Post # 1
Member
3979 posts
Honey bee
I can’t remember the name of the company but it is near London and I am kinda freaking out. It is the best offer he has gotten so far but it comes with alot of complications. Like, I dunno… MOVING TO ENGLAND! I mean, how do we buy a house? We have never been there and it isn’t like we can just take a weekend house hunting. And we would obviously be away from our families… and then there is flying our animals over. I know how they fly with dogs. How do you fly with turtles and hedgies??? And are hedgies even legal pets in England? I don’t know… Oh and then there is the problem with my job. I have a degree in Criminal Justice. American Criminal Justice. I know Constitutional law and the Americal Criminal laws and legal system. Parlimenatry law? Don’t even know where to start. So, woud I have to get a degree in that too? I can’t not work and I don’t want to do anything except Law Enfrocement and the Legal professions… Gah!!!! But this would be an AMAZING opportunity for him and the idea of living in England really sounds good with the exception of the things I already mentioned. I just don’t know what to do or where to start… Also, I have been told by a few people that the English (or the general consensus… not all english) see Americans as ignorant and annoying. I don’t want to be seen as ignorant or annoying! I am really hoping that part is just a mean rumor too…
Thoughts?
Post # 3
Member
5422 posts
Bee Keeper
@Mrs Hedgehog: omg thats so exciting!! I don’t really have much advice to offer since I’ve never moved continents nor been to england but it seems like this is something you will have to consider when it comes to your job, perhaps you can see if there are any american companies with a UK office? but either way lots to think about!!!
also i think the general consensus of most of this planet views americans as ignorant and annoying. but thats inevitable when cultures compare each other, nothing you cant prove wrong.
Post # 4
Member
3979 posts
Honey bee
I was just corrected. The company is IN London. But we would not live there because it is too darn expensive.
Post # 5
Member
9478 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Wow. That’s insanzy! Two of our bees moving to London?! Well, you are a possible. Anyways, I wish I had some advice for you and ways to help. Best bet is for you and DH to sit down and talk about everything. Lay it all out on the table and go from there.
Post # 6
Member
3165 posts
Sugar bee
i think it’s freaking awesome, if you’re up to the adventure!
Post # 7
Member
5843 posts
Bee Keeper
I think most people in Europe find “Americans” as a whole ignorant and annoying but when you’re one on one they are perfectly nice to you. Keep in my London is uber expensive and I thought finding an apt in NYC is bad but a friend of mine moved recently and she said apt hunting was a nightmare.
I would totally go
Post # 8
Member
4822 posts
Honey bee
England is a very expensive place to live, so the first thing I would do is look at the whole package offerings.
If you cant work, for whatever reason, does it make financial sense to go?
What are they offering to go? Housing allowance, trips home twice a year o visit family. A lot of that is standard as expat packages at higher levels.
I don’t imagine you would want to buy something there, if you can legally even. Its expensive and you need to consider the time you expect to be there. Not sure about England, but much of Europe doesn’t buy and sell places like we do in the US. Financing isnt as easy and selling isnt as easy.
Would if hinder your career growth and are you OK with that? Even if it did hinder your career growth, would it make sense financially for your future goals?
Lots to think about, but really exciting!
Post # 9
Member
709 posts
Busy bee
Go!
(and shove me in your suitcase ;))
Post # 10
Member
7429 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I personally do not think I would go, but Lefeymw brought up excellent – definitely make a pros and cons list
Post # 11
Member
48 posts
Newbee
I live in England (not London but fairly near) and can say that it is harder these days to get finance to buy a property. I echo the comments about London being expensive, but you need to go a fair way out for it to become cheaper, as the commutable places like the Home Counties (which surround London) are very expensive as they’re nice suburban places, but with good transport links to London. However, I do like living here and think that we have a lot to offer, not least free health care! Oh, and not everyone here thinks that Americans are ignorant 🙂
Post # 12
Member
7774 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@Rouquine: 3 actually. I just moved about an hour and a half north a month ago.
England is beautiful!! I LOVE it so far. I’ve been living here 5 weeks now.
As for a house, check out http://www.rightmove.co.uk. It was super helpful when we were leaving. We found our house on there before we left, arranged a viewing and we were in. Super easy transition. Houses here are VERY expensive to buy, so I would probably rent. The site has either though. Keep in mind that it may be hard for you to buy because you will have no credit over here. From what I understand, London has a large commuter area and people do live further out from the city and commute in. The public transportation is pretty good (mostly trains).
I don’t know about hedgehogs, but pets are quarantined when you bring there here. That might just be dogs and cats though. Here’s a website that talks about it. http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/
So far, I have not had anyone make any comments about being American. Most of the British people I have been in contact with have been very friendly. Who knows what they are thinking, but they have not been rude to my face.
Other things to be aware of: The cost of living is pretty high. There are a lot of taxes you will not be used to paying such as TV tax, road tax and council tax. I would avoid shipping over an American car. Houses are much, much smaller.
Good things about England: The countryside is beautiful. Very ethnically diverse. Tons of good Indian food. Food in general tastes better. People are friendly. Lots of interesting things to see, especially if you’re in to history. Tea time!
If you want to know anything more, feel free to PM me. We just made the transition. It’s a bit of culture shock, but not too bad. I moved from St. Louis.
Post # 13
Member
3518 posts
Sugar bee
Most younger (teens to 30s) people think Americans are cool. I think the generally negative feels are toward American tourists who can be a bit annoying.
It is absolutely possible to buy something there, and prices will run along the same as a major American city. I have family in South London (Thornton Heath) and their 3 bedroom townhouse would go for about $350K or similar, which is about the same as here.
Post # 14
Member
2142 posts
Buzzing bee
I agree with the pros and cons list. One of the grad programs I am applying to is 2 hours north of London by train so DH and I are in kind of a similar boat (though his job is more easily exported). After looking at smaller city- housing is expensive! I have had a couple friends who had studied abroad and they found some found British find Americans annoying and some see them as a novelty (something about summer camp and tent camping).
Post # 15
Member
2790 posts
Sugar bee
That is incredibly exciting! I think that the most important decision is probably the financial possibilities or hinderances and then the rest is just a personal decision. I hope some of the UK bee’s will find their way into this thread and give you some wonderful advice.
Post # 16
Member
3979 posts
Honey bee
The contract does include the cost of moving and furnishing a new home. It pays for our lease termination fee here and will afford one trip back to Texas each year. There will be two contracts though. One for the “probationary year” and if everything is all well and good, a 10 year contract. If for any reason after the first year, things don’t work out, on either side, they will pay for our relocation again. The only reason this was included was because the first year they will be paying him slightly less because it is probationary. I think it is kinda weird but the 10 year contract is outstanding. Especially considering it is twice what he has been offered here so far. However, there are still quite a few companies we haven’t heard back from here yet. He graduates in December so there is still come time but they need an answer by next month. I am iffy because of how fast it all seems to be happening. And the idea that I may not be able to work scares me.
I agree that we need to sit down and make a list. It sounds awesome and if everything goes according to plan, we could end up better off than we could be here… but we may not. I am not the gambleing type and it really feels like his career is a gamble right now.