Hi Guys

So i was just looking for some experience of ppl that have moved to America already really.

Did you do anything in particular before you left UK? Im thinking things such as post office, Taxman, banks, NHS, Passport people...im sure there's other things too but thats all i can think of at the moment.

Any input would be grateful!

Based on my experience with Mags....

bring lots and lots of chocolate. Bring a couple of jars of Marmite. Bring Lemsip, if you're fond of it. Bring all of the drugs (meds) that you can, in fact.... None of ours over here seem to be half as good as the ones in the UK.

I'm not sure what she did with any of the other stuff. I know her bank statements get sent here, as well as her credit card bills, so she changed that. Other than that, I'm not much help.

If you like a good curry or good fish and chips, get your fill of those! Its hard to find them here in the US!

Im bringing christmas pudding

Mags has a friend in Wales who is sending her a Christmas Pudding.... Never underestimate the value of friends after you've moved away! lol Trade US stuff (Reese's comes to mind) for UK stuff. It works out well.

Let your doctor know that you are moving abroad ask for a copy of your medical notes (they may charge for this).... complete form P85 for tax, change address with banks, credit card companies, student loans, if you want to vote from the US then get yourself registered as a absent voter... if you are in receipt of any bebefits let your local Jobcenter + know the date you will be leaving the country and ask about payment of the benefits outside the UK.. some are payable some are not... If you are registered with a Dentist then have a check-up before you leave.... oh and dont forget the Christmas pudding!!!!! and the Chocolate....

Kez

I had all my wisdom teeth removed (4)
Best thing I could have done (there was never actually anything wrong with them, just forward thinking and all that!)
x

So apart from Kezzie, basically the only thing i need to worry about is food lol...not a problem me thinks, especially seeing as i can quite easily live without most stuff - marmite HATE IT!! Theres a local fish & chippy near where i will be, nothing like the real fish n chips, but it works!
Christmas food is only once a year and i have spent 2 christmases in usa already so im sure i will be good there too.
Thanks guys!

I'm gonna miss Irn bru....not gonna miss the scottish west coast weather

I know for a fact i will not miss this british weather...i cant remember the last time i saw the sun shine (except when it was raining at the same time!!)
And with regards to missing food, i think i wont know that until i get settled in AZ and i begin to crave something!

Irn-Bru my hubby is so upset that the states don't have it. I think you can get it in Canada. We'll be in Oregon so we won't be to far from the border. We are talking about the weather right now. Oregon isn't as cold but it's a lot rainier that he is used to.

You can buy Christmas pud in the USA. After the advice given on here we got two yesterday.

You can get a lot of Brit goods at CostPlus world market...they seem to specialize in biscuits and candy for Brit food though. I found spotted dick there yesterday...

To the Scot getting married to the Nebraskan...I'm from Lincoln Nebraska myself. All of my family and most of my friends are still back there. Hopefully the Husker hype won't scare you :-p

But there is a World Market in Omaha. I don't think there is anyplace in Lincoln that has Brit goods tho.

That will be me then!!! I'm heading to Grand Island. I'm going to miss my irn-bru, haggis and arran blue cheese. Infact, think I might go grab some arran blue and oatcakes now.
His family thought it was hilarious when my reaction to them talking about tornados was "what as in toto I don't think we're in kansas anymore?"

Anyways, wee question...what do you do about your UK driving licence?

Good question. Nicky and I are settling in Chicago and we don't need cars so that hasn't been an issue for us. However, in GI it certainly will be as there is no such thing as public transport in NE. Go to the Hall County courthouse and see if it will transfer over. I imagine however, they will make you do an exam and a driving test. This will likely be something they are used to as there are tons of latino immigrants that live there http://www.dmv.state.ne.us/examining

In Omaha there is a good sized Irish expat community, and I do believe there is a small Irish grocery somewhere in the town. Here is a link for the community and events www.irishomaha.com

If you want to go see some pretty country instead of flat cornfields, go up to Valentine (I think it's about 2.5 hours from GI). The Niobrara river is a great canoeing river, and it's very hilly and green up there. It's certainly god's country and there are lots more cattle than people, but it is just a beautiful area.

Weedebz, you'll miss this winter in Nebraska, i'm already here and let me tell ya hen, its down right freezing..... next year, you'll need tons of warm winter clothes, coz West Coast Scottish Winter weather aint nuttin compared to over here we just had our first ice storm of the winter.... the morra night its to get as low as 9 degrees, something like minus 15 back home *bites nails*

I'm in Norfolk, Nebraska, bout a couple hours from Grand Island. If ya like the heat then next summer, you'll love it

I miss my haggis, i been here just over a year now, just not right without poppin down the chippy for a haggis supper LOL.

Maria

Heck yeh I miss the weather in the UK. I'm in Vermont and winter has hit us early this year. We've already had temps as low as 2f, which is ohh... -16 in real money and it only gets colder as January comes. We've had 6 inches of snow overnight and expecting 10 inches more today. Thank you to the midwest for this storm!

There's a lovely place in MA where I pick up my haggis. I love it!

Bring Branston Pickle!!! It costs $5.75 at my local British store for a tiny tiny jar.

Your UK driver's license is good for a year. I still drive on mine (though I've only been here 4 months) but I think once I have my SSN and green card I have to go take a test and then I get my Ohio license.

Plus, it's fun when you're asked for ID to show the UK license because they have no idea if it's real or where to look for the date of birth.

You mean that Runza's don't do it for you :-p

Have you tried Kolaches yet?

I actually got refused service in a grocery store for alcohol using my UK drivers licence! It was unbelievable, the lady at the checkout insisted that they couldnt accept it, even after a long chat with the "manager". To make her look even more foolish, she even told me that i would have to carry my passport around with me at all times as nowhere in town would accept my UK drivers licence! That obviously isnt true as everywhere else has had no problems. Oh and just to make it a bit worse, she gave my Fiancee a tonne of hassle cuz i gave her the money to buy it! Needless to say i was not best impressed with that place!

I got an international driving licence. When my fiance visited Britain my insurance would not insure him without it so I thought it might be a good idea to get one for myself since they are not expensive.

rubbish day. First I have to say bye to Nick for 3-4 months (visa dependant) and then I had my varicella bloodtest and vaccinations done thanks to Dr losing my childhood records. My arm aches and I need a hug but Nick in the air somewhere over atlantic on his way back to NE.

apparently I'm too old for a lollypop too!!!

Those days when they/ you leave are always the worst.... without having needles stuck in you! But just remember now you're vaccinated and healthy it's one step closer to being with him permanently

I would go and buy a bag of lollipops

A bottle of Nyquil is always good LOL (Miss Lemon says so )

I lived in UK for over a year and I must say I considered the weather wonderful. Almost always sunny. Just April that was lotsa April showers

Where did you live in the UK? I've been in Oxford since July 2005 and I would say it's yucky to miserable 60 to 70% of the time. Although the temperatures remain mild which is nice.

Kent

west scotland is nasty. didn't have summer this year as such. mind you just spoke to nicks mammy and apparently really snowy there

I yearn for the mild winters of Scotland.... It is so cold here and more snow than anyone could ever want.... I have become very good friends with our Snow shovel and its only just December....

And then we have the Hot hummid spells in the summer when I long for a good blast of cool Scottish air....

Oh well looks like I had better get used to it.... but it does seem odd to be planning a winter trip to Scotland because it is warmer there and will be nice to get away from the cold.......

right now it's the wind....been blowing a gale here most of the day....my gate blew off at lunchtime! I just left it though, had bad reaction to MMR jag earlier today......sick as a dog!!!!

Been non stop rain here on The Wirral and wind too near the coast.

Its all my fault too blame me.

Im getting the Ferry to Dublin on Sunday as im flying from Dublin Monday morning to USA.

And everytime ive been on my way to Kentucky the weather has been bad. I am guranteed turbulence on my flight its like someone knows im flying to lets make the weather rubbish.

So one thing to do before you go is to not to fly the same day as me.

The weather will suck.