Also, the first class tickets for the train were totally worth it.
Still remember your post months ago asking for advice for moving. I’m happy it worked out for you and your family squid! Hope you guys can settle down soon (I’m sure there’s tons of paper work and other bullshit) and relax!
Hasn’t quite worked out yet. I still need to find a job (but I have interviews lined up) We came over a little early because we were worried that when the deportation start, everyone who can grab the first plane they came out of the US. We might never get out otherwise.
You’ve done right by your daughter. Good luck on the job search!
Thanks!
Wish I could help, but I’m not in UK. Nevertheless, I believe in you and keeping my fingers crossed that you find a job quickly.
I am optimistic. Thanks.
worried that when the deportation start, everyone who can grab the first plane they came out of the US
The logic is sound. Flights will be snapped up like pandemic loo roll.
That is definitely what I am expecting. Like everything else I am expecting in the next four years, I just hope I’m wrong.
The Nazi salute and the pardoning of all of those January 6th terrorists doesn’t give me much hope.
Hey, I’m in the same job hunting boat, but I’m in Norway! Good luck on your job quest 😊❤️
Good luck to you as well!
good to see you didn’t wait to find out, the Berlin wall went up overnight after all.
Also, the first class tickets for the train were totally worth it…
Damn you yanks be rich!
Welcome to our cold rainy island.
Welcome to the UK! Not sure on your final destination, but I’m based in South West England. Please feel free to reach out if you need any help or guidance, especially if you’re heading down this way 🙂.
Isn’t the UK Distopian in other bad ways? Like insane government surveillance and monitoring
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_641A
[Edit] Most countries have pretty bad surveillance. America is unique in projecting bad things on other countries without having any self reflection.
https://aithority.com/news/top-10-countries-and-cities-by-number-of-cctv-cameras/
https://archive.is/2wN7a (Archived copy)
The UK isn’t great, but its not really an outlier compared to anywhere else.
China has at least 200 million cameras installed in the country. … other countries such as the United States and Germany have 50 million and 5.2 million CCTV Cameras each. The list goes on with other countries with more than 1 million cameras. The United Kingdom has 5 million CCTV cameras installed
In fact
The United States has 15.28 CCTV cameras every 100 individuals, followed by China with 14.36 and the United Kingdom with 7.5.
You know what it doesn’t have? People in power wanting to put queer people in conversion therapy or oppress them in other ways. Which is the main reason we moved.
My daughter isn’t trans, she’s a lesbian, but they won’t stop with trans people. They want to erase queerness in America.
This is true. And right now, at least for the next two years, they have every bit of conceivable power there is. The President, the Senate, the House, the Supreme Court. There are no checks and balances of Donald Trump.
We have our problems, but we haven’t just voted a literal fascist into power so we’ve got that going for us
True that
Welcome to the UK :)
Someone once said that emigrating is trading one set of societal issues for another. If you’re happy with the trade, awesome.
Good luck in your new homeland.
Yes, and I am trading the societal issue of possibly having my daughter tortured for being queer for the one of that not happening.
That is a valid choice.
That’s some Grade A dad’ing Squid! Happy for ya, proud of ya. Best of luck over there!
Thanks!
Ah awesome, I was only thinking about you both the other evening and wondered how you were doing.
I hope everything is going well so far.
I’ll tell you when I’m less exhausted myself.
Hey, congrats for taking that big leap, even if it is to the UK (having lived in a couple of places in Europe including over a decade in the UK, my opinion of the UK is pretty low).
It takes a lot of guts to take yourself out of the environment you know (with all it’s implicit expectations of “this is how people behave”) and move into a different environment were people don’t value the same things, expect the same or behave the same.
Good luck!
Thankfully, due to my British father and grandmother, I know some of the basics. But I still have a lot to learn. Thankfully I’ve got us registered with an NHS clinic (waiting to hear back from them) and just got our new phone numbers.
Yeah, it’s a bit of a headache to figure out all those details if you have nobody to help you, though generally you can figure out a lot of those things by talking to coworkers - as a saying from my country goes “Those who have a mouth can get to Rome”
However the “expectations” I was talking about are more the nitty gritty details of interacting with others in everyday life one isn’t really aware are social conventions (because everybody follows the same version of it as you do in your country, so one naturally thinks that’s just the way people behave in general) until moving to a different country and finding out those things aren’t actually universal.
Things like saying “it’s interesting” when an English person asks you your opinion about something is actually being very critical (you can literally use it as an insult), you’re supposed to stand on the right side of escalators if you’re not walking (especially in a Tube station) or that, unless indicated otherwise, you’re supposed to queue for things if there are other people waiting for it.
Figuring this kind of stuff out is actually quiet an interesting personal growth experience, IMHO.
Where do people not line up for something to wait for it?
Often it’s more like not respecting the sanctity of the line. Americans got the tradition of the queue from the Brits. It was a source of constant annoyance when I lived in Germany when people would cut the line and others just let them without objecting.
people would cut the line and others just let them without objecting.
I can’t even imagine that being the case in a place like Germany… Some places sure, but there!?
It was 30 years ago, at least. Can’t speak to today.
It’s pretty common in most countries for things like waiting for the bus to not queue and in some countries people won’t even queue when the bus arrives and they’re trying to go in, and instead just try and jostle their way in.
Wow, you actually did it! I remember you laying out your plan here on Lemmy a few months ago. Kudos to you
Yeah it was a fun journey to watch it all unfold!
Wow! You weren’t kidding.
I’m so glad you got out, you’re one of my favorites.
Thank you, and likewise!
Congrats on getting out of here! Good luck on the future!
Good luck, I hope you and your child find the UK to be less shitty than America. :)
Having emigrated to France with my kids in 2017, I think you’re making a good decision.
Was this a similar move as with OP? Meaning you had preexisting ties to the country before moving?
actually no. when don the con got elected the first time, i saved up as much as i could, sold as much stuff as i could and just left. I was illegal in France for a while, but did eventually find a job that was willing to sponsor a visa for me. I had to go back to the states to get my visa issued, though, that took a few weeks. I’ve been here ever since, and yeah it’s fucking hard to leave my family back home in the states, it’s honestly much better to live here with my kids than there.
Ah congrats on the move, squid. We left the US for the EU in December (planned since the summer) and I can’t imagine a better choice already. I know you’ve got a million things going on, and of course job, housing, etc are all top priority, but I have some lighter advice on getting used to a new place.
To meet some people and make some friends, there are lots of volunteer opportunities. It’s a fun, helpful, community building way to give a little back.
London has a TON of ex-pats/immigrants. Not that the point is to meet a bunch of Americans or anything, but any you do have left for a reason, so they’re more likely to be like minded.
Say “yes” to any bids for connection you can. Even if getting invited to an activity that isn’t your jam, if you get an invite, go! It can be lonely at first, and feel like drinking is the only way to meet anyone. But social circles can spread quickly once you get them a little off the ground.
Have fun, and enjoy some piece of mind!
Thanks!
Welcome to Europe! I moved to Germany almost 20 years ago, and holy batflaps am I happy about that choice.
I hope I will be as happy. Thanks!
Me, a German, hoping that comment won’t age like milk…
So am I.
Welcome to the UK. And if anyone asks, you ain’t seen me, right?
Seen who?
Perfect.
