Britain ?

[LeftEyeNine]

I have a causeless ambition to live in UK one day. If those "introduce your country" topics are not too much yet, may the UK residents tell me about how is it like living in UK? The point of view against the foreigners, geographical introductions, the job opportunities, the customs, social fundamentals etc. ? Whatever you may point out about UK to a foreigner..

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Well, one important thing you're doing already is calling it the UK. For the love of god, don't ever refer to the whole place of England, especially if you're anywhere near anyone Welsh or Scottish. It'll tear one of our picturesque little pubs to bits in a matter of seconds.

Other stuff-We love our irony and understatement. If someone says a situation was 'a bit sticky'...well, it was pretty bad.

The entertainment is great, if you can pick up on how to behave in a pub, which is really something of an art unless you're born into it. This article
explains the whole thing wonderfully well.

We're quite expensive, since our taxes quite considerable. As for attitudes to foreigners, so long as you're willing to work, and behave well, no-one cares apart from Daily Mail readers. You can just ignore them, everyone else does.

[LeftEyeNine]

no-one cares apart from Daily Mail readers. You can just ignore them, everyone else does.

This is regarded to the news I had extracted some time ago, or Daily Mail is generally considered a *problemous" paper ?

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

In my opinion it's a scare-mongering rag usually read by bigoted middle class curtain twitchers.

Probably not Frontroom material, though

[Mikeus Caesar]

In my opinion it's a scare-mongering rag usually read by bigoted middle class curtain twitchers.


Probably not Frontroom material, though

I would have said it's the next best thing to the 'Fascist Times'.

LeftEye, as good as our country may seem, it's not that great. Everything is expensive. Living costs a fortune.

[King Henry V]

You don't want to live in Britain. Why do you think I'm an expat?!

[InsaneApache]

hang on BKS the 'Mail' is known as a balenced and trustworthy daily...your letting your predujices show...after all the right, as do the left, never tell lies.

[Geoffrey S]

Best thing to bear in mind is the classic British understatement. The kind that Brits frequently find amusing, but lead to nonplussed stares from non-Brits.

[Craterus]

That's what I thought. That's kinda offensive.

edited by BKS to remove his nasty comment

Less offensive:

In my opinion, it's a scare-mongering rag, usually read by bigoted middle class curtain twitchers.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Heh, yes, you're right. I just really don't like the mail, and that was a bit damning.

*wipes egg off face and edits post*

[Ianofsmeg16]

We're quite expensive, since our taxes quite considerable. As for attitudes to foreigners, so long as you're willing to work, and behave well, no-one cares apart from Daily Mail readers. You can just ignore them, everyone else does.

*COUGHS LOUDLY*
I'd like to refer you to a medium sized island in the middle of the irish sea i keep refering to

10% taxes (or something like that)

but your right about foreigners, although it's not a major problem in the city centres of, say, London.

one thing you may have to get used to is the concept of waking up early in the morning just to get a bacon sandwich, now that may be the whole of the UK or just me i don't rightly know.

You want good advice about moving to the UK? (this is basicall from my dad)
1. Learn the language (although you have grasped that pretty well)
2. Avoid the soaps
3. At all costs avoid the peole known as chavs (seriously)
4. Get a job (a major point, no-one in thje british public likes foreign homeless people) and
5.Look VERY carefully for a house, house prices are skyrocketing but if you look carefully and try not to go to far over budget you'll do fine.

and if you do decide to move, Welcome to the UK

[Duke Malcolm]

*COUGHS LOUDLY*
I'd like to refer you to a medium sized island in the middle of the irish sea i keep refering to

10% taxes (or something like that)

but your right about foreigners, although it's not a major problem in the city centres of, say, London.

one thing you may have to get used to is the concept of waking up early in the morning just to get a bacon sandwich, now that may be the whole of the UK or just me i don't rightly know.

You want good advice about moving to the UK? (this is basicall from my dad)
1. Learn the language (although you have grasped that pretty well)
2. Avoid the soaps
3. At all costs avoid the peole known as chavs (seriously)
4. Get a job (a major point, no-one in thje british public likes foreign homeless people) and
5.Look VERY carefully for a house, house prices are skyrocketing but if you look carefully and try not to go to far over budget you'll do fine.

and if you do decide to move, Welcome to the UK

A lot of people get up early for a bacon sandwich... mm... bacon...

1. If you come to Scotland, you might take some time to learn the accent/dialect/language
2. Watch the soaps, the are very good, especially River City (for Scotland) and Coronation Street
3. In Scotland (where they originated, you know...) they are called neds

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

Non
Educated
Delinquent
s

[rasoforos]

Ok, here is some advice from someone who lives and works in the UK ( In England to be specific ). I am originally Greek but I came here as a student and have virtually spent the last 5 years, apart from a 7 month period, on various locations in England:

1) MOST IMPORTANT. The time is 10.00, you an your friends decide to go to a pub for a drink. You have a pint and then you decide to go for a second one,you hear a bell...tough luck...PUBS CLOSE AT 11.00...oh well you say...lets grab some beer from a super market and go home to continue drinking...you go and grab a case of beer only to be told that you cant buy alcohol after 11.00....you go back home, sober, for an exciting night of poker with peanuts as chips...thats a true story.

The alcohol laws are weird but the drinking patterns are strange too. People ge to to drink a lot and very fast here...even at work...I cant see how you can work with 3 litres of beer consumed in 60 minutes but they manage.

2) Get to know the language ( which you do ):. Chances are that you will end up someplace with a regional accent, learn how to understand accents...trust me some of it doesn't sound like English. It took me about a year to understand what the lady at the nearest fish and chips shop was saying to me :P . Unlike what Hollywood thinks no-one here speaks like the Queen...

3) England: ( I don't know about Scotland and Wales ) is a great place to live. Its organised, the countryside is great, the people are polite, the public services work, great history, lots of places to see etc etc The locals do not think that the country is really that polite or than organised but...a year in the Med would convince them otherwise.

4) Sports: are not what you have at home. Prepare to spend a month watching cricket. Golf is very popular too. Rugby also. Basketball? whats that? And why is this football orange and has zits allover it? It sometimes gets very frustrating for a foreigner...I didn't get to watch ANY of the Eurobasket matches :(

5) Location Location Location: Choose your place wisely. Housing prices are extremely high for most places. An apartment in London will sometimes be 2-3 times more expensive than an apartment at north, even an apartment in a 'ghetto' area. However if you are here looking for a job a London address looks great on your CV so the extra cost might be worth it.

6) Climate: This was a shock for me. Prepare yourself for a loooong winter...and I mean a long 8 month winter. During December, January and February there will be precious little daylight. Since England is so high up north the days are much shorter in the winter and much longer in the summer than in the Med. It can be very depressing...Many International students from the South do not survive their first winter here.

7) Culture. England is multicultural...As multicultural as it gets. Granted there is a significant number of people who do not wish do blend in and have formed communities which I think is terribly bad and I advise against it BUT if you take some effort to blend in then you will blend in and people will not mind if you are local or not ( You become yet another guy with a weird accent! ) . I advise you to try to have a group of friends from various backgrounds and not just people from your own country since you will learn more about the everyday life this way.

Prepare to see people of every race colour or place of origin living and working together. If you enjoy this you will love this country.

8) Work in England:

Companies do not discriminate here...usually. As long as you have the qualifications then you will get interviews no matter where you are from. Then its up to you to prove that you are the best candidate and get the job!

Wages differ. Wages in London will be much higher than wages in other places. But then again costs are too. In my industry wages easily reach 50-75.000 pounds per year which is a sweet amount of money...( No I am not making that much...not even half as much...I m still a poor graduate trainee...)...A degree will usually get you anything between 14k to 22-23k for an entry-level position.

Job supply and job demand. Some industries simply cannot cover their employee requirements just by locals. I am an economist and I know for a fact that not a lot of English University students go into financial studies nowadays. If you are specialised in something like that then you might be in demand. A lot of international students decide to stay and work here because of this.

Location is important. I started applying while I was in Greece and for 7 months I got almost no positive replies. But when I moved to London and consequently changed my address to a local one I almost instantly got a number of interviews/assessment and job offers. I was employed within 2 weeks of my arrival!

Degrees. Its preferable if you have a local degree from a good university since this gives you extra points. A masters degree is great since it shoes potential employers that you can put your ass on a chair for hours and study which shows that you are not lazy :P. Not having a local degree is not the end of the world since EU degrees are equal in significance and most International Degrees are fine too.

Work Permit: Chance are that if you re not an EU citizen you will need a work permit. A work permit is a difficult thing to get when you are looking for an entry-level position. Its easier if you already have work experience and qualifications. Many employers dont bother if you dont have one. Getting to study here will give you a part-time work permit. Chances are that if you work during your studies you can get enough work experience to make your employer want to keep you and get you the necessary papers.

9. Local Peculiarities. DONT...and I mean DONT confuse the English with the Scotish or Welsh and vice versa. Although all of us abroad know otherwise, the Brits still think that they are separate countries. You can usually tell if someone is English, Scotish of Whelsh from their accents....

10. Food: Traditional English food is rumored to be...lets say...hmm...not too healthy or too tasty. This is true in many cases 'jellied eels' comes to mind. Its not always the truth though. Some dishes are excellent...Shepherd's pie, Fish and Chips etc etc. In addition England is also very multicultural in food. Chances are that wherever you live there will be at least 4-5 international food takeaways on a 10 minute walking distance. Chinese, Indian, Thai, Italian, Malaysian, Kebab shops, and anything else you can possibly imagine are there...So you can really eat well and chances are that you will find something that you used to eat at home.

BE WARNED!: Vegetables here are veeeery expensive and many times are sold 'per piece' and not 'per kilo' ...Paying 80p for an aubergine can be very depressing sometimes :P

IN CONCLUSION: England ( Again I say that I dont know about the rest of the UK ) is a great place to live and work. People are friendly and polite, corruption is low and the Prime Minister's wife looks bloody scary...err...forget about the last comment. Services are very efficient and the people do not drive like madmen. Cities in England are not concrete jungles, most houses have gardens and most cities have parks. Job opportunities do exist and unemployment is low. English Pubs are cool, you can get a decent meal and a pint or two without having to spend a fortune. People will usually respect your privacy and your rights. The taxes are a bit heavy...but you can live with that.

Its very important that you blend in and respect ( and try to adopt ) the customs and the local way of life. Your accent name and surname will usually betray that you are not local but I have noticed that this can work in your favour since its a good 'break the ice' point when you meet someone.

Also...you got to give a new place some time. Dont expect to like it from day 1. It does take some time...


Ok that is my description of life in England from a foreigner's point of view. I hope it helps.

Finally let me give you my story which might give you a hint or two of how I adjusted here:

2001: I arrive here as a student. Medium city to the North of the country. I hate it...I can barely understand the local accent... Nothing is 'like home' and I miss TV, Food, the sun, my friends etc etc. During my first year I almost give up, I go back home 5 times and I am tempted to stay. I dont even consider the possibility of staying here for life. The winter is perpetual and there are no mountains...I miss mountains. I want to get my degree and go back to Greece. Everything back home seems so much better. How much I like life here? 2/10

2002: I have met my partner and she was helped me a lot to adjust in life here. She shows me a lot of good stuff about life here. I start to realise that all is not as bad as it seems and that all is not as good as it seems back home either. I start to 'blend in' and enjoy things new to me. I only go back home twice and I ...kinda miss England. How much I like life here? 5.5/10

2003: My final university year. I am now fully adjusted to life here and I love it. I enjoy the way life is organised here. I also notice that culturally I am more accustomed to England than back home. I calculate value in pounds. I decide that I want to stay and live here. I graduate and apply for a master's degree. I go back home only once. How much I like it here? 9.0/10

2004: My masters year. I study and I am determined to stay and work here. I go through some tough times but I can lots of support which I wouldn't be getting back home. How much I enjoy it? 9.0/10.

2005: At October 2004 I go back to Greece and decide to apply for jobs in England.Without a local address things are difficult and in any case I need money if I want to afford being able to return. I take a good local job. I hate it back home...it doesn't feel like home anymore. I miss pubs and I miss TV shows...Everything is different...the places to go, the currency...I feel like a foreigner. At June I have enough money to go back and my partner is going back to study. I take the risk, and with about 1.400 pounds I come back to England. Never been to London before and it seems huge. I get an interview but it doesn't go well. I get depressed for a couple of days but my girl is there for me. I know I have the qualifications needed so I keep applying...in a couple of weeks interview and job offers rush in. I accept a job offer and, after waiting for about two months for my programme to start, I am back in business! I feel like king of the world. If nothing goes terribly wrong I dont see myself leaving this country.

I got my first paycheck yesterday :)

How much do I enjoy it? 9.5/10 Pre-tax , 9.0/19 after my income tax and national insurance are deducted!

So, if I can do it..anyone can!


THE END

I hope this helps....

[GoreBag]

No Booze After 11?!

[Tribesman]

No Booze After 11?!
You just need to locate the right drinking establishments and you can drink all night .

[InsaneApache]

Nice post rasoforos, I would agree with most of that. I see things from the other way around. My Pop lives in Greece and it truly is as you say, nothing works, everything can wait until at least the day after tommorow, and not paying taxes seems to be the national sport.
Still at least the weathers a lot sunnier down there. (You're spot on with the weather mate, but you forgot to mention the damp, wet rain we get a lot of)

[English assassin]

No Booze After 11?!

This won't be true any more after November 24. That's when the new licensing laws kick in.

Rasoforos has said it all really. I don't think the weather is that bad myself but then I am English. I suppose it does rain a bit. Its not really winter for 8 months. If you could choose when to come maybe it would be better to start in the spring so as to be well settled in before winter hits though.

I'd just add a few things. England is not a racist country but it does contain racists, as does everywhere else. My FiL is Iranian and he says he is treated much much better in England than he is in certain other large European countries I won't name. People in big cities will be much more multicultural in outlook, I honestly don't think you could live long in London and be racist, you would see so many different races you'd have to leave or explode. As a Turk you won't stand out in any big city, or even most small ones.

Its a stereotype that English people are unfriendly, but its probably true that we are not as immediately welcoming as some other countries. If you have a job and join a club (maybe find a five a-side football team, or a gym, or whatever) you will get to know people, but it will take a while so you have to expect that.

[el_slapper]

I don't live in the UK but my Polish gf does..... till we get married(so I tend to spend some time around Birmingham those times ). She prefers living in Paris, but I must say Drivers in the UK are FAR MORE civilized than anywhere else I have driven(France, Belgium, Poland, mainly).

The horror is to find FRESH fruits & vegetables. My beloved simply doesn't find them(not driving is a problem for her, also). And packaged ones are, mmmmh, really inferior. Me just have to go to the farmer's market on sunday morning(can even be before the church), & let's go, real good fresh fruits & vegetables. I think I would miss them a lot. My love does miss them a lot.

And yes, the weather is tough. Even worse than in France. That is not a problem for me, but be warned.

Strong points, from what I've seen, is the ease of finding a job(beware the work permits, though), the overall level of civilization & respect you'll meet, and driving to the left(driving to the right s***s).

[Geoffrey S]

When I was in London earlier this year I was amazed at the mix of cultures. Practically every race or group of people is represented, which is most obvious when you go looking for a meal. If you enjoy trying new types of food you'll love it. People were friendly and helpful, which was a surprise since it was less than a week after those bombings. Drinking's fine if you adjust to a new routine. Usually I found myself drinking first, going out after that, and finding a place to eat in the early hours of the morning. A very nice city all in all.

I've enjoyed my time in the rest of Britain too. The only thing that's not so great and is immediately apparent is the weather, it really can be nasty. Other thing that annoyed me were quite a lot of kids hanging around making a nuisance of themselves, but ignore them and it shouldn't be a problem.

[TonkaToys]

Your complimentary posts bring a tear to the eye of an old patriot! Welcome one, welcome all to my beloved country.

Just one thing, fresh vegetables are available if you look for them! Markets, supermarkets, green grocers, grow your own!!!! I found it difficult to buy fresh veg in Germany when I was out there recently, but I put that down to me not knowing where to look.

[LeftEyeNine]

rasoforos

Well, I need to get this printed out and start creating my opportunity to move to UK.

Actually I don't even have the money to the neighbor city here. I was just dreaming of it. However I'm glad that you took me a potential decision maker to move to Britain..(Poor me..Now you see yourself rich enough to move to UK, huh ?..)

[Mikeus Caesar]

About the Weather:

Yes, it is bad. Heck, it's raining now, and has been since 2pm. But when it's sunny over here, it's great.

About the Multiculturalism:

From what i know, this place is the most multicultural place one Earth. London supposedly contains people from every race, religion and country on Earth. And you can find places to buy foreign food everywhere. I live in a grim village 7 miles north of Huddersfield in the grim North, and we have a Chinese Takeaway.

[ah_dut]

I love the rain!

[Samurai Waki]

I don't like the cold, or rain very much. I don't think I could live in the UK for very long. Granted half of my family lives in England and it's a nice place to visit. I like the utter disorganization and randomness of Med Cities, it suits my personality better. Plus I like the weather better. I think I spent too much time in the Caymans, because I can't hardly stand living in my Native state of Montana for 9 months of the year. Santa Barbara is nice though, it's sorta med style climate so I can survive here.

[Scurvy]

Enlands a great place- few points

1) Sing in the rain - its alright when you get used to it and there's plenty to do inside

2) Public transport is great as much as people complain- in london never take the last seat on the E3 bus- its mine and probably has my name on it somewhere.

3) Never read the following papers- Daily Mail, Guardian, Times they bore me- read the Sun or if you want a more detailed account of real news the Independant

4) Dont watch tv between 8.00 and 19.00

5) lastly, make use of the huge variety of places you can visit by train- lake district, london, wales, scotland, cornwall, norfolk and just about everywhere else as they all have something nice about them.

[Mikeus Caesar]

With relation to the food:

I had fish and chips for dinner just now. One of the most unhealthy meals on the planet after a McDonalds salad, but so damned nice!! Definately a great reason to move this wonderful country.

[Geoffrey S]

1) Sing in the rain - its alright when you get used to it and there's plenty to do inside

At least you don't have to cycle everywhere in England. Got soaked this morning, it rained for about 10 of the 15 kms I cycle.

2) Public transport is great as much as people complain- in london never take the last seat on the E3 bus- its mine and probably has my name on it somewhere.

Is excellent. I was pleasantly surprised by the transport around London, but I guess it isn't representative of the rest of Britain.

3) Never read the following papers- Daily Mail, Guardian, Times they bore me- read the Sun or if you want a more detailed account of real news the Independant

No Telegraph? We've been getting the Sunday Telegraphit for ages, and I find it pretty good.

4) Dont watch tv between 8.00 and 19.00

Wise words, though isn't that true of any place?

[King Henry V]

It's strange I have never heard of anyone actualyy reading the Sun. ;-)

[InsaneApache]

I live in a grim village 7 miles north of Huddersfield

Now your asking me to believe it comes from Heckmondwyke/Liversedge/Cleckheaton?....

o dear God ........