I hate living here

Aw, best of luck to her. I've been here for six months now, on a student visa going to grad school and living with my long term BF of 4 1/2 years. Before I moved I had visited the UK 4 times (same amount of times with BF visited the US). I do think that the fact I visited previously helped with adjustment and what to expect, but it's still very different actually living here. In December-January I had a really tough time with homesickness/depression and being lonely. The fact that it was that post-holidays slump time and the ''January Blues'' didn't help, either. Homesickness/depression can really be debilitating, and there were times I thought to myself ''am I crazy? I left my beautiful family that I'm so close to to come to a place where I have little independence and consistently lonely.'' I'm better now, though I still have my moments. I think of my family everyday- we have constant contact too which helps. I'm still adjusting. I realize that I can't just snap my fingers and have everything perfect. It's all a work in progress that requires patience, time, and deep breaths   BF is super supportive of me too, and he has done SO much to help me here.

I've been here since August of last year, and I still find myself hating it sometimes.  It has gotten better, and hopefully if this "Scottish Spring" that everyone keeps talking about ever arrives, it might get better still.  I moved here to Edinburgh from Brooklyn, NY so it's been a difficult adjustment to say the least.  Everything here closes at around 10 or 11 on weeknights (and those are the "late" shops and pubs), it's been hard meeting people who have similar interests, but my main issue I have to admit has been the weather.  As I said, I'm from New York, so I'm not particularly thin-skinned, but it is just miserable here.  So cold, damp and dark.  And even inside, it's just always cold.  No one turns the heat on here.  Again, hopefully the spring will arrive soon (though I stopped holding my breath a while back...  It's the middle of April and still freezing!)  It is staying light out past 3:30pm now anyway, so that's a good thing .  I hope things are going better for you now Gabriella.  Maybe it helps in some small way to know that you're not alone.  Thanks for letting me rant.

axlroach,

I am from Manhattan. The East Village. Born and raised. I'd seriously cut a b*tch for regular access to a late night bodega that sold Bustelo coffee.

So, I hear ya!!!

xoxoxox
L

I know what you mean , I'm from LI use to work in NYC  I hate the cold here , miss alot of things miss MY CAR  having trouble learning the rules to get my license here

Used to think it was harder for older people to get used to new situations but not so sure now.  I think the more experience you have of moving to different places you realize that there's always going to be some differences. Yeah, there's things I miss in the US and there were things I missed about the UK. But things change anyway -- nothing stays the same forever. That brand of cereal or whatever that you're craving may very well be changed or completely disappear in another year or so. C'est la vie.
But everybody's entitled to a good moan about it    Right now (aside from my cat) I'm missing my pillow, my fleece jackets, Endangered Species chocolate, etc. But I'll get over it.

I feel your pain. I just moved here in Jan. I am from a small town but even for me it has been a total culture shock. This week I did have my first cry about it all. But I do love it..just get hard sometimes.

I just want you to know we are all here to help anyway you can. I do suggest like others to find any activities you like and can join in. I know you said where you live doesn't have much. So hopefully a town that is nearby on the bus might have something?

I am lucky that I am going to school so I am starting to sign up for as many societies that grab my attention.

Good Luck to you!

I have actually lived in a few different countries, and I lived in London in the late 80's, and moved back to London about 2 years ago...

When I was here in the late 80's, my transition seemed a lot easier. The laws were different. I had no problem working, or getting a bank account, or renting a flat... Some of these things have become much harder here, maybe because of 911? I think it is harder in most places to do certain things now... And people had a very different view of Immigration, in general, back then - They were handing out work visas to anyone who landed a job, any job, and there were jobs available.

It might have also been easier because I was younger. I don't know. I do know that I made friends easier when I was younger, in general. Everywhere! It took me a bit longer to make new friends this time. I have more requirements and expectations in regard to 'friendship' than I had when I was younger. (Thankfully, ha ha!)

Anyway, some days I really hate it here, and some days I don't hate it, but I never LOVE it here, and I always miss my people back home. Even on good days!

Today, it is sunny, and I am off from work, and I have social plans with the hubby and some friends, so it is a 'not so bad day' for me.

I'm overdue for a trip home tho...