any happy americans living in the UK?

Rose tinted, I think NOT.

I researched my trip for over 7 months through this board and other websites as well as learning from my visits and my brit bf and his family. I knew what I was getting into. What I didn't know is what downtown Leeds had to offer. Seriously, I hadn't been down there except to drink at night a few times. I have discovered how the shopping is just as good if not better than the US, the restaurants are full of flavor and variety, the ppl are friendly and the campus I will be on is huge and full of life (just like my undergrad days). This city is smaller than DC, so I feel more at ease b/c it's been fairly easy to learn my way around. I have become friends already w/ a barmaid across the street at our local pub after only 2 visits. I have a job after only a 2 week search and I've learned the bus system. Not everything is happy and fuzzy - I will give you that. But overall, I can see myself being happy here as I have been when I moved around in the States.

Oh, no, I was not slamming anyone in particular. There are a few people that do have them on... I too, did ton's of research. Sorry if I offended, it was not my intention.

Oh, no, I was not slamming anyone in particular. There are a few people that do have them on... I too, did ton's of research. Sorry if I offended, it was not my intention.

You didn't offend.  It's just that everyone has, and has had different experiences.

I did not have a peaceful home being a caretaker, unfortunately. It was the very opposite. An I had dealt with it since I was 7.

I know that London is not heaven or Utopia. It is different. Of course things aren't perfect, but I still am very happy, especially when it comes to my studies.

I know what mean ...I've seen the rose tinted phenomena and you can't really deny that some people do come with them on.

Am I happy here?  Yes  Are my children happy here?  Yes  Is my husband happy to be back home?  Yes
Adjustments?  Yes-but moving anywhere requires adjustment.  As long as you go into it understanding that you should be fine. 
Culture Shock moments?  Yes, but I always seemed to have one when we were visiting as well.   Actually they are fewer and farther between now that we live here.
Would I go back to the US?  Perhaps, but never Texas again.  No offensive to anyone from there but it was not my cup of tea.

When I came over I didn't wear rose-tinted glasses either. I've moved alot myself growing up, and I knew it wouldn't always be easy to adjust. I think people who do come over with them on not really knowing what to expect are in trouble. I remember that woman who came on here last year who was engaged to an English man after 3 weeks of chatting to him online, saying she was looking forward to living in a romantic thatched roof cottage with roses and sit outside and paint all day while her Hugh Grant-esque boyfriend supported her and helped her raise her kids. Pip pip, cheerio. Clearly she'd only seen England in movies. I wonder how she is, anyway?

Anyway, I've already lived in England for half a year when I was a freshman in college because I decided to go to a British uni straight from high school, so I understood the system. (Doing that straight out of high school was VERY hard... I think I was too young for that.) When I came back to finish up uni in Scotland, what I didn't expect was to have such an unusually bad experience.

I'm absolutely happy here.

I had a few blips during my first winter but I've NEVER once said "I want to go home." I've never even thought that, believe it or not.

Yep, I'm happy in general, though I don't see myself living here forever.  Being a US/UK dual national makes it easy for me to move (back to the States, EU) and come back if I want to without any restrictions.

I remember that woman who came on here last year who was engaged to an English man after 3 weeks of chatting to him online, saying she was looking forward to living in a romantic thatched roof cottage with roses and sit outside and paint all day while her Hugh Grant-esque boyfriend supported her and helped her raise her kids. Pip pip, cheerio. Clearly she'd only seen England in movies. I wonder how she is, anyway?

Oh I remember her!  That was a very interesting thread. lol  She and her 'fiance' hadn't even met yet, only chatted online for a week.  She hasn't been around since then, when everyone basically told her a thatched roof cottage would run about £600,000 and painting in the garden would be difficult with as much rain as we get. 

I'm very happy here, even with a fun bumps in the road along the way.  Usually those bumps have been because of things going on in my personal life, not because of living as an expat.  Some days I'm lonely, some days I miss the sun, some days I wonder how in the world I ended up here because it's what I always dreamed of. 

Oh I remember her!  That was a very interesting thread. lol  She and her 'fiance' hadn't even met yet, only chatted online for a week.  She hasn't been around since then, when everyone basically told her a thatched roof cottage would run about £600,000 and painting in the garden would be difficult with as much rain as we get. 

I know! I wonder what happened with her?

I know! I wonder what happened with her?

They probably broke up and there was no more need for her to figure out how soon is too soon to get married to someone you've known online for a week! 

Oh I remember her!  That was a very interesting thread. lol  She and her 'fiance' hadn't even met yet, only chatted online for a week.  She hasn't been around since then, when everyone basically told her a thatched roof cottage would run about £600,000 and painting in the garden would be difficult with as much rain as we get. 

Now, now...we must be careful not to judge. Maybe her fiance was a rich, successful banker and she had all the money in the world! 

When I came over I didn't wear rose-tinted glasses either. I've moved alot myself growing up, and I knew it wouldn't always be easy to adjust. I think people who do come over with them on not really knowing what to expect are in trouble. I remember that woman who came on here last year who was engaged to an English man after 3 weeks of chatting to him online, saying she was looking forward to living in a romantic thatched roof cottage with roses and sit outside and paint all day while her Hugh Grant-esque boyfriend supported her and helped her raise her kids. Pip pip, cheerio. Clearly she'd only seen England in movies. I wonder how she is, anyway?

Anyway, I've already lived in England for half a year when I was a freshman in college because I decided to go to a British uni straight from high school, so I understood the system. (Doing that straight out of high school was VERY hard... I think I was too young for that.) When I came back to finish up uni in Scotland, what I didn't expect was to have such an unusually bad experience.

Okay, I looked up said post, and I promise I am nothing like that! I have had my troubles here, and all I did was answer the OP's question. I am an American, and I live in the UK, and I'm happy

I actually feel fortunate that I am a "mature" student, and like you I moved around alot as a kid (and I tended to like it). It all depends on each individual, I think.

i'm happy, no regrets about the move at all. 

but that doesn't mean that when the situation is right, i won't be returning back home!

The move has been great, eye opening.  Brought my husband and i so close together.  I've learned a lot about myself....and i've been here only almost a year!

Okay, I looked up said post, and I promise I am nothing like that!

Haha, I didn't think so!