Is the UK worth the change in life style and uprooting from America?

I ask that question with full knowledge that many people move to a new country because of marriage with a brit or because of school or a new job.But what I want to know is living in the UK worth it, not including the above reasons, worth it despite any anti americanism? Do you feel the culture is at times too different or the system of government too intrusive, or are there times when you just miss living in the usa a familar place? Do you have to change who you are to fit in? Do you avoid letting people hear your voice for fear they will notice that you are American? I think many of us romanticize what it'll be like to live on foreign shores but actually moving there and going through the daily routines can often be far more different than our expectations. If you were'nt married to a brit or working there,would you want to live in the UK and why?

Uprooting?
I couldn't get away from America quickly enough! 

Uprooting?
I couldn't get away from America quickly enough! 

Why did you hate America?

"The system of government too intrusive" - Interesting remark, you need to stop watching right wing news

I'm moving to Guernsey in four days to marry my fiance and I honestly can't wait to leave the US. In some ways I feel like I'm moving up in terms of quality of life. There is little crime there and I won't have to worry about some stupid hunter or gang member shooting a hole through my wall and killing me.Also, I won't need a car while living there because I'll be living smack in the middle of town near shops.Plus the fact that I'll have health insurance for the first time in over ten years makes it a much better place to live than where I'm living now.

I don't find the UK government to be any more intrusive than the US government. The UK government tends to care more about their disadvantaged than the US government does and I think that's a good thing. The uber-rich Tories want the UK to become more like the the US and eliminate aid, which is totally unjust and inhuman. I'll make sure never to vote for them once I get the right to vote.

It’s up to an individual to decide whether or not it’s worth it. You should try living here. It may surprise you given the number of assumptions you’ve made in your statement.

Maybe you can elaborate as to why you think an American would automatically experience anti-Americanism or why you think the UK government is intrusive.

I've been here for 7 years, the only anti-USA comments I’ve heard were made by Americans.

But what I want to know is living in the UK worth it, not including the above reasons, worth it despite any anti americanism?

I haven't run into any anti-Americanism.  Everyone who has spoken to me about my being American has been positive about it.  Occasionally they'll make jokes about Americans being fat or starting wars or liking baseball or whatever, but they're always joking, and I just joke back about stereotypical UK things.

If you're sensitive to criticism about America, even joking criticism, you may have trouble.

Do you feel the culture is at times too different or the system of government too intrusive,

The strange thing about the culture to me is how similar everything is throughout the country.  What I mean is everyone watches the same TV shows, reads the same newspapers, shops in the same shops, and eats at the same fast food restaurant chains.  There are some regional variations, but less than I expected.

As for the government, the main thing that bothers me is there is too much of an effort to eliminate all the risk in life.  For example, you can't have electrical plugs or switches in a bathroom because of the risk of shock.  That's fine, but if shock is such a threat, why can I have plugs and switches near my kitchen sink?  Also, I'm sure someone has invented a plug that won't kill you if you accidentally brush against it while wet; let's try installing a few of those.

Another example is the driving test.  It's not enough to be able to safely operate a car and know the rules of the road, they're adding a section about road navigation to make sure everyone knows how to find their way from A to B.  To me, that's too much.  The government isn't responsible for people knowing how to read a map.

or are there times when you just miss living in the usa a familar place?

Yes, there are days when I'd rather be in the US.

Do you have to change who you are to fit in?

I haven't.  

Do you avoid letting people hear your voice for fear they will notice that you are American?  

No.  I spend most of my time in London, so maybe it's that they're used to accents there.

If you were'nt married to a brit or working there,would you want to live in the UK and why?

No, I wouldn't choose to live in the UK if I wasn't married to a British woman, but that's not because I don't like the UK or I haven't felt welcome in the UK, it's because the US is my home.

Uprooting?
I couldn't get away from America quickly enough! 

Why did you hate America?

I dont think anyone on here hates America... For myself, I moved for love, but also couldnt wait to get out of there. The longer I live here, the more I realise I wasnt a good fit for the US. (There's a few reasons for that, but wont dive into)

Why did you hate America?

Hate?
I think using the word 'hate' to describe how I feel about that place is a bit lazy.  It's a lot deeper than that.  Let's just say I didn't feel I belonged there.

I can't really answer this impartially since I was born in the UK and, even though I lived in the US for many years, the UK is always my home.

It’s up to an individual to decide whether or not it’s worth it. You should try living here. It may surprise you given the number of assumptions you’ve made in your statement.

I agree with this entirely.

I think many of us romanticize what it'll be like to live on foreign shores but actually moving there and going through the daily routines can often be far more different than our expectations

You're right about this. I think a lot of people view the UK as a sort of 'olde worlde' place full of thatched cottages and quaint ... well, quaint everything. And that's why you'll always see people on UKY recommending an extended stay before making a decision to move. It's the only way to see what it's really like to live somewhere.

I'm moving to Guernsey in four days to marry my fiance and I honestly can't wait to leave the US. In some ways I feel like I'm moving up in terms of quality of life. There is little crime there and I won't have to worry about some stupid hunter or gang member shooting a hole through my wall and killing me.Also, I won't need a car while living there because I'll be living smack in the middle of town near shops.Plus the fact that I'll have health insurance for the first time in over ten years makes it a much better place to live than where I'm living now.

I don't find the UK government to be any more intrusive than the US government. The UK government tends to care more about their disadvantaged than the US government does and I think that's a good thing. The uber-rich Tories want the UK to become more like the the US and eliminate aid, which is totally unjust and inhuman. I'll make sure never to vote for them once I get the right to vote.

Thank you Oregongirl.It helps me to get a better picture of the UK when hearing the opinions of Americans that have spent time in the UK. I wonder sometime if living in the UK would be a bit much for a older person. Maybe those are just my insecurities.

I haven't run into any anti-Americanism.  Everyone who has spoken to me about my being American has been positive about it.  Occasionally they'll make jokes about Americans being fat or starting wars or liking baseball or whatever, but they're always joking, and I just joke back about stereotypical UK things.

If you're sensitive to criticism about America, even joking criticism, you may have trouble.

The strange thing about the culture to me is how similar everything is throughout the country.  What I mean is everyone watches the same TV shows, reads the same newspapers, shops in the same shops, and eats at the same fast food restaurant chains.  There are some regional variations, but less than I expected.

As for the government, the main thing that bothers me is there is too much of an effort to eliminate all the risk in life.  For example, you can't have electrical plugs or switches in a bathroom because of the risk of shock.  That's fine, but if shock is such a threat, why can I have plugs and switches near my kitchen sink?  Also, I'm sure someone has invented a plug that won't kill you if you accidentally brush against it while wet; let's try installing a few of those.

Another example is the driving test.  It's not enough to be able to safely operate a car and know the rules of the road, they're adding a section about road navigation to make sure everyone knows how to find their way from A to B.  To me, that's too much.  The government isn't responsible for people knowing how to read a map.

Yes, there are days when I'd rather be in the US.

I haven't.  

No.  I spend most of my time in London, so maybe it's that they're used to accents there.

No, I wouldn't choose to live in the UK if I wasn't married to a British woman, but that's not because I don't like the UK or I haven't felt welcome in the UK, it's because the US is my home.

Thank you camoscato for sharing your experience and the insights you have developed since moving to the UK. Anyone can tell me they hate or love the UK but to give a detailed explanation of how you feel about the UK is quite helpful. For me moving to the UK is something I want to do but there are certain concerns I have about the prospect. A few years ago I came very close to moving over but chickened out at the last moment.My then partner was heart broken and I didn't quite know how to fit that.So here I am trying to see if the UK and I can match up. To be honest its freaking me about.She recently moved back to the UK and is telling me that if I really care about her I will at least give it a try. Many of my concerns have to do with learning and living in a whole new way of doing things. You commented on how the UK government goes so far as to want to tell people how to think even when it come where to drive a car.That does seem a bit over the top. I wonder if a middle-age libertarian can make the adjustment. Thank you man for your kind post.

Hate?
I think using the word 'hate' to describe how I feel about that place is a bit lazy.  It's a lot deeper than that.  Let's just say I didn't feel I belonged there.

"That place"
Ok,maybe hate doesn't sum up how you feel about the United States.But I can't ever remember hearing an American refer to their birth nation as "that place". You have some very strong opinions about the States, and if you don't care to share them I'll understand but the vibe you put out about the States is very strong.

After three weeks of on the road back home, being reminded how easy it must be to pass a driver's test in California, I applaud the DVLA for making it so hard. Hard enough for me not to pass the road test yet. Granted I cannot drive a manual transmission, and automatics are way expensive here. I love the things we have for seniors here, like  bus passes, and sheltered housing. This is in Scotland so am not sure about England and Wales. And I appreciate the NHS so much, which is why my husband decided it was not good for his health to immigrate to the US.

As for the government, the main thing that bothers me is there is too much of an effort to eliminate all the risk in life.  For example, you can't have electrical plugs or switches in a bathroom because of the risk of shock.  That's fine, but if shock is such a threat, why can I have plugs and switches near my kitchen sink?  Also, I'm sure someone has invented a plug that won't kill you if you accidentally brush against it while wet; let's try installing a few of those.

THIS. My fiance and I had a huge talk about this. I asked him why it was okay that there were plugs in the kitchen, near the stove top and near the sink where water can be splashed into them. He claimed they were far enough away from the water areas.

Apparently the no outlet in the bathroom argument is "what if the bathroom floods?" All the shaver plugs in the bathroom that I have ever seen are about 4-5 feet from the floor.
What are the chances that the bathroom will flood 4 feet high?

It's also common sense not to put a blow dryer or electric tool into a filled sink or bath tub.

So I when I go to the UK, I'm blowdrying and straightening my hair while sitting on the ground, in front of a mirror because there are no outlets in the bathroom and we don't have vanity. It's uncomfortable. It is going to drive me crazy