I have lived here for X & I still have trouble with...

New thread!  New thread!

I have lived here for 8 years, and I still have trouble with - driving!  It's my nemesis.  I have my full UK licence, but I just hate driving here - I can still get so freaked out about it & it doesn't come naturally.  I will be trying to work on it, but it's hard - we don't need to take the car out much and I'm quite happy for DH to drive when we do.  I'm okay with short trips to places that I know how to get to easily though.

What about you?  How long have you been here & what do you still struggle or have issues with, being an expat/immigrant here?

Maybe you're new & it's still all a full-on experience/adjustment with everything?  Or maybe you're a longtimer like me & there are still things causing a struggle or niggle for you?

If you're what I call a SuperExpat - never had any problems adjusting, never will...I think we possibly might want a separate thread for that one. 

Oh & another thing - I've not found my way back to as good of a job as what I had in the US...  I'm not sure it's a US/UK thing, but it's a thing - a starting all over again thing.

I'm not sure I ever will. 

But it's still worth it, being here with DH & my lifestyle is better so that's all good. 

The job thing.  I know that my degree isn't really worth anything here.  I know that everything I did before getting that degree doesn't have any equivalent here.

I try not to get envious of my friends I graduated with having good jobs with major responsibilities while I am filing. 

Some days are better than others. 

Friends.  I have some friends here who I like, but before I moved over I was still in grad school (although an older student) and so we all had lots of time and were studying similar things.  It is just harder when you don't have something to bond over such as school or kids.  I think I am ok with how that is going though.

Crossing the street. 13 years, and still laugh that I can't cross the street.

But, you know me, I am a SuperExpat. That would be my super power.

If you're what I call a SuperExpat - never had any problems adjusting, never will...I think we possibly might want a separate thread for that one. 

Done. 

Come over there with me, racheeeee. We don't belong here.

I have lived here for 4.5 years and though this may seem silly to some, I cannot for the life of me, get my head around musical terminology here.  It can actually be quite hard to figure out where you are or how to take directions from musical directors/conductors if you have no idea what a semi breve is!  Since I spend a large portion of my time in musical endeavors, it makes me struggle.  I look it up, but it still screws me up!

I have lived here for 4.5 years and I still have trouble with the Glaswegian accent!

I have lived here for 4.5 years and I still get nervous trying to call someone up on the phone or have to talk to them on the phone. Accents on the phone really mess me up! 

Oh bookgrl & phatbeetle, I am glad you showed up so that I'm not alone here with my angst! 

Bookgrl, how long have you lived here now?  The friends thing came along for me somewhere in between 3-5 years, now I can't seem to keep up with them!  However, to be fair, most of my best friends I met via this here website.

Crossing the street. 13 years, and still laugh that I can't cross the street.

Oh yeah, sometimes I have trouble with that one too!

I have lived here for 4.5 years and I still get nervous trying to call someone up on the phone or have to talk to them on the phone. Accents on the phone really mess me up! 

Oh gosh - I had to get over that one, my job involves a lot of phone work.  Occasionally, I still have trouble understanding - usually in this order:  broad Scouse (no idea what they're saying!), followed by Geordie or Glaswegian (about equally).

Oh bookgrl & phatbeetle, I am glad you showed up so that I'm not alone here with my angst! 

I'm sure I'll have more as something pops up that I can't do! That's all I could think of for now 

Oh & the WEATHER!  Grrrrrrr.... 

I last lived in Tampa Bay - I loooooove Tampa Bay weather.  Here?  Not so much.

Just over 6 years.  

I hate talking to people on the phone EVERYWHERE.  I think because I used to be a telemarketer.

I just answer the phone with a really chipper voice (HI!) so I sound like a ten year old and then say my husband isn't home.  They never ask if I can change the accounts, so it has worked well so far.

I'm actually ok with the weather. 

Oh & the WEATHER!  Grrrrrrr.... 

I last lived in Tampa Bay - I loooooove Tampa Bay weather.  Here?  Not so much.

You freaking love the weather...

I have lived here 60 days and I still have trouble remembering to turn off that switch thing when I've finished using the plug.

I have lived here 60 days I still have trouble using the money. I'm pretty sure I have twice my body weight in change in my pocketbook because I'm worried about holding up the line inspecting the coins. To be fair, I'm pretty good at picking out the right things pretty quick, but I second guess myself and worry it's wrong and the cashier will think I'm deliberately shortchanging them.

Duvet covers!!!

I have lived here for 26 years, and I still have not learned to like Scotland's 'other' national drink... IRN BRU!

I hate it... it leaves an aftertaste of iron.
This is why I totally believe in the old advert:  Made In Scotland, From Girders! 

Was here for 3 years- moved back- now am back again and still can't pull into a parking bay straight.