Moving to the UK from Massachusetts

Hi everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Heather, I am moving with my British husband and our 4 year old adopted son to the UK in July of 2013. My husband has been here in the states now for almost 10 years and really misses it back in the UK, his whole family is there. So we made the decision that we would go back! I am so excited and cant wait to start this journey together as a family. And of course a little nervous! There is so much that needs to be done for us to be able to go over with my husband. Can't wait to leave!   

Welcome to the forum. I'm Massachusetts born,bred and raised. Lived there all my life until i came here to Scotland in 1999. Where in Mass are you? I grew up in a small town called Medfield and was living in Medway before coming here.
Where abouts in the UK will you be moving to? I came over for a job on a work permit and worked my way up the immigration ladder. Now have dual citizenship.

Feel free to ask any questions.. 

Hi & welcome to UKY Heather!  Anywhere in particular that you're looking to move to?

Welcome!  Another fellow Masshole here.   

Where are you coming from?  I grew up in Wilmington and moved here from Boston.  Hubby's from Yorkshire and wanted to be closer to his brother and his family. 

Where are you headed?

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the welcomes!

Well lets see - I am from Western Ma, the Berkshires. My husband moved here 10 years ago with his ex wife and 3 kids, and in the process got a divorce and we met! We have been together almost 4 years! He hasnt even been back home for a visit! His entire family is there. His sister is in Dundee Scotland, and his mom is in Maryport, Cumbria.

We are leaving next July and its been a whirlwind of information! Hes all ready for it and I am as well just worried about visas and such! We are hoping to move near his mom so that she can be a support for us. My parents are both gone so we really want our son to grow up with his grandparents are around. Plus we are hoping to add another baby to the family.

Between visas and insurance and all that stuff there is just SO much information! I know they just changed all the rules so to speak and I am SO glad we gave ourselves so much time to figure everything out!

Also my husband is going to get his citizenship here so that we can come back and forth for vacations whenever since his 10 year old son is here with his ex wife and its going to be a huge change for us to be gone.

Cant wait to come over though and explore new places! So is it really a ton different from over here?!?!

Ahhh the Berkshires.. lovely part of the state.. I went to college at UMASS Amherst years n years ago.. well okay graduated in 84 lol.. long enough ago... Loved it out there.. Especially this time of year.. Fall foliage is fantastic.. miss it..
Can't help ya abot the Cumbria area as I've only lived in Scotland.. First up in Aberdeen and then in the lovely Kingdom of Fife.. Dunfermline/Kirkcaldy areas. So i do know of Dundee and been there several times..
It is for sure a huge adjustment but i think keeping a open mind is key. Don't expect things here in the UK to be like the US .. even though they are both english speaking countries they are very differan't.. Clothing and shoe sizes are differant. 
Even little things like some words have differant meanings here.. than back in the states.. some can be very embarrassing if ya don't know. lol.. 
The immediate one that always comes to mind is one i was warned about by a scotsman friend..
fannypack   ----- here in uk a fanny is well what the female pubic area is called. 
They are called bumbags here ...
Lots of others that arent sooo embarrasing and you do learn as ya go..
Feel free to ask away ..

Hahaha - I did know about the "fanny" word which we use a lot here in our house considering my 4 year old! You always try to watch your "language" lol and now its something we are trying to fix for when we move! My husband has "warned" me a lot about words and symbols and such that are different over there than over here.

I have been living with my husband for 4 years, and have really learned for the most part how differently things are going to be. I am thankfully keeping an open mind, I also warned my husband that he needs to be supporting through this all, for me as well as our son. We adopted him through the Department of Social Services, or which is now Department of Children and Families here in MA. He came to us when he was 10 months old and was the perfect little guy. He unfortunately is now going through some rough times and we have been seeing specialists and such here, he is my biggest worry with the move, more or less finding doctors and such and making sure he has his meds.

As far as the Berkshires, this year was an amazing summer and the past winter was wonderful! Hoping this winter is as mild!!

Just informed my husband we are going to continue to celebrate Thanksgiving and all our american holidays! I am not going to take them away from our son who LOVED Thanksgiving! And hopefully we can come back to the states for some of them as well! Since we will be coming back to the states at least for 2/3 weeks a year to see my step son!

Oh the changes! Just started looking into schools for our son. What a difference! Wish we could ideally afford a vacation over before we move but its just impossible! Im so worried about the move and getting everything done in time!

So what else can anyone tell me about things over there? Im worried about weather! Im not a big fan of rain!

Welcome from another Masshole!  (well, originally from CT)

I went to college at UMASS Amherst years n years ago..

I went to Smith!    We're practically neighbors!

Also my husband is going to get his citizenship here so that we can come back and forth for vacations whenever since his 10 year old son is here with his ex wife and its going to be a huge change for us to be gone.

Hi and welcome! Best of luck getting all things sorted!

So has your husband already applied for his US citizenship? My husband is applying too.

I can't give you any tips on the location and I can't help really with the UK rain issue, but I can tell you I live in the PNW where it rains just about as much (or more than) as the rainiest part of the UK and while yes, it is hard, especially the first year or two- if you make sure you have a lot going on in your life and get out and socialize it really helps to not let the rain get to you so much. Just a little tip.

Welcome from another Masshole!  (well, originally from CT)

I went to Smith!    We're practically neighbors!

Thats awesome! Go to Northampton area often. One of my docs was there. Love taking the kids to Look Park as well! Am looking forward to all the changes!

Hi and welcome! Best of luck getting all things sorted!

So has your husband already applied for his US citizenship? My husband is applying too.

I can't give you any tips on the location and I can't help really with the UK rain issue, but I can tell you I live in the PNW where it rains just about as much (or more than) as the rainiest part of the UK and while yes, it is hard, especially the first year or two- if you make sure you have a lot going on in your life and get out and socialize it really helps to not let the rain get to you so much. Just a little tip.

Yeah we decided that hes been here almost 10 years - he mine as well apply for US citizenship. It just makes the most sense, just incase we wanna come back and live at somepoint.

As far as the rain -I am lucky to say I have an amazing mother in law who I am sure will keep me busy doing things. Plus we are hoping to have a baby at somepoint so I am sure between two kids I will be plenty busy! From what I hear baby play groups and such are so much easier to find over there than here in the states. We have NOTHING in this area at the moment! I have to admit sunshine is so beautiful though.

Yeah we decided that hes been here almost 10 years - he mine as well apply for US citizenship. It just makes the most sense, just incase we wanna come back and live at somepoint.

As far as the rain -I am lucky to say I have an amazing mother in law who I am sure will keep me busy doing things. Plus we are hoping to have a baby at somepoint so I am sure between two kids I will be plenty busy! From what I hear baby play groups and such are so much easier to find over there than here in the states. We have NOTHING in this area at the moment! I have to admit sunshine is so beautiful though.

Yep, mine has been here 13 years and it's kind of long overdue! He just sent in his paperwork yesterday. I guess the wait depends on where in the country you are located, do you know the current wait times from Mass?

I'm glad you will be close to your mother in law and will be keeping yourself occupied, but yes, the sun sure is beautiful!!