lol lol lol
Cel, you are so right there