Do you ever forget that you're an American living in the UK?

I'm not sure it has anything to do with how proud you are - I personally think you could be proud of being American and still live here long enough that your nationality is no longer such a massive focus.

I'm not a particularly patriotic person, but even if I were, I think I've been here long enough now that I don't think about being American much any more - where I'm from is sort of irrelevant on a day-to-day basis now.

Yeah but this is also one of the reasons I won't be going for full citizenship either.  My national identity is American... not American and British.  It's not meant to be offensive to anyone who has opted to de-americanize or go for british citizenship, it's the way I personally feel and conduct my life.  I'm simply not willing to be anything but American.

I'm not sure it has anything to do with how proud you are - I personally think you could be proud of being American and still live here long enough that your nationality is no longer such a massive focus.

I'm not a particularly patriotic person, but even if I were, I think I've been here long enough now that I don't think about being American much any more - where I'm from is sort of irrelevant on a day-to-day basis now.

This is me as well.  I am proud to be American, but I also forget that I am one on a day-to-day basis.  I just don't think about people's nationalities as I go about my grocery shopping or squeezing my way on the tube. 

And because I am used to hearing an English accent, I don't even think about my own.  So if I do ever get teased for my accent it takes me a moment to register why it is different.  I actually really struggle with accents in general now.  The English sounds familiar to me, as did American for so long, so if I hear an actor on TV that I don't know, I cannot always tell if they are English or American. 

It depends on who I'm with. With my closest friends who know me well enough, my being American never comes into the conversation and I easily forget I've not lived here my whole life. With some other people, however, my being American seems to be the only way they can identify me and it's always dipped into the conversation.

I think the only difference between the time I moved here and now is I don't feel like a foreigner anymore. I actually feel more foreign in America.

Yeah but this is also one of the reasons I won't be going for full citizenship either.  My national identity is American... not American and British.  It's not meant to be offensive to anyone who has opted to de-americanize or go for british citizenship, it's the way I personally feel and conduct my life.  I'm simply not willing to be anything but American.

I think you may be seeing this as too black or white.  Many people get British citzenship not because they are de-americanising but because it is easier for life here or necessary.  There was even talk with the more recent immigration changes that long-term residents would HAVE to get British citizenship or leave.  While you may just leave if made to choose, loads of others wouldn't have that option and it wouldn't make them less American.

It is not a points game.  There isn't a prize at the end for being perceived as more American than others.  And it doesn't make people less American because they blend in.

ETA: Spelling.

No, I never forget.  I don't think it's possible for me to though.  I'm so connected to America/Americans on a daily basis.  I talk to my family all the time, as well as a lot of friends.  Plus the daily reminders from people I know or meet here.  I'm always the "American" even though I'm also British now .  I've been here six and a half years, and I don't see this ever changing.

It is not a points game.  There isn't a prize at the end for being perceived as more American than others.  And it doesn't make people less American because they blend in.

which is why I said:

It's not meant to be offensive to anyone who has opted to de-americanize or go for british citizenship, it's the way I personally feel and conduct my life.

It's not meant to be offensive to anyone who has opted to de-americanize or go for british citizenship, it's the way I personally feel and conduct my life.

But people who conduct themselves differently aren't de-americanising.  And though you aren't meaning to be offensive, it somewhat is to suggest that someone is less american than you because they go for british citizenship or don't think about being american every minute of the day.

I'm not a particularly patriotic person, but even if I were, I think I've been here long enough now that I don't think about being American much any more - where I'm from is sort of irrelevant on a day-to-day basis now.

Perfectly said.  This is how I feel.

But people who conduct themselves differently aren't de-americanising.  And though you aren't meaning to be offensive, it somewhat is to suggest that someone is less american than you because they go for british citizenship or don't think about being american every minute of the day.

Please dont twist my words or thoughts into what YOU want them to say.  This statement can be applied to alot of things:

Im a gamer, but I dont think less of those who dont game.

Im a Christian, but I dont think less of those who believe differently.

etc etc etc

Please dont twist my words or thoughts into what YOU want them to say.  This statement can be applied to alot of things:

Im a gamer, but I dont think less of those who dont game.

Im a Christian, but I dont think less of those who believe differently.

etc etc etc

Sorry if I misunderstood what you were saying.  There was no intent to skew what you wrote.

I guess we will just have to disagree.

I just feel like less of a visitor now.  I think I'll always know that I'm American, which is fine.  S'all good.

I'm with Meg. I might try to forget sometimes, but someone is always going to remind me.  I do feel more like just a regular person living my life, which happens to be here, rather than an outsider these days, but there are definitely moments when I feel different from everyone else here. It gets easier all the time, though.

Yeah but this is also one of the reasons I won't be going for full citizenship either.  My national identity is American... not American and British.  It's not meant to be offensive to anyone who has opted to de-americanize or go for british citizenship, it's the way I personally feel and conduct my life.  I'm simply not willing to be anything but American.

But going for dual-citizenship can be a convenience thing. DW is planning to apply and then if we decide to move to the US and I apply there when I'm able it gives us the freedom to move as and when we please.
Also, it gives you the right to vote and have your say in decisions that affect you where you are living.
It's not necessarily about giving anything up.

But going for dual-citizenship can be a convenience thing. DW is planning to apply and then if we decide to move to the US and I apply there when I'm able it gives us the freedom to move as and when we please.
Also, it gives you the right to vote and have your say in decisions that affect you where you are living.
It's not necessarily about giving anything up.

Good point. Not that I'm trying to talk you into it, Navie, but if you and your hubs move back to the states sometime, you may want to get your British citizenship just to make it easier on yourself if it doesn't work out there for some reason and you want to move back to England.

I'm not sure it has anything to do with how proud you are - I personally think you could be proud of being American and still live here long enough that your nationality is no longer such a massive focus.

I'm not a particularly patriotic person, but even if I were, I think I've been here long enough now that I don't think about being American much any more - where I'm from is sort of irrelevant on a day-to-day basis now.

Agreed.

I never think about it unless someone points it out.

 

I will never de-americanize. I am proud of my homeland and proud to be an American.  I will never be anything but.

Just out of interest, how long have you been here?