Hi Cory, I found your blog after the comment you left on my post about the struggles of living in England this post sums up so many of my feelings about the UK and how difficult it can be to live here as an immigrant. I was born in the UK and have never been made to feel alienated, but even I find this country ignorant and hateful at the best of times. Adopted countries I've lived in were always a ticking reminder that I don't belong and that I'm just a temporary alien working or studying there for a limited time. I still remember talking to my husband the previous night, saying that the world is not that stupid. Then with what happened in UK last summer, it saddens me that those who come and fight the hardest to work and stay in the country are the ones to leave. I heard the US is a wonderful country and despite its issues, if it makes you feel like home, then it is home. I have been to over 85 countries, so I have some context. Politically, we are also one of the best countries in the world. Andy: The word 'chav' was in the news again last year following the England riots during an interview on Newsnight when David Starkey said that a substantial section of chavs had become black in terms of the culture they adopt and the way they speak and he got in quite a lot of trouble for saying it. Immigrants are permanent migrants. Immigrants are the people who are willing to give up their rights, liberties and cultures, in order to work for the sake of your government, your country, your society and your benefits. A birth country that doesn't fully accept me because I speak different, act different, live differently than the majority. Thank you very much for being brave and courageous, and for writing this article. Please do not come back. This country has ace roads in comparison to other places we've lived in. What we're seeing now is a massive difference in the scale and effectiveness of these campaigns thanks to the pervasive nature of internet data mining and the use of techniques in machine learning to spot trends and correlations, coupled with lessons from the field of behaviourism, to weaponise the information. We need visionaries such as Tony Benn. After Brexit, I really didn't want to be here any more. Very nice post! Britain was once very much once of the shining stars of the Enlightenment. Their main issue are Eastern Europeans and Balkan people, as well as non-white migrants and Muslim people. The level of racism in Continental European football matches for example is shocking. We have less of a poverty divide than such likes as the good old USA, and better transportion than the vast majority of Europe (which I have travelled all over). But hey, thanks for stopping by to say hi. Garlicky paprika chicken stews and bakes. But something, somewhere, went wrongthus, we decided to leave the UK. Your thoughts and feelings on Brexit and on many of the other aspects affecting living in the UK, are the same ones that I share. I want to thank you very much for taking the time to explain your point of view. Agreed! I really hate how the UK has become, especially over the last few years, and Brexit was the final straw for me. You see, books and stories can have a wonderful influence on us all. The typical food in England is something that is also consumed in Chile, and is one of the things that I liked more of the country, both its sweet and salty food has very good flavor and is something that could eat every day without problem. We have a better technological infrastructure than most of Europe as well. This is a great comment which brings a lot more perspective. They are more racist Im afraid, albeit in a passive way. They have Netflix, the internet, consumerism, vacations abroad etc just as we do. I thought I am alone on the Harry Potter thing, and I remember looking for Hogwarts during my Scottish highland tours. The weather is better but their governments are destroying both. People like you make me all the more happier that Leave and Trump won, and you know, those liberal leftie tears are so very sweet! Hi Cory, Have actually watched any of the TV? - Houses- I have seen bigger matchboxes. And this got me thinkingin fact, no! And what about the human rights of Tommy Robinson, jailed in media secrecy without due process. . [17][24] Critics of the term have argued that its users are "neo-snobs",[25] and that its increasing popularity raises questions about how British society deals with social mobility and class.[26]. Nations that have been under oppression for so many years thanks to communism? I'd rather stay here in Lisbon. When you get ill on your travels, take a British penicillin. This is a wonderful piece. It's not as simple though that everyone voting leave agrees with Farage and Boris. We have numerous pastries with fillings going from cheese to spinach (like the Greeks, yes!) You can't have a first worldly state and have open borders. [11], In his 2011 book, Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class, Owen Jones argued that the word is an attack on the poor. I understand and appreciate your opinions. Thank you so much for writing this. The food quality both in restaurants and in supermarkets is awful, but a Brit friend explained me that's because most people eat to survive not to actually enjoy the meal. All thanks to the naive and ignorant older generation. Ps, I have been to over 85 countries, so I have some context. Ive lived here all my life, 40 years. Great post. We have such moderate weather that it poses the least threat to life of anywhere in the world. The personal story behind our decision to leave the UK (and come back after 4 years abroad). Travel in my native country of Australia isn't cheap, but you can get from my city (Newcastle) to Sydney on the train for five bucks the same distance in the UK would cost around 60 quid on the day. Same for BritainI left the UK because I wanted a better life for myself. It's a quid pro quo, no? Im glad you are happy in North Yorkshire, its a lovely part of the country. The food is good in places if you know where to eat. I am seriously looking to emigrate, do a tour of Scotland first and then see what the rest of the world has to offer. In the last three years a new filthy vocabulary of social class has emerged in Britain. To further reassure myself that my English level was adequate enough for me to get a job, I went to University and took a language exam. For Eastern Europeans, the UK is the worst place in the world after Italy and maybe also France and Spain, This article is a good article, and basically expresses many truths of English society, I am glad that even you as an immigrant have noticed. You chose to live in Manchester one of the wettest and coldest parts of the UK - and yet most of Europe is colder than Manchester for most of the year. Plus, all the great writers and scientists coming from here made me think the educational system would be wonderful. Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area 1.696 The entitlement culture that pervades is really shocking. As a small island, the UK has and always will be expensive, but this is the same as all other developed small islands, Iceland, Bahamas, Singapore, New Zealand etc. On the other hand education and public health work much better than in Chile, this is very good because people can access good services regardless of their economic situation. In that 25yrs, my tropical island birth nation has gone from developing to now High Income status. If only life in the UK would be a magical world. Thanks to the withdrawal agreement my degree is worth less in the EU compare to what it used to be. Anyway I wish you guys all the best for your future wherever it may be. That's a lot, isn't it? They still believe in the purity of Japanese blood and parents discourage mixed marriage. I was getting a little agitated reading the political part of this post as it puts anyone who voted brexit into one racist/moronic box. We are excited to have started our adventure, and we don't regret leaving the UK. By 2004, the word was used in national newspapers and common parlance in the UK. I got lost several times and people don't even bother to help after I asked for directions. Maybe I'm a little weird but it just works for me. The average British student doesn't study anything but marketing, business administration, management! 'Avant-garde fashion and full of chavs' - Lincolnshire described in vicious online write-ups. Throughout my university years, I inevitably made friends with a lot of politics students. In the 25 yrs since we started University, my cousin who came from tropical island, studied here - and shocked the family by returning home, visited recently (on business). If you are not careful, it can be a cruel existence whereby you work to live and you live to work. :). Its good to hear that you are happy now you have moved back to the UK. What about delicious sherry trifle, a British invention? I was born in the uk to italian parents who came over in the 50s. Something that I should add - if you visit Yorkshire namely Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Goole, Hull and Scarborough. I still remember talking to my husband the previous night, saying that the world is not that stupid. I am an Indian immigrant living in the UK for 15 odd years. I wouldn't want that much disdain on my doorstep. Do you see? Hey! Why were you searching for topics related to moving away from the UK? Suddenly this opened up my world to the whole other side of the UK that I had been ignoring for my whole life. But there's always hope. James, how much did university education cost before 2010? Szilvi, Szilvi, I hope you find your corner of nature and love. Say anything uncomfortable, let's scream 'racist.' I propose that you go and visit the UK for 1-2 weeks before you decide to commit and move there. Hello Cory Always. James, I'm sure you never heard of Carl Schmitt even though you're living in Germany who was a political philosopher. No offence, but millennials tend to romanticise the far left. I strongly suggest that you may sometimes take the time to travel a little and open your horizons. Cory, are you a mind reader? Answer (1 of 23): An answer to this obviously hugely depends on where (and whether, given we're asking the rest of the UK in this question too) you live/visit in England, and also has to take on the idea of whether or not 'everyone else' finds England depressing. Lots of things cost the same in Canadian dollars here that they do in pounds in the UK! What I always find hard to believe is how humans fail to learn from previous mistakes. That level of institutionalised class violence and prejudice is not something I want to be associated with. Except the rain; everyone hates the rain haha. I had been living in my liberal bubble my entire life and had surrounded my self with educated people who feel passionate about gender issues, race issues and really believe in the importance of creating a society which is fair for everyone, regardless of where they or their family are from. Perhaps because they carry England as it is remembered, not as it is. I came back due to family, but Im itching to get the hell out of here and go travelling again, and head back to Australia. How can I decide??? Since we are talking about culture, I must touch base on the food. Vote for the party that helps people, understands and values human rights. How's that logical? Too much traffic, too much alcohol and too much rain. The bank need to ensure that the account is not been used for proceeds from crime or they can face heavy fines, this obviously takes more verification for foreign nationals. Having said all this, it's worth mentioning that the UK is a beautiful country. Excellent post with a logical argument and pros/cons clearly explained. Below I will explain some of the factors we took into account when we made our decision. After the Brexit shock, more and more Brits are looking to move away from the UK. Its nice to be able to relate to someone once in a while, and for that, Im eternally greatful. I think he'd be interested in staying if Scotland becomes independent. Try to set up the equivalent of a Ltd. company in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and you are getting into a storm of bureucracy and taxes. Will be beneficial to sell my home here and move back ?? I'm now really worried that I may not be making the right decision by moving to the UK, and I'm really confused and even a bit afraid now. Any suggestions, we love the beach/city life but don't want to be too remote, so I think somewhere like Australia would be out as its hours of driving to get to another town or hours on a plane to get to another country. Like yourself I came to Britain with the desire to live in a culture of educated gentlemen and a refined society but that is most definitely in the past and the current UK is a world's difference from it. A small number of people are racist, the rest are stupid and selfish. My eyes *roll* when White EU Nationals scream racism when British people call them out for treating their country like a hotel (with many paying hostel rates). I'm surprised by how much better the food has gotten. One of Schmitt's rules of nation building was to always create an enemy OUTSIDE your country if you want to make your country better and stronger. Nothing to do with skin colour or ethnicity (as once was), it's about money and yes, class. Thank you so much for your heartfelt message. Although, sometimes, we do miss having a good old pint with our mates :). One thing I am sure of though from all the faults of living in italy we are so much happier as a family. It's now a joy going to the restaurant, visiting a local fish and chips and trying new cuisines. WOW. At first, many were not sure how insulting it really is until it was thrown about to anyone in tracksuits and a cap. Youve shown me that there is hope. The society in Britain has grown to become more hostile to immigrants and foreigners, nevertheless, wouldn't say it is racist, but I would say that there is a significant proportion of the population that are bigots (and I don't intend to offend anyone). Great read, I stayed for a year in the UK and like reading your honest perspective on things after 10 years. The good news is that we live in a time when remote working is becoming more and more accessible. I only just came across your article. I dont always like this, but I prefer this to the Chinese system of steamrolling over peoples rights, which would be much cheaper. The realisation that my expectations of London were all wrong led me into severe depression. That so many immigrants come to the UKcomplain about itgo country hopping and then come back, says a lot about Britain, British culture.. and those people. Thanks for sharing. I found it very difficult to make friends in London. But that does not justify mass immigration, and I say mass immigration because I am in favour of short immigration of few people and more controlled. Great article :-), Dear Elise, thank you for your comment. But there's no garden without weeds, right? I like the rush, the culture there, the weirdness of it. I know many foreigners who are happy in the UK and live well. Where else will you find so much freedom of choice. Reread if you didn't get it the first time. It might be because, even not being religious, I come from a Catholic country, but the way the "Alfie Evans Case" was handled by the hospital, media, judges etc. Hi Katie, thank you for your comment. Its beautiful countryside and theres good aspects to living here .. but the country sucks the life out of you eventually and you end up feeling grey and worn out just like the weather. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB Frankly, nowadays the UK attracts the immigrants who cannot get into Australia, Canada, NZ, Singapore, and of course, the US. I think it needs more historical perspective though. It was also the uneducated, the "lower class" if you will (I can say that because on paper that's me haha). Just read Hector's racists comments towards another reader and if you still think my attitude should change, Brian, you are much like Hector. Image: ANGLIA PRESS AGENCY LTD) The Lancashire town hold the dubious honour of being crown the least offensive borough on list. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I'm grateful for your honesty, I sure know it's not easy to find the courage to admit when things are not peachy. I grew up in the 1980s and had real racist abuse (P*** word etc).However, for every racist, there was *always* 4-5 kids, adults etc berating them and defending me. I think you got it all right! The perception is Britain 'easy' - do what you want, whatevers. Also it does rain here a lot, but given water shortages will be one of the biggest threats to world peace, I would take a bit more rain over a dry country any day of the week. Thats a huge number for a small country. If there has been racist attempts, they were not obvious. The one that had the vote or the ones that didnt get the chance? Yorkshire was home to countless pits (coal mines) and factories, no matter what it was highly likely that it'll have been made in Yorkshire and most of the 52% live there because they know that supporting yourself is important - work hard and reap the rewards. Stuffed peppers and aubergines with meat and rice. If so, hilarious coming from you. Same problem in Belgium! One of the biggest differens that i saw are the streets, in England they are very clean, and in Chile you can finde a lot of garbage. It's a hiker's paradise, there's so much green, with ancient woodlands, rocky formations and medieval villages. Hi Brian, thank you for your insightful message. Since we are freelancers and we are location independent, we realised there are better places more suitable for our current lifestyle. Reading this gave me a peace of mind. It sucks that you can't wear a dress unless you go on holiday. It was a strange experience. In particular if you get over 50 and are jobless you are totally screwed and even if you have a pension you simply cannot afford to live there. And now since coming out as a trans-woman and trying to live my life the best way I can, I have face nothing but hurdles and hatred since doing so. Do you have any questions or suggestions? I believe not only the UK, but the European continent is suffering from a shortage of work and opportunities and this is increasing people's negative attitudes towards immigrants, which are arriving seeking opportunities that simply aren't there. Like everywhere else, it already has pressures from an ageing longer living population. Acronyms, such as "Council Housed and Vile" have sprung up to explain the. No country or culture is perfect of course, but we always have to ask ourselves what we're willing to put up with and sometimes it's not worth it. This isn't really a new thing. Can you even have produce GROWING without sunshine? We adapted, changed and integrated into British society. Then in work I'm working with a bunch of northern white guys who all wanted that to happen. But seriously, I'm sad that you don't feel safe anymore. How the UK to italian parents who came over in the world is not stupid! 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