-Where were you born?

San Francisco, California, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

London, UK

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my American husband.

-How long have you been living in England?

Almost three years.

-What is your age? 

32

-When did you come up with the idea of living in England?

My husband was offered a job here and he initially refused it, as we were in the process of buying a house in California. However, the deal for the house began to sour so we reconsidered moving to London. After a lot of discussion about our future plans and a strong desire to do some travelling before we settled down, we took a leap and moved to England!

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

No, this is often the biggest hurdle for people and we were lucky. Since my husband's employer wanted to send him to their London office, they sponsored a work permit for him and because we're married, I qualified for a similar visa stemming from his, as a "dependent". I am free to work anywhere in the UK, until the visa expires (in which case we will have our visas renewed). 

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

It wasn't. I brought in proof of my home address in my name (I brought in a bank statement, though a utility or mobile phone bill will do) and photo ID (passport) and was able to register with my local GP. I wasn't at all questioned about my visa status. (If you are asked, it's actually a peculiar question and you should challenge it.) 

-How do you make your living in England? 

It took me longer than I expected to find a job here. This city seems to be full of people just like me, from all over the world, all going after the same jobs. Don't underestimate the size of London! I just kept sending out CV's, meeting recruiters, registering with agencies, going on a ton of interviews and finally landed something.

It took about four to five weeks of active searching. I've worked in a few jobs now since moving here and now have a little network of contacts and references for future jobs.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language? 

Well, I speak English which helps (of course). I think the fact that so many people around the world watch American television and films makes it easy to be understood, though I do have to remember to speak more slowly and enunciate. When I do that, I've been told I have "an accent" by fellow Americans. Ha!

But despite sharing a language, there is a big cultural difference between the UK and the US. Speaking the same language definitely doesn't guarantee seamless communication. It's important to pay close attention to what people say (as well as what you say) and learn the British English vernacular. 

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? 

I do miss home and am sad to not seeing my nieces grow up or not seeing my parents as often. I also miss driving and the one-stop shopping that is so common in the US (I miss Target!). The feeling comes and goes. There are moments I cannot imagine moving away from London and moments when I am dying to go back home.

-What do you think about the locals? (also how they treat foreigners)

It's interesting. I sometimes feel that some of my English peers are xenophobic or quick to generalise/insult people from other countries (i.e. what's wrong with the Irish, the Americans, the French, etc), or even their own country (North vs South England, North vs South London, etc). There is very much an "Us versus Them" mentality which I have to wonder, given England's place in history, if that should not be surprising. Another interesting thing is a lot of the English I've met haven't seen any more of the world than the average American has.

But all of that could be said of many people all over the world (it even exists in liberal and "tolerant" San Francisco!). I suppose this means despite cultural differences, people are essentially the same.

Anyway, besides all of that, I love English people, esp. outside of London. They are often so friendly, interested in conversation and they're not plagued with fear or wariness. They say "Sorry" a lot, too which I really appreciate! (I'm used to people in the US trying to instigate a fight or calling people names if they are accidentally bumped into on the street.) 

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in England? 

Postive:

1) London is very international and with so many transient people, many are open to make new friends or just have a chat with a stranger. I've learned a lot about different countries and met a lot of interesting individuals.

2) Pubs on every corner! Full of happy, chatty people.

3) Extensive public transit, whether by tube, bus or train. People have complaints but overall it's an amazing system.

4) Proximity to the rest of Europe as well as Africa and the Middle East! You can be in Amsterdam in 45-minutes, Rome in about 2-hours, Egypt in about 5-hours...incredible.

5) I feel safer here (careful, but safe) than I do back home, especially considering London is such a major city.

Negative:

1) Customer service (for things like home utilities, NHS or in shops) is often seriously lacking. Makes American customer service look amazing.

2) Some people here loooove insulting Americans. After three years, the shtick is growing old on me but unless someone is really nasty, it's all about "having a laugh"! Just be prepared to be the butt of jokes. Often. Also, know that anything negative said about Americans can just as easily be applied back to the British, i.e. "stupid", "fat", and (surprisingly!) improper pronunciation. Only one word is needed to demonstrate this: "anyfink".

3) A lot of terrible American tv shows thrive here. Oh, and the good shows aren't on until weeks later than they are in the states!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about the United Kingdom?

When I first moved here I found a ton of sites about travel in the UK with all the typical tourist tips and suggestions. Not useful for me. I had a hard time finding information about living in the UK (where to shop for housewares, best places for groceries, what to expect from the NHS, etc) that was all in one spot, so I've set up a site aimed at helping new American expats: http://lettersfromwhom.com. 

My goal is to help new expats sort out the necessities of life in the UK. It's not all about Queen's English, clotted cream and tea here. Ok, there is a lot about tea, but the rest may surprise you in how different it is from home.

-Where were you born?

Red Bluff, California, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

North Anston, UK

-Are you living alone or with your family?

With my husband

-How long have you been living in England?

2 years

-What is your age?

46

-When did you come up with the idea of living in England?

Well, that was an unfortunate error on my part. I had my own Real Estate Property Management business and I was doing quite well. I decided to date online. Well, I met a wonderful man who was in California in my same town visiting his brother. He was born and raised in South Africa but is Dutch and had been traveling Euorope for the past 10 years.

Long story short, we fell in love and got married. Small wedding in Reno, Nevada as I had been married before. What I had no idea about was immigration. I thought I would apply for him to stay and I knew it would take time but I had no idea what a nightmare it would become. Ignorance is no excuse and I am guilty there.

I allowed my heart to get in the way of things and I paid for that dearly. He was assisting me in my business and ended up overstaying his 90-day visa by 2 days. He left and went through Canada as he had friends there. Some Orange alert happened and they stopped him at the border and refused him entry. His flight was due to leave the next morning after his visit with friends. He was sent back and the U.S. claimed he was illegally entering so they tossed him in prison. After a ton of money and an immigration lawyer and 3 months later to no avail the government treated him as a terrorist and the judge refused to allow him out while we processed everything so I told him to allow deportation as his horrible treatment in a hard core prison for this was not worth it. Funny I wish those internet dating sites would list a bit of a warning about how immigration may not work out so easily between people from different countries.

I was then forced with a horrible decision, to divorce this man that I love and admire or give up everything I worked so hard for and leave my own country. I made a commitment, and was raised to stick to it. I sold everything I had for love and we picked England due to the fact I spoke no other language. He speaks quite a few different languages but thought it would be so much harder for me to adjust if we picked a country where I could not read or write the language. He belonged to the EU so immigration was also reasonable. Within 6 months of applying I was in. the cost was free for an EU family permit. This is also considered a Visa and it is good for 6 months after you arrive then you apply for your residency card.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

You do need to have money in your bank account. Your spouse needs to have a full time job as well. It also helps if you have money in an account so they know you will not become dependent on their system. Not that you are allowed any assistance here because you are not. I am here on an EU Family Permit and now after 1 full year have residency. This EU Family permit allows me work and live here no different than anyone from the EU.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

I could never afford medical insurance in the U.S. So did not obtain coverage for here. Because he belongs to the EU we are entitled to medical insurance. I still must pay pay for presecriptions which is very reasonable and no comparison to the U.S costs.

-How do you make your living in the UK? Do you have any type of income generated? 

We both had money from selling everything which bought us some time to get set up here. My husband landed a job fairly quickly after we arrived. But I do not make a living here. It is a nightmare. I try so hard to blend in but it does not work well. I have a business degree and a real estate license and 15 years experience which means nothing here. So for me it was like getting out of high school all over again with nothing. It took 8 months to land a very poor paying job as a receptionist in a sleazy hotel. That was when I realized how awful the labor laws were here. After 8 months, they made me redundant. That is what they call a layoff here. I am still unable to find employment. I wanted to begin my own Letting Agency but again I am a foreigner and they do not take too kindly when it comes to paying you for a service here. (Lack of trust) which is reasonable I guess. But it does not help me at all.

I think I am resented as I say what I think nicely but I am honest. They do not appear to like this much here. They won't tell you this to your face so you know where you stand it will behind your back. I am not here to put down any other culture at all that is not the point. I trusted my husband as he is well travelled and I assumed he knew the laws when he arrived in the U.S. when in fact he did not. Because of my ignorance I created a bad situation for myself.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language? 

Well in Yorkshire there is a very different language.

It is a type of slang and it takes a while before you understand what it is they are saying. I had a neighbor who became a friend who assisted me in this and that helped quit a lot. Yes you need to know and use the slang so you can communicate with people on their terms. It makes things easier for you. I remember my very first experience when I was asked "what are you having for Tea"? Well I have never even visited here before so for me I thought, what does that mean? I replied "I do not drink tea" of course they looked at me very strange and laughed. When I mentioned this to my husband he explained what they meant. What are you having for dinner? In a way it is kind of funny. I felt so stupid but I learned.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

I miss home every single day. I have always been a history buff and loved castles and manor homes and England provides tons of that. I belong to the National Heritage and pay a yearly fee and I have a card that allows me to visit all their sites which offers quite a lot. It rains a lot here and it is cold most of the time so outdoor activities for me are very limited. 

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

I plan on going back home as soon as we can get that mess straightened out. That will take some serious planning on my part and a separation of probably at least 2 years. But in the end I believe for me to be worth that. I want my life back and I want a career which at this point I do not believe I will ever obtain here. Maybe just a low paying job here but for me that is not enough.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it? 

We are renting, which was yet another experience here. Due to the fact I was a property manager for 15 years in the U.S. that helped a lot here. Renting is very different here and you can be disappointed if you do not investigate this in detail before doing this. It is not a common practise here to have a home cleaned or even the carpets shampooed before moving in.

It is common for an owner to leave furniture in the home whether you want it or not. Move-in inspections are basic and only list fixtures and owner items. The first place we rented was all inclusive but basically a closet in comparison. for a tiny 1 bedroom terraced house with the kitchen living combined to a very small space cost 460.00 pounds. That included council tax. The 2nd place was bigger but outside of the main city and it was 4 bedroom 1 bath 2 story home for 495.00 but the council tax is 1,200 per year, then you have your phone costs, internet, and gas/electricity on top of all that. We do have a nice yard which is not a common thing to have here without paying dearly for it. 

-What is the cost of living in England?

The cost of living is expensive and the wages are very low. It costs us around 700 pounds per month not including car tax, insurance, gas and food to live. You are lucky if you have a job where you work on average 48 hours per week for a monthly income of maybe 750 pounds. They do not pay over time here. Keep in mind if you are a teacher, doctor, lawyer/solicitor, you can do ok here; if not be prepared to struggle a bit. This also depends on where you live too. London is very expensive and the wages for what I am maybe qualified to do are very low there as well but the cost of living is even higher than here.

-What do you think about the locals? 

Well, they are very curious as to why I would have moved from California to here. They always say why on earth would you move here? They do not seem to like it here much either funny enough. It is all about the great weather in sunny California for them. I am remembered in the local pub. They are genuine and polite and I enjoy them. Where I live there are no other Americans that I am aware of.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in England?

Wow, where do I begin. The positives, well lots of green countryside. It is very green here all year around. When you go shopping because it is a small village the shop owners are nice and say hello. The weather is mild all year around, so if you do not like hot weather you do not get that here. This community has lots of parks all over and so you will see lots of people walking their dogs. I enjoy that as dogs are always happy to see you.

The negatives, well it rains a lot, you fight moss and mold. The one thing I just have a heck of time with is getting anything done. For instance when you need to call for a question about your bank statement, phone bill or anything those calls cost you money per minute then if you are lucky you manage to obtain a customer service person who really is rude and doesn't help you then as I have found out they tend to always tell you they will call you back. Guess what, they never ever do. Bad customer service all the way around here is very difficult to understand. It really frustrates you to no end. But you just have to accept it which I still have not come to grips with here. 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in England?

Well, yes of course. Please do not do what I did. Everyone has their reason for leaving, but even though I read everything I could get my hands on about life here before arriving, they do not mention the tiny details. I guess some small details may not make a difference to most people but it certainly did with me.

I lived without hot running water for over a year. That is not illegal here. Again everyone will experience something different. But that made life almost umbearable for me. Your shower or most at least has its own electrical box that heats the water up so you do or can take a shower.

The housing laws are very lax here. Obtaining a driver's license is yet another nightmare and very, very difficult to obtain not to mention expensive. I am still trying after 2 years. Where I live I need to drive and still I can't. I was used to being so independent for most of my life and since I arrived here I am not. I can't drive anywhere, I cannot obtain employment and it makes things very very difficult and lonely. Please, please take into consideration all the tiny things you take for granted that just might not be so easily obtainable here. Think about how you would feel when you send out 150 CV's per month and you might get a call and then they say they will call you back and they just never ever do. It is a weird feeling. I know at times it would happen back home but not to this degree did I ever experience this. I also know the economy is struggling but the reality is they will hire their own over you as this is logical.

You do not have anywhere near the space inside a home or apartment that you had. No electrical outlets allowed in the bathrooms. I mean these are things that are not mentioned really and you would never think it would make a difference but when you experience these things they add up. Shops do not stay open late unless you are in a large city. You need to plan ahead for weekends and especially on Sundays. Again not too big of a deal but still. Where I live the main weekend thing to do is to head to your local pub to get drunk. That is about the highlight of it.  Drinking and getting drunk is huge here. Not all do this but most do and it is an accepted thing to do.

For me personally moving here has seriously changed me. I will never take anything for granted again. I appreciate America for everything it has to offer and the reasonably easy life I had there. I appreciate how people in America are such entrepreneurs and think to the future and they say what they think so you always knew where you stood with people. It is not like that here at all.

Just really consider everything to the absolute fullest before making a life altering choice for yourself. If I could go back and would have had the knowledge I now have I doubt I would have jumped in. Age also I think has a lot to do with my negative experience. If I were in my 20's I think I would have enjoyed this so much more. When you are young and going to school your mind is open, you make friends easier and you have lots of time to establish yourself. At my age, it is not so simple. Employers want younger people to hire and not really foreigners either. Education and degrees between the U.S. and here are different so because they are so conservative thinking here they tend to stick with what they know.

Neither of us have family or friends here so that also makes it hard. If you have money or your spouse has a good paying job and one of you has family here I think that makes a huge difference in your experience. Most people that have moved to a different country it has been because of school or a good paying position. Becoming a teacher allows travel and they always need teachers in many countries.

Be aware without a specific degree in a profession accepted worldwide can have drastic results in trying to just make a living and can be incredibly difficult in another country. My Real Estate License and all that experience gets me nowhere here. All that money and time I spent to get it is now simply gone.

If you want to be an exchange student this would be a great experience. If you are coming to teach again a great experience.  Make sure to have a good job that pays well and a recognizable degree for here before you even think of just coming here. Jobs are far and few between for foreignors and they pay very low wages.

Again maybe if my situation would have been different my experience thus far might have been a better one. Not everyone can adapt to a different culture. For those who have embraced it I admire you.... One more very important piece of advice. Do not say what you really think. They simply do not like that. Being completely honest as you were taught in the U.S. does not work here. You must really think before you open your mouth or you will be doomed. Once you say it you can't take it back. You need to learn to read between the lines of what they say to you. What they say is not exactly the truth. Their culture has taught them to be overly polite to the point you will not know where you stand. Getting the truth is very difficult. Until you know the difference it is better to walk on egg shells.

-Where were you born?

In Southern California, USA.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Oxford, England.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my partner, who's English.

-How long have you been living in England?

A year and a bit

-What is your age?

21

-When did you come up with the idea of living in England?

I've always been attracted to England.  From an early age, I resolved to move here.  That was before I knew about visa issues and work permits, of course.  But in my last term at university I came to Oxford to do a summer abroad and fell in love--with the city, the country, and a boy--and I realized that I wanted to make that dream I'd had so long ago a reality.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Yes and no.  There aren't a lot of options available for non-EU residents wanting to live and work in the UK.  I was lucky enough to find BUNAC (http://www.bunac.org/) and participate in their Work in Britain program, so I had a six month temporary work visa to start out.  But BUNAC is no longer operating this program. 

Now I'm studying full-time for my masters at a UK university, so I have a student visa.  The only downside to this is the restriction on work: 20 hours a week, which, with the cost of living being so high in Britain, is just barely enough to get by.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Not at all; England's healthcare system makes it easy to sign up at a practice and receive regular, free, healthcare.  Prescriptions have a flat fee (under £10).  I've found it easier to receive healthcare in the UK than in the country I was born in.

-How do you make your living in the UK? Do you have any type of income generated?

I do admin work at an English language school.  It's bland work compared to my studies, but it's exciting to be in such an international environment, and it pays my bills.  I also do a few freelance writing gigs to supplement my income. 

It didn't take me very long to get the position when I first arrived.  I tried to find a job where being a foreigner was actually an asset.  Schools are great in this respect; my having studied abroad at university, having been an outsider in Oxford, means that I can be a resource to students who are now going through the same thing.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I do speak the local language, of course--but that doesn't mean that I automatically fit in, or that there aren't huge cultural gaps between the locals and me.  I'm always very aware of my outsider status, trying to learn as much as I can about the English people and respect the way they live.  In some ways this is made easier because we share a common language, but in other ways it's made harder: the differences are often more subtle. 

I do think it's important to strike a balance between assimilation and maintaining a sense of self.  There are some ways in which, culturally, I feel more British than American; and as friends and family have pointed out, even the inflections in my voice have changed since I started living here.  But there's freedom as well in being an expatriate--and none of us should take for granted where we're from.  As my partner likes to point out, sometimes, I can break the cultural rules that he can't (jumping ahead in a queue, holding a conversation on a bus) because, no matter how much I love it here and no matter how well I understand the culture, I'll always be an outsider in some sense.  I think that's what makes living abroad so special.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Of course; I'm an only child, so I think it's especially hard for my parents and I, being so far apart.  I grew up on a ranch on the coast of Southern California, so I miss the climate, the open spaces, the countryside.  I miss being so close to the sea.  But visits home usually quell these feelings; and the things that I've found I love in Oxford, and about it, excite me enough to keep me going.  I do wish I could see my family more often, but the fundamental fact is that I'm happy here, and that means a lot.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I'm working on it!  I'm hoping to stay on in Oxford for at least another year after I get my masters.  I'd like to do a doctorate here someday.  In the meantime I'll keep writing; ideally the work I do will allow me the freedom to move between cultures.  Living abroad has taught me to respect flexability, and to enjoy not necessarily knowing where I'll be two or three years down the line.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

My partner and I rent a house in East Oxford, a 15-20 minute walk from the center of the city.  We're very lucky; we have a beautiful three-bedroom house with a garden, but because we found it through a friend, we're paying less for it than we would otherwise.  Houses like ours generally go for about £1000-£1500 per month.

-What is the cost of living in the UK?

It's very expensive here--more expensive than the big US cities (I was living in Boston before I came here).  Possibly the most expensive aspect of living here is the pub--it's such an engrained part of the culture, but it's so easy to get sucked in.  We do our best to keep our costs down--I cycle everywhere and neither of us has a car--and you just get used to it.

-What do you think about the English?

I've found some very close friends here, most of whom are English.  But Oxford is also a city rife with foreigners.  It's in its essence academic place; it attracts minds, not nationalities.  Nobody thinks twice if you're not English. 

There's a quote from Max Beerbohm, in Zulieka Dobson, about Oxford: "The Germans loved it too little, the Colonials too much.  The Americans were, to a sensitive observer, the most troublesome—as being the most troubled—of the whole lot...They were so awfully afraid of having their strenuous native characters undermined by their delight in the place.” 

Obviously a lot has changed since 1911, but there's still an interesting relationship between the locals and the foreigners.  To me, living in a foreign city has always been about the city itself, and finding my place in it; not about forcing the city to form itself around me.  I've known various outsiders to adopt this latter attitude, and it's this, I think, which isn't appreciated.  But Oxford is exceedingly tolerant of newcomers, and if you make an effort, I've found, she's happy to adopt you as one of her own, no matter your provenance.

Recently we had a funny conversation with a pair of friends; a couple, an English man and an Australian woman.  He was musing that most of his English friends in longstanding relationships have foreign partners.  It sounds arbitrary, but there may be logic in it, too.  The English have, in some ways, a very closed, if also often beautiful, culture--interaction through apology, not speaking to each other in public situations unless pressed.  And every society has its unwritten laws; I think it's refreshing to both parties in an inter-cultural relationship to be with someone who isn't afraid to break the rules that you yourself think are unbreakable.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in the UK?

It's expensive to live here.  And I'm far from my birthplace, and my parents.  But that's the tradeoff we make to do things like this, and the one thing I would say is that if you can't reconcile that, you'll never be truly open to living somewhere foreign.

The positive aspects?  I could go on for ages.  The people, the beauty (Oxford is one of the most stunning cities I have ever been in, and every day, cycling to and from work or wandering through town, I think to myself, how lucky am I, that I get to live here?), the history (my parents literally built their own house; here, the city walls date back to before Medieval times), the countryside, the pub.  I have a great fondness for the pub.  It's unlike anything else I've ever experienced.  It's a social meeting place but also a respite from everything, a place to breathe a sigh of relief.  We don't have enough places like that in the world.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in England?

Read a lot.  Visit the pub, not the nightclub, if you want to meet people, or interact with friends.  Watch: be like Walter Benjamin's flaneur, an observer of the city, a wanderer.  Be utterly genuine, and utterly honest.  Be gracious.  Realize that in your role as outsider-on-the-inside, you have great power, great freedom, and the wonderful ability to learn about both the place you're in as well as yourself; but also understand that this only works if you're open to the experience.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about England?

The best resources I have found on living in England are books.  Kate Fox's Watching the English is probably the best, from a sociological standpoint.  But England, and Oxford specifically, has such a wonderful cache of quality literature about it that it's hard to go wrong.

On the web, http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk is the best resource for living in Oxford.  http://www.ukcosa.org.uk is good if you're considering studying in the UK and, though it may be dull, the Home Office website at http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk is the best place to go for information on obtaining visas and work permits.

Finally, I have a weblog in which my experiences abroad feature prominantely.  Visit me at http://aliteralgirl.blogspot.com for more...

-Where were you born?

Ohio, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

Dyserth, Wales, United Kingdom

-Are you living alone or with your family?

With my husband and 2 young daughters

-How long have you been living in Wales?

Since January 2007

-What is your age?

34

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Wales? 

I was always open to it.  When my husband had the opportunity to work for the International Division of the company - we jumped at it.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Not for us - the company handled it all.  And since he has a work permit, I also am allowed to work here, although I haven't done so.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Medical Insurance is free here under the NHS.  Many people have supplemental private insurance but we don't.  Our first year we kept insurance in the USA until we developed a comfort level with the quality of care here.

-How do you make your living in Wales? Do you have any type of income generated?

I don't have a job here other than raising my children.  Low paying jobs are fairly easy to come by and part-time work seems to be plentiful.

-Do you speak Welsh and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

Everyone speaks English but there is a large emphasis on Welsh.  My children attend a rare "English" school in Wales - most schools are Welsh.  That means the primary language of instruction is Welsh.  At an English school in Wales - Welsh is taught as a second language.  My 5-year-old knows her numbers to 20 the major colors and many phrases like "May I use the toilet" and "Put your coats on the pegs".

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Sometime I do miss home but less and less the longer I am here.  The biggest adjustment coming from America was adjusting to the different level of customer service (both expected & provided) and the conveniences (24-hour Wal Mart or Walgreens or grocery store, etc.)

-Do you have other plans for the future?

We will relocate again likely in 2009 to another foreign location - just not sure where yet.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We have rented here.  The current housing slump is in our favor.  A decent 4-bedroom home here would rent unfurnished for around £1000 per month and sell for £350,000+. 

-What is the cost of living in Wales?

It is much more expensive than USA.  Gasoline is the biggest difference but almost every item is more than I would pay at home.  It has really altered my consumerism - a good thing!

-What do you think about the Welsh?

We have been treated very well here in Wales.  No anti-Americanism.  People don't seem to like the current administration very much but I think that's probably true in America as well.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Wales?

Pros: Slower pace of life, friendly people, great produce, cheap and easy travel throughout Europe, emphasis on family time

Cons: Poor customer service, expensive, the WEATHER!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Wales?

Don't assume that just because you move to the UK that it will be like America with different accents.  It is a different culture over here and while maybe not radically different, there are differences and you need to come here (or anywhere) with a very open mind.

-Where were you born?
Manila, Philippines

-In which country and city are you living now?
Buckinghamshire, England

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I am living with my family, my British husband and my two lovely boys.

-How long have you been living in England?
This coming month is my 10th year.

-What is your age?
36...

-When did you come up with the idea of living in England?
I was a med student when I met my husband (who was my pen-pal then); until, I realized I wasn't cut up to be a doctor and my falling in love with him made my decision a wee bit easier to leave Manila.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
I had a tourist visa when I came here, took about a month to get it, but it wasn't that hard, except for the intimidating interview bit (goes without saying really), and then when I got here, I just kept renewing it. I had to wait for about 6 months (maybe more) until they allowed me to work. Then I had to wait for another year until I got my permanent residency.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I didn't have medical insurance, but I remember within the week of my arrival, I had to register with my local GP. They have free medical care here courtesy of the NHS (thank goodness). I just don't know the ruling for tourists now.

-How do you make your living in England? Do you have any type of income generated?
I worked for a publishing house for 5 years as a data entry clerk by dropping into my local work agency. It wasn't that hard to get that job, definitely not very hard work but it wasn't a doodle either. It was a temporary job for 3 months but I suppose they liked the way I work, so they made me a permanent employee, until they had to go up north and I was made redundant. Now, I'm just as happy to look after the kids, while the husband slaves away to work as a cartoon animator.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Lucky for me we don't live in Wales or I'd have to learn Welsh (mind you only about 20% of the population speaks Welsh anyway)! I didn't have to learn a new language, nonetheless it would have been nice to learn a new one, even out of necessity.

In regards to local customs, I can say there is only a mild disparity between the traditions I grew up with and the traditions here, i.e., good manners, which are almost always expected like please and thank you's.

I was fascinated by their love of cuppa teas even at the strangest of times. Example, when I went to a friend's house to talk about a problem, after a few sighs and crying on my part, she offered me a cup of tea... as if it would solve everything on hand!

I was also called "love" (as in a term of endearment) by a complete stranger , which I found rather strange at the beginning. Now, even I use it. I think it's important to go with the flow, if you like, to keep peace and harmony. As they say, "When in Rome...

The Britons like giving to charities too, they're very generous; and they like forming a queue...

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I do miss my family (parents and siblings and friends) back home, terribly at times that I usually go home every two years. I was supposed to go home last year but money is a bit tight (a family of four needs a bit of money), fingers crossed we'll be able to go next year.

We live just outside London that we get to see all it has to offer. Museums and galleries come to mind, and of course the West End shows... my favourite treat! We also like walking around the woodlands (we are surrounded), the parks around here are good too, with a children's playground to boot. We also like driving around the countryside, especially when it gets too cold.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
As I've said, we plan to go home next year. We also plan to go to Sweden to make the long awaited visit to my best friend in Malmo, and then go north to Stolckholm to visit the brother-in-law. In the future my husband and I would like to retire in the Philippines.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We own a semi-detached house (3 bedroom) and the price around this area is about 250K average. We were thinking of moving west to get near the sea, but the house prices there are tremendous, so we decided to stay put. Another advantage of staying here is that the schools are very good. Children come first!

-What is the cost of living in England?
Britain's cost of living is very high, it's world renowned.

A loaf of bread costs about 99p average, petrol 97p per litre, annual gas bill 600 pounds, water bill's about 250 pounds/yr, electric bill 450 pounds/yr...

Cinema ticket would cost around 7.50 pounds, McDonald's meal, 4.50 pounds; Travelcard for London tube/bus journey zone 1-6 is 5.1 pounds, a taxi ride costs about 5 pounds too. Even a return bus ride will set you back 2.70 pounds (in my town anyway)...extortion!

So there. There's no such thing as cheap in Britain really, although there are occassional BOGOF in the shops.

-What do you think about the English?
I live in a multi-cultural area so not much of a problem for me. So far, I get along with them fine. But because of the recent terrorism attack around Britain, there seems to be an invisible wall that makes everyone seem wary of each other. For example in my firstborn's school, Asian mothers tend to keep themselves to themselves, while all others mingle. I don't want to say segregation but maybe it is.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in England?
Positive aspect would be everything is convenient. If you can't think of anything to have for dinner, just go to the local M&S (even the shop next door), presto, just bang it in the microwave and eat away.

Britain is surrounded by lush countrysides, bucolic views, historic sites, castles, museums, galleries, etc., etc., you name it they have it. And although I'm not a big pub goer, I have to say I love the pubs. Our local pub serves the best roasts!

And of course thank God for NHS, but beware of MRSA.

Now, the lows. For someone who came from a terribly humid and hot country, I had a bit of a shock when I first got here. It took a lot of effort for me to acclimatize, and I'm still adjusting to be honest (and I still get the occasional SAD).

In my area, it gets really quiet during the day, especially at night, so it really gets depressing especially since I came from a very busy/noisy country.

And... everything is dear.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in England?
Be strong. At the same time, don't be afraid to ask for help because the locals are always happy to help.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about living in England?
BBC - (http://www.bbc.co.uk) a must for latest news and entertainment including BBC tv.

Metro- (http://www.metro.co.uk) I used to read this a lot when I travel the underground, now I can only read it online