From Anglophile to Expat

One girl's journey from loving a country to living there. With marriage, in-laws, and puddle jumping in between.

Timeline

Met Online: 11/98
Met in Person: 02/2000
Engaged: 6/28/03
Married: 06/10/06
Submitted VAF2 Application Online: 7/18/06
Sent Supporting Documents to NY: 7/19/06
Documents Received in NY: 7/20/06
Email Notification of Documents Received and Processing: 7/26/06
Received Visa Approval Email Notification 7/27/06

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From Anglophile to Expat

Friday, September 16, 2005

The Expat

The decision for me to move to England was pretty much set as soon as Pete and I became serious..which I guess was around the summer of 2000. It just always seemed like the right decision for us. But it wasn't that simply. Then Pete thought he'd want to move over here...that was around 2002 into 2003...so I became readjusted to that idea. After that, Pete came over for Christmas 2003 and we thought about the options a lot.

Basically the pros of the UK being:

We'd both be able to work shortly after moving (I should get my clearance to work when I get my spousal visa.)

The process is shorter to apply to settle there.

The UK on average has more maternity and vacation time than the US - so we'd get more time off to come back here to visit.

With the exchange rate we'd have more money when we do some over and visit, and the flights are cheaper because of this.

Overall, our cost of living will be about the same...but we're more tempted to waste money here on going out to eat, attractions and theme parks (because I live in FL...some things are just more expensive here because of tourism.)

__________________________

Of course, recently we had to re-think our plans because my mom passed away unexpectedly in early August.

We've decided since the process is shorter for me to move to England..that we'll do that at first and then if we decide to move back then we'll both work, save, and start the process to make that happen. I just didn't want to decide to start the paperwork for Pete to move here and then decide its not what we want. So we're going to stick to the original plan and fingers crossed it will all work out for the best whatever the outcome.

Posted by Juls (1) comments

The Anglophile

I started loving England at an early age. When I was little I loved Disney's 101 Dalmation's and Lady and the Tramp, basically all of their movies set in England. I'm not really sure why, I guess the idyllic scenery attracted me to it or something. Plus I always like the fact that they had a King and/or Queen even if they didn't really do anything. Of course that let to a rather unhealthy obsession with Prince William, but an overall interest in the History of England. And then well, I met Pete, and learned how different real English people are and loved them even more. Not sure what it is...maybe just the relaxed attitude about everything? Not really sure, but I just feel very at home there. And I really should...since I've been there 9 times in the past 5 years for a total of almost 7 months!!!

Of course that's different from actually living there permanently, so that's why I've set up this blog, to record all my thoughts and feelings about the big pond hop before and after it happens.

Posted by Juls (0) comments

Yet another blog for yet another area of my life. I have 3 of my own blogs already, and one I contribute to with my fiance. Why am I so blog obsessed? Beats the heck outta me. Thought it be good to record my thoughts on moving across the pond...its been a long and difficult road but we're almost there. Less than 9 months til the wedding and I move over. Wow time needs to slow down a bit!

Posted by Juls

(1) comments