NGL, not asking for a friend. Given the current trends in US politics, it seems prudent to at least look into it.

Most of the online content on the topic seems to be by immigration attorneys hustling ultra rich people. I’m not ultra rich. I have a job in tech, could work remotely, also have enough assets to not desperately need money if the cost of living were low enough.

I am a native English speaker, fluent enough in Spanish to survive in a Spanish speaking country. I am old, male, cis, hetero, basically asexual at this point. I am outgoing, comfortable among strangers.

What’s good and bad about where you live? Would it be OK for a outsider, newcomer?

  • EnderMB@lemmy.world
    3·
    11 hours ago

    I’m in the UK, and I work with a LOT of Americans already, so know this first hand:

    • You fuckers are always in for a culture shock when you realise that everywhere isn’t like London. You seem to either expect London or Harry Potter Land, but when you end up somewhere like Bristol, Leeds, or Birmingham the frame of reference just dies and you see the wheels turning in your head trying to make sense of it all.
    • Weirdly, you seem to really like our supermarkets. They’re a lot smaller than yours, meal deals are a novelty that never gets old, and paying the price on the tag is the greatest thing ever.
    • You love our bread, and our chocolate is like crack to you. You’d think that you’d moved to France or something…
    • Butter on bread will fuck you up. You use Mayo all the time, but we use butter/spread, and it messes with your minds.
    • You quickly learn that Europe is a continent, and that cultures across the continent are very different to one another. You also learn that no one knows US history that well, or that we had a war with you (since we have basically had a war with everyone at some point).
    • The drinking culture is a really interesting one. Some love it, some hate it. It’s a staple of British life
    • We get paid a lot less than you do, but your money will go much further because you’re not spending it on healthcare. You’ll also get taxed a lot, but ultimately you’ll earn enough to be comfortable, and a comfortable life in the UK is nice.

    To answer your question, you’re more than welcome here, and it’s much easier to get a visa to the UK for you than for us to go to the US. Expect some people to give you shit for Trump, but give them shit back for Brexit and electing the Tories for 15 years.

    • multicolorKnight@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      10 hours ago

      Now we’re talking. I have been to the UK quite a bit, and work with plenty of Brits here, so:
      Americans are not generally in the habit of addressing people as “you fuckers” until we know you better. :)
      UK supermarkets are more like US conveniences stores with more food and no fuel pumps in front. They are OK.
      Agreed, the existence of anything besides London, Liverpool, and maybe Manchester is totally a blank to us. Went to Birmingham, had no ckue.
      Butter on bread is the only way, don’t know where you got that from.
      No reason you guys should care about US history. English history is much more interesting.
      Engkish pubs are good. Beer, I think, has gotten better in the US recently.
      After Brexit, the UK has permanently renounced the right to criticize anyone’s politics. Still, recent developments there give me hope that it’s possible to come out the other end of this.
      Thank you.