13 Things You NEED to Know before MOVING to the UK - American in Scotland
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
- Thanks for joining! Please LIKE or SUBSCRIBE if you find something helpful or somewhat interesting in today’s video. We are diving into the 13 things we feel anyone, especially Americans, should know before moving to the UK. If there’s something that we missed or you think others could find helpful, please leave it in the comments!
Chapters/Timestamps:
0:01 Intro
0:53 Don't underestimate travel times
3:29 All "rain" gear is NOT created equal
5:48 Cost of living is NOT what it appears
7:07 Job shortage - Make yourself marketable
8:26 What, I have no credit?!
10:35 The housing situation is rough, and you may not like this
12:22 Some points on public transportation
13:33 Trains are EXPENSIVE
14:59 Americans have a bad rap...let's fix that!
18:35 Accents vary widely
20:47 Decision fatigue is real
22:37 Buy secondhand, and use a VPN for searching
24:55 Friendships
26:00 Marshmallow Car Insurance
28:13 What's Next?
#americaninscotland #ukliving #uklife #scotland #uk #scotlandlife #movingtotheuk #americaninscotland #scotandhouse #scotlandutilities #movingabroad #usexpat #usexpats #edinburgh #edinburghlife #livingabroad #expatlife #immigration #legalimmigration #startingover #lifeinyour30s #simpleliving #slowliving #travel #britishhome
Good people fit in anywhere. You guys will have no problems🙌
We appreciate that, thank you!
Every US citizen I've came across in Scotland and in most other European countries have integrated well and were a pleasure to be with and I'm not alone in that observation.
So glad to hear it ❤ Feels awful reading Reddit threads or seeing posts pop up about how much the UK “hates” Americans. I know that a few can ruin it for the majority in any situation, but I try to be extra mindful to break the common stereotypes that I’ve heard.
Love listening to you two and how you interact: pure joy 😀
😊 thank you
Who could not cherish Annie, whatever bewilderment we might have as the US nears election time and the singular presentation by one nominee? Robert, uk.
Of course I agree, I think Annie is great! :-)
They're both DISGUSTING candidates for US Election
@@SimpleScottishLivingAnnie, is this you?? 🤣
Interesting to see how autumn comes earlier in Scotland. Those trees in the background look about a month ahead of those down in the English East Midlands.
Yes! There was a noticeable change just this past week.
I'm from the Netherlands (my mom was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland) and we have the same stereotypes about Americans😅🤣 I do think we need to make an exception for Annie though! Every American should be like Annie❤😄
I’m from America, I totally agree! All Americans should be like Annie. She is simply delightful. (So is Zach though.)
Thank you 😊 ❤️
Awe, thank you! I’m trying 😉❤️
Here's a tip. When you book railway tickets, split the journey. Get a ticket to part of the way and then from there a ticket to the final destination. It nearly always works out cheaper. Try some quotes and see if it works in Scotland.
Just to be clear, your train (even if you don't change trains) MUST stop at the station where you have split your fare. Otherwise your ticket isn't valid.
Good to know!
You know Annie's up for it when she giggles in the first minute - another great (and informative!) video !
Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed it! It helped that we had a date night, so we got to let loose a bit :)
My Dad was born and raised in Glasgow, an accent he maintained all his life. I found it very difficult to understand him when I was young, possibly given that I was brought up in Hampshire, south of England. I also remember going to stay with him when I was 20 and met my half sister. They lived in North Wales but her mum was from Liverpool…I made a statement that I liked their accent. When she said “no yours is lovely”, I replied with “I don’t have an accent!” That was the first time I realised we all have accents!
Haha I love this story! Our son thinks he has a Scottish accent. He can point out one child in his classroom, who is from an Eastern European country, but then our son is 100% convinced that he is speaking the same as everyone else.
To my English ear Zach sounds quite American! Scots is in there but with a US flavour!!!@@SimpleScottishLiving
@@3373just Ooft, them be fighting words 🤣
Another great video -I love your videos! You probably have seen the SNL skit about the air traffic controller with the Glaswegian accent - if not, it is worth checking out. :) And Happy belated Birthday, Zach!
Happy Birthday Zak!
Long distance moves are so complex even within your home country- I am in awe of people who can pack up and cross continents for a new life. As you've described her, and previously, there is so much to think of and navigate through! Having kids in school, and doing other regular activities, is a great way into local society!
Long distance train fares really need to be booked 10-12 weeks in advance in order to access the cheapest fares. Once you get within about 4 weeks of travel date you'll find the costs have rocketed! We've been meaning to travel across England to visit family for nearly a year, and every time we think about going, we've missed the 10 week price window for the time we've selected.
Thank you for the birthday wishes, it was a great weekend spent with the family! It was a big move, which took a lot of planning but we are thrilled with how it is all going. Someone else mentioned the 10-12 week window for cheaper train tickets so we will be sure to try that next time. Thanks for the info and thanks for watching!
That's definitely the case. Booked flight early from Newcastle to London at £55, but noticed just before flying BA were charging at least £400!!
Barbour wax jackets and coats for men and women - One of the best you can buy. You can rewax them so they will last for years and are classic looking.
Good to know! Thank you for the recommendation!
Plus random thought, they have some of my favourite Christmas adverts.
With Hunter wellies and inners.
I honestly think you two are the absolutely best!! My partner and I are coming to Scotland next October and will spend 2 weeks exploring. We eventually want to move there, but rest assured we are NOT typically loud Amwricans!! We are both fairly quiet and very kind and caring. Thank you for this video... you guys are my absolute favorite!!! ❤
Thank you for watching!! Only passing on what we gather through experience and hoping we can help others going through the same transition!
Once you come over and visit our beautiful country you'll never want to go home 😀
@@djglw01 That was Annie's experience...and now here we are!
Really enjoy watching you - we actually visited Loch Lomond, Stirling castle and Inveraray Castle two weeks ago as you’ve made us realise how beautiful Scotland is - we weren’t disappointed- beautiful place 😊🎉⭐
Thanks so much! We had a Stirling Castle visit planned a few weeks ago but had to push it back a bit. Glad you enjoyed! Do you recommend seeing anything else in the area or any specific food spots?
@@SimpleScottishLiving definitely try the Portcullis Hotel for food, it's right beside Stirling Castle!
@@SimpleScottishLiving the Church of Scotland in Stirling is well worth a visit, also The Kelpies, so beautiful
I had to learn the waterproof thing moving here just as a Londoner. I learned it in the first 20 minutes walking from Waverley to Marchmont in some sideways stuff. I now swear by 2 or 3 layer barricade Rohan. 2 fir town 3 for country.
Trains definitely have become very expensive lately. Advance fares with railcard on Lumo are the only real options on price these days.
There are A LOT of American tourists who unknowingly fit the stereotype. Girl Gone London recently put her finger on why with her video on low and high context cultures.
Exactly! It’s a lesson learned quickly though.
@@ScottsScotlandwe’ll be going this route in the future!
@@ScottsScotlandWe’ll have to watch this one!
Oh, Annie and Zach, you have no idea how much I look forward to your videos. My mother is from Edinburgh and has lived now in Yorkshire for more years than she lived in Scotland (my father was English) but she still reacts like Zach when someone says something like ' Are you English?' woah woah woah! I showed her the Battle of Prestonpans video last week when Zach wasn't prepared to be in the British Army even in a child's game and she nodded approvingly! Ha ha ha. xxxx
Haha love this comment! Thanks for sharing, and we’re glad to have her approval 😉
Lots of great info, I was a heating engineer in the UK . When I moved to the US I had to start a new career because they didn’t use the same heating systems. We’re looking into buying a flat/ apartment somewhere in the UK .
That’s so interesting but makes perfect sense! Wishing you the best of luck with your purchase. Things are a little better as far as competition goes than even 6 months ago, so hopefully your experience is a smooth one!
Great video!
Lovely to see you two sweethearts 😊
Happy birthday, Zach 🎂
Thank you!! 😊
When looking for train tickets dont always look at the first price. From Edinburgh to London you have a choice of 3 operators. Lumo would be the cheapest.
I look at the national rail website look at prices then see if its cheaper to split ticket it.
Train line website often split tickets.
Previously we have travelled to euston split ticketing either for example
Split tickets on same train.
Changing trains at crewe.
Having an hours layover in birmingham on the way to an nfl game.
I often look to split ticket to look for cheaper options.
With regards to barbour jackets etc. Next time you're in Newcastle take the metro to bede metro station as the barbour factory outlet is bext door.
This is great insight. Thank you! And yes, adding that to the list now!
If you want a decent waterproof, you have to get a Goretex Jacket, which Gortex is actually made in Scotland :)
We will keep that in mind if we need to upgrade at any point, thanks!
Goretex simply have or used to have a factory in Scotland. It's not a Scottish product.
The average salary difference between the two countries is roughly 40% for gross earnings. However, US citizens give away more of their pay check as a % than the British once you add on all their extra expenses like healthcare etc.
Yes, it's a tricky comparison to make, especially when it comes to healthcare and the varying taxes across the different states.
Well done on the layering, Annie. Another great and informative video. It will be interesting to hear what you think of our road etiquette.
This will definitely be a full video!
I would LOVE if you guys made a video on the general steps for when you move over. Do you get a debit right away? What should you do first. Get an address then sign up at the bank. It’s strange to try to figure out what steps you need to do first to get the others completed. For instance, not registering for the NHS until you have a doctor assigned 😌
Really fun and interesting video again. The london rail prices thing is pot luck. Main thing is to book 12 weeks in advance for "advance single" prices. You can register for notification when they go on sale. Generally LNER from edi to ldn
Good to know about the notification, thanks. I knew booking in advance was key, we just didn't have that luxury this time, I also didn't know 12 weeks was the magic number :-)
The bit about the accents is so true! I'm American and my husband is from Dublin. I moved over in 2004 and shortly after, we relocated to Derry, NI for his job. That was a HARD accent for me to get used to. I think it took a good year or so before I felt comfortable doing things like calling and ordering a takeaway on my own LOL. And true also about the American stereotypes. I'm originally from Minnesota, so because of my accent people assumed I was Canadian, and made comments about Americans. Not in a mean way, more like banter. And expat communities are great! My adjustment to living here would have been much more difficult if I hadn't have found online forums with people who had done it before me.
NI accent is difficult for most people native to the UK, too.
Yes, I didn't order on the phone for a long time when I moved to the US and it's something that Annie gets me to do for her here! Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing!
We have some really good friends from NI, so Annie has had some practice already :-)
Dear folks - sorry to hear of your difficulties - I experienced similar thing moving from Scoland to New Zealand some years ago . Joining a different culture is not easy - even when we speak the same language !!! stay strong , lovely people XXX
We truly have not had any negative experiences ourselves, and have only met very kind and welcoming people! Thanks for watching.
I so enjoy watching you videos ☺️. And yes, you do respond. I was pleasantly surprised, as I'm not witty with words. I've loved every video as you two are a joy to spend a Sunday afternoon with. Thank you so much for all the hard work you do putting together the drone shots. Til next Sunday. 🤎🧡💛🍁🍂☺️
Thank you for watching and glad you are enjoying the videos!
You two are the highlight of my week❤️
The nicest thing we’ve heard all week ❤️ Thank you for watching!
This as been a very good vlog, interesting for people moving from the US,I live in England and it was interesting ☺️
Thanks for watching and glad to hear you found it interesting!
Annie you’re one of us now!!!👍🏼🏴
Whether she likes it or not ;-) (she does!)
There's a sweet American lady who lives in a static caravan on the Fife coast. She comes over 6 months on and 6 off. She is a Professor of Vampirism (not kidding) She loves Scotland.
Up in Inverness, there is a b&b called The Torridon (I think) that's run by an American couple. They had a fight with immigration a few years back over staff employment but they won.
For people looking to travel up to the North, I can recommend Hillview Park b&b in Muir of Ord just 15miles north of Inverness. It's a great location to base and explore the area. ❤
Thanks for sharing! I've been to Muir of Ord before, it is stunning up there. We will add your recommendations to our ever growing list, thank you!
Hi Annie and zach enjoyed listening to you both it's interesting to hear of the problems you come across when moving to another country ie. Credit scores and such these are the small details you probably wouldn't have put much thought into until it arises it wouldn't have crossed my mind i don't think..school gates are a good place to meet people Annie it's good to know the parents of your childrens friends ...your doing fine lass fitting in like a glove❤
Yes, we planned as much as we could for the move but you are right there are some things you don't think of until you experience them. Annie has already met some wonderful parents at school pick up and drop off, it is a great place to meet people!
You are spot on about the distances, a 50 drive here is completely different here to in the US, for one thing the scenery changes!
The water proof breathable clothing is what you really need, water resistant is for going to the pub🤣🤣
Remember, the house buying process is different in Scotland to the rest of the UK, is baffling to me as well...
Social media is unhelpful in changing attitudes to the stereotypical image of anyone. 99.9% of Americans I have met have been great, but boy does that 0.1% stand out....
In the whole of the UK, the accent will change every 10 miles or 10 minutes in the bigger cities.
Yes, I agree with all of you points. We drove from Georgia to Florida a few times and I remember setting the cruise control and barely needing to move the steering wheel!
Keep up the nice videos both of you, BTW Annie where did you get that Orange jacket from and what make is it, looks like a nice Christmas present for the wife, cheers.
It’s from Sam Edelman typically sold at Nordstrom - the Hooded Down & Feather Fill Parka with Faux Fur Trim in Golden Yellow
@@SimpleScottishLiving Thank you.
Sadly, I will never be able to move to the UK, but in never would have dawned on me that you have no credit rating once there. Seems odd that the UK does not accept a credit rating from your prior country. I am sure that your tips and insights will be very helpful for the people considering a move. I'm looking forward to seeing your Highlands videos. As to driving, it did surprise me how places that seem close can take so long to drive there, especially as I tend to be in the countryside and so true that it can take much longer than you think it will.
We love our washer dryer, but they are only recommended for people who only use the dryer for a small portion of the time. They are slow and also maybe not suitable for larger families. We have a very small bungalow, the previous owners actually had a tumble dryer in the detached garage.
You two are so great. Thank you for sharing such wonderful insights.
Thanks for watching! We appreciate you taking the time to comment as well. Happy Sunday!
Please keep doing your videos. I have a cousin in Fife, and hope to visit next year from Wales
We plan to for the time being! It’s been fun showcasing places that we’ve enjoyed ❤️🏴
When you first mentioned different accents within Scotland, the first place I thought was Glasgow! Hard to believe that two cites like Edinburgh and Glasgow that are so close together can sound so different.
Yes, it's very interesting!
If your getting a train on ether the east or west cost main line, pre covid and the train driver strikes, you could book 12 weeks in advance for £30.
With the strikes that has stopped as they could not predict trains, but at some point things will go back to normal, and booking in advance will be cheap again, but on the day pricing is aimed at biz people who have to travel that day and the company is paying not the person.
We’re hoping these prices don’t keep up! We still bought about 2 weeks out and couldn’t find anything for cheaper. 😬
How are your kids adjusting? Particularly the eldest two? Wondering if it still feels like a long holiday for them or do they realize this is now their home. And what are the quality and/or differences of the schools like compared to the US? I really enjoy your videos! Keep them coming!
The kids are doing great! Adjusting well to school and all the kids have been so kind and welcoming to them. I 'think' them going to school has solidified the fact it's not a holiday :-) Thank you for watching!
I enjoy your videos so much! Learning and enjoying watching you both transitioning from our state of California to your husband’s beautiful country. Thank you for sharing 🤩👍🏻
Thank you so much!!
Thanks guys for what you share ❤
Thanks for watching!
£30,000 = $39,200, the low end of your median wage range you mentioned. Annie’s example of $150,000 to £40,000 seems quite extreme.
Just speaking from our experience! It was a big hit!
I can only speak for my nursing comparisons- in the UK my job would pay approx £41,000/$53,000 vs my equivalent job in California £137,000/$180,000. California nurses are probably the highest paid in the world, but it would be a shock to my bank account 😝
@@lynnjarmstrong8348Yep! Only good thing is that U.S. nurses tend to have what would be considered specialized training over here, and luckily, that means more doors might open for higher band opportunities. All relative on your experience I’m sure, but a huge pay cut regardless!
Glad Zach you are still talking to Annie after she accused you of having an English accent !😂 lovely video
🤣🤣 It was a close call that one!
😂😂😂😂😂@@SimpleScottishLiving
Haddington, down by St Mary's Church, by the river. A lovely spot, and such a lovely couple! As for accents, just pretend you're Canadian and start saying "aboot", you'll fit right in because we say that too! Problem solved! LOL.
Haha love it! Also, you have a good eye 😉
@@SimpleScottishLiving yeah, but I'm East Lothian born and bred, so I recognised it instantly. The best county in Scotland IMHO, but I'm biased, surrounded by beautiful nature, although it's much better in summer. Hope you guys are ready for your first Scottish winter
@@billps34Zach’s been warning me, but I’m ready! We’re here regardless now, so I think I better just suck it up and find something I like about the winters 😂😊
If you’re travelling by train in Scotland there are £1 tickets for the children who need to pay, cheaper than using your railcard. You need to buy those at the station not online. Also, have you been to Sam Burns’ Yard at Prestonpans. It’s a treasure trove of vintage/2nd hand.
Thanks, we'll look into those £1 tickets. We also found out that the railcard we have only gives the discount if at least one child is travelling, which is something else to keep in mind. Sam Burns' Yard has been added to the list, thanks!
I was just offered a RUclips video about an £18 London to Edinburgh train on Lumo.
What you said was of course true. On the day full price fares are expensive. One hint however is that you can get an advanced fare as little as five minutes before the journey.
We missed our train home due to a flight delay and managed to get a new ticket while going through passport control. The advanced fare was £19 while the full fare was £60.
Phew that is a big change! Our train isn’t even scheduled for another week, so we are advance notice but not be the 12 weeks that most people shared are the good rates.
Don't know if you have heard of the "Daydreamers Barn" channel. they're an American service family, now in their last year of a 3 year posting I believe, I watch Chris and Jess regularly and their teen son and daughter. may be you could contact them and swap notes. there are a few American families that have arrived here it seems or who spend half the year in the U.S. and the other half here. Whose vids I watch to see their reactions to stuff that seems the same but is not in some respects. Aboout our roads. you have to remember that these are sometimes thousands of years old. The more "straighter" roads would be of Roman origin. the others have grown from walking paths between ancient villages and places of work while others were farm tracks used to drive animals or carry carts.
Love this history. Thank you for sharing! We also have caught some of their videos as well and were hoping to take them for a drink next time they head north. Unfortunately, we’ll be away in London!
I have friends from Texas who came over to Scotland for a holiday and hired a car. I warned them it would be a difficult drive but they laughed it off, claiming they regularly drove many hundreds of miles to visit family in different states and it would be no problem for them. On their first day they drove less than 100 miles to where they were staying the first night and I met them the next day. They had 1000 mile stares. Driving a manual on the wrong side of the road was the least of their worries, roundabouts, very narrow and twisty country and mountain roads with tractors, locals driving like Colin McRae, and sheep and deer on the road finished them off!
You’re right! The driving is a completely different experience here, and it’s virtually impossible to “tune out” like one can on the long straightaways in the States. Likely for the best!!
Many years ago we had an American girl stay with us, she had never been to Scotland before. She told us she thought Scotland was going to be a house, then miles of fields and then another house and so on! 🤦♀️. Other Americans asked their friends who were coming over to 🏴 on holiday “how will you do your shopping? “ oh my word🫢🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Hahaha, I do remember getting some funny questions about Scotland when I moved to the US. Thanks for sharing.
Love your reaction Zach when Annie said your accent was like British 🤣 love your videos and I see how happy you both are 👍💕
🤣 Thanks for watching!
Combined washer driers are wonderful!
The fun just continues, when you can select a brand new one, after the six months or so the first will last! 🤣
Electric clothe racks can work for drying things in small uk housing.......
Hahaha, yes we've not had a lot of experience with the combined washer dryer, however it was a rather underwhelming experience sadly! We've not gone the electric clothes rack yet but we are supplementing our drying with a dehumidifier which seems to work well when time is tight or the weather isn't playing nice!
Hi 👋 was it difficult to find a job ? Also how are you finding the NHS?
It can be! Annie kept her US job because the market is saturated here currently. We haven’t had to use the NHS other than to refill prescriptions, but that’s an easy and affordable process so far!
Another great video lots of lnformation for anyone moving to Uk from USA looking forward already to next week for your highlands visit love from bonnie Scotland ❤
Thank you so much ❤ just hoping we can do it justice, but the camera never catches the full beauty!
Great vlog both of you. I hope you dont get any horribleness Annie, you are adorable and I love you both xx
This trip was a wake up call for us, others have shared that if we book 10-12 weeks out we can get better prices. Thanks for watching.
As far as I'm concerned all are American friends are most welcome in the uk .
Love hearing this! ❤️
Being Irish, I've had the same issue when I moved down near London, not only did they look down on you, but you were discriminated against, it's much better in these modern days, they still won't accept Northern Ireland, or Scottish currency in in England and Wales, even though it's still the same sterling promisy note that English notes are. Lol
Love Americans, I never thought like that ❤❤
Glad to hear it ❤️
Another great video guys.Glad you are settling into life in Scotland Annie. Hilarious that Zac has been shown around his own country by an Englishman 😂
It was quite ironic and gave us a good laugh! Zach was young when he left and much more into the city scene, so he didn’t venture out too much in his early 20s. It’s nice that our whole family is experiencing it together!
@@SimpleScottishLiving neither my wife or I have lived anywhere else other than Cumbria but we love taking our kids into the Lake District, just like Scotland it is beautiful.
@@neilharrison7422 I've been on a few holidays to the Lake District when i was younger, it was stunning!
Happy birthday Zach 🎁🎊🎈You do make me laugh but I think there were some very helpful tips for Americans planning to move here. That was an impressively warm looking coat there Annie, I especially liked the huge hood because I have a lot of hair, where did you get it if you don't mind my asking. I'm so looking forward to your video of the trip to highlands, it will be interesting to see where you went and whether you were anywhere near me 😂
Can’t wait to share it and just hope we do it justice! The coat is from Sam Edelman - the hooded down and feather parka in gold. Keeps me warm on the cold rugby pitch mornings!
Love your jacket Annie. Waterproof? Brand! TYIA
Thank you! No, this one is not fully waterproof, but it does the job for keeping warm. It’s Sam Edelman, but I’ll pair with another layer in true rainy conditions.
TY for always replying . You rock the jacket. Have a great day .
@@rosemaryderusso1855 Thank you! You too!
It's not just enough to stand in a shower cubicle to test if a jacket is waterproof, you also need someone to stand near you in the shower with a leaf blower, blowing directly into your face at the same time to test if it's a truly Scottish (TM) ready waterproof! Glad to see you got the outro sorted - your welcome! 😜😂
...and meant to add - you don't have to squeeze your upcoming trip into one video, I'd be more than happy for it to stretch to two 'episodes' if you have enough footage 😁
Yes!! 🙌 Great advice!
You folk are so sweet and keen to fit in that I am sure that you will rarely if ever encounter any hostility. Tourist hot spots in Scotland will bend over backwards to accommodate visitors from the USA. Other regions may be more reserved/critical of USA citizens who make no effort to understand the local culture. I was brought up in semi rural Argyll (the Holy Loch) with 3,000 USA servicemen and families, so I am pretty well informed about the cultural differences.
Thank you, and yes we have not had any negative experiences ourselves, nor did we expect we would, just something that see portrayed at times. Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for watching!
My wife's mum was from Edinburgh and I used to tease her about being more English than Scottish. Which she didn't appreciate coming from an Englishman.
I lived in the PNW where rain was the norm - Colombia does have waterproof jackets. The one you had was obviously not waterproof 💦
Exactly! I love Columbia but got this one off of Marketplace and didn’t do enough research as it was before we knew we’d be moving to Scotland. Found out the hard way!
Or drive? Quite nice route through Northumberland or Lake District etc. if you’ve got time. Fairly doable in a longer day - even down to London from say Edinburgh area. Parking in central london can be pricey but much cheaper than train but lots of underground car parks - we do it all the time as my son has disabilities so public transport doesn’t work so well for us.
We did consider driving, especially when we saw the train prices. Thanks for sharing the parking info, we will look into that for next time!
@@SimpleScottishLiving we use the Q park in Chinatown. It’s safe and right next to Leicester Square etc. 65 parking for 24 hrs plus 15 congestion charge. Even with return fuel from Edinburgh I’m guessing you could do a whole trip for under 150 quid. Of course staying longer could just park and stay in eg Watford and commute in and out on tube.
well done...look foward to hearing about your highland jaunt
Thank you! Cant wait to share it!
Related to the distance thing, especially with English based manager/work planners. Me: "What? You want me to drive up to Oban, work full day, drive back to Glasgow same day?" I don't think so matey, hotel overnight or get someone else to go. 😂
Exactly! Now we get it entirely!
@@SimpleScottishLiving the other one I lost my rag at. They expected Glasgow to Rothesay in the morning, me to be at Port Glasgow at 12pm. I snapped! "You see that wee f***in blue line on your map, that's called water. 35 min each way ferry trip if weather ok and add on wait time for boarding. These people had never been to Scotland in their lives and had zero appreciation of the road infrastructure. Sorry for the rant but I found myself shouting"this! this! exactly!".
@@AuldScot1888 Hahaha I'm glad we could help facilitate your rant :-)
Happy birthday Zach 🎉🎂
Thank you!😊
We loved this video! Chalked full of info and you two are so personable. We loved to Edinburgh from San Diego 18 months ago, and agreed with almost all the points.
We did find the housing here to be quite expensive- and we came from California! Our rent was more than half my salary.
Would love to meet up and show you around Edinburgh - hopefully places you havent seen yet. ❤
Sorry to be that bloke…. It’s chock full,not chalked full.
You are in good company ! , Edinburgh has more American residents than anywhere else in the UK apart from the centre of London. Not sure if you have come across the connection with San Diego , which is twinned with Scotland's capital , as there is a statue of 'Bum' the dog ( how it got that crazy name is another story , lol ) in Princes Street gardens next to the path on the West side of the castle rock in homage to the statue of Greyfriars Bobby and both dogs are also located in Pocket Park !.
We learn something from the comments on every video! Thanks for sharing!
Oh wow! We were so close to moving to San Diego about 18 months ago, crazy! Thanks for watching and it's becoming very clear that we still have lots to learn about our new home!
If you landed at Heathrow you would of been able to get the underground train “the tube” into central London
Yes, we looked at that, as well as the Gatwick Express, but all things considered and the convenience of a direct train from Edinburgh to London, we took the hit this time. Thanks!
Annie and Zach, thank you for your videos! My husband and I (and our two cats) will move from Tucson, AZ to Glasgow in August. So, your videos are of big help! Can I contact you to learn about the moving companies you researched? Is this ok with you?
Oh wow, that's exciting and a great time of year to be in Scotland and probably to get away from that AZ summer heat! Yes, please feel free to e-mail us with any questions and we'll do our best to help!
Happy birthday Zach🎉
What about the difference in electrical outlets? If you bring a lamp or other electric item from the US to the UK, its not going to work... correct?
Where did you film this video at? Beautiful building.
Thank you! So, some electrical item will work. Anything that uses a USB cable for example is an easy switch over as you can just get the UK USB power adaptor and you are good to go. Some of the smaller things like toothbrushes or other electrical items that use the two prong US plug can often be converted just with a travel (or shaver) adapter. The one thing you need to look at is what voltage the device accepts. We brought over a computer monitor and computer and just switched over the cable (using a kettle plug) as they both had a voltage range of 110-230V. The printer we had only accepted 110V so even using the correct plug would not work. You can also get step down power transformers for these items, which do work as I've used one with some of my power tools, however you do have the inconvenience of the step down unit. Hope that helps and thanks for watching!
Absolutely love you two. 😊
Thank you ❤️
Annie you constantly look freezin 😂 you clearly appreciate a good robust jacket , you can see that Zak is far more used to it as his jackets are always far lighter looking than yours , ah the good old Scottish climate X
Zach is definitely more use to the weather! I’m not too cold currently, but I’d rather start off too warm and take off a layer than ever feel the cold 🫣😬
I am so surprised by how much beautiful, open countryside in the UK. Even going on the motorway from London to Stonehenge there were a lot of just lovely, green areas. I live in Reno and the powers that be will not be satisfied until every square inch of land is concreted over.
Re: Credit cards. My niece went to London to live and work for a year with a friend (it was a program of some kind though Santa Rosa JC) and the friend's mother happened to live in Essex and SHE, God bless her, got the two girls, each, a credit card. When not working, my niece lived in Top Shop and it took her dad a year to pay off her credit card when she came back home. LOL
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The greenery on the motorways was something we both noticed as well, so nice and green and clean. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!
What community wouldn't embrace this solid endearing young family? Welcome guys!
Thank you for the kind words and warm welcome 😊❤️ Truly grateful to be here, and the kids are thriving! What else could we ask for?
I have to say … the chances of an American or Canadian moving to Scotland will mainly ( 95%) receive a huge welcome…
I am not American by birth, but moved there early enough to have the accent. My personality tends to be more European (reserved, sarcastic, with a penchant for dark humour). I always cringe when people here in Northern England ask where the accent is from because of the American tourist bad rap.
Hahaha I like you description of the European personality!
Great insight😊
Glad it was helpful!
Somtimes,it a good idea to offer 6 months rent in advance, to secure a rental
Definitely!
If you want to know sizes of Great Britain to the U.S.? Looka the State of Idaho. We're, more or less, the size of Idaho.
Good comparison! We might use this in our next video to highlight the difference.
Happy birthday, Zach!
Thank you! 😊
Hi guys,I hope you dont mind,Ive mentioned your channel and posted this video onto a facebook group called "Scottish friendship and dating " Theres literally dozens of Americans looking for advice and help with moving here and working here,Hopefully itll help them on theyre way. Warm regards as always.
Awe, thank you for sharing! Honestly, if it can help anyone, then we’re happy you did so. We reached out to so many people before the move, and we were grateful for all of the insight we were given ❤️
You can change your Google and Amazon accounts to most countries. I recently saw an item on RUclips and could not find it on Amazon UK. I then switched to Amazon USA and bought the item. I use google and Amazon as examples I suppose other sites arethe same.
That’s true! A lot of furniture stores don’t have the exact presence in the UK as the U.S. though (e.g., Crate and Barrel, West Elm, Article, etc.), so I didn’t know the stores to search. You’re right about Amazon though. That’s a good point!
Americans are still rare in Scotland. I have only met a few - but they were lovely x
Glad to hear it ❤️
It’s a shame a lot of people exist on misconceptions and dated stereotypes. Wouldn’t it be great if people just let other people be who they are.
Thankfully, from our experience, we have found the latter to be the case, which is great and only what we expected from Scotland :-) Totally agree as well :-)
Zach, did you refer to yourself as having a Scottish accent? No offence intended but I don't hear any sort of British accent at all. Perhaps I should watch the video again to find what I missed but did you move to the US as a child? As an Englishman who moved to Ireland I can empathise with your struggles with accents. For quite a while I was uncertain if some people were talking in English or Irish! Especially old guys who had drunk a few pints😄! As you mention, accents can change within a big city. I've wrote this before on RUclips, that in England the place where I lived, the place I worked and the county's small city very roughly formed a triangle with the places about 8 miles apart. All 3 places had slightly different accents. It was not obvious but there. An outsider to the area wouldn't have noticed. People generally don't change their accent after the age of 7 or so unless they consciously try. I've no Irish accent but have picked up some of the speech idioms. "Don't be doing that". " Fierce to the world" etc 😄.
Yep, Zach was born and raised in the Edinburgh area. He moved to the states around 24yo and joined law enforcement. It was a highly contentious period, so our best guess is that he subconsciously didn’t want to stand out, and his accent faded. Who knows though?!
@@SimpleScottishLiving he must be very sensitive to standing out. Not that I'm judging. I was 31 when I moved and was self conscious about my accent for a while but then gave up on worrying about it because it was pointless and now rarely think about it even though just one vowel sound is enough to give away my nationality. I still cannot do an Irish accent and felt it would sound pretentious to try.
@@michaelcaffery5038 I remember actively changing how I said some words as it was easier than having to repeat them and/or get into a lengthy conversation about where I came from 🤣I found that if I talked fast or had a couple of drinks people would hear the true accent slip back in 🙂
Annie you mentioned that it helps if a newcomer from the USA uses the dining utensils in the British (or indeed European) way. Did it work the other way when Zach went to the USA, did he eat in the American way or did he keep to what he was used to doing?
Haha no, but I guess he changed his accent! We’ll call it even 😉
One thing you did not mention is that in Scotland and Northern Ireland banks have the right to issue their own bank notes. These are not accepted in England and Wales.
That is a good point and something I've experienced first hand in London!
Oh Annie, I would have you as my bestie in a minute! Also, wanted to ask you, do you think Zack's accent is now more Scottish?
Awe, thank you! 😊 ❤️ It’s getting there slowly but surely, but he’s still got a ways to go!
I have met many US citizens, around Asia and Africa and found them all to be lovely people.
I completely agree, so much so I married one! :-)
You can do the south coast of England to the north coast of Scotland in a day but it’s a big day and you would literally be driving all day and some of the night. Not something to do as a tourist.
Yes agreed!
My Columbia 'waterproof' jacket kept me dry in a downpour at the Lakes on a trip back home in 2018. I knew not to buy 'water resistant' for a trip to England 😂.
🤣 I bought it off marketplace so never truly knew if it were fully waterproof. Didn’t take long to find out over here!
Circa £34,000 medium wage in Scotland. A lot lower in some parts of Scotland, and higher near Edinburgh.
Thanks for sharing! Good to know for anyone considering the move.
It's funny for me , who grew up in Glasgow and has lived in Seattle for 30 years to see videos like this .
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching!
@@SimpleScottishLiving I enjoyed it thoroughly , good luck to you both .
Where in Glasgow? It's alright if ye don't talk...I'm Glasgow born and bread...born in Rotten Row so I trust you've knowledge beyond looking up...I'll know..x
Ye must be close to dying then? I'm Glasgow...30yrs is a long time...that was a joke..
@@joehalbop1928 Battlefield Joe , craigmillar Rd .
The comment about searches - you may find it better to use a VPN and set your 'home country' as the UK. That way you will be exposed to what is available in the UK.
Yes! We found that out, just too late. Hoping others can benefit from our mistake :-)
The cost if rail tickets from Scotland to England is daylight robbery, infact even going from Glasgow to Edinburgh is horrendously expensive, I jumped the bus for 10 quid
Sounds like you have the right idea! We probably would’ve flown if the timings worked with our plans.
My husband was born in england so I believe he has dual citizenship. His mother lived there and his dad was stationed there during Vietnam. Would it be easy for us to become citizens because of this?
It would be pretty straightforward to get a family visa if you can meet the financial requirements based on him alone. Www.gov.uk and search family visa will lay everything out for you. Please email us if you need more help!
I'm pretty sure you can.