Are you really an ex-pat?

Bashing.  Ah, yes, another thing I don't miss, people taking everything way, way too personally and seriously.  'I'm offended' 'How insensitive' 'That's not funny'.    

I don't like Pepsi.  That's not the same as 'bashing' it - even if it does taste like crap  .

LOL - Taking things personally, I know a few on here that go ape nuts when a newbee comes on and says they don't like it over here.  Talk about taking it personally.....there are a few and they know who they are....that love to launch right into them! A few have been chased off of the site.  I just sit back, read and laugh!

PS - Especially Diet Pepsi over here....now that is bad!  

I think you find differences in dress styles anywhere you go -- whether it's in the US or the UK, it's going to depend on the region of the country you're in, whether it's an urban or rural setting, etc.

Definitely agree with that!   

I like the way people dress here ALOT... they really dress very well and most people look very polished from head to foot. I notice that every girl has her hair perfectly straightened and sleek, and I envy that. Even now I wonder how they keep it looking so perfect even with the rainy weather -- my hair is straight for a while and then as soon as the wind blows it starts to wave up again. I think in America everyone's more casual and it's unusual to see someone with perfectly groomed hair. It depends on the region though how casual it gets. Most people in the Boston area are relatively well dressed, but still more casual than they are here.

I like the way people dress here ALOT... they really dress very well and most people look very polished from head to foot. I notice that every girl has her hair perfectly straightened and sleek, and I envy that. Even now I wonder how they keep it looking so perfect even with the rainy weather -- my hair is straight for a while and then as soon as the wind blows it starts to wave up again.

GHD.  Hair straightners and products. 

my hair is straight for a while and then as soon as the wind blows it starts to wave up again.

Embrace your waves!!! We don't need more straight-hair clones!! Curly Girls Rule! 

LOL !! I remember noticing how women in the states were less casual about their hair...the *pppfffth* sounds of hairspray dominating the bathrooms...I had to enter the room cautiously otherwise I would get sprayed in the eyes.

oh well...like many have said here you'll find that no matter the nationality people come in many different spectrums

When my DF was in North America he was really surprised at the way people would dress out in public.   He was most appalled by the way children were allowed out of the house.   We saw this one little boy with mussed up hair, dirty jeans and dirty trainers while we were at the store one day and he was like, "see that's what I mean you would NEVER see children allowed to leave the house looking like that" at least not that he's noticed.   
   I thought it was just one of his quirks until I started paying attention to how others were dressed around me when I was over in the UK.

Over here sister is always getting razed for making sure that her girls look nice before leaving the house.   Her husband tells her she only does it because they are a reflection on her and she is too proud (hell the man will take them to the store FILTHY from head to toe).  But to my sisters way of thinking, she is just teaching her daughters how to present themselves in public, how to take care of themselves properly and to feel good about who they are as people, despite how you're dressed or not dressed.   though looking nice doesn't hurt

I'm not sure I'm an expat in the dictionary sense.  I love England enough to have been living here for the last 4 years. I was never a big traveller- I never really strayed far from my hometown.I  fell in love with my husband and while I'd always been intrigued by England, I fell in love with his country during our visits and continue to find more and more things to make me happy to stay here. Things aren't perfect, though- I have plenty of pet peeves. II think that's just a part of life and being away from "how I used to do things". I miss my hometown and the ability to see my family whenever I want.  I don't agree with US politics as they are, but I didn't agree when I was home, either. so I vote. And I file taxes because I don't know what the future will hold! Who knows- my husband could get a job in the US and everything could change! I want to feel like a world citizen.

I still go back home to NY and wish I could stay with my family. Then I come home to the UK and am happy to be home again. Emotions are fickle- or maybe it's just my way of coming to terms with the fact that I probably won't ever live in the US again?  

On the consumer side of things.... I've never been much of a fashion statement hehe 'll continue to complain that I can't find clothes that fit me in the UK. I'm convinced that they use mutant models for their making. I will complain that I still can't get Burts Bees products without having to take out a small loan- and I'll complain that I can't dry my hair in the bathroom because of lack of sockets. (WHY?? I can keep it away from the tub!) And I will complain that I can't get pastina, cinnamon tic-tacs, my Eucerin Moisturiser, my books from storage, my baking stones, and that my really curly hair (which yes, I used to complain about) immediately went pin straight the week I moved to London.

Even though I deny it- I like to whinge. Not a great quality, and not a British or American, one- but a human one, I think hehe

Great post, jennydee. 

I will complain that I still can't get Burts Bees products without having to take out a small loan

Oh yes, Burts Bees! Everyone loves that. I have had several Scottish gals ask me to bring over some products for them because shipping from the US is ridiculously expensive. I'll stock up on it when I go back to visit again, which is actually at the end of this week.

Great post, jennydee. 

Oh yes, Burts Bees! Everyone loves that. I have had several Scottish gals ask me to bring over some products for them because shipping from the US is ridiculously expensive. I'll stock up on it when I go back to visit again, which is actually at the end of this week.

The Buttermilk bath powder.  NICE stuff.

And Dr. Bronner's peppermint Castille soap, but the gallon - you could take your empty bottle to Whole Foods and refill it - lasts for ages as well and clean absolutely ANYTHING.

Embrace your waves!!! We don't need more straight-hair clones!! Curly Girls Rule! 

Hey now!  I might get offended.   I used to FRY my hair (with permanent waves) just to TRY and get curls lasting longer than, oh, five minutes.  I gave it up.

As many here surely know by now, I enjoy a really good whinge every now & again.  I love many things about my new life in England, and I also miss many things about my old life in America.  The thing that hit me in moving over is that you don't realize well & truly what you have (and how much it means to you), such as friends - family - that stupid old job - etc, until you don't have it near at hand any longer.

I have an American accent & am probably sometimes louder than I should be -- was always told (in the States) that my voice projects well.   As for different people's stupidity & ignorance about things, that can be found everywhere -- it's not limited to America/Americans.

In my mind, I think sometimes that my making the move over here was perhaps harder (for me) coming over as I neared 40 -- I often think that adapting to things (foreign countries, etc) may be easier when you're a little younger & less set in your ways.  I wish I'd have had (or have made) the opportunity to do such a thing when I was younger.  I find that I'm a little crankier as I get older (or maybe that's just premenopause setting in?).

This web site/forum has been invaluable to me though.  Between my husband and a number of members on here reminding me from time to time, many times it's not all that helpful to the adjustment process to be continually making all the comparisons 'how it used to be back home' vs 'how it is now here in my new home'.  Although hearing that can be aggravating at times, it has proven true.

As many here surely know by now, I enjoy a really good whinge every now & again.  I love many things about my new life in England, and I also miss many things about my old life in America.  The thing that hit me in moving over is that you don't realize well & truly what you have (and how much it means to you), such as friends - family - that stupid old job - etc, until you don't have it near at hand any longer.

I have an American accent & am probably sometimes louder than I should be -- was always told (in the States) that my voice projects well.   As for different people's stupidity & ignorance about things, that can be found everywhere -- it's not limited to America/Americans.

In my mind, I think sometimes that my making the move over here was perhaps harder (for me) coming over as I neared 40 -- I often think that adapting to things (foreign countries, etc) may be easier when you're a little younger & less set in your ways.  I wish I'd have had (or have made) the opportunity to do such a thing when I was younger.  I find that I'm a little crankier as I get older (or maybe that's just premenopause setting in?).

I am right there with you on all fronts!    I have to say that through the many conversations of moving back to the states....I suddenly realized that I am liking things more and more over here than I thought. The old "never say never" is so spot on! For me, I think my two year mark made me realize that if I drag my Brit husband back to the states...once we are settled, I might say...what are we doing...we need to move back to the UK.  Confused as ever!

On a lighter note, watching the series "A Picture of Britain" really hit me and made me realize that this is a beautiful (yet expensive country). So many little things like that make me rethink my determination to move back. I guess what I miss most aside from family and friends are the conveniences/comforts. Decisions, decisions...they never seem to go away! If only we could live here spring/summer and the states fall/winter...all would be settled!    Good and bad on both sides of the Atlantic! 

Jules

If only we could live here spring/summer and the states fall/winter...all would be settled!    Good and bad on both sides of the Atlantic!   

Yes!  I've told Steve that as a software engineer -- he should change to contract work -- and then simply arrange his contract jobs for England in the less cold months for England, and in Florida for the really cold months in England.   As for me -- I'm sure I could arrange to be a woman of leisure...

There are good and bad expats everywhere. I think that it is easier to see the bad ones when one is on the outside looking in since they tend to stand out more than the good ones.

I like my life in Europe and I have no future plans to move back to the US. My fiance has mentioned it to me a few times (I think he wants to try it) but I refuse. This does not make me anti-American in any way. I just like my life on this side of the world. Our future move to the UK is not because we are unhappy here it is because it is too dark here and bitterly cold in the wintertime, the salaries are very low but taxation is sky high. Sweden is a lovely country and I have no regrets whatsoever in moving here but no matter how you slice it the UK is less expensive and has a lot more of what we are looking for.