I never dreamed I would end up in England

Good hello, fellow Yanks.
Thought I'd pop in here to the Welcome Wagon and say hello before I start posting elsewhere.

Moved here from the San Jose area of California in October 2001.
As Elvin Bishop might say, I fooled around on the internet with international pen pal ads and fell in love with a wonderful British lady in 2000.

One thing led to another...and here I am in the land of pubs & tiny village streets with parking on both sides & very few garages or driveways.

But despair I do not because we have Wimpy's and their Cheeseburger Meal Deals!
No, I am not "taking the Mickey". I really do love their burgers. They are far and away much better than the ones I've had at various pubs or The Harvester or Burger King or Mc'D's or Little Chef.

In general, I do not miss America.
I miss the big streets and being able to turn right at red lights...but I do not miss the television or radio or cops everywhere you look.

I miss the big used record stores & Wendy's & Togos & Taco Bell...

But enough of all that.

The main reason I'm here at UK Yankee is because I have yet to meet a fellow Yank here in the Medway area. I need a good chinwag with an Expat from the States who can appreciate my whinjing about the UK roads and their 10 million signs & speed cameras...and the milk that goes off in 3 days...

Cheers.

I'm in the Medway area - live in Rochester, work in Chatham.  Where are you?

There's an American working at a Pawn Shop by the Tesco at the end of the Chatham High Street.

There's one working at a solicitor's office by the one I work at.

There's one who lives in a flat on the Chatham High Street.

We are here, we are here, we are here...

Hi there Mr Toke, welcome to UKY. Not living near you but thought I'd say hi as my husband is from California (Orange). By the way, I think I have seen Togos here, I forget where, but will let you know if it comes back to me.

Hi and welcome!  You'll find that lots of people here met the same way you and yours did.  I also am not in Medway and indeed lost in the land of clotted cream and hedgerows but want to say greet you!

Welcome!

No where near ya, but welcome anyway! 

I'm in the Medway area - live in Rochester, work in Chatham.  Where are you?

There's an American working at a Pawn Shop by the Tesco at the end of the Chatham High Street.

There's one working at a solicitor's office by the one I work at.

There's one who lives in a flat on the Chatham High Street.

We are here, we are here, we are here...

Cheers Peedal.
I live in Hoo and work in Strood.
I must confess, I did meet an American male from Wisconsin working at the Co-Op here in Hoo about a year ago, but he was very busy...Haven't seen him since.

The Safeway in Strood has a great selection of beer! 

Hoo is kind of far out - but I imagine it's a nice place to live.  The school there has a good reputation, from what I know.

 Hiya Mr.Toke and welcome aboard to UKY 

 Rhia

I had to smile when I saw this - in my own particular case, I was really NOT keen on coming to the UK when I was transferred over here. When I think of my negativity back then, I have to laugh...

The Safeway in Strood has a great selection of beer!

Hoo is kind of far out - but I imagine it's a nice place to live. The school there has a good reputation, from what I know.

Are you thinking of Hoo St. Mary's?
Hoo St. Werburgh is just a 191 bus ride away from Rochester & Chatham & Strood.
Only takes about 20 minutes.

Hoo is an alright place to live...
Its residents are a mix of upper, mid-level, and working class folks.
Kind of strange compared to San Jose where the "levels" are more distilled & distinct.
What I mean is, back in SJ the rich live with the rich, the poor with the poor, but here in Hoo they are all mixed together.
My only complaint about Hoo are the young lads who vandalize phoneboxes and race their cars down our streets doing 60 mph...

If you like curry, you absolutely must try Hoo Spice. It's a take-away on Main Road. I've tried many other curry houses/take-aways but Hoo Spice beats them all. They make a lovely Bombay Aloo.

Welcome  to UKY!
I live further south along the Medway in Maidstone.  I know of another American that lives in Maidstone and one in Snodland.  I heard one in Barclay's in Maidstone as well and am sure there are more around.

If you like curry, you absolutely must try Hoo Spice. It's a take-away on Main Road. I've tried many other curry houses/take-aways but Hoo Spice beats them all. They make a lovely Bombay Aloo.

I've heard that, actually! 

We had our wedding cake done by a bakery in Hoo.  By "far out" I kind of meant not exactly walking distance!  I never walked anywhere in Florida - but here I walk wherever I can.  That's all I meant.

Well definitely have to give that curry house a try!

Glad you could join us, Mr. Toke.  I'm in the States for a short while, but live in Scotland--a tad further north than you, so I don't see me running into you at the shops for a chinwaging session.  Welcome anyhow...I'm sure you'll find everyone on the board full of knowledge and very friendly...

Hey there toke. No where near you now I don't think (I'm in South Buckinghamshire) BUT I grew up in Santa Cruz, my best friend and my uncle both live in Santa Clara, and I spent the last 10 years before coming here in San Francisco. I had to laugh when I saw the KOME logo on your posts!

Welcome.