Life in the UK, is the grass really greener?

[FilipinaDiver]

It took a while to take the plunge and try and ride the bus here. Too scared that the driver might not understand what I'm saying, where I'm heading. I'm still cringing when crossing the street and to remind myself to look onto your RIGHT! not LEFT! and imagination would run into as stup!d as someone would shout 'Hey you foreigner! You don't even know how to cross the road!'. I'm also gaining confidence to say 'Sorry? and 'Pardon?' if I don't understand one of the various accents here. I know its all in my head that the barista and even those people queuing up would sharply turn their heads when I say 'large cappo staying in' with my strong american (as some Brits would call, Yankee). It became official that it was just my labyrinth-like imagination when nobody made a big deal when Rio Ferdinand and his kids went in to grab snacks, also, when Dwight Yorke picked up his take-away. I've calmed down a bit and settling here more as I need to accept that I have two homes now. Oh I miss my other home.


What are your own immigrant fears? How did you cope with it?

[marga]

Hiya.

I have that fear of riding a bus as well that's why I haven't tried yet, same fear as yours. lol and sometimes it's hard to understand their accent...I know it will take time to get used to their accent tho' sometimes I feel people would think I am deaf as I kept saying "sorry?" for not getting what they mean.

[Longweekend]

Don't worry, it's just the same for us Brits when we are in PI, in fact on our recent visit my wife was finding it difficult to make people understand her, maybe she has been here too long....

And missing your other home is only natural, so long as you can visit occasionally and keep up with the family via SKYPE or facebook, etc....

[Dedworth]

FilipinaDiver - I'd avoid the place Ferdinand & Yorke frequent

[FilipinaDiver]

Hiya.

I have that fear of riding a bus as well that's why I haven't tried yet, same fear as yours. lol and sometimes it's hard to understand their accent...I know it will take time to get used to their accent tho' sometimes I feel people would think I am deaf as I kept saying "sorry?" for not getting what they mean.

Hello Marga! You should definitely try it sometime, even for a short ride! I'm quite enjoying it now tbh, hahaha. I know exactly how you feel, I cringe a bit when someone would ask me to repeat what I said.

[FilipinaDiver]

Don't worry, it's just the same for us Brits when we are in PI, in fact on our recent visit my wife was finding it difficult to make people understand her, maybe she has been here too long....
And missing your other home is only natural, so long as you can visit occasionally and keep up with the family via SKYPE or facetime etc....

Hello, you're right, my husband also encountered being asked to repeat what he has said too. Wrt your wife, living in the UK makes you act and speak like an English too. Yeah, it was Mother's day in the Philippines and some other parts of the world but not here in the UK last Sunday so homesickness is hanging around me.

[Rik]

I wouldn't worry about getting on a bus and trying your best to state where you want to go to, because there are people who have been here for 30+ years and still don't know a word of English lol

[raynaputi]

Is the grass greener in the UK? Well we didn't have a lawn in the Philippines and our garden here in the UK is full of grass so our guinea pigs have a supply, so it's greener..hahaha..

Kidding aside, when I first came here, what worried me most was being isolated. I lived in Manila all my life (except when I worked in Singapore for 6 months) and love being in the city so much mainly because I can do anything and go everywhere I would want to. But coming here, I'd be living in a small village up the hill in the country side, 3 miles away from the town and not being able to drive, that worried me a lot about being isolated. Anyway, I overcome the feeling though. We usually go out everyday anyway to go to town and go to Liverpool weekly, so being isolated is not a problem anymore.

I've met a couple of Filipina members here in the forum but since they live far from me, we haven't met yet again. We do have a Filipina friend married to my hubby's friend and we regularly see them. So having a Filipina friend is already checked on my list. I can also talk to some of my neighbours once in a while, especially whenever it's sunny day and everyone's out. Hubby's family has always been great to me too.

Oh, I haven't experienced riding a bus and train yet, but it never really interested me since we have a car and that's better. I do have a driver anyway..hahaha..

[KeithD]

The last time I got a bus, Butler was still handing out the tickets

[Rik]

[bigmac]

I've got a bus pass--I use it a lot--you get great views from upstairs--and chauffeur driven too. all for free!

However--I still have a car which I do use for journeys where the buses don't go. Not free though--just forked out £250 for the MOT today.

[Michael Parnham]

I drive Maritess to work most days, then I leave my car at her work and use my buss pass home, then bus back to collect her from work and drive home, saves fuel. Up until Maritess arrived here two years now, I've never used a bus or train since the 1950's, you must try the train to London or somewhere Rayna, it's awesome, I really notice a big difference on buses and train since the 50's it's very posh now!

[les_taxi]

The last time I got a bus, Butler was still handing out the tickets

It would have been Jack, I will send Blakey to 'Get you Keith'

[joebloggs]

Oh, I haven't experienced riding a bus and train yet, but it never really interested me since we have a car and that's better. I do have a driver anyway..hahaha..

My misses had been to that southern hell hole called London a few times on her own for a couple of days at a time to take exams she even managed to get back

[Terpe]

My misses had been to that southern hell hole called London a few times on her own for a couple of days at a time to take exams she even managed to get back

[raynaputi]

I drive Maritess to work most days, then I leave my car at her work and use my bus pass home, then bus back to collect her from work and drive home, saves fuel. Up until Maritess arrived here two years now, I've never used a bus or train since the 1950's, you must try the train to London or somewhere Rayna, it's awesome, I really notice a big difference on buses and train since the 50's it's very posh now!

Michael, I never really enjoyed riding trains or buses, even when I was in Manila. I've always ridden a cab (hence my friends call me "taxi girl") because I felt safer in it. I only go on a train/bus/jeep if I had no choice. When I was in Singapore, trains were the only ride for me to go to work but never really enjoyed it other than the fast ride. I hate getting in a cramped train or bus, so I would always avoid it as much as possible. That's why I never got interested in riding a train or bus here. There's no train near us anyway (nearest is in Rhyl) and the bus goes in the village 2x a day only (one in the morning and one in the afternoon after office hours I guess) hahaha. If Keith lose the car, I'd just call a taxi to get me to the shop, no choice anyway.

[mickcant]

The last time I got a bus, Butler was still handing out the tickets

Yes, remember him well.
Mick.

[FilipinaDiver]

I drive Maritess to work most days, then I leave my car at her work and use my bus pass home, then bus back to collect her from work and drive home, saves fuel. Up until Maritess arrived here two years now, I've never used a bus or train since the 1950's, you must try the train to London or somewhere Rayna, it's awesome, I really notice a big difference on buses and train since the 50's it's very posh now!

I have tried the first class section Virgin trains to London from Wilmslow last year with my 2 best friends when they came to visit me here in the UK and we all loved it! You always get to see someone famous with those bound for London trains hahaha!

[FilipinaDiver]

Is the grass greener in the UK? Well we didn't have a lawn in the Philippines and our garden here in the UK is full of grass so our guinea pigs have a supply, so it's greener..hahaha..

Kidding aside, when I first came here, what worried me most was being isolated. I lived in Manila all my life (except when I worked in Singapore for 6 months) and love being in the city so much mainly because I can do anything and go everywhere I would want to. But coming here, I'd be living in a small village up the hill in the country side, 3 miles away from the town and not being able to drive, that worried me a lot about being isolated. Anyway, I overcome the feeling though. We usually go out everyday anyway to go to town and go to Liverpool weekly, so being isolated is not a problem anymore.

I've met a couple of Filipina members here in the forum but since they live far from me, we haven't met yet again. We do have a Filipina friend married to my hubby's friend and we regularly see them. So having a Filipina friend is already checked on my list. I can also talk to some of my neighbours once in a while, especially whenever it's sunny day and everyone's out. Hubby's family has always been great to me too.

Oh, I haven't experienced riding a bus and train yet, but it never really interested me since we have a car and that's better. I do have a driver anyway..hahaha..

You're totally right Rayna, its a real struggle having lived in Manila and then shifted to a small village where you could see squirrels around. Hubby wouldn't dare let me drive his car as he has seen how I manoeuvre the countless U-turns of Edsa.

[raynaputi]

You're totally right Rayna, its a real struggle having lived in Manila and then shifted to a small village where you could see squirrels around. Hubby wouldn't dare let me drive his car as he has seen how I manoeuvre the countless U-turns of Edsa.

I still have to learn how to drive..I started last year (Keith was teaching me) but got scared after my 4th drive (drove quite a few miles). So I'm waiting when Keith will teach me again before I do proper driving lessons. He said he wanted to teach me first to gain confidence, but obviously it didn't happen! Hahaha

I do enjoy our small village now. The birds and squirrels are fun to watch. At the front door, there are fields with sheep and cows that do amuse me too. So I'm quite contented now living here. I do get bored at times since I don't have work (unfortunately, I never get call backs for my job applications around the area, but I do got some from London and Birmingham which isn't really a good option location wise). Good thing though that Keith is just beside me all the time so I have someone to annoy when it happens!

[Longweekend]

Anyone who can navigate Manila will find the UK a doddle to drive in....

[FilipinaDiver]

I still have to learn how to drive..I started last year (Keith was teaching me) but got scared after my 4th drive (drove quite a few miles). So I'm waiting when Keith will teach me again before I do proper driving lessons. He said he wanted to teach me first to gain confidence, but obviously it didn't happen! Hahaha

I do enjoy our small village now. The birds and squirrels are fun to watch. At the front door, there are fields with sheep and cows that do amuse me too. So I'm quite contented now living here. I do get bored at times since I don't have work (unfortunately, I never get call backs for my job applications around the area, but I do got some from London and Birmingham which isn't really a good option location wise). Good thing though that Keith is just beside me all the time so I have someone to annoy when it happens!

Maybe its about time to hold that steering wheel again? Keep left! Hahaha! Good for you that your hubby is just around. My hubby works 2 weeks in Germany a month but comes home every weekend, so I am left alone but it isn't bad at all as we live near a small High Street with Waitrose, Tesco, Costa and some pubs and restaurants. But (another but!) it's not enjoyable to roam around the streets alone! As I'm not yet allowed to work, I'm volunteering at Barnardo's to kill time and it's a great way to gain confidence living here.

[FilipinaDiver]

Anyone who can navigate Manila will find the UK a doddle to drive in....

Hahaha! I find the blind curves challenging!

[raynaputi]

Maybe its about time to hold that steering wheel again? Keep left! Hahaha! Good for you that your hubby is just around. My hubby works 2 weeks in Germany a month but comes home every weekend, so I am left alone but it isn't bad at all as we live near a small high street with Waitrose, Tesco, Costa and some pubs and restaurants. But (another but!) it's not enjoyable to roam around the streets alone! As I'm not yet allowed to work, I'm volunteering at Barnardo's to kill time and it's a great way to gain confidence living here.

Why aren't you allowed to work yet?

[FilipinaDiver]

Rayna, I'm still under a visit visa. Got married in Manila on the 28th of March at 3pm and were at the airport 9pm to go back to UK, same day. What were we thinking?! Of course we were dead tired the whole flight! I will be going back to Manila in July to process the spouse visa.

[London_Manila]

I have tried the first class section virgin trains to London from Wilmslow last year with my 2 best friends when they went to visit me here in the UK and we all loved it! You always get to see someone famous with those bound to London trains hahaha!

You must be rich

[Michael Parnham]

Michael, I never really enjoyed riding trains or buses, even when I was in Manila. I've always ridden a cab (hence my friends call me "taxi girl") because I felt safer in it. I only go on a train/bus/jeep if I had no choice. When I was in Singapore, trains were the only ride for me to go to work but never really enjoyed it other than the fast ride. I hate getting in a cramped train or bus, so I would always avoid it as much as possible. That's why I never got interested in riding a train or bus here. There's no train near us anyway (nearest is in Rhyl) and the bus goes in the village 2x a day only (one in the morning and one in the afternoon after office hours I guess) hahaha. If Keith lose the car, I'd just call a taxi to get me to the shop, no choice anyway.

It's got to be very rural where you live Rayna, but I'm sure it must be very nice, heaven to me!

[Michael Parnham]

You must be rich

Do you mean, No Brain?

[FilipinaDiver]

You must be rich

Hahaha! As you know we don't have a good train system in Philippines so we saved up for it when we found out that we could take a train to London.

[dontpushme]

Hmm, never really thought of the challenge of making myself understood in the UK. I think I was too focused on trying to understand all the different accents when I moved over. I'm still working on it too.