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I think it's vital to aspire to live in the country before you move to it, making sure you're well informed about a country (correct expectations) and loving it even before you make the step. I make the point that I moved to London as opposed to Britain and I'm not sure I'd survive well in other parts of the country. I love the metropolis that is London. I consider myself British now that I've been here for 20 years. Although I keep in touch regularly with where I was born, I'd feel terribly out of place if I had to move back.

Hiya,

It didn't take me too long really as I'm French , it's quit similar..People are nice and polite, customer service is excelent. They are used to foreigners so all easy..
Just be prepar to stand the winters here, there are Really challenging to me.. Still 8 years later... The wind and the rain, the lack of sun are something I didn't anticipated!!!
Even my partner who is from Slovakia (- 8/-10 degre in winter with snow finds it hard) ...
Be prepare that the life is expensive

Hello,

I am still adjusting and I have been here for 11 years. Everyday I learn something new or learn what NOT to say. It is a learning process for sure and of course everyone is different-and many other have adjusted faster than me. Of course depending where you live in Britain plays a big role. Although I attended University in the North, I now live in the South. I could not survive up North-really.

As for customer service in the UK-it is rubbish. It really is. I have blogged on this topic and many have agreed with me. If you plan to come to the UK make you sure you bring a brollie/umbrella and lots of money. It is pretty expensive here.

Cheers x

Waou, you think the service is bad in UK????
Don't ever go to France!!
In here even on the cheap pubs, you always feel very welcome, the staff are always friendly and polite, I haven't known that in my home country so much!
After people are not so open, they won't welcome you to there home easily...
In the USA you are used to people beeing nice probably as people are paid such a bad salary, they REly on tips so they have to be better..

As an American living in UK I thought I spoke English.Ìý I don't I speak American.Ìý The same words have very different meanings.Ìý Also drinking is a sport in UK.Ìý The drinking style is like you drank in your collage days.Ìý Customer service is getting better.Ìý Most people in UK do not complain, they just never go back.Ìý So sometimes the business is not used to handling complaints.Ìý People look on complaints as a personal thing.

Best way to feel at home here is to make British friends. If you live and work and socialise mainly with other immigrants, you'll never integrate.
Meet your neighbours and chat with them; go to pubs and talk with the customers; join a club; if you are religious join a church. Go out with British work colleagues.
Yes, you will meet lots of racist and xenophobes, but by and large the Brits are reasonably welcoming. I was a lot less welcome during the 6 years I lived in the US.

I lived here for 15 years and my whole family feels this is home. I actually feel like a foreigner when I visit my home country.

Coming from Africa, and at an advanced age, I expected some radical demands on myself. However, my mindset was open and determined, so that is my recommendation! I believe one must be willing to accept and work within the boundaries in any country. So that all made it very easy to settle, and felt comfortable and at home within a year.
Oh, and enjoy queuing

"An open mind and taking one day at a time" has been our mantra and so-far-so-good.
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Like GeoffHunt, we are a little older and I find change more difficult (which is one of the reasons we decided to move ie to get out of our comfort zone), however, finding the humour in any situation is certainly helping the process of settling in.Ìý