UK Yankee
Life in the UK
Despite speaking the same language, the culture is more different than one might expect. The shops are not open the extended hours we're used to, except for a few if you’re lucky enough to live near one of them. Terminology is different, some spellings are different and so are some pronunciations. Basic everyday life has subtle differences and the attitudes are also different.
Some things you will have to relearn, so it helps to think of it as an adventure. Imagine walking into a supermarket and not recognizing 90% of the brands. Recipes will be given in metrics, weighing your flour in grams instead of levelling cups. The controls on the appliances will look foreign, you'll need to relearn to use a washing machine, a dishwasher, the heating system.
See our forum Discussion of Pros and Cons, USA vs UK.
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Share your tips or comments below!
(but please post your questions on the discussion forum)UK Provisional Driving License
I have a US license and need to obtain provisional UK license. Do I need to have someone driving with me even though I haven't been in the UK for 12 months?
Provisional License
The Driver Theory Book does state that Provisional License holders should stay off the Motorways. If that only applies to NEW rather than NEW UK drivers-- I can't answer that-- as far as I have garnered, you do need to take and pass your Driver Theory test, and there may be a second visual section on hazards, and then, take the in the car test and it should all be done within the first year in the U.K.
You can drive up to 12 months
You can drive up to 12 months on a foreign license. See more details at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForei....
Hope that helps!
Provisional Driving Licence/License
I would use your State Driving License for the full year and apply for a UK provisional to start when it expires. If you get any speeding fines etc on a UK provisional you will receive not only a fine, but penalty points. (quite possible while learning to drive on the wrong side of the road LOL) These raise the cost of your insurance and if you have more than 12 points you can be banned. If you are using a state driving licence, then I don't think they can apply the points, but better check to be sure LOL. Furthermore, as has been said, if you have a Uk provisional licence, then you must not go on the motorways and must have someone in the front passenger seat who has had a full licence for over so many years, I think five. Check with DVLA Swansea.
If you get a speeding fine as a result of a speed camera, you can ask for the photos. I know it was for some time customary to ask a Polish or Irish person to say they were driving the vehicle and give him the money to pay the fine, plus and extra £20. They were glad to do this because they could not get points on their foreign driving licences. Totally illegal of course, so don't do it LOL.
Also beware that you can be fined for being over the alcohol limit while sitting in the car and in posession of the keys, you do not have to be driving. Its called "drunk in charge of a motor vehicle" fine isn't much but it plays hell with your insurance.
Finally, unlike police in US, the British Bobby can exercise a huge amount of discretion. If you show lots of respect and apologise endlessly, you will be surprised how forgiving they can be, no matter how fast you are going. Just watch the speed cameras, they are ruthless.
Living in the UK
It is a little less stressful as living in the USA when it comes to medical it is way better as I do not have to mortgage my house to pay outrageous medical bills.
Yes, I understand that
Yes, I understand that medical treatment is very expensive in America. I am very much out of touch with life in USA now.
medical uk
I beg to differ in this regard. We did pay a lot on copay in USA, but at least RECEIVED medical care. Since we arrived in UK it took more than 6 months to see a specialist regarding our various illnesses (allergist, asthma, neurological disorder). Once we saw the specialist their first move is to take you off all medication and give you an appointment after 12 months. We are currently in this 12 month waiting period. It scares my kids a lot. My daughter who has asthma is constantly sick, my son is back to living with a postnasal drip and has trouble sleeping due to his allergies. After 2 months being off my medication I am now starting to relapse and am getting my neurological symptoms back. What can we do? NOTHING. the GP's are not useful in helping you in these situations.
I think the medical system is REALLY BAD here! or do we just experience this because we are unable to take out medical insurance due to our "pre-existing" conditions and depend on the free NHS system?
If you have tips on how to improve our situation than I am all ears!
Corine
Reply to Guest on Medical UK
You need to know how to work the system here.
Get a private appointment with a consultant who works for the NHS during the days and sees private patients on the weekend. I am not up to date on prices, but my guess is that now it will be around about £120 for an appointment. You will be seen right away, and if you need urgent medical care such as an operation or some other urgent treatment he will make an NHS referral, it will come quick.
The reason for this is that there is a lot of political nonsense around waiting lists, long waiting lists are bad for the government, short ones good. So they measure the waiting times from the time the consultant has referred you for an operation.
Hence, you could be referred to a consultant by your GP (General Practioner or ordinary doctor),wait a year to see a consultant and have an operation a week later, and the waiting time is just a week!
I don't know why he has taken your children off medication for 12 months, maybe there is a medical reason, otherwise pay privately for a consultant as mentioned above. I am not a doctor, but I think it is fair to say that in the UK doctors are discouraged from giving medication to children (and sometimes to anyone), except as a last resort.
As you have probably noticed, Britain has long, cold, wet, damp, dark winters. The western parts are worse because of the Gulf Stream.
If your children are having asthma in the winter, there is a good chance that it is caused by house-dust mites. They thrive here in the UK because the conditions are ideal for them.
Try the following: Replace all bedding with woolen blankets rather than duvets, they can be washed regularly and easily (every two weeks). They also dry very quickly on the line, just get the damp off with a tumble dryer. Get anti house dust mite covers for the pillows and matresses. Remove all the carpets in the children's bedroom and replace with linoleum, cushion-floor or wood laminate. Dust everywhere with a damp cloth and don't use a vacuum cleaner at all in the bedroom, preferably nowhere in the house, just mop. This should improve things a little, if it does, then repeat throughout the house.
Keep birds and animals out of the house, they are sometimes the cause.
Follow this and you should see an improvement in your children's health.
If allergies are in the summer months, the main causes are Oilseed Rape in May, June, July and August and Ivy in September. Grass pollen can also cause problems.
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