Personal opinions please About life in USA

[catalin80]

Hello,

I am 34 years old and my wife is 29. We had a comfortable life back home and after we won at DV Lottery we decided to pursue our dream. After we came here I can say that I have my disappointments. I was expecting something else. I can not put my finger on it, is just I was expecting more. We live in Philadelphia since September 2014 when we landed on American land and I am not impressed. On the other hand is true that if you do not follow tour dream you will always wonder What if.

 

[Biggie]

Hello,

I am 34 years old and my wife is 29. We had a comfortable life back home and after we won at DV Lottery we decided to pursue our dream. After we came here I can say that I have my disappointments. I was expecting something else. I can not put my finger on it, is just I was expecting more. We live in Philadelphia since September 2014 when we landed on American land and I am not impressed. On the other hand is true that if you do not follow tour dream you will always wonder What if.

Hey catalin80, change is hard and difficult. As you said if you didn't do it you would always say "what if". Keep persevering!! It takes about about 12-18 months to settle into a place with it's pros and cons.

Keep your head up and keep going!!

 

[Martin9]

Hello,

I am 34 years old and my wife is 29. We had a comfortable life back home and after we won at DV Lottery we decided to pursue our dream. After we came here I can say that I have my disappointments. I was expecting something else. I can not put my finger on it, is just I was expecting more. We live in Philadelphia since September 2014 when we landed on American land and I am not impressed. On the other hand is true that if you do not follow tour dream you will always wonder What if.

I know exactly what you mean. My wife and I are also of similar age group to you, and I was a barrister back in London, very comfortable life with friends and family all around. We came to US because my wife wanted to more than I did, (she is Russian) and I don't mind it much, but there are certain things that really grate on me, like the obsession with guns. Obviously if you come from a country where there are no freedoms or jobs or opportunities for you and your children, then America is great, but if you had all that, then US is just another place to live and has its good and bad points. I get a lot less holidays, but get paid more, the weather here (Florida) is better than UK, but I spend more time in the office, so swings and roundabouts. I've been here a few years now, and I didn't even had to learn a new language, so I had it pretty easy, but I still miss certain things from home, and I don't think that would ever go away.

 

[Britsimon]

I know exactly what you mean. My wife and I are also of similar age group to you, and I was a barrister back in London, very comfortable life with friends and family all around. We came to US because my wife wanted to more than I did, (she is Russian) and I don't mind it much, but there are certain things that really grate on me, like the obsession with guns. Obviously if you come from a country where there are no freedoms or jobs or opportunities for you and your children, then America is great, but if you had all that, then US is just another place to live and has its good and bad points. I get a lot less holidays, but get paid more, the weather here (Florida) is better than UK, but I spend more time in the office, so swings and roundabouts. I've been here a few years now, and I didn't even had to learn a new language, so I had it pretty easy, but I still miss certain things from home, and I don't think that would ever go away.

You would probably be doing better out here Martin. Florida is full of rednecks so that adds to the "stupid Americans" feeling. That exists here, but less so. However the time zone difference tends to be a bigger barrier here...

But yep - same feelings. Leaving the UK was a tough choice. If you are doing well in the UK it is a pretty good life. Moving to a nice life in Florida is an upgrade. Moving to a nice life here (SF Bay area) is a very nice upgrade again over Florida. Honestly I do not think we would have traded in our UK life for one of the Northern big cities. Weather was a big part of the UK versus USA choice - so I know that moving to NYC or Chicago for instance would have been a mistake for us (even though they are cool cities).

But - anyone of those places can give you a nice life - and for a lot of DV winners the choice is a lot easier!

 

[usken go]

I know exactly what you mean. My wife and I are also of similar age group to you, and I was a barrister back in London, very comfortable life with friends and family all around. We came to US because my wife wanted to more than I did, (she is Russian) and I don't mind it much, but there are certain things that really grate on me, like the obsession with guns. Obviously if you come from a country where there are no freedoms or jobs or opportunities for you and your children, then America is great, but if you had all that, then US is just another place to live and has its good and bad points. I get a lot less holidays, but get paid more, the weather here (Florida) is better than UK, but I spend more time in the office, so swings and roundabouts. I've been here a few years now, and I didn't even had to learn a new language, so I had it pretty easy, but I still miss certain things from home, and I don't think that would ever go away.

@Martin9
Obsession with guns?
Personal dilemma here!
Great life in a wonderful country but insecurity run away corruption and insecurity are my main worries-summarized as pathetic govt services.
I also strongly feel that kids will have better opportunities in Us than my home. country.
I am aware that our qualifications (strangely, my spouse who is not keen on it seems to be getting quite a number of potential job offers in her line of work ) may not be easily accepted bit am "sleeves rolled up and hand in the dirt" kind of person
I expect and I am somehow prepared for significant plummeting of income.
Spouse dead set against it and only reluctantly accepted that we do the D's 260 after a lot of convincing, several months later than when we ought to have done it.
your take on the opportunity cost in pursuit of the American Passport?

 

[Britsimon]

@Martin9
Obsession with guns?
Personal dilemma here!
Great life in a wonderful country but insecurity run away corruption and insecurity are my main worries-summarized as pathetic govt services.
I also strongly feel that kids will have better opportunities in Us than my home. country.
I am aware that our qualifications may not be easily accepted bit am "sleeves rolled up and hand in the dirt" kind of person
I expect and I am somehow prepared for significant plummeting of income.
Spouse dead set against it and only reluctantly accepted that we do the D's 260 after a lot of convincing, several months later than when we ought to have done it.
your take on the opportunity cost in pursuit of the American Passport?

Official stats show that first generation immigrants (on average) obtain lower incomes throughout their working life. However, their children have an equal chance and that is what drives a lot of immigrants to take the leap of faith.

 

[usken go]

Official stats show that first generation immigrants (on average) obtain lower incomes throughout their working life. However, their children have an equal chance and that is what drives a lot of immigrants to take the leap of faith.

Thanks B. Simon.
I do recall that you gave this advice when I raised this matter a few months ago.
Struggling financially in order to meet family needs is not very comforting but if this income involved is adequate for family needs, I do not mind at all - managing wealth had its own issues too!
Martin mentions obsession with firearms and you also talk about rednecks in a southern state.
The family from Romania mentions some disapointments...
Am all ears!

 

[SusieQQQ]

@Martin9
Obsession with guns?
Personal dilemma here!
Great life in a wonderful country but insecurity run away corruption and insecurity are my main worries-summarized as pathetic govt services.
I also strongly feel that kids will have better opportunities in Us than my home. country.
I am aware that our qualifications (strangely, my spouse who is not keen on it seems to be getting quite a number of potential job offers in her line of work ) may not be easily accepted bit am "sleeves rolled up and hand in the dirt" kind of person
I expect and I am somehow prepared for significant plummeting of income.
Spouse dead set against it and only reluctantly accepted that we do the D's 260 after a lot of convincing, several months later than when we ought to have done it.
your take on the opportunity cost in pursuit of the American Passport?

I think you need to be very careful comparing experiences of people from places like Europe to your own situation ms change in it. Differences in standard of living where they come, passports, opportunities etc is all very different vs someone from a developing country.

 

[Britsimon]

I think you need to be very careful comparing experiences of people from places like Europe to your own situation ms change in it. Differences in standard of living where they come, passports, opportunities etc is all very different vs someone from a developing country.

Yes agreed. As you have said before Susie - for some the difference is whether to have a nice life or a very nice life with warm weather. For others it is a matter of living in a safe environment or not.

 

[Martin9]

You would probably be doing better out here Martin. Florida is full of rednecks so that adds to the "stupid Americans" feeling. That exists here, but less so. However the time zone difference tends to be a bigger barrier here...

But yep - same feelings. Leaving the UK was a tough choice. If you are doing well in the UK it is a pretty good life. Moving to a nice life in Florida is an upgrade. Moving to a nice life here (SF Bay area) is a very nice upgrade again over Florida. Honestly I do not think we would have traded in our UK life for one of the Northern big cities. Weather was a big part of the UK versus USA choice - so I know that moving to NYC or Chicago for instance would have been a mistake for us (even though they are cool cities).

But - anyone of those places can give you a nice life - and for a lot of DV winners the choice is a lot easier!

You may be right about Florida being full of rednecks and it may be better in California, but like you I was born and raised in a UK where even the police are not routinely armed, and so I find that aspect of American life very difficult to cope with. I was in the OTC at University and served in the British army for 3 years after graduation, so I am no stranger to guns myself, but knowing that my neighbours and co-workers have guns at home or that the guy who just walked in to our law office, may be brandishing a gun because he wasn't happy with the result he got still keeps up up at night, especially now that my oldest boy has started nursery.
My brother lives in LA, but he would go back to UK in a heart beat if he could get the same job there. As I said, if you come from a society where there are no freedoms or opportunities, then US is a massive improvement, otherwise it is just another place to live with it's own pros and cons like anywhere else. I like somethings and hate other things here, but that is true about any place you choose to live and it is all about the balance of pros and cons.