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The Expats' thread
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4910		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  big_D [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:19 pm ]
Post subject:  The Expats' thread
I know a lot of us on the forum live abroad and Heather was making digs at German plumbing just now, which set me off on a bit of a rant, but I managed to curb myself and not take that thread off topic.

So, I thought I'd start a new thread. What do you like about the UK? What do you miss? What do you hate about the UK? What made you move where you are? And would you consider/are you considering coming back?

I'll throw in a poll as well...

Things I like about the UK:

Banks and chemists being open lunch times and on Saturdays. Sunday shopping would also be nice, but not essential.

Bank accounts paying interest when you are in credit - here, most banks still expect you to pay them to maintain your account!

Online food shopping and English supermarkets. You get much more selection in the UK. A typical supermarket in England is probably the size of the green grocers section of a big Asda or Tesco! And, because of the lack of credit cards here, online produce shopping hasn't taken off - heck, it hasn't even arrived!

What I miss:
Marmite, HP sauce, a chippy, the New Forest.

What I hate:
The state of the pound! My pension is in the toilet and we have just sold mums house. The money that will come over is worth about 60% less than it was a year or so ago! :evil: :(

The constant stories I seem to see about drunken behaviour, violence, bullying, happy slapping etc. That isn't to say we don't have our problems here, but the underlying culture seems to be very different (although converging) and the problems in the UK seem to be far worse than here.

What I like about Germany:
Germany seem to be socially in about the condition England was in in the 80s and 90s. The family unit is slowly falling apart, especially amongs imigrant families from the former Eastern Block, where coma-drinking is not considered out of the ordinary. Beer and wine don't count as alcohol, only Vodka and other schnapps count as alcohol - which is why they have such a high rate of drink-driving incidents.

The landscape is still, in many places open and unspoilt. We have corners of it in the UK, but here it is easier to find and there is more of it. We are also a lot less crowded. We have a similar population to the UK, but much more land, so we are more spread out.

Would I move back?
I don't plan on it. It is causing problems with my brother, who is being very obstinate about paying out the money from my mother's estate, because I am in Germany. I miss my family, but I am much happier now, than I was in the UK and I have finally found the woman of my dreams...
Author:  ProfessorF [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
What about "I live in the UK and am entirely ambivalent about it. It's not the best, it's not the worst."
Author:  Zippy [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
I moved to the US in 2002 and lived there, in beautiful Montana for 4 years. I totally loved it and the only downside was being away from my family, we're all very close on my Mums side so it was hard from that perspective. I moved home after my Dad had a stroke and my Sis fell pregnant with Freddie, it was time for a number of reasons.

Since moving home I've met the man of my dreams, spent many happy days and weeks with my lovely nephews and found a job that I totally love. I wouldn't have missed my adventure for anything, and there're rumblings of Oz emigration at some "future" point, but it's just not the time for it now.
Author:  JJW009 [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
ProfessorF wrote:
What about "I live in the UK and am entirely ambivalent about it. It's not the best, it's not the worst."

That's almost what I was looking for. In the end, I voted for "I live in the UK and love it!", although "love it" is going a bit too far. I'd rather live here than anywhere else though.

I've some experience of life in other European countries, and there are some benefits.

I wouldn't want to live in Wales or Scotland; they're generally no better than England but the weather is worse.

My parents live in France, and it would take something extraordinary to force them to leave. The supermarkets there are much like the English ones but with a larger selection of better quality meats, and a poorer range of vegetables. The medical care is excellent. The weather suits them very well; although there are cold days in the winter, there are also a lot of mild and pleasant days. The pace of life is generally slower, and local politics boils down to "ask the major" - who is also the local plumber. The only problem right now is the exchange rate, which combined with poor investment returns is quite crippling for the retired expats over there.

My ex lived in Holland, so I've spent quite a lot of time over there. On the whole, it was much like England but much tidier and more efficient. Oh, and they spoke better English.

The credit card thing really bugs me though. I found it incomprehensible that you couldn't pay for €100 of train tickets by credit card, where as I managed to buy a couple of T-shirts in C&A no problem. I hate carrying cash because it's bulky, dirty and prone to disappearing. If I lived there then I'd get a local account with a Maestro or whatever it they use, but for a visitor carrying a VISA card it's quite infuriating and just seems a little backwards.

big_D wrote:
Germany seem to be socially in about the condition England was in in the 80s and 90s.

That seems to be true in most of Europe. In much the same way Britain picked up all the unhealthy, selfish and ant-social "capitalist pig" American ways about 10 years behind them, the rot is slowly but surely spreading across the world.
Author:  pcernie [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
ProfessorF wrote:
What about "I live in the UK and am entirely ambivalent about it. It's not the best, it's not the worst."


+1, even over here :lol:

And shouldn't there be a 'I shall go wherever there's pie' option? ;)
Author:  Paul1965 [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
I voted 'I am thinking of moving abroad' because I'd go if a suitable opportunity arose; I'd like to live and work abroad for a while. 'I live in the UK and I hate it!' seems a bit too strong but I am fed up of being here.
Author:  lacloss [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
When people ask me here why I moved I say because I wanted a balcony, In the distant past I worked in the restaurant business and I always wanted to be able to sit in the sun with a cold beer when and if I had an hour off.

11 years later the only thing I miss about about the UK is probably M&S's food hall ,but hey you cant have everything . ;)
Author:  big_D [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
JJW009 wrote:
ProfessorF wrote:
The credit card thing really bugs me though. I found it incomprehensible that you couldn't pay for €100 of train tickets by credit card, where as I managed to buy a couple of T-shirts in C&A no problem. I hate carrying cash because it's bulky, dirty and prone to disappearing. If I lived there then I'd get a local account with a Maestro or whatever it they use, but for a visitor carrying a VISA card it's quite infuriating and just seems a little backwards.

I think it is more down to the way people live. In a lot of Europe, there is no "credit" culture, so most people don't have credit cards and it is generally unusual to want to pay on credit card.

There isn't any real advantage to paying by credit card either, at least here in Germany. At the end of the month 100% of your credit card balance is automatically transferred from your bank account - and you can only have a credit card from a bank if you have an active current account with them, so most people don't see any point in them, unless they travel abroad. Internet purchases are starting to need them - especially if you are using international brands, like Amazon, which don't allow direct bank transfers or payment on invoice.

JJW009 wrote:
big_D wrote:
Germany seem to be socially in about the condition England was in in the 80s and 90s.

That seems to be true in most of Europe. In much the same way Britain picked up all the unhealthy, selfish and ant-social "capitalist pig" American ways about 10 years behind them, the rot is slowly but surely spreading across the world.

Yep, that's how I've described it in the past as well. :(
Author:  adidan [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
No doubt moving to Canada if at all possible in the future.

As for the UK, the only thing I really hate it the propensity of the media in this country to highlight the crap things that are then shown to the rest of the world.
Author:  tombolt [ Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
big_D wrote:
The constant stories I seem to see about drunken behaviour, violence, bullying, happy slapping etc. That isn't to say we don't have our problems here, but the underlying culture seems to be very different (although converging) and the problems in the UK seem to be far worse than here.


Personally, I think the press just feed on the fear of people, it's really not that bad. I'd love to live in France, but I don't speak the language well enough to earn a living out there, so going to have to make my money over here first.
Author:  veato [ Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
UK = [LIFTED]
Author:  HeatherKay [ Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
veato wrote:
UK = [LIFTED]


Yup, and you know why? Because we don't get out and do anything about it. We don't vote at elections, and then complain about the herberts elected by the minority. We're all comfortable enough that most of the sh*t that goes on doesn't really affect us much, so we just try and pretend it's not happening, and keep our heads down. It's somebody else's problem. They'll deal with it and leave us alone to ignore it.

Only it's not somebody else's problem. It's everyone's problem, and we've got to deal with it.

I was seriously thinking about leaving this country some years ago. A reality check put a stop to it, because I simply couldn't afford to make the move. So, instead, I've decided to try and do something to mend things. If I am lucky, I shall get the chance to stand as a parliamentary candidate at the upcoming general election. I may only be a minnow, and stand about as much chance of winning the seat as Gordon Brown does of forming the next government, but I'm going to have a go. If everyone cared enough to do something about it, the UK would not equal [LIFTED].
Author:  l3v1ck [ Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
If I was single I'd be off. Either Canada or New Zealand. It would have to be an English speaking country as I hate learning other languages and I think it's the height of rudeness to live in a country and not speak the language. As it is, I'll put up with the UK and everything I hate about it. PC, Blame and claim causing health and safety madness, government intrusion, religious discrimination against none minorities etc. There's still a lot to like though.
Author:  Paul1965 [ Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
HeatherKay wrote:
If I am lucky, I shall get the chance to stand as a parliamentary candidate at the upcoming general election. I may only be a minnow, and stand about as much chance of winning the seat as Gordon Brown does of forming the next government, but I'm going to have a go.


Really? That's great! :D
Author:  Geiseric [ Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Expats' thread
veato wrote:
UK = PIE
maybe?
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