Jen’s childhood dream to live in London, England, became a reality several years ago. Here she talks about some differences in American and English life, her future travel plans, and her work there.	Jen

April 02 2007

-Where were you born?
Boston, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?
London, UK

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live with my husband of 2 years.

-How long have you been living in England?
4 years – since March 2003

-What is your age?
34

-When did you come up with the idea of living in England?
I'd always wanted to live in London, ever since I was a little kid. When I was 30 I finally got up the nerve to give it a go!

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
It wasn't easy. I first came over on a student visa, and then found an organisation willing to apply for a work permit on my behalf. Work permits are difficult to come by – the law says it must be for a job which cannot first be filled by any other EU citizen. However, I work in the social work field (a “shortage occupation”) so that was an advantage.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Once I had a work permit, I was eligible for the NHS, which is free.

-How do you make your living in England? Do you have any type of income generated?
I work for a local authority in their adult learning disabilities department.  This is the same field I worked in, in the States, but things are run very differently over here! My first job with the council was through a temp agency, and that got my foot in the door.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Learning the British lingo is important to getting by. The US and UK really are two countries divided by a common language!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I'm lucky to live in an era of cheap trans-Atlantic flights and telecommunications, so while I do miss my family, I still see them every 8 months or so, and speak to them often.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
My husband and I just returned from a 6-month around-the-world trip – something that wouldn't have been possible if I were still living in the States. We're currently looking at a 4-month trip through Africa. And I recently applied for citizenship, so the rest of the EU is my oyster!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
Housing in London is ridiculously expensive. We rent privately in Zone 3 (outside central London) and it's about as expensive as renting in Manhattan.

-What is the cost of living in England?
Aside from housing, it’s generally a bit pricier than other large cities like NYC, San Francisco and Tokyo. Working in London it's not so bad, because wages are higher than in the rest of the country.

-What do you think about the English people?
For the most part, Brits are pretty open, tolerant people. There's been a bit of a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment and anti-EU sentiment recently though, which is troubling.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in England?
Pros: easy access to the rest of Europe!
Cons: the country is small and crowded. Open spaces are at a premium.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in England?
Be prepared for culture shock. They may speak English here, but there are more differences than commonalities.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about England?
My blog Jen's Den of Iniquity covers some of my mutterings and musings on my expat experience as I muddle my way through.