Need some happy "I moved to the UK" stories

I came here over twenty years ago for a semester abroad. Before I arrived all I knew about England I had read about in novels - I actually used the word "sovereign" - as in money - in front of my highly amused expat Brit neighbor . I spent six months in Bath and had the time of my life; so much so that I can still remember crying in Heathrow airport waiting for my flight home at the end of the six months.

Fast forward ten years to NY when I met my husband who was over from London for a short work stint. I found all the qualities in him that I had admired in people I had met during my time in England; funny, modest and reliable (this is the short list  .) He came to NY for two years and stayed for ten, so when the time came for us to move out of NY with our two kids it seemed like a natural move to come back here.

I quickly discovered the difference between visiting someplace and living there! Even though I had so many happy memories from when I had been here before, it was still so hard for me to settle in. My husband was really busy with his new job so I had to figure out everything from utilities to healthcare to how middleclass British women socialize (hint, subtly). I had two young kids and a bad case of postpartum depression and EVERYTHING was hard. I realized how looked after I had been when I had stayed here as a student, and I can honestly say that I spent most of the first two years wondering what I had been thinking about by agreeing to come back. 

Life has settled down a lot now and once again I am happy to be here. The lifestyle is suited right down to the ground for families, the education system is great, there are lots of lovely open green spaces, and there is so much to see and discover in and around London. Access to European travel is a snap and we are able to go places so much more often with all the vacation (ahem, holiday)time that we get here. All the things I loved twenty plus years ago are still here, the pubs, the fantastic sense of humor, the music plus stuff like the restaurants have come so far, ditto on the convenience of store opening hours (shops were shut on Sundays and closed much earlier than they do now not all that long ago).

So if it's your dream to live here, I completely understand because I love it here too. My only advice is to go into it with your eyes open, because day to day living is much different to dreaming about it. .

I moved here for the job ive always wanted to do but couldnt in the USA,an Archaeologist specialising in Anglo Saxon and Roman time periods. Ive done that,and it is the best thing ive ever done. Moving is hard but if your passionate enough then it works. Dont just move here for the accents,move because of the dreams that you want to achieve. I did it and im so glad i did but ive only just begun. Think carefully but i wish you all the best...

I came over for 10 days on a trip (my first to Europe and the UK) and knew after that week I was meant to be in Scotland, so came back as a student. The loans were a lot but actually, the uni I went to in Glasgow cost a bit less than what I paid for uni in Arizona so given the option, I'm glad I went the student route. After I graduated I got a job as a youth & community worker in the highlands and love it. I feel even though I have debt, I am 100% sure I made the right choice. Sure, I miss some friends and family in the US and have missed out on some events, but I've been able to make friends here and fit in to a small village where everyone knows everyone else, so I feel I've built a good life for myself. I enjoy my work immensely as well.

It's difficult if you want to be somewhere and can't, I have a dear friend who has been here two years on a working holiday (she is from a commonwealth country) and can't bear the thought of going back 'home' to where she is from so she is taking out loans and enrolling in college here.

I think for me, moving to the UK was the best decision I ever made and shaped me into the person I am today. I moved here when I was 19 and did a lot of 'growing up' over here too. The lifestyle in different parts of the UK is different, for example, adjusting to rural highland life after 4 years in Glasgow was a change, but I really like it and love change. I'm also fine on my own, if you are someone who will miss friends/family it might not be for you. As others have said, visiting somewhere is different than living there but do it for you if you think it would be a good move for where you are in life, and where you eventually want to be. If you just want to experience another culture maybe try BUNAC or taking an extended holiday, but if you really feel a connection and calling to the UK and have means to study/live here, that would be a good route to take, I've done it and have no regrets (though plenty of debt!) which I would have had anyway if I studied in the USA.

Thanks so much for that. I really enjoyed reading your story. It gives me a bit of hope doing so. You're right, it really is tough being somewhere you don't want to be, but I know I'll get there eventually ya know? Just have to suck it up for now, I know what's waiting for me back there. It's all just a matter of time.

Oh wow, you moved there at 19? Nah, I'm fine on my own. I'd miss my family and the few friends I do have, but.. gotta go out and make your own life as my grandmother would say, haha. Thank you very much for being supportive. I know living there is different then living, but I honestly think that's somewhere I could live for the rest of my life. Plus, I've always been someone that's moved different places. Granted they were in the US, but I've moved to so many different places and states that.. I don't think moving there would be too hard on me. (except maybe on my wallet, lol)

But you only live once and what's life without a little risk? I don't wanna be one of those 'what if' people. I'm definitely looking into the student route.

Ahh, thank you all SO much to everyone that gave some stories for me to read! I'm sorry I didn't reply earlier, I just didn't want to look back on here for a bit because I didn't want to be kind of made feel like a fool for wanting to move there after being there for just a month. :c
You guys are awesome and inspirational! Thank you very much again, I'll look back to your stories in case I feel down again. Which is sure to happen eventually. xD

The good thing is... You're 19. And you have a dream and a drive. You're gonna do it! I was in the same boat as you (though I'm considerably an older age 34) but when I was 32, I started to think that my life was so boring. Working the 9-5, having a nice house, nice car, etc... Just wasn't cutting it for me. I met a guy online who lived in London and we often talked about life and one day I got a wild hair to go there and check it out. I had always said I wanted to "move" to England but I never really acted on it. My friend Andy convinced me that you only live once and to do what YOU want. So I got my passport and three weeks after applying for it, I was in England. It was so surreal. Though I was 33 I had never been ANYWHERE, let alone a foreign country, by myself. I was the sort of person who didn't even want to go to McDonalds or eat in a cafeteria alone. So here I am in this foreign land completely on my own and I absolutely loved it. I was only there for a week. But I vowed I would be back and I was. I went back in April 2010 after selling my Lexus and looking into selling my house. There for three months, I knew the UK was where I wanted to be. I had the same feelings as you. When I got home, I was just. So detached from my life in general. All in could think about was how to get back. I quickly realized that short of marriage, applying for school was probably my best bet. I applied and was accepted to finish my bachelors degree in London.

Long story short I wasn't able to get all my funding for school (I made too much to receive grants) so my plan b was to quit my job and go over there for 3 months at a time until I had enough money to get over there. Yes I was determined. Lol. My last trip over there was October 2010 when I met my now husband. I never knew in a million years that A) I would find someone who is almost like me and B) that after 34 years I had finally met the love of my life.... 4,000 miles away!

Soooo moral of the story is.... If you're determined enough, it will happen. I dint recommend quitting your job though. Haha. While it worked out for me in the end, its not always so easy for most. Regardless of whatever way you plan on getting there, if that doesn't work out, you do have other options and fate will allow those options to be exercised. I'm sure you will get over to England again soon!!

Aw, thank you so much for that! I loved reading it, more of a reason to stay positive for me! I agree completely with your friend Andy. He definitely knew what he was talkin' about. It's kind of creepy that we have that in common. Before I went to England, I'd also never even been many places alone, example, downtown on a bus alone, or even walked to my local store which is a few blocks from here on my own because I was afraid to do it by myself. I live in a pretty bad part of NY, lol.

So imagine my family's suprise when, I, this usually pretty shy, non-outgoing girl, comes in the living-room saying, 'Hey gaiz! I'm goin' to England for a month to see that dude Alex that came to visit for two weeks like three years ago!' Almost everyone figured I wouldn't go through with it. But anyways, that's besides the point. You were VERY determined! Wow, must've been scary to do that. Very inspiring to me though. I think going to England changed my life in a way, I don't think I'd have a job right now (Alex told me to get one while we were saying our goodbyes at the airport so I could come back, lol. So I did,) or know for sure what I want to do with my life if not for going there. I can't thank you enough for sharing that story with me, I'll probably read it like a gazillion times. XD

I total y agree with you that I feel so much safer there. I know they have their share of crime and whatnot, but it's not on the same scale. You don't have to worry so much about guns. Some guy at the fish and chips shop in Woking laughed at me for two minutes straight when I told him I felt much safer in the UK. I guess they just don't know! Lol.

Having a job is definitely a good way to keep your hopes alive, as you'll need it to fund your bank account for future visits. And who knows. You may go over enough to realize you can't be without your guy.... And then it's just a matter of finalizing it. I'm a strict advocate of people not getting married til at least age 25..... Haha... But sometimes it could be right! ;-)

The good thing about doing a student visa is.... You may rack up some student loans, but at the end if the day you will get to live there. If once you graduate, you still love it, then go from there! But regardless of the cost, it seems like it would be worth it to you. Besides, when I had applied for a school in London, I had pretty much everything covered except for $3,000 which they would have been able to give me a grant for.... But I made too much money. Most schools have a certain amount they can give to needy students to cover the deficit of what a stafford loan won't. And grants you do not have to pay back. The cost of living is what will get you. You will have to have at least £8000 in your bank (more if you plan on living in central London) before they will even consider giving you a visa. So you'll either have to get private loans for that amount, or save it up. The visa process will forego the money in your bank if you have a guaranteed private loan through Sallie Mae or your bank.

My little sister is about your age and I have told her time and time again to get out of the US and travel. The sad thing about America is most people don't know anything outside their own front door, so I commend you on getting out there early!

I agree. Granted there is crime there obviously, but here it is HORRIBLE. I know it isn't like that everywhere in the U.S but I live in the third largest city in New York. On my own street a guy locked himself and his pregnant girlfriend in his house with a shotgun. Police and news everywhere. Luckily I was at my friend's house when that happened. And a few blocks from here someone was stabbed. I felt really safe when I was there, I didn't have to worry about being out at night (here I cannot go outside after a certain time, woo). Seriously. I need to get the hell out of here.

Well... he'll be 25 this year and I'll be 20! But we're not even close to anything like that. We both want to just have a "normal" relationship, if I get accepted into this college I'm going for, I'll be able to live on the same street as him and then let things progress like they would in that normal situation instead of us having to rely on internet connection and a screen to interact, ya know? : (

Exactly, I agree. I know this may be naive of me, but.. at the end of the day, it's really just paper in exchange for what I want more then anything in my life, lol. Oh, nooo, I won't be in London. I'll be near the Norwich general area, haha. Thank gawd. I'll probably save all the money I get and private loans. If everything goes according to plan. There is SO much that I have to do. It's soooo stressful, but I just pray that everything I'm doing and how hard I'm trying will pay off. Haha, well, thank you very much! Your sister should get out! It changed my life would probably do the same for hers'.

Yes America is out of control with the guns. And so sad that horrible gun crimes are the norm. Unfortunately more guns are being smuggled into the UK but it still has thousands of miles to catch up with us in statistics. I don't know if I could ever live in New York. Lol.

Good idea to be close to him and see how it goes. Smart girl!

Heck yeah if you go to a school outside of London you will definitely save in tuition as well as not having to prove as much funds. Awesome. I've never been up that way (Norwich) so if you get there again you will have to blog about it. I'm always interested in the different areas. So far I've only gotten to see London, Woking (where I stayed over the summer) and surrounding areas like Guildford and Ashvale, and Winchester where my husband and I live. I can't wait to get up north and to Wales and Scotland.

Do you have a timeframe for when you want to take the next step?

I think there's nothing wrong with wanting to experience a different culture/country, especially at 19--no marriage or kids to worry about, not even a "career" yet to consider.  Yes, it would be difficult to get over here on a long-term basis without family or a student visa, however, perhaps a shorter stay would work (a few months)?  My only advice would be to do your homework before you go to avoid any financial, logistical hardships.

Alas, no one really knows what it's like to live abroad until you've done it and, as always, every person's experience is individual to them.  One thing I've learned, though, is that I now appreciate where I've come from (home) more than I ever did while living there.  It's amazing how I miss the things I once took for granted!  

Good luck with your decision.

@Vegasgrl94, we really are. It's kind of scary how easy it is to buy a gun. lol, I could see how you wouldn't wanna try to live here. Especially with how dangerous it is here. Some places in NY I've been to are actually pretty nice and rural, but that's like two or three hours from where I live and I never really get to go out that far seeing as I have no car. I've pretty much always lived in the city and it's not fun and you never really feel like you're safe here.

Aw, thanks! I try to have a decent head on my shoulders. I honestly never even liked the idea of marriage until I knew him for like.. 3 years. (Now have known him for 5) I used to joke with my brother that, 'Well.. I never want to get married. But if I HAD to, it'd be to Alex. No one else, kthxbai.'

Yeah, I saw how much money you have to have to stay in London. I really have no desire to live there, I've been there, was nice. Don't think I'd want to live there though. Oh, I will! Before I went to the UK I started my own little "video blog" and such, but I never put it up anywhere because I'm too nervous about putting my face up on the interweb, lol. Oh wow, you've been quite a few places. I've been to Great Yarmouth (where hopefully I'll be studying if everything goes according to plan), not far from there is Norwich, I LOVED Norwich, it's freaking awesome. And then, of course, London. Which is like.. two or three hours away I believe.

Haha, well, I told my English friend, Will, on Facebook when he asked that, I'm basically playing a game I'd like to call "beat the clock." The course I want to take starts in September. I have to get my money in order, get CAS, work on my student visa application, get all the documents for that in order. Basically my time frame is 'get everything done before this September', lol. It's just like my head is always in a spin because I am ALWAYS thinking about it and what I have to do next. It's like my own little obsession.

@Ducky, Yeah, that's why I figured I should do it now. Oh, I know! I'm currently emailing back and forth to a college and hoping I'll be accepted into it and be able to get myself a student visa. Thanks much for the advice. I'm trying really hard to do my homework on financial things, it's kind of confusing for me since I've never really had to worry about these kinds of things. So.. hopefully I'll catch up with the rest of the class, haha.

I agree. Although I did like it there, the reality is, I only spent a month there. I am taking a huge risk of not liking it when I go back there, because I'll probably end up staying a few years on the student visa since I want to do an HE course and then go onto a University. Like I said a few times over, I just don't want to end up in my early 30's or 40's and wonder the damnable question, what if. What if I had gone to that college over there to study abroad? Haha, that is right, I did miss some of the things here. But thanks for the advice I'll definitely take all of it into consideration.

Sounds like you definitely know what to do. I wish I'd known of these boards when I first started thinking about going over there. But I've learned a lot by "winging it" so, at least its worked out.

September is a good timeframe and you can definitely do it! I would suggest applying to the college NOW as the September semester is technically only two semesters away. They will give you as much time as you need to get the financing together so it's better to have your approval letter in hand by the summer, that way you have all your ducks in a row by the end if the summer. I've found that once you are approved, it makes things more 'real' and you do things at lightning speed. Haha. I applied for my university in November, was approved in December, had my acceptance letter by Christmas, and had accumulated £5000 in my account within a month. Lol. And that was from zero dollars. So believe me, having that acceptance letter lights a fire up your butt for sure. Not to mention once you ARE approved, there's a TON of stuff you have to do. My advisor sent me a two page checklist of everything they needed before I could get started with the visa process. The good thing is, the school will help you with all the visa stuff so basically you just get what they tell you since they know what you'll need to be approved. And the good thing is.... You don't need to have all the stuff required for the visa until you're approved.... So that's why I say do the application first, and soon! :-)

You're getting a lot of good advice from lots of people who know what you're going through or have been through it yourself. You're so lucky. I wish at 19 I'd had all the resources we have now (Internet, forums, etc). And you have a good head on your shoulders so.... You go girl. 

Lots of luck to you!!! I studied abroad when I was 21 years old, and it was amazing!!! I wish I had gone sooner, but better late than never. I'm sure you'll have a fantastic experience

@Vegasgrl94, This site is extremely helpful to me! I thank my lucky stars I found it. There are so many people willing to help and that is just a huge leg up for me. Pshaw, I think you did pretty well by winging it. Look how far you got!

Thank you! I just got to keep a positive attitude. I KNOW this can be done. I just have to focus and stay determined. Well, I already applied to the college I desperately want to go to. I was so happy I could fill out my application online for them, click submit and done. They got back to me in like a week. In that time I was freaking out, because the one I applied to in Norwich got back to me like the day after, so when the other didn't get back to me right away I was like, 'THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY APPLICATION!' so I applied to other schools just in case they didn't get back to me. A week later, I am made a fool of, they replied and now they are going to keep me informed about my application status, I'm really excited about that. Their school has 5% international students, that is pretty cool I think! The woman that I'm emailing back and forth with has been very helpful so far.

I am very lucky to have all these wonderful people (including yourself) to help me. Especially being 19 and starting off having no clue how this kind of how this works. One of my friends' was so blissfully ignorant to international studies. Kinda like I was in the beginning. She was like 'Student visa? What's that?' and I told her that you needed to have it to go to the UK for studies. To which she replied, 'Why can't you just take your passport?' I laughed sooo hard. If only it was that easy, lol. Thank you very much.

@KristinandDan10, Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! How long did you study for?? I hope so, just have to get it all in order.