Colchester blues...

Hi all.  This is my first post, although I moved to the UK in July.  I have been unable to find a job (in my field or out of it).  My husband and I have made very few friends.  The train to London is ridiculously and prohibitively expensive.  And although we will soon visit the U.S. for Christmas, I am feeling a bit homesick.  Is there anyone living in the Colchester area looking to meet fellow expats? 

Aw Christine I wish I lived closer by, but I am sure someone will.  It might help to have a friendly ear and in the meantime take a tour around the site and post away!

Welcome to UKY!

Hi Christine
So sorry about the homesickness!  It gets the best of us my dear!!!  I'm in Surrey, so not that close (I really have no idea though) Where in the States are you from?  I see you are an Art Historian, I studied a little bit in Uni years ago.  I loved it!  I actually found a job outside of my profession (I was a Fundraiser for almost 10 years) as a Uni Programme Administrator, though I'll admit I was looking for a change. 

Welcome to UKY, I'm sure there will be at least one person here that is close to you.

Hello,
I live in Chelmsford, so I am not to far from you.  Welcome to UK Yankee!!  I am a stay at home mom, so my social life is not stacked full at present.

Colchester is a lovely town, much to do, well more than Chelmsford

You can PM me if you would like to swap stories or get together.
Danielle

Hi Christine and welcome.

Sorry to hear you are feeling homesick but hopefully things will improve. There's also a few of us here job-hunting so perhaps I'll start a thread for all of us who are and you can vent a bit there.

Since you are an Art Historian, have you looked at jobs.ac.uk? That's a good place to look for this sort of thing. Though this is a slow time of year!

I know what you mean about friends, too. I find this site helps enormously though!

Welcome!1  I also moved here in July and am  looking for work and friends as  well.  I'm in Birmingham.. so what are the chances?? 

as mentioned.. this  site is wonderful  and you  truly begin to feel  you are not alone in all you are feeling..
I am also going to the U.S. for xmas and  know what you mean about the homesickness.  BOOOY Our men must be  patient!! 

I am in Leigh on Sea which is 40 minutes from Chelmsford,  and I am a stay at home mom at present, and I moved here in July, too.   Maybe a group of us could meet in Chelmsford at the cute little shops by the water.  Let me know if you would like to!

Apparently I am more of a computer idiot than I thought, because I checked this thread a few days after I wrote the message and thought that nobody had replied!  Oops!  Thanks for all your kind words.

Well, I did finally find a part-time job, but it is where my husband works, so it has not really lead to my meeting any new people or feeling more independent.  Still, at least I get out of the house.  And I am finally getting the hang of driving on the left, so I don't feel quite as trapped.

I guess I'm feeling a bit less homesick at the moment, but instead I am depressed by the long UK winter!  I'm from Florida.  I spend the last 4 years in Binghamton, NY-- so the weather here is an improvement (I'll take rain over snow any day!), but I'm still yearning for summer.  Normally I would go visit my parents in Ft. Lauderdale around this time of year and get in a dose of sunshine. 

I would be very happy to meet up in Chelmsford if you guys still want to.

Hi -- I'm in Clacton which is only about 1/2 hour from Colchester.  I've been in the UK about 8 years now.   I get to Colchester pretty often.  Anyway, this week is half-term and I have four kids, so very busy, but if you want to meet up after that , let me know.   

I am totally ready for this winter to end soon, and summer in Clacton is not too bad -- I live about a block from the seaside.

A block from the sea... how nice!  We went to Clacton quite a lot in the summer.  We park at the southern-most lot with the tower and walk south, away from the noise of the pier.  I was disappointed to find that it's a bit chilly to swim or even wear a bathing suit, but then I am a spoiled Florida girl when it comes to beaches!

I haven't been going anywhere with this horrible snow lately.  But perhaps when the weather improves a bit we could meet.