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?
b) In a London suburb. I can take the tube to get into the city, on a good day taking less than a half hour to travel the distance.
Harrow, actually. And bang round the corner from a tube station, at that. If the tube is running properly (a big "if" sometimes), it's 30 - 35 minutes into central London. If that's not fast enough, British Rail has a straight shot to Marleybone station in 15 minutes. But we're only about 9 miles from Heathrow by car. Can you tell I love this location? 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?
b) I know one or two and I'm sure there are others because I overhear accents and I know they aren't tourists.
No one in my immediate neighborhood, but there are certainly plenty of Yanks in the London area. 5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
i) other (please explain)
I am a freelance musician and it is quite hard to break into the UK scene. It's just like being new in town anywhere else, but with the added hurdle of overcoming prejudice against foreign musicians in general and American musicians in particular. (We are considered technically impressive and flashy, but musically shallow.) This is not as much of a problem among younger people but that's not always who does the hiring, know what I mean? I also have a difficulty because the freelance scene is very dependent on being able to gig in the EU, and I only have permission to work in the UK. So things are a bit slow.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.
Never met anyone from this site, but I do get together with people from the Low Carb Forum on a regular basis. 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)?
d) 31-40
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?
b) yes, with two
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
c) We are friendly with and civil to each other, but there's no real closeness.
Some of b), some of c). They are devout Catholics and it was very difficult for them to come to terms with the whole gay thing, especially since they hadn't known or suspected anything before, so they got hit with the revelation and the relationship at the same time. It's taken a couple of years, but we are now used to each other and I think they even sort-of like me. They see that their kid is happy, and that's what matters most to them. 13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
c) we were never all that close, so it wasn't really a factor
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.
I would apply tomorrow if I could. 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 really happy here and have no plans to return to the US
17. What do you think about the food here?
b) I'm always up to try something new, and British food is fine
I don't go for English breakfasts, though. That is not what a fried egg is supposed to look or taste like. 18. Groceries... choose all that apply
a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
ii) it's a ritual but not obsessive.
Vitamins, supplements and otc meds, more than food. But we always bring back ranch dressing. 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.
This really only applies to the sort of things you would find in a US health-food store or bodybuilding shop. Other than that, I'm very happy with the food shopping here; I think that the dairy is far superior to all but the best artisan products in the US, and although it's much more expensive, I think the meat is better too. My only complaint is their tendency to run out of everything very fast. But that's London for you. 19. TV habits
d) I don't watch TV, neither really matters
20. Male or female?
a) Female
21. How often do you go back to the US?
c) 1-2 times a year.
However, if they really do start making everybody go to Grosvenor Square and get a visa even for a weekend visit, as they have threatened to do, my partner has firmly stated that she will NEVER AGAIN go to the US simply for a visit, she will only go if she has work there. I can't say that I blame her. And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?
Cancer. (Leo rising, Aquarius moon.)