What are Americans missing???

is this about the good things  about the UK?? I think the posts  go back and forth... 

is this about the good things  about the UK?? I think the posts  go back and forth... 

Heehee -- I'm just as confused!  (Love your new pic on the side!)

drive through banks
cheap petrol
hot fudge sundaes
ice cream sandwiches
large car parks
convenience stores that really are convenient
big sky
fall leaves
Fall holidays
The shore
weird lawn ornaments
Old Navy
Hallmark Christmas ornaments
Bars that don't shut at 11.
 

- Reservedness. While it's made making friends more challenging, I appreciate not having strangers tell me their life story. I've come to realize that this is not to be equated with not being friendly in the least - it's just a different cultural attitude. It doesn't mean that people are unfriendly just because they don't unload on you within a few minutes of meeting you....

I like being able to walk into a roomful of people, not loudly announce my presence to everyone, hug people, or make a stupid joke, without being considered rude and unfriendly.

I like being able to walk into a roomful of people, not loudly announce my presence to everyone, hug people, or make a stupid joke, without being considered rude and unfriendly.

Yep, I am going to struggle with this one- I encountered this sometimes in the U.S, that I was aloof or snobby because I am typically quite reserved.

When I wasn't being an out and out snob that is

Um, Wal-Mart.  Can't think of a lot as there isn't really anything I truly wanted that I couldn't find or get here. 

  I thought the same things about WalMart.  We have a love HATE relationship.  I am boycotting at the moment but sure it will pass.  When I came to the UK on vacation this spring I was there for 3 weeks and my daughters greatest thrill was to find an ASDA (Walmart).  I found however that the small shops offered much greater quality and I think I could learn to live without Wal-Mart.

My husband and I spend a lot more time with the kids and doing family things here than we would if we were in the states. We both get approximently 7 weeks annual leave.  Its good.  I cannot imagine what it would be like to raise 3 very young kids with both of us killing ourselves doing 40+ hours a week with no leave. 

When I was living in Britain, I remember an article in The Times by Times owner Rupert Murdoch's evil henchman, American journalist Irwin Stelzer (sp?) in which he lectured his readers about how we Europeans could be as successful as Americans if we only worked as hard.  The response was a resounding "no thank you" from Times readers, who can hardly be considered a bunch of socialist welfare scroungers.  Most people in the UK realise that there's more to quality of life than the size of your paycheck.

  Most people in the UK realize that there's more to quality of life than the size of your paycheck.

I think this is one of the reasons I want to move to the UK.  I was horrified by some of the things my daughter (only just turned 11) found to be the highlight of our trip to the UK.  As stated, her highlight was Wal-Marts ASDA stores.  I have tried to NOT raise her to be materialistic, arrogant and pampas but am afraid that these are the attributes she is gaining from the American culture.  It seems she is developing this "entitled" attitude that I don't like.  She is a very sweet child by nature but there seems to be a great deal of things that I am seeing about her belief system that I am not liking. 
While this may have to do with age and developmental Stages, I think she is getting a LOT from areas such as TV and school here in the US.  These may also be some things about myself that I don't want to see but are there as well.   :\\\'(
The decision to move is a HUGE one and one I am not taking lightly, part of why I have started this thread, I want to learn all I can before we move.  Being a single mom and moving to another country is a BIG deal.  Thank you to everyone who is posting and responding about my concerns.

Don't kind yourself...........they have ALOT of that "entitled" attitude here as well. My kids never got allowances or pocket money before we moved here. But once we moved over here it got to be they were demanding it cause all their friends got it.

I have always been if they need it or I think maybe that they have been especially good I might consider it. But now as teenagers I get hounded every time we going into the main shopping town here. It is all about the labels here...
Burberry this and Nike that.......Lonsdale trackies.....

I think the world has just changed and along with the morals  and standards we got from our parents and grand parents.

The attitude of the teens nowdays are appalling......no healthy respect for policeman.....or adults ..it is a total lack of respect when a child turns around and tells their parent to "F" off. My mother would have slapped me silly. Here they teach the kids if anyone touches you call Child line. If my kids needed a smack on their behind they got it. Now someone sees you doing that it could get you put in jail........

I think this is one of the reasons I want to move to the UK.  I was horrified by some of the things my daughter (only just turned 11) found to be the highlight of our trip to the UK.  As stated, her highlight was Wal-Marts ASDA stores.  I have tried to NOT raise her to be materialistic, arrogant and pampas but am afraid that these are the attributes she is gaining from the American culture.  It seems she is developing this "entitled" attitude that I don't like.  She is a very sweet child by nature but there seems to be a great deal of things that I am seeing about her belief system that I am not liking. 
While this may have to do with age and developmental Stages, I think she is getting a LOT from areas such as TV and school here in the US.  These may also be some things about myself that I don't want to see but are there as well.   :\\\'(
The decision to move is a HUGE one and one I am not taking lightly, part of why I have started this thread, I want to learn all I can before we move.  Being a single mom and moving to another country is a BIG deal.  Thank you to everyone who is posting and responding about my concerns.

The entitlement factor is alive and well here too, I see kids demanding it, but I don't see so many kids working for it on a Saturday either.

I feel entitled to a chicken fried rice and spring roll RIGHT NOW!

Oooohh is that an invite...I feel entitled to!!

Veggie spring roll for me!!

I feel entitled to a chicken fried rice and spring roll RIGHT NOW!

Are you being a brat expat ? 

Oooohh is that an invite...I feel entitled to!!

Veggie spring roll for me!!

Don't encourage her Shell!

Are you being a brat expat ? 

Nah, brats are too soft.  I prefer full on b*tch