Colorado to Leicester...been Stuck 7 Years

Looking for other Americans out there, I found this forum and hope I'll be made welcome even if my opinion of where I live isn't love-blind or rapturous. I, too, had a romantic image of Britain and its people before living in Leicester for 7 years. A Brit warned me about it being rude, etc., but did I listen? No, I eloped with a Brit and moved there the next year. Oh, dear. So here I am and it's xenophobe central where it's hard to make friends and part of the reason I'm on this forum is to find somewhere that I won't be so out of place. I'm not exactly brimming with positivity; but at least I'm constructive and I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned from each side of the pond. For now, let us say I'm here and I'm hoping to make friends.

Hi and welcome.

Hey, Colorado to Leicester must be quite the swap, especially if you like hiking or climbing.   

Sometimes you just need to vent and you have been here 7 years, so you certainly know what annoys you and what doesn't.  I'm not near you, but I am on here a lot, and there must be others close by. 

Thanks, it's been tough. I make friends with locals and it doesn't seem to be lasting in each case. I'm really polite and talkative and I think most of the people I befriend are very quiet. My adjustment issues remain still even after 7 years. They tend to be over things I never expected to find in the UK. I came here with a shining dream and I resent myself for it. I think the hardest part is my keen, defensive ears pick up a lot of xenophobic criticism of Americans, not the U.S. (usually something referring to politics), but American people. It's a coping issue, because I've always had thin skin. It's good to have a place to chat where hopefully I won't be out of place.

Welcome to UKY!

I lived in Leicester for about 5 months when I was attending the uni for a study abroad programme. I probably ended up with a much different impression of the city since there were several americans there with me and I spent a good deal of time travelling. The girls I lived with, though, weren't american and were absolutely lovely. All of us were from completely different backgrounds and cultures yet got along really well. Although, it's much different with the student living situation. I hope you manage to find some people like them in Leicester, because they were some of the most welcoming people I've met and were one of the many reasons I ended up coming back to the UK. I'm sure there are some americans on here who are in that area, too, so perhaps you'll be able to connect with them here!

I am a student, I couldn't find work in administration (like I did for the USAF) in Leicester. I was treated as underqualified. I'm retraining into the film industry, so I've gone back to university and I'm entering my final year. Kinda weird for 31!
There *are* lovely people here. I did have a band briefly where an American came in as guitarist for a charity event. They're out there and we end up chatting, but they're usually students only staying briefly. The friends I do have are students at De Montfort or Leicester Uni for the most part.

As to be expected, depending on the person, the attitude about Americans varies. Some are outright hateful over politics and the Rupert Murdoch "journalism" machine, which is shocking, because I know it would never be that way for them in the USA. We love the Brits!

Welcome. We're not too far away in Coventry and do manage to occasionally have meetups here or in Birmingham.

Welcome to UKY, JessL! 

I'm sorry you're having such a rough time in Leicester. 

Welcome to UKY 

And this:

I'm sorry you're having such a rough time in Leicester. 

7 years sure can feel like a long time but you have come to the right place as most here are very helpful and listen very well.  Welcome to UKY
I do hope you get and take some good advice and life gets better ;-)

Hi. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. Feel free to vent on the Homesickness and Hard Times board.

Welcome to UKY! I'm sorry it's taken 7 years to find us!

I've spent a bit of time in Leicester--my boyfriend is from there and studies in Nottingham.  So I've visited quite a number of times, but have never had to deal with anti-american sentiments there.  I'm so sorry this has happened to you, as that can be really tough to deal with!

Look on the bright side--at least you found this site to express your frustrations with daily life in "lesta"! 

Hi Jess,

I am a Leicester resident and have been here almost 6 years....send me an IM if you want to meet up sometime, I know another American couple here as well!