I need to hear good things about the UK

Turkish Delight.

Did you know there's only like 129 calories in one of those chocolate covered Turkish Delight bars (about the size of a Chunky bar for those who haven't crossed the pond or have been exposed to this magical sweet yet)?

ooooh I love Turkish Delight!!  Not many people I know do! 

i know this is an older post, and this has been said over and over again, but i just wanted to add thanks again for this!  i fell in love with edinburgh the second i stepped off the plane, and am so excited to move there, but you can't help but have a few reservations.  now i can't wait!  i'm so excited to start my life there and am looking forward to this august sooo much!  yay!

ooooh I love Turkish Delight!!  Not many people I know do! 

Me too, the rose flavor is best!

I'm just back from a few weeks in the US, and have to say I'm thrilled to be back.

One things i'm really appreciating about living here is the NHS. It may be imperfect, but it is for everyone. With 50 million in the US without health insurance, I'm grateful for what we have here.

My nephew is one without health insurance. He messed up his knee mountain biking and never did go to a doctor. His solution? Just bear with it, it'll get better. And no sports without insurance... so no sports for him.

Yes, I'm glad for the NHS!

I agree clarelynn!

I'm just back from a few weeks in the US, and have to say I'm thrilled to be back.

One things i'm really appreciating about living here is the NHS. It may be imperfect, but it is for everyone. With 50 million in the US without health insurance, I'm grateful for what we have here.

My nephew is one without health insurance. He messed up his knee mountain biking and never did go to a doctor. His solution? Just bear with it, it'll get better. And no sports without insurance... so no sports for him.

Yes, I'm glad for the NHS!

I work for a doctor and see that sort of thing happen all the time. People without insurance who have to go to the hospital for emergencies are often treated like second class citizens and released sooner than someone with insurance would be. While the NHS has its flaws, I completely agree with the sentiment that everyone is covered. There are always ways to improve on a flawed system.
But here in the US, while we have programs like Medicaid to try to provide care for those who can't afford it, many people don't have insurance simply because their employer doesn't provide it, private coverage is too expensive, and they make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. Also, insurance companies keep raising their rates and providing less and less coverage. I personally think that we need to find a middle ground between private insurance and socialized medicine. So many people that I have talked to here act like an American version of the NHS would be the end of society as we know it.
At least no one in the UK will be declaring bankruptcy because they couldn't afford to pay off the $70,000 worth of medical bills that they have accumulated, like what happened to my mother.

At least no one in the UK will be declaring bankruptcy because they couldn't afford to pay off the $70,000 worth of medical bills that they have accumulated, like what happened to my mother.

That is just criminal.  And one of the main reasons I am afraid to move back. 

Hello all!

I hope its ok for a Brit to join this forum!! I found the content fasinating!  Particularly as I am a Brit desperate to move overseas....

I found this thread very interesting, reading about everything you all love about UK, much of which I take for granted I guess.

I also thought I may be able to help any US citizens trying to settle here, I may, (or may not) know some useful stuff about life in UK!!

I've been to the US a few times..and loved it, but of course being on holiday there must be very different to living there.

Anyway...best of british luck to all who settle here..and if there is anything I can do to help...just ask!!

Hi Sheppy,

Welcome to the forum - you might like to make a post in the Welcome Wagon too so you can introduce yourself to everyone .

I was in a similar position to you when I found the forum - I'm a Brit too (I was looking up something about visas for the UK for a friend and stumbled across the UK-Yankee site). I had actually visited the US several times and had also lived there for a year when I joined so I could relate to life in both countries and help out with general England/UK questions. At the time was in the process of applying to study for my PhD at US universities (I got in and have now been in the US on a student visa for 5 months) - and to be honest I prefer visiting this forum to the ones aimed at Brits living in the US... so I've stayed here .

At least no one in the UK will be declaring bankruptcy because they couldn't afford to pay off the $70,000 worth of medical bills that they have accumulated, like what happened to my mother.

Thats happened to my mom as well she had to file medical bankruptcy cause she was nearly $80,000 in debt from when she had Breast Cancer surgery, chemo, & all that stuff that goes with it in 1999. seriously the sad part is she had medical insurance I can only imagine what it would have cost if she didn't have it insurance at all. so I am glad about the NHS it may have its flaws but I know were covered in case anything happens to Dh or I.   

Well, well... I am moving in two weeks, and soooo excited!  But I must admit, my first wave of nauseous anxiety came over me tonight, suddenly, while packing up my stuff to leave my apartment for my mom's house (transitory 2 week period until i leave for UK) and even though I have read this forum before, I thought it would be good for me to read it again now.  So, to remind myself of all positive things (in fact, I cant think of any negative things about UK other than ranch dressing not being widely available!  ) I am now submitting my list of things I already love about UK and am excited about, besides DH, my stepson, our dog, and my in-laws who have been great to me so far, just to remind me of what I have to look forward to, besides being married to the perfect guy for me:

1. I love our house... its cozy, and its right around the corner from the beach, so I get to smell and hear the north sea everyday...

2. Strong winds off the sea blowing in my hair and filling up my lungs with cold, crisp air... makes me feel alive! I love cold weather!

3. The Geordie language... I am fascinated by the Norman roots and the slang that is used (I always look up the new words to find out their origins), and the way it sounds... very friendly to me, so I think of Geordies as sort of like Texans, in that they have a unique accent (like all parts of UK) but they call everyone "pet" and "love"  and "hinny" much like we say "sugar" or "honey" to people here in Texas!

4. British humor (though some I just don't get yet due to pop culture references I am unfamiliar with, but I know it will come with time) but I was a BBC watcher long before I met DH, have always enjoyed the sense of humor in general...

5. Guinness... available everywhere on draught  always been my favorite...

6. Brown sauce... I could almost forget about dipping my fries in ranch... I have already been making that transition here in the states as DH brought two bottles of HP over for me by my desperate request....

7. Local fish and chips that is amazing...

8. Everyone walks their dogs on the beach and no one uses a leash (leader!) and the dogs just play with each other and get along and run free....

9. NHS!!!  I haven't even used it yet... but with a chronic condition like psoriasis that requires expensive creams to treat, I know I will be happy to know I don't have to save up to get more medicine... even while I was on insurance, the insurance doesn't cover much of the cost of those meds... still so expensive here in the US!

10. Finally getting to wear coats, jackets, and long-sleeves other than for a few weeks out of the year!

11. More holidays (DH gets 5 weeks per year) and easier to travel to another country to experience a change in scene/other culture... he is already planning a few small trips for us, and I am very excited!   

12. Trains... the convenience of public transport... not always having to drive everywhere...

OK, well, I am sure I could think of lots more, and will post on here again once I get moved and see other positive aspects... But I feel much better now that I contemplated that, and less anxious about letting go of the familiar... change is sometimes hard for me, but every time I go through it, I end up a better person for it and I am always glad i did it. So, back to packing! 

So, to remind myself of all positive things (in fact, I cant think of any negative things about UK other than ranch dressing not being widely available!  )

About the ranch dressing - most supermarkets now have "Garlic and herb" dressing which is a "ranch style dressing" which is pretty much ranch dressing

About the ranch dressing - most supermarkets now have "Garlic and herb" dressing which is a "ranch style dressing" which is pretty much ranch dressing

Note my panic about not having ranch dressing... LOL... I know I have mentioned it on several of my posts lately.  You would think I was pregnant or something--I feel like such a freak these days!  I tried some kind of creamy peppercorn dressing on the plane last time that was vaguely similar... but I am bringing about 20 packages of the "real deal" Hidden Valley Ranch!     Man, I cant wait to get there and stop packing and obsessing... this part is driving me crazy!

Note my panic about not having ranch dressing... LOL...

We have ranch dressing in our fridge right now, we buy it from Asda all the time...it's Cardini's?

We have ranch dressing in our fridge right now, we buy it from Asda all the time...it's Cardini's?

that is such good news for me, guys... thanks for letting me know about this, as i thought all hope might be lost...   

guess there are lots of things i can get over there, but not knowing which ones make it hard, as i read on this forum to pack some american foods for times of homesickness, and i wasn't sure what was available or what wasn't... guess i can always get a care package once i get over there and see what i am missing...