What are Brits missing?

Oh GOD!! there is WORSE??  I thought January  here was dreadful  with the lack of light at night!!  eek!

I love this thread and this is a great site!

This is a generalization and no disrespect meant, but as an American speaking....the problem is that Americans are largely isolationists and not normally internationally minded, so even asking this question is a bit silly willy. The Brits aren't missing anything, quite the contrary. The UK is beautiful, wonderful and very advanced! The people are amazing! Do you see how they are handling the bombings! I am so proud of them!

Of notice: The USA is not the center of the planet, there's a huge world out there beyond our shores. *giggle* 

Of notice: The USA is not the center of the planet, there's a huge world out there beyond our shores. *giggle* 

Exactly what I'm trying to teach my kids by making this move.  I don't want them to never experience anything or anywhere else because they're AFRAID to be somewhere else....

closet.hippie <---I dig this nick.

I'm a reformed hippie myself! Don't be fooled by my pic. I'm 51.

(My apologies but I'm new and still don't know how to make the quote boxes. duh.)

Yes, and by teaching your children this by your move your children will be more well-rounded adults. I've been an expat on and off for awhile and I have seen kids that have lived all over the planet and grew up to be wonderful and very interesting adults who did very well. I also met some adults that had been ex-pat kids growing up living in 5-6 countries and they loved it.

What's going to be especially great for you and the kids is that you'll be able to shoot off to mainland Europe and experience all the wonderful cultures over there. It's like Disneyland without exits....

I lived in Aachen, Germany for almost 2 years which is at the point where Germany, Belgium and Holland meet, eh?  I would go shopping in Belgium one day, the next day I would run over to Holland. It was super. We had a blast traveling around country to country on holidays. We used to go to England often. We'd take our car and hop a channel ferry.

So, I'll be moving over to England in the Fall, although we will keep our place here at the New Jersey shore as we're near the beach and can always hop the pond for a little beach holiday in the states if we need it beyond hitting the beaches in Spain, France, Italy or Greece. ;-)

Just know that the angels are smiling upon you if you and your family have been given this opportunity to live in and experience other countries and cultures.

*Smiles*
 
 

Exactly what I'm looking forward to myself.  On my mom's side of the family I am the only one - in the whole family - who has not traveled internationally before this year.  We are a much more well rounded family because of this, and my cousins, all of them have lived in either Brazil or England, have been very successful and are such interesting and dynamic people.  I believe this is because they have experienced other places and learned that we all aren't Americans with different accents.    My dad's side of the family has never left Michigan.  And I can see the difference in attitudes and perspectives between the two families (my p's are divorced).

I'm so looking forward to moving next year.  As scared to death as I am about the logistics of the whole thing, I am still looking forward to the move.

I have to agree - the Brits aren't missing a thing.  (well, a bit of air-conditioning and clothes dryers would be nice!) 

~Liza

closet.hippie <---I dig this nick.
(My apologies but I'm new and still don't know how to make the quote boxes. duh.)
 

Hi Seagoddess,

To the right hand side of all the posts, there is a box with "Quote" in it, if you click the quote on the relevant thread, the reply box will contain the quote and you can edit it in there for your reply.

(well, a bit of air-conditioning and clothes dryers would be nice!)

~Liza

I'm not picking, I'm really not.  But for like the thousandth time, we have clothes dryers.  If a person's bachelor boyfriend doesn't, that doesn't mean the rest of the country doesn't.  Me and every person I know has a tumble dryer.   

Sorry, that's just something that drives me crazy. 

I have friends that I grew up with that were "afraid" to leave. It was their parents' influence and no matter what I tried to say or do to convince them, they weren't interested. So incredibly sad.

I am so looking forward to learning more about the US from the outside, so far, these past 9mts of knowing my brit bf has completely opened up my mind.

I'm not picking, I'm really not.  But for like the thousandth time, we have clothes dryers.  If a person's bachelor boyfriend doesn't, that doesn't mean the rest of the country doesn't.  Me and every person I know has a tumble dryer.   

Sorry, that's just something that drives me crazy. 

I was just going to say this, what is the obsession with tumble dryers, I live in the smallest 1 bed apartment right now (seriously! purely to save money til we move back) and we have one! Our last, more expensive flat had them, they cost around £200 tops from anywhere!

Ok ok!!  I'll stop it with the clothes dryers!   

But anything that won't hold two sets of queen size sheets or 8 heavy bath towels, and dry it all in 40 minutes, isn't a clothes dryer.  (picking on you now, can you tell?    )

~Liza

Ok ok!!  I'll stop it with the clothes dryers!   

But anything that won't hold two sets of queen size sheets or 8 heavy bath towels, and dry it all in 40 minutes, isn't a clothes dryer.  (picking on you now, can you tell?    )

~Liza

A~ha, but they are not "clothes"

Maybe this will calm your nerves: http://www.callde.co.uk/american_style_laundry.htm

(picking on you now, can you tell?    )
~Liza

I can take ya! you look little

Ok ok!!  I'll stop it with the clothes dryers!   

But anything that won't hold two sets of queen size sheets or 8 heavy bath towels, and dry it all in 40 minutes, isn't a clothes dryer.  (picking on you now, can you tell?    )

~Liza

Mine didn't even do that in the States and I had this luxe Kenmore number. 

Yeah, I know about the lack of air conditioning.

I just need to sleep cool at night. I know you can get portable ac's and we'll put one in the bedroom and maybe one in the living room/reception room if needed.

Pretty funny about the tumble dryers. hee...there should be pre-nuptial agreements that specify that dryers are required or it's divorce court, baby!

Gosh, I remember pre-tumble dryer days as a kid and having to hang all the clothes on a clothes line. Boy, I'm really aging myself, aren't I? Ha!

Smiles,
The dinosaur seagoddess
  

Gosh, I remember pre-tumble dryer days as a kid and having to hang all the clothes on a clothes line. Boy, I'm really aging myself, aren't I? Ha!

Oh no, don't freak Liza out again