American Living in London for 12 Years: AMA

[Anonymous]

Today is a slow day and I also realised it's my 12 year anniversary of living in London! I moved here as a newlywed and we are now raising 4 children. Thought it might be fun to do an AMA if you are interested.

(I found DCUM while researching lunch boxes one day and you ladies dragged me in )

[Anonymous]

What do people in the UK think of the American experience with Covid? I've read that they feel sorry for us and are embarrassed for us that we stumbled so badly on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do people in the UK think of the American experience with Covid? I've read that they feel sorry for us and are embarrassed for us that we stumbled so badly on this.

Well, we are dealing with our own mess here what with our character of a PM and a bit of a "scandal" involving a top advisor traveling to see family even with the travel restrictions. But yes, Trump and his entire party and handling of COVID is generally looked down upon heavily here.

[Anonymous]

Do you miss anything about the U.S.?

[Anonymous]

What's the best part of living in the UK? I worked there in the 90s (frequent trips) and found it very dated in terms of women in the workplace. That was mid-90s so I'm sure different now. It was a high tech company and not many women, but wow the difference to the US office experience.

[Anonymous]

Where do you typically weekend or vacation?

What places outside of London would you recommend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you miss anything about the U.S.?

Honestly, not really! At the beginning, absolutely. I felt like I didn't belong and even though I spoke the language (obviously) and had a British husband, I felt like a fish out of water in a place with a completely different culture. After a few years I found my friend group and started to assimilate and now feel like I "belong." Having children really helped.

Of course I miss my family and friends but we are very lucky to be able to see them regularly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the best part of living in the UK? I worked there in the 90s (frequent trips) and found it very dated in terms of women in the workplace. That was mid-90s so I'm sure different now. It was a high tech company and not many women, but wow the difference to the US office experience.

Best part is absolutely the access to culture and ease of travel to other places in Europe. A weekend in Amsterdam or Belgium or Paris is as easy as hopping on a train or quick flight.

I've definitely heard that complaint a lot (and I'm probably not the best person to ask as I work in the creative field where there are a *lot* of women and I've never worked in a typical office environment here) but I don't really feel it. We also live in an area with a fair amount of expats so maybe that has something to do with it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do you typically weekend or vacation?

What places outside of London would you recommend?

We live in North London so we spend a lot of time at Hampstead Heath or in Primrose Hill (big parks) with friends or at museums or our children's many activities. We vacation all over Europe and America and Asia for vacation!

My favourite places outside of London are the Cotswolds/Oxford, Windsor, and Leeds.

[Anonymous]

Since your children are growing up in the UK, do they feel at all American? Do any of them want to live in the U.S. someday? Do you want to come back here permanently?

[Anonymous]

Do you pay US taxes?

[Anonymous]

Is your name Madonna?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since your children are growing up in the UK, do they feel at all American? Do any of them want to live in the U.S. someday? Do you want to come back here permanently?

Hmm, not really. They have a British father, have only ever lived in the UK (although we spend some of our summers in the US), and don't really have any relationships to the US. They do have US passports though. My DD wants to live in NYC but I don't know that that's specifically because it's America.

I don't really have a big desire to come back to live in the US permanently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you pay US taxes?

It is very, very complicated but the short answer is yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you typically weekend or vacation?

What places outside of London would you recommend?

We live in North London so we spend a lot of time at Hampstead Heath or in Primrose Hill (big parks) with friends or at museums or our children's many activities. We vacation all over Europe and America and Asia for vacation!

My favourite places outside of London are the Cotswolds/Oxford, Windsor, and Leeds.

I’m the pp and I love the Cotswolds, too!