I hate living here

You are allowed to use the NHS on a fiancée visa.

Being in UK for a little over two years, life is way different then what I'm use to.  
Before I lived in NYC.
I guess food is what I miss the most.
I don't drive and rarely take public transport.
So I am pretty much stuck at a small town.
For the first year I kept myself busy with blogging, my dog health problems and plan a weekly outing to explore UK.
Every now and then I wish I can just book a ticket to visit NYC but money won't allow me to do so.
I guess try to find hobbies to do, gardening, crafts, meetup.com, sports.
 

You are allowed to use the NHS on a fiancée visa.

Oh thank god, thank you so much.

I had to look up Grange Over Sands because I didn't even know where it is - and oh my goodness it looks like such a beautiful place!!

If it were me (obviously, I don't know your interests), I'd probably take my camera and head off on some walks. Do you take photos much? Maybe give photography a whirl? There must be some breathtakingly beautiful places to walk and explore around there. And walking's free!

When I moved to Cornwall, I didn't know a soul either so I joined a book group. Is that something you might be interested in? There may be a local one - just ask around. The group I joined wasn't local enough for me, so I started my own in the village - you could do that if there isn't one already.

I don't know if you'd be interested in the W.I., but I'm a member and I love it. All Institutes are different and many do attract an older crowd, but there's always a chance your local one is younger and more active (like mine).

Above all, don't put stress on yourself. You've only been here a couple of months which is NOTHING! You can't possibly expect to be fully acclimated with a busy social life and a full complement of friends in that short a time! You're only just getting your feet wet! Give it time and it'll all happen for you - I promise. 

Gabriella,
If you can get a bus ticket long in advance, it is cheaper, and you can totally crash on my air mattress, on my floor, and come to London for a visit! 
I have two crazy cats, a hubby who cooks, and a single air mattress.
You are more than welcome to visit me!
Just send me a PM on here, OK?!
I'm from Manhattan.
It would be fun to have a fellow NY in the flat!
XOXOX,
L

Now if I can just figure out if I'm allowed to use the NHS yet.

You are allowed to use the NHS as you are on a settlement path visa.

Register at your local GP ASAP to get the referral process started.

Awww (((hugs))) - 2 months in is a real turning point in homesickness I think-   You're not on holiday anymore, its real life, you aren't sure with your footing yet, you don't know anyone... reality... 2 months in, seems to hit!  

In my opinion, retirement communities are actually brilliant places with lots going on, because they're people with time on their hands to act and do.   I know you're trying to find your footing- Don't be afraid to try anything and everything - even things you think you may not like.

About 2 months in, I tried mountaineering (bad idea if you know me!!  ) - I sucked at it.  But you know, I had a fun day out, lots of laughs (mostly at people laughing at me), met some folks, went to pub afterwards - and now I can say 'Oh yeah ,I bagged that Munro' -    It's not something I picked up as a hobby, I can't even walk most of the time,hahaha, but it was really something different and I enjoyed myself.  Sometimes getting out of your own skin for a day can be amazing.

Check out this thread "What do you do for fun UKY" for some ideas - you never know what may hit you and you grow to love!

Explore- become a local expert! You've got the time, wander around, check it out, a lot can be found for free and low cost.  Walks, strange monuments, new shortcuts, anything...  What a beautiful part of the world you live in- make the most of it!!

Then when you can get volunteering/working, certainly that opens your horizons.  

But until then, be kind to yourself.  Its not the easiest adjustment by any stretch of the imagination, but it gets easy over time!  

Hi Gabriella, sorry things haven't been that great. It must be a massive culture shock moving from New York to Cumbria. Some things I think you will get used to over time, such as walking or the washing machines. I've been here six years (I'm 29) and I don't even think about walking everywhere anymore or having a tiny washing machine or having to dry my clothes outside (or on the radiator in the winter!) It's different from the mod cons I grew up with, but it's not better or worse, it's just not the same. I actually love not having to drive everywhere anymore, though I live in London, so it's a bit different, I realise.

Have you tried taking a day trip anywhere? You could get a bus or try to get cheap train tickets and try going to English heritage or National Trusts sites. I think they may also take volunteers. Also, I would recommend going to other cities up North, like York, Newcastle and Liverpool. There are also great seaside towns up north as well, such as Whitby and Seahouses (gorgeous during the winter, and there's a castle nearby). Plus Scotland is always an option, I plan to do some camping up there later in the year.

As for being an outsider, that will change with time. Once you are able to get a job/volunteer, you will meet people and make friends. Also, once I started recognising people around the neighbourhood/at the pub, and once I was able to chit chat with people in shops, I felt more like I belonged.

At two months, any honeymoon period that may have existed has stopped and homesickness starts seeping in. When I worked with study abroad students, the same thing happened to them. We used to tell them to keep a journal/blog about their experiences, bad and good. Over time, most were able to start thinking clearly about their expectations versus the realities of their experiences and became used to their new environments, and were happier as a result. I wouldn't give up on England yet, it's a great place. It has its faults, but every place does. And if you ever get too tired of it, you can have a city break in Europe!

Gabriella,

For what it's worth, I think this is normal for some people.

I found that it helped to get outside more. As someone has already said, it will be Spring soon and I bet that will improve your mood some. I think it's hard to adjust to a Fiance Visa life if you are someone who has always worked because sitting at home not being able to contribute anything won't feel like a life at all. Also, you're not earning money, so you might not feel like you can justify the expense of going out and doing fun things. It's tough.

I think Chary's suggestion about getting into photography is an excellent one. Grange over Sands looks gorgeous!

I hope you feel better soon.

I don't know if you'd be interested in the W.I., but I'm a member and I love it. All Institutes are different and many do attract an older crowd, but there's always a chance your local one is younger and more active (like mine).

Oooh - I always forget about this- this so looks like something I would really enjoy. As if I don't have enough on my plate- I think I really need to look at my local 'Rural'... I know, like most things I do around here, I'll be the youngest by about 30 years, but hey, all good fun, shared interests, good laughs, good fun!   

I'll be the youngest by about 30 years, but hey, all good fun, shared interests, good laughs, good fun!   

You'd love it! Our Institute actually has one member in her 20s and a few in their 30s!

Oooh - I always forget about this- this so looks like something I would really enjoy. As if I don't have enough on my plate- I think I really need to look at my local 'Rural'... I know, like most things I do around here, I'll be the youngest by about 30 years, but hey, all good fun, shared interests, good laughs, good fun!   

I'll bet they make jam up there, but singing 'Jerusalem'? Hmmm... 

singing 'Jerusalem'? Hmmm... 

I actually like that bit! 

I actually like that bit! 

So would I, but I hear it doesn't play quite the same in Scotland...

I don't think the Rural does the Jerusalem thing