What is....

My mom in particular has had a really hard time with the idea of me moving to the UK for my masters program that will last only a year. The problem: I will be living with my brit bf and possibly staying afterwards, or coming back shortly and returning for good. My mom can't seem to accept (forget support!) the idea that I might not be on US soil. I've told her - it's my life and I'm happy, please be happy for me. Doesn't work.

I anticipate missing friends/family and the lack of a dishwasher to be troublesome.  Good luck!

NOTHING about it has been hard. And it's all been worth it!   

I hope its worth it honestly, I love Wales, well all of the Uk honestly, its just I dunno, one of those things were I didn't think about the cons to much, because all I saw was my own freedom. Am I making an sense here?

Are you moving to Wales?

I wish I had a boyfriend :\\\'(

Are you moving to Wales?

That would be correct:P I'm moving to the Bridgend area.

I miss my family and friends something awful! 

Being able to be with my DH makes it all worth it!

Hi dramaqueen. I'm over here as a full-time student, and missing my family, friends and the familiarity of America is definitely a BIG factor for me. It can be very very hard at times, harder than you could probably imagine. I don't think you can really grasp quite how different things are on many levels until you're actually living here, and it can be a real challenge adjusting to that. Britain is definitely NOT America, despite the fact we speak the same language (more or less), and that can be both a good thing and a bad thing.

I've definitely found myself feeling quite a bit less confident here, and at times a little too dependent on my boyfriend... and I'm normally a very independent girl. It has sort of hurt my pride at times, I think. But I think the longer I've been here, the more confident I've gotten about being here. For one, I'm no longer as shy about my accent. Also, things ARE more expensive (as I've mentioned in other posts) so your money doesn't go nearly as far, which has been another frustrating thing for me.

But negative points aside, living here really has really been worth it, for me anyway. It's wonderful to experience being entirely immersed in a whole different culture, and although there have been many ups and downs for me, overall I am SO glad I'm here.

By the way, Wales is gorgeous! 

Dramaqueen, it's a good thing you're not living in Llanduey Brevi (god, I'm sure I massacred that spelling).
If you see a guy in tight shiny leather avoid him

Matt

Dramaqueen, it's a good thing you're not living in Llanduey Brevi (god, I'm sure I massacred that spelling).
If you see a guy in tight shiny leather avoid him

Matt

 

That would be correct:P I'm moving to the Bridgend area.

I'm in Pembrokeshire -- quite a way west of you, but not that far by US standards. I pass through that area on my way to Cornwall to visit the BF every couple of weeks, so once you move, if you feel like a get-together with a fellow American, just say the word! There aren't that many of us in Wales on this site! (Or maybe they're just lurkers!)

Anyway, best of luck with your move. When is it all happening?

P.S.  Matt's right about the guy in tight shiny leather! Although I think he's pretty harmless    (Dafydd, not Matt -- I'm not sure about Matt!  )

Yeah, hardest part for me was moving away from my family. Not so much now, mind you, I'm glad I'm away from them.

And yes, it's been totally worth it.

Hi dramaqueen! Are you coming to live in the UK on a student visa, a work permit, or what other kind of sponsorship?

Carolyn B

Hardest Part?  Knowing that you'll only see your father a handful of times, if lucky, before he dies. Rather than every Sunday for dinner as it used to be... :\\\'(

The freedom thing can be a double-edged sword.  In one way, you gain complete freedom -- to be who you want to be and do what you want.  But at the same time, particularly if you're heading over to marry a Brit, you might feel that you've lost your independence and free spirit, at least for a while...mostly because you have to learn a new way of life and will be depending on your partner quite a bit..maybe more than you're used to depending on anyone.  I certainly experienced that (and still do, at times), as have many of the women on this board.  Just something to be aware of -- it's not permanent but it might come as a shock if you've been dreaming of the UK as your chance to "start over" or whatever.

Well put, Mindy.  Missing my family is the worst part for me.  I hate missing the good things and feel so helpless when bad things happen to my family in the US.   

Thanks for being RIGHT on!!   This is the hardest part  for me..  makes me seems like  a completely different person..  can't even recognize myself  at times..  sigh*.. I think I am  too new  here  yet  to say  if it's all flowers and  sunshine..   it's hard to  be married and deal with all those  compromisies  when you add the whole new  identity  thing..   

and of course not having my  network for support..not having those  people  you KNOW you can  go to  for what you need..   

Being there wasn't hard--at all.  The hard part was when the end came.  When we realized that Mom was getting ill and I needed to be home, as much as I wanted to be there with her / for her, it was very hard leaving.

(it is getting better now that the visa is almost through and Paul will be joining me in a few weeks...)