Happiness Factor - Distance from London

1. Are you happy in the UK?
   
   b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.
   

2. Where in the UK do you live?
   
   d) In the countryside and a bit too far to travel into London on a daily basis. It might take me two hours to drive there.
   

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   
   d) North of London
   

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
   
   c) Not a soul. I'm the area's "token" American

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
       
   h) I plan to work when my circumstances change (children go off to school, etc.)
   ---when our house is finished

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
   
   f) I just found this site so I don't know yet

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   
   d) I just found this site so I don't know yet
   

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
   
   b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
   
   c) 24-30
   

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
    a) yes, with one
   

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
   
   
    e) No children, nor any plans for any

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
       a) Yes, they are fabulous!
       

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
    a) leaving them was the hardest thing I ever did; it was the biggest change I made, not seeing them all the time
   

14. How long have you lived here?
   
         c) 4-6 months
   

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
   
    c) one day I want to, the next day I don't. Not sure.
   

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
          a) yes    
          iii) just for a change of pace, another life adventure
   
         
         

17. What do you think about the food here?
       
        c) It's taken me a while to get used to it, but I manage
       

18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
         
          iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
          i) in the extreme
         
    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
         
          ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.
         

19. TV habits
     a) I love the British shows, better than the US ones
   

20. Male or female?
     a) Female
     

21. How often do you go back to the US?
   
    g) haven't been back at all since I've moved here

        ---we're planning on going back in June (that will be a yr since I've been home)

22. If you haven't lived here that long to really judge how often, please answer question 21 on how many visits you're PLANNING to take back to the US.

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?
I'm on the Aries/Pisces cusp

1. Are you happy in the UK?
   a) I like it here.

2. Where in the UK do you live?
   formerly a) In the heart of London. I can practically see Big Ben from my window.
   now c/d) In the commuter belt/countryside. I can take a train into the city without having to transfer. It takes me a little over an hour.

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   b) South of London

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
   c) Not a soul. I'm the area's "token" American

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
   c) It's okay as jobs go.

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
   f) I just found this site so I don't know yet

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   e) have never met anyone from these web sites

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
   b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
   c) 24-30

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
    d) "family ties" is not an issue to me

14. How long have you lived here?
    g) 6-10 years

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    a) yes, definitely

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    b) no
          i) I'm happy here and have no plans to return to the US
       
17. What do you think about the food here?
        f) They cater to vegetarians, which is nice

18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
          i) Products here fill most my needs and I hardly pine for American favorites

19. TV habits
     a) I like the British shows, sometimes better than the US ones

21. How often do you go back to the US?
    e) once every 3-5 years

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?
I'll have to look that up

1. Are you happy in the UK?
   a) I love it here! The best thing I ever did!
 
2. Where in the UK do you live?
   a) In the heart of London. I can practically see Big Ben from my window.
   
3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   a) London area
 
4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
   c) Not a soul. I'm the area's "token" American

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
    c) It's okay as jobs go.

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
      b) once (or a few times) a month

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   e) have never met anyone from these web sites

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
   b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
    c) 24-30
 
10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
n/a - I didn't come here for that reason.  OK.  Not that reason ALONE

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
    e) No children, nor any plans for any

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
         b) They are very supportive and we're good friends

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
     b) we're an emotionally close family, but we never did see each other all the time either, so staying in touch isn't all that different now

(Though to be honest, we do stay in touch - almost better than we did when I was in the states.  We're very close, but distance isn't a huge problem with that)

14. How long have you lived here?
      e) 1-2 years

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    a) yes, definitely

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    a) yes
            iii) just for a change of pace, another life adventure
    b) no
          i) I'm really happy here and have no plans to return to the US

(the answer is c. maybe!)


   
17. What do you think about the food here?
        c) It's taken me a while to get used to it, but I manage


18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
           iii) sometimes a couple of favorites

    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy

          ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.
19. TV habits

     d) I don't watch TV, neither really matters - 'cept football.

20. Male or female?
     a) Female
   

21. How often do you go back to the US?

    c) 1-2 times a year


And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?
taurus!



P.S. Feel free to add your own questions, or explain your answers if an option given doesn't quite fit your story.[/quote]

Hmmm, i feel that, as a Brit not from London, I need to point out that some English people would object to the whole of England being refered to only in the context of compass directions from London! :'( There is more to the rest of England than just "North of London" etc!

It wouldn't take much effort to find hundreds of other topics on this site that refer to England in a far more complex context than compass directions to London. If you read Lisa's posts in this thread, you'll see the kind of experiment she was trying to conduct in this thread - so there's no need to be offended.

not offended at all (me personally). Its just that some people seem to think that England stops after Watford Gap (and that includes Englanders!). Just provencial pride I suppose. I'm a northerner, so have some deep seated, ingrained resentment of the South (especially London!). I know its off topic, but is the North South Divide as prevelent in America, or does it take a different form?

 Lived in London,but will be moving to Stockton On Tees,thats way up North also.

 Iam always giving props to The North,but in a fun way  

I suppose since I started the whole thing, I should answer as to why I asked everyone their thoughts to begin with.

Only one of the points of the informal poll was to see if proximity to London was a factor, or a non-entity, to the ability to settle in England happily.

I knew the answer for me. I live in Wiltshire, and have been very happy here since 1998. For me, proximity to London had no bearing; however, I kept hearing from others that it was a factor. I didn't quite believe it then and I don't quite believe it now.

However, that's only just a very small part of the whole poll's purpose. I think objectors are just getting hung up on the title, which was the first thing to be written before the whole thought formed into something much bigger.

I realized I wasn't so much looking for "How happy are you being in England because of where you live?" as much as wanting to see if there was a pattern emerging for a lot of other factors, too. In my own motherly way I wanted to be able to point out things like those having taken a chance in other things are more likely to take on something new and different with more relish and enthusiasm, versus someone who'd never left home, never been married before, prefers Ben & Jerry's over Haagen Das, etc.

But proximity to London has less to do with the city than being with other people and meeting up. It's just coincidental more people live near London, because of popular numbers, and the diversity is greater, so perhaps there's a bigger melding-in factor. I suppose if it was known there is a huge resettled American population in Manchester, I would use that city as a focal point.

You see, I live in this little town out in the middle of country area. There is only (roughly) one American per 18,000 (that I've been able to figure) in a 2-mile radius. I sort of stand out with my accent. For many I am the only American they have ever met in their entire life. And it's a very gossipy town. I open my mouth, and everyone in the shop knows who I am and where I live and that I edit the local village newsletter and I used to have really awful neighbors but they moved and my husband has a ponytail. For this reason, does this make me an outcast because I can't disappear like others can do in London? You see, we Americans have this stigma. We're all supposedly loud and brash and anytime we open our mouths we get some sort of reaction. (I've gotten both good and bad.)

As odd as this sounds after what I just said, you would think I'd be miserable being pointed out all the time, especially when I tell you that I love nothing more than being invisible...I like going about my business without being looked at or talked about. I just want to "be". One of the many reasons why I took British citizenship...doesn't change my accent but it does give me the inner feeling of being like everyone else. But I have been made so welcome here that thinking about it gives me a wonderful glow inside. Is that the way in other places that are further away from London (further away from a larger American population)? Or is my town unique?

Hey!  Ben and Jerry's OWNES Haagen Daz!


wench

not offended at all (me personally). Its just that some people seem to think that England stops after Watford Gap (and that includes Englanders!).
Just provencial pride I suppose. I'm a northerner, so have some deep seated, ingrained resentment of the South (especially London!). I know its off topic, but is the North South Divide as prevelent in America, or does it take a different form?

UKReader, I've just started a new topic for this discussion.

Here.

Hey!  Ben and Jerry's OWNES Haagen Daz!


wench

LOL

When do we get the results?!  

1. Are you happy in the UK?
   b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.
 

2. Where in the UK do you live?
    d) In the countryside and a bit too far to travel into London on a daily basis. It might take me two hours to drive there.
 

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   e) West of London  - the southwest to be specific
 

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
  c) Not a soul. I'm the area's "token" American – though we’ve only been here for 6 months and it’s a high tourist area

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
 i) other (please explain) Full time student hoping to submit dissertation in Jan 2005. Have worked part time a bit as we need money!

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
   f) I just found this site so I don't know yet

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   e) have never met anyone from these web sites – but hoping to!

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
 b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
   c) 24-30  am now 33
   

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
   N/a

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
   d) No children yet, but perhaps in a few years
   

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
       b) They are very supportive and we're good friends – but we don’t really have that much in common
       

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
    a) leaving them was the hardest thing I ever did; it was the biggest change I made, not seeing them all the time
   

14. How long have you lived here?
   f) 3-5 years
   

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
   c) one day I want to, the next day I don't. Not sure.
   

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    We’ve discussed the possibility of living in the US but I don’t push it because he is wary. I think he’s afraid he’ll like it too much! It’ll be at least 2 years before we even consider our next move.
         

17. What do you think about the food here?
        None of the supplied answers were appropriate for me. I’m an accomplished cook and I’ve adapted some Brit recipes to my repertoire and introduced the BF to many new ones. We explore all the time!

18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
    iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
           iii) sometimes I get a couple of favorites for fun
    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
         ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.
       

19. TV habits
     a) I love the British shows, better than the US ones – to a certain extent. I miss baseball though!

20. Male or female?
     a) Female
     

21. How often do you go back to the US?
     c) 1-2 times a year
     

22. If you haven't lived here that long to really judge how often, please answer question 21 on how many visits you're PLANNING to take back to the US.

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you? Gemini

1. Are you happy in the UK?
b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.


2. Where in the UK do you live?
e) Too far from London to even consider going there for just a day. I'd have to plan to stay overnight.


3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
d) North of London
e) West of London
f) Wales
West-Midlands more precisely.. on a border town in Shropshire called Shrewsbury


4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
c) Not a soul. I'm the area's "token" American


5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
i) other (please explain) - Not technically living here full-time year round.. so not able to, but I wish I could.


6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
e) several times a day


7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
e) have never met anyone from these web sites


8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
 b) no


9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
b) late teens, up to age 23


10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
d) no


11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
e) No children, nor any plans for any


12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
a) Yes, they are fabulous!
b) They are very supportive and we're good friends


13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
d) "family ties" is not an issue to me


14. How long have you lived here?
d) 7-12 months


15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
a) yes, definitely


16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
a) yes
ii) It was never permanent


17. What do you think about the food here?
 c) It's taken me a while to get used to it, but I manage


18. Groceries... choose all that apply
a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
     iii) sometimes a couple of favorites

c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
     ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.


19. TV habits
a) I love the British shows, better than the US ones


20. Male or female?
a) Female


21. How often do you go back to the US?
c) 1-2 times a year


22. If you haven't lived here that long to really judge how often, please answer question 21 on how many visits you're PLANNING to take back to the US.

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?
Virgo

1. Are you happy in the UK?

Yes, I was extremely happy in England.

2. Where in the UK do you live?

Cheltenham, England

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?

Gloucestershire; it was a little over an 1.5 hours to the heart of London.

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?

No

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?

Yes, I worked part-time at Gap (I was only allowed to work 20 hours per week.)

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?

I only participate on this message board; I come here daily. When I was in the UK, I was not here at all. No personal computer, had to rely on the old and crappy access of the college's computers.

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?

I have not met anyone here yet.

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?

No

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?

just turned 25

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?

Never been married; had a 7 year relationship prior to my current relationship with my English boyfriend.

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply

No children.... yet. Cant wait to have some!

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?

Yes!!!! They treated me like family the moment I walked in their door. I love them dearly.

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?

Extremely close

14. How long have you lived here?

7 months

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?

Once we are married and I am allowed to by law, yes.

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?

I am back in America; I could not afford to stay in the UK only being allowed to work 20 hours per week, barely above minimum wage.

17. What do you think about the food here?

Very nice. Enjoyed traditional British food. Loved all the "V" vegetarian signs on the food (my diet consists about 80% of complete veggie.) Loved the yogurts & cheeses especially.

18. Groceries... choose all that apply

No, I didnt miss "American" food. My mother is from Italy- we never had any traditional American meals, snacks, etc. in my home growing up... So I didnt miss candy, sugar products, fast food, etc. I missed my wonderful, diverse restaurants in NY though.

You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy

Again, I was not raised with American food. Anything in a box, can or jar was almost completely banned from my home. Everything was cooked home made. I enjoyed the health food stores and simple products in the major grocery stores. My only complaint was the lack of fresh fruit and veggies.

19. TV habits

Didn't watch much TV there, as I don't watch much TV here. Always tuned into the Simpsons though. Loved watching baseball on late night TV. Enjoyed wonderful documentaries on the 5 basic channels... Satellite didn't impress me but again, Im not much of a TV fan.

20. Male or female?

Female

21. How often do you go back to the US?

In my 7 month period of living in England, I went home once for 2 weeks during Cmas.

 

1. Are you happy in the UK?
         b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.
    

2. Where in the UK do you live?
         e) Too far from London to even consider going there for just a day. I'd have to plan to stay overnight.

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
          d) North of London
  
4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
         b) I know one or two and I'm sure there are others because I overhear accents and I know they aren't tourists
    

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
         d) Not worked here long enough to figure out if I like it or not (will start work on the 7th of June!)
  

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
         e) several times a day
    

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
          b) once (or a few times) a month (only met one other member so far)
  

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
         b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
         c) 24-30


10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
     d) no

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
           d) No children yet, but perhaps in a few years
    

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
           d) They aren't very supportive, but we tend to bite our tongues (I don't think they're unsupportive, but they're
                not really involved in our life, so that's the most appropriate answer)       

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
     a) leaving them was the hardest thing I ever did; it was the biggest change I made, not seeing them all the time
    
    

14. How long have you lived here?
            d) 7-12 months
  


15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
           d) I sort of feel it would be almost slap on the face to my family, so I'm not so sure (but probably not)
    

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
           b) no
                  ii) I'm settled here and it would be too tiring to go through all that paperwork again
        
        

17. What do you think about the food here?
            c) It's taken me a while to get used to it, but I manage
        


18. Groceries... choose all that apply
     a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
            iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
     b) You get care packages from your family in the US
            iii) sometimes I get a couple of favorites for fun
     c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
            ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.
          

19. TV habits
           b) I'm a real sucker for certain US shows and am really glad they show them here. I only fill in my spare TV-watching time with British shows, which I could take or leave (though I'm starting to really like a few British shows)
    

20. Male or female?
      a) Female
 

21. How often do you go back to the US?
            g) haven't been back at all since I've moved here (planning our first trip for the end of June)

22. If you haven't lived here that long to really judge how often, please answer question 21 on how many visits you're PLANNING to take back to the US.  probably 1-2 times a year

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?  Taurus

1. Are you happy in the UK?
         For the most part I am happy...  I love being here with Tom and our life is nice and comfortable... but I do have days when I wish I was back in my comfort zone of home near family and friends.

2. Where in the UK do you live?
         
 I live in the North east.... far from London...

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?

Northumberland
         
4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
         
I know of a couple, but have not met any as yet.

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
         
No job yet...but now that I have my walking papers...I hope to be lucky and find something shortly   

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
         
normally every morning during the week   

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
         
I have met LisaE and Graham a couple times, once in states and once here...  will be meeting Geally and her honey this friday night for dinner...hope to meet many more that I have come close to.

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
         no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
         47


10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
       um yes, a couple of times

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
       
      no children, but now have a step daughter and son
   

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
           
Have not met all of them yet...but those I have met I get on fine with

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
     
Fairly close... but mom and dad are gone... sisters are ok when they are behaving... and step family and I are very close   

14. How long have you lived here?
           
7 months now
   


15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
           
I think it is a very good possibility that I will go dual

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
           No, we are here for life       
         

17. What do you think about the food here?
           
Some of it is great, some not so great... but I manage ok...just want good peanut butter and chia tea

18. Groceries... choose all that apply
     a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
            not yet
     b) You get care packages from your family in the US
            I have gotten a couple so far
     c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
            yes, now that I found some decent sliced chees I am cool with the shopping choices           

19. TV habits
           
for the most part I watch a variety of both american and british shows...  but I am tired of everything being reality

20. Male or female?
      Female
 

21. How often do you go back to the US?
            Haven't as of yet...maybe in next couple of years we will...  possibly 1 time every couple of years if possible

22. If you haven't lived here that long to really judge how often, please answer question 21 on how many visits you're PLANNING to take back to the US.  probably 1-2 times a year

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?  Aries cusp of taurus