My Trip Back to the USA...

Ok, not 'my trip', but we need some new Chit-Chatty threads, don't we? 

And one of us is inevitably coming back from a US visit or getting ready to go back for one.  So tell us of your travelling news from the old-new country... 

Where did you go?  Family visit or vacation?  What did you do & see?  What did you buy?  What did you bring back?

Or are you planning a trip?  How is that going?

Was it fun?  Was there family drama/trauma?  Better/worse than you expected?  Did things cost more/less than you expected?  What was great about it?  What was not so great - did the pharmaceutical commercials or TV news drive you round the bend?

Discuss!

(And I'm not off until late October this year for the US, so this is over to you now...)

Oh I like this thread! 

Well we just got back Friday night so I'll start!


Where did you go?  Flew into Boston, spent most of the 12 days in Newport RI with an afternoon at Wrentham MA outlets and a very brief visit to my hometown of Taunton MA.

Family visit or vacation? Bit of both really.  Mom & Dad flew up from FL and we stayed in a timeshare together.

What did you do & see?  Went to First Beach one day, drove past various "cottages" but didn't do tours, ate waaaay too much food, had my unofficial 22 year class reunion (arranged a meal in Newport after a classmate started a group on facebook).

What did you buy?  Loads of clothes and trainers, some kitchen stuff

What did you bring back? Big tub of Fluff, spices, teddy grahams, peeps

Or are you planning a trip?  How is that going?

Was it fun?  Was there family drama/trauma?  It was fun, apart from my Dad ending up in hospital two days before we were scheduled to leave because of his breathing. And my Aunt was annoying as always.

Better/worse than you expected?  Better actually, we had a good time and the flights went smoothly.

Did things cost more/less than you expected? Was shocked at the cost of food and drink. Old Navy cargos don't seem as cheap as they used to be. Got amazing deals at J Jill though - 75% off then and extra 15% as Mom added me on her card!

What was great about it?  Seeing family and friends, some of whom I'd not seen since 2006 or 2007!

What was not so great - Apart from Dad being ill, there was no good tv for the kids, Cartoon Network was WAY too mature and bizarre and Nickelodeon was on some weird time shift where Nick at Nite stuff was on in mornings. Guess we were spoiled by having Sprout channel when we visited FL.

Did you eat out at favourite places and/or stuff yourself on old favourites?

Hope your dad is feeling better now, SlicesMissus!

Weird thing about the TV stuff.

Sounds like a lot of fun!!!  How long since you had been back (as long as since 2006/07 or more recent than that)?

I'm not from the US, but I did go over to Austin (where the boy is from) without him in October, I think.

I went for GDC Online which is a big games industry conference, I go to at least one GDC every year, mostly Europe and SF, but I hope to get to GDC China this year (ha! Will never happen!).

It was okay, there was a big DELL conference on at the same time and the city was really busy. I stayed in the weirdest  hotel and had a strange massive suite to myself. Was bizarre, it had a free happy hour that lasted 5 hours though...which was dangerous x 100. I didn't see much (I did have dinner with my MiL, who kept me for HOURS, she's really nice but she invited the entire family over and tbh i don't think my DH's step mother cares that much about me to be stuck with me for quite a long evening) although I spent a happy day wandering around SoCo and hit a couple of my favourite places before then, and I got a decent-ish haircut.
We were invited to several parties, one was really cool and on this rooftop, amazing free canapes and booze, anything you wanted, which was fun as I tried some amaze tequilas. I met a couple of my heroes which was fun.
I ate a lot of BBQ as the people I was with hadn't been to TX before.

I didn't buy much, aside from some dresses, and a T-Shirt which had lots of boy scout knots on it from Stagg menswear in SoCo for the boy which was like $50, is it me or are clothes in the US really expensive now? I swear they used to be cheaper! But My dresses were like $90 each which is about what i pay on average for a dress here (£50).

I brought back crystal light and peanut butter M&Ms, and some reeses cups for the guys at work. I also brought back a lot of business cards and some swag, t-shirts and mugs and flash drives etc.

Well, my daughter and I are leaving the end of May for a week so we can attend my son's high school graduation. I can't believe he's old enough to graduate! And I can't believe I'm old enough to have a child old enough!!!
That same weekend, my three nieces are in a dance recital. So it will be all about visiting and spending time with family.

That sounds like a great trip you had, CB!  Happy Hours & tequila - mmmmm! 

kbeech06, how exciting!  We'll expect the full report when you return. 

DH & I did go back last October - we went to NYC for 4 days, first time ever for both of us, which was lots of fun.  Then took Amtrak (also first time ever for both of us) down to Baltimore, where my brother picked us up.  We went back primarily for my niece's wedding, and I'll have to say it was just the best visit ever with my family that time around.  Now it's a few years on from my mom's death, it's like my relationship with my brothers has changed & it's just a lot sweeter.

Brought back soooo much stuff - shoes, clothes, food - you name it!  We are used to packing/travelling light, so I pack a big empty suitcase inside another big suitcase when we go back - plus we each have a carryon.

Oh & I got to catch up while we were there with Balmerhon & with CharmCityGirl & her husband - I'd met both gals here on this side once before!

I used to kind of dread going back to the US, but we had such a great time last October - it's how we sort of got talked into going back again this October!  We probably wouldn't have gone back quite so soon otherwise. 

I am going back in June, for the first time in 6 or 7 years (cant remember exactly), so will be watching this thread with interest!

My normal association with going back is negative... I am the black sheep of the family, they don't approve of my lifestyle, my choices, my religion, the way I dress, the way I talk....nothing, really.

But it's my parents 50th wedding anniversary, so I'm hoping there will be a happy atmosphere and everyone can get on. !

In the meantime, can anyone link me to the thread where everyone talks about the stuff they always bring back from the US?  I've had a brief look, but can't find it!

Thanks..

is it me or are clothes in the US really expensive now? I swear they used to be cheaper! 

oh no, don't tell me this! 
I was hoping to buy some new clothes over there, as I remembered it all being much cheaper!

is it me or are clothes in the US really expensive now?

I think they are definitely more expensive than they used to be. I've been back in the UK since 2003 and have made two trips to the US in that time - once in 2005 and once last year. On my first trip, I came home with a ton of new clothes, but last summer I didn't buy anything at all. I don't think clothes were a lot more expensive than they are here necessarily, so it wasn't only an issue of price - it was more that the styles seemed so ... I don't know ... sort of "old lady" looking.

*********

Where did you go?
Rhode Island, where I used to live. 

Family visit or vacation?
Trip to see friends.
 
What did you do & see?
Went to the beach, saw Fourth of July fireworks, volunteered at the zoo I used to work at, went to the museum and just hung out with friends. 

What did you buy?
Nothing

What did you bring back?
Nothing

Was it fun?
Of course! Seeing friends is always fun!

Was there family drama/trauma?
N/A 

Better/worse than you expected?
About the same. I'm not a huge fan of the US these days, so it was what I expected.   

Did things cost more/less than you expected?
A hell of a lot more. $8 for a small block of halloumi? WTH? 

What was great about it?
Spending time with friends. 

What was not so great - did the pharmaceutical commercials or TV news drive you round the bend?
I don't think I saw any television while I was there, so no commercials to annoy me. What wasn't great was having to drive everywhere and seeing no pedestrians anywhere at all. Giant supermarkets with nobody bringing their own bags. People on their mobiles while driving ALL THE TIME. It all seemed like such a "plastic" life compared to my life here. But none of this was a surprise.

Or are you planning a trip? How is that going?
I might be going to California next spring for my father's 80th birthday. It's still in the planning phases but a friend might come with me and the two of us may try and incorporate some west coast sightseeing at the same time, as well as popping up to Washington to see another mutual friend. I think spending time with my father might be easier with a buffer! And being in the US as an official "tourist" (aside from California, I haven't been to any of the northwest) might be more fun than trying go back as someone who used to live there.

I am going back in June, for the first time in 6 or 7 years (cant remember exactly), so will be watching this thread with interest!

My normal association with going back is negative... I am the black sheep of the family, they don't approve of my lifestyle, my choices, my religion, the way I dress, the way I talk....nothing, really.

But it's my parents 50th wedding anniversary, so I'm hoping there will be a happy atmosphere and everyone can get on. !

In the meantime, can anyone link me to the thread where everyone talks about the stuff they always bring back from the US?  I've had a brief look, but can't find it!

Thanks..

From one black sheep to another, I completely understand! By the time I go back for my first visit, it will have been at least 4 years.

oh no, don't tell me this! 
I was hoping to buy some new clothes over there, as I remembered it all being much cheaper!

I think the gap has gotten smaller but hasn't closed completely, things are a bit cheaper, but no way as cheap as they used to be.
Certain brands are seemingly much cheaper like Levis, but I think part of that is due to them not selling the cheaper made styles over here, the selvedge denim made in America ones are $150 and £100 over here so not prohibitively different.
I can't really shop at any of the big stores over there any more, they're either too preppish/old lady or they're too tight/blinged out teenage...I will pick up the odd heavily reduced designer thing at Century21 in NYC or boutique thing if I see one, but that's the same the world over really.

I'm going home at the end of May for the wedding.  The wedding of my childhood friend was my husband's best man and my best friend from grad school who was my bridesmaid.  Bwah ha ha ha ha! 

oh no, don't tell me this! 
I was hoping to buy some new clothes over there, as I remembered it all being much cheaper!

IMO, it depends on what you're shopping for & what the exchange rate is.  The cheapest deals were back when it was $2 to the £1 - but those days are gone for now, unfortunately!

Last time I only bought basics there - and from places such as JC Penney, Wal-Mart, Target, or mall shops, etc...  I bought things like underwear & socks, T-shirts (some I got for as little as $3 on sale!), jeans (DH bought Levis from the outlet store for $30 a pair, which was a steal), and several pair of shoes.  I find that shoes are pretty much the same price in units - more or less, so given that you're paying dollars, it is cheaper.  Also I found a broader selection of shoes that I liked & that fit me (more colours & styles available in a wide fitting) there...here in the shops, my choice is usually black, black or black. 

In the meantime, can anyone link me to the thread where everyone talks about the stuff they always bring back from the US?  I've had a brief look, but can't find it!

I think most of those are kinda old - let's start a new one! 

I think most of those are kinda old - let's start a new one! 

Wouldn't it be less confusing to just resurrect one of the existing ones?