I just moved from the US to Scotland

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I lived almost all of my life in the US, but just one month ago I permanently moved to Scotland. The US felt like it was falling apart to me, and it seems to have only gotten worse in the last month.

So far I like most things about living here. I love the urban nature of the cities, I love the easy public transportation, I love the free healthcare. I even prefer the weather and food!

But even immigrating under the best of circumstances is hard. My family all still live in the US, and I don’t know many people here. My accent will always mark me as ‘other’ even though no one is rude about it. And there are constant reminders that I’m different, like that I don’t understand cultural references.

But it’s worth it, at least so far. I was fortunate to be born in the UK, albeit to American parents, and we moved to the US when I was a baby. But that dual citizenship is very handy when your country seems to be falling apart.

2

I heard it rains sometimes in Scotland.

3

Congrats, I was only there once (for 17 wonderful days) but I love Scotland.

What city are you living by? I saw small parts of Glasgow, Sterling, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. I love how walkable the cities and towns are. I also love the old castles and ruins and many very scenic views in the countryside.

4

You are so lucky. I’ve done 2 vacations in Edinburgh and was ready to move there upon retirement. However, the UK has changed their laws so I am not eligible. But it is my first choice if I moved out of the U.S.

5

Was this move as a retiree or were you able to find a job in Scotland?

Well, it must be refreshing to live in a country where there’s no political upheaval. :wink:

6

I live in Edinburgh, in the neighborhood of Stockbridge. I moved here from Tucson, so I was ready to live somewhere that I never have to sweat again. Actually, the weather has been significantly better than I’d heard. It can be good to have low expectations!

7

It’s a semi-retirement. My youngest child is now an adult, and I joined the Great Resignation and quit my government job. I have a pension, and I sold my house for a lot of money. I’ll continue to work part time, but I haven’t found a job here yet.

8

Welcome to the UK! I moved here from the US in 1995 and went through the same issues you’re seeing. I haven’t lost much of my Iowa accent but these days people first ask if I’m Canadian rather than American. Choose a nice local pub to settle in and become a regular.

9

I sure wish I was in your shoes.

I did spend a week in Edinburgh about 25 years ago, and liked it just fine. But the reason I wish I was in your shoes is how ugly the US is and how rapidly it is getting worse. I think we are a pariah nation.

It’s hard. Kids and grandkids. Plus, the friends that I love. I can’t really move by myself and anyplace I draw the boundaries to include other people is agonizing. But I really do think Scotland is such a better country, and the entire UK and western Europe. Much more democratic.

Actually, if I could just move to the US of 2008, I’d feel a lot better.

10

Wait until September. You won’t see the sun until the following April.

I often think Scotland would be nice to live in, but then the weather happens and reminds me why I don’t. But Edinburgh is lovely, generally speaking.

11

I feel like I should do something to bring hopeless Americans here. So many people I know back in the States feel like the future is a disaster. If someone wants to woo a middle aged woman, we can get married and you can move here!

12

WOO!!!

(I kid - I’m already married and moved to the UK.)

13

I adore Scotland. It is gorgeous. I lived for a couple of months on the west coast in Port Appin (right by Castle Stalker of end-of-Holy-Grail fame) and just found the people and braes, bens, lochs, and glens soul-affirming. It does help if you like cloudy weather (I LOVE IT!) I am so jealous. Were I not happily married, I may have had to have dusted off my wooing skills.

Enjoy Bonnie Scotland!

14

Haggis?

15

Today I had a fish pie from a local market. Last night was a delicious curry. I don’t love haggis, but Edinburgh is a very international city, and there is good food from all over.

16

A friend of mine, who’s a U.S. citizen (born here, has always lived here), applied for, and successfully obtained, Irish citizenship several years ago; as I understand it, he qualified for it because he had either a grandparent or a great-grandparent who was an Irish citizen.

He’d originally applied for it as a hedge against what he has seen as deterioration in the U.S., in order to give himself a legal option to relocate if he felt the need. Last week, he announced that he has started the process of actually relocating to Ireland.

17

I’m in! How do you define middle aged? How do you feel about someone who uses a dad joke as a screen name?

Wait, dammit!!~! I got obligations to fulfill yet with Vaderling. HMPH!!

Seriously, I’m so green with envy, I’d make grass look pale

18

I’m a 54 year old woman with 4 adult kids. Pretty darn middle aged.

19

I wonder what this will do/is doing to the zeitgeist:

May you live in interesting times … in your new, interesting place.

[my stepmother is/was from Edinburgh and always spoke glowingly about it]

20

Hi! Single middle-aged man here! So you moved to the less Brexity part of the UK? Wait. Independence referendum? Uh-oh. As a Canadian, I’ve seen more than one of those regarding Québec. It makes me think of the old curse, “May you live in interesting times…”

Edit: bother. Interesting times expression already used…