I'm living abroad in the UK and I hate it.

[Anonymous]

It truly amazes me how many people who have NEVER lived in a place feel qualified to weigh in and claim there are absolutely NO cultural differences and blame it all on the OP. That's a dead giveaway for someone who has really not stepped out of their comfort zone much in life. Or who is extremely socially dense and unaware

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It truly amazes me how many people who have NEVER lived in a place feel qualified to weigh in and claim there are absolutely NO cultural differences and blame it all on the OP. That's a dead giveaway for someone who has really not stepped out of their comfort zone much in life. Or who is extremely socially dense and unaware

Exactly. When I first started traveling and living abroad, I was sooo open to the experience. All the differences were fascinating and beautiful. Now, I just want my American-sized large coffee at an American price. I want air conditioning (and I want Europe to stop pretending it doesn't get hot in the summer. IT HAPPENS EVERY SUMMER.) I want appliances that aren't built for a single person. I want people to shower every day. Now that I'm indisputably well traveled, I am more American than I've ever been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It truly amazes me how many people who have NEVER lived in a place feel qualified to weigh in and claim there are absolutely NO cultural differences and blame it all on the OP. That's a dead giveaway for someone who has really not stepped out of their comfort zone much in life. Or who is extremely socially dense and unaware

Exactly. When I first started traveling and living abroad, I was sooo open to the experience. All the differences were fascinating and beautiful. Now, I just want my American-sized large coffee at an American price. I want air conditioning (and I want Europe to stop pretending it doesn't get hot in the summer. IT HAPPENS EVERY SUMMER.) I want appliances that aren't built for a single person. I want people to shower every day. Now that I'm indisputably well traveled, I am more American than I've ever been.

I'm the multiple country expat who posted earlier and I agree with you. Life in America is so comfortable on so many levels that it's hard to duplicate overseas unless you have a lot of money.

But I'll will give Europe bonus points for proper national health care. And will concede that it really sucks to be poor in America compared to in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It truly amazes me how many people who have NEVER lived in a place feel qualified to weigh in and claim there are absolutely NO cultural differences and blame it all on the OP. That's a dead giveaway for someone who has really not stepped out of their comfort zone much in life. Or who is extremely socially dense and unaware

Exactly. When I first started traveling and living abroad, I was sooo open to the experience. All the differences were fascinating and beautiful. Now, I just want my American-sized large coffee at an American price. I want air conditioning (and I want Europe to stop pretending it doesn't get hot in the summer. IT HAPPENS EVERY SUMMER.) I want appliances that aren't built for a single person. I want people to shower every day. Now that I'm indisputably well traveled, I am more American than I've ever been.

Yes, you are going through perfectly normal culture shock. Honeymoon period is over and everything is irritating! When I lived in France, a friend and I hit this stage and we made a long, ridiculous list of everything we hated. It was very therapeutic! We had a total American experience where we just cranked about the expense, the smell, the rude people, the tiny coffee, the fish on pizza (?? what France!?), it went on and on. But we also could make even longer lists of everything we loved and the people were actually all very lovely. We just had that cranky period of pure hate

I'm sure expats living in the US get it too. I would love to see their lists of what they hate about us!

[Anonymous]

I could easily live in the UK. I'm a minimalist, so tiny apartments don't bother me. I hate cooking, so tiny fridges don't bother me. I'm quiet and stoic, so I felt very comfortable around Brits. I know how to cross the street.

I love the UK. The history. The architecture. The rolling green hills covered with sheep. Charming villages. And despite their proper manners, I found the Brits to be far less pretentious and annoying than most Americans (and I suppose I'm really talking about my peers in the DC suckfest/rat race).

Assuming I make it to retirement, I'm dragging DH to the UK for however long we can legally stay.

[Anonymous]

Lived in the UK for a few years. Things that worked for me to break through...

1. Take a class at a community college
2. Get a part time local.job that fuels a passion
3. Look for expat meetups. (Insular, yes, but comforting too)
4. Just go and chat people up! You'll be surprised how much they open up if you start the conversation first.
5. Travel.to Europe as much as possible! You'll kick yourself back in the US if you don't take advantage.

I had the hardest time with the sense of humor there. But over the ears, I came to appreciate a sharper wit. Anyway, hang in there! In the end, you'll look.back fondly on this time.

[Anonymous]

The U.K. Is awful unless you are earning a ton.

They have to even pay more salary for footballers to compensate for how crappy it is compared to Spain.

People dump on Spain but if you have a great job/economically secure, Spain is miles better.

A friend of mine took a paycut to live in Italy compared to the offer he received from a premier league club. He said the same think op said - people are mean and the culture is awful.

[Anonymous]

London is a mega city full of people who aren't from London. It's outrageously expensive and everyone is pissed.
Fine to visit, but not to live.
I always feel the same way about NYC.
I'm sure I'd like the countryside more if I had to live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:London is a mega city full of people who aren't from London. It's outrageously expensive and everyone is pissed.
Fine to visit, but not to live.
I always feel the same way about NYC.
I'm sure I'd like the countryside more if I had to live there.

DC is a city full of transplants. It's similarly expensive and filled with cranky, miserable people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:London is a mega city full of people who aren't from London. It's outrageously expensive and everyone is pissed.
Fine to visit, but not to live.
I always feel the same way about NYC.
I'm sure I'd like the countryside more if I had to live there.

DC is a city full of transplants. It's similarly expensive and filled with cranky, miserable people.

False. DC is shockingly friendly. I've worked with Brits from all over, not just London, and they all hated Americans to varying degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:London is a mega city full of people who aren't from London. It's outrageously expensive and everyone is pissed.
Fine to visit, but not to live.
I always feel the same way about NYC.
I'm sure I'd like the countryside more if I had to live there.

DC is a city full of transplants. It's similarly expensive and filled with cranky, miserable people.

You're delusional if you think dc is anywhere as close to as expensive as London.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It truly amazes me how many people who have NEVER lived in a place feel qualified to weigh in and claim there are absolutely NO cultural differences and blame it all on the OP. That's a dead giveaway for someone who has really not stepped out of their comfort zone much in life. Or who is extremely socially dense and unaware

For someone, that claims to be socially and culturally aware you certainly have poor reasoning skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It truly amazes me how many people who have NEVER lived in a place feel qualified to weigh in and claim there are absolutely NO cultural differences and blame it all on the OP. That's a dead giveaway for someone who has really not stepped out of their comfort zone much in life. Or who is extremely socially dense and unaware

Exactly. When I first started traveling and living abroad, I was sooo open to the experience. All the differences were fascinating and beautiful. Now, I just want my American-sized large coffee at an American price. I want air conditioning (and I want Europe to stop pretending it doesn't get hot in the summer. IT HAPPENS EVERY SUMMER.) I want appliances that aren't built for a single person. I want people to shower every day. Now that I'm indisputably well traveled, I am more American than I've ever been.

Yes, you are going through perfectly normal culture shock. Honeymoon period is over and everything is irritating! When I lived in France, a friend and I hit this stage and we made a long, ridiculous list of everything we hated. It was very therapeutic! We had a total American experience where we just cranked about the expense, the smell, the rude people, the tiny coffee, the fish on pizza (?? what France!?), it went on and on. But we also could make even longer lists of everything we loved and the people were actually all very lovely. We just had that cranky period of pure hate

I'm sure expats living in the US get it too. I would love to see their lists of what they hate about us!

I think this happens to people who move abroad with the America sucks , Europe isi a utopia attitude.

It's shocking when you learn they are also human and won't instantly dall in love with you because you are an open-minded American.

[Anonymous]

This thread is so interesting. I don't find Brits rude at all. Yes, they're frank and they don't hide behind the PC veil. However, they are more honest than Americans. I find Americans to be rude, fake, pretentious, overbearing, and quite annoying. I'm a minority and I actually prefer living in the UK than living here in the states. I could just be myself while I'm in the UK. I'm happier and more free there. In the United States I'm forced into this little narrow box that Americans place minorities in. The strangest thing about living in America is that if you don't assimilate white Americans will dislike you. However, if you do assimilate into the culture here, then minorities despise you. I feel like you can't win here. Americans also have weird obsessions with race and religion that permeates the culture here. It's quite suffocating to live here. I have traveled and lived in different countries. If given the choice, then I will choose the UK over any other place.

Maybe the OP and I can trade places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:London is a mega city full of people who aren't from London. It's outrageously expensive and everyone is pissed.
Fine to visit, but not to live.
I always feel the same way about NYC.
I'm sure I'd like the countryside more if I had to live there.

DC is a city full of transplants. It's similarly expensive and filled with cranky, miserable people.

False. DC is shockingly friendly. I've worked with Brits from all over, not just London, and they all hated Americans to varying degrees.

+1

Once you interact with Brits enough you start to realize exactly what OP is talking about. I find it charming that many are convinced they would LOVE living in England and be a huge hit with the locals. Just the kind of attitude the Brits love, lol