Who is from the states here and where?

[MountainHome]

Re: Washington State

Up near the What does that mean, you can't be bothered with the whole place?

Emmm. That's a difficult one to answer in less than a 1500 word essay. But I'll try.... I just want to start by saying that since coming here almost everyone has just been so friendly and welcoming (probably way more so than most British people would have been to a foreigner back home I'm sad to say) and I have made some good American friends. I just wanted to say this because I know I'll feel guilty about the next bit...

I think I just find the USA much more foreign and strange than I thought I would. Before coming here I had assumed that as our two nations speak the same language, we would be quite similar. Like most Britons I don't consider myself European in the slightest and don't speak other languages much either. But I'm finding I have much more in common with people from other European countries. To be honest I just don't get what most Americans are about. All people seem concerned about is being respectable and making money. Most people seem pretty boring in fact. All the European friends I've made since coming here agree with me on this point. Its a very rules-based society here (especially compared to the UK). Everything from effective prohibition till you're 21 to getting a parking ticket for parking outside your own house on a street-cleaning day! *beep*!

Partly this is a good thing - people are much more courteous and polite than in the UK. But it seems to be extremely difficult to find cool laid-back people who just want to have a laugh. There's not much of a pub culture. If you go to the pub more than once a week, people seem to think you're virtually an alcoholic. In terms of clubbing, at least in the SF bay area, things are pretty sedate. I thought if there was anywhere in the States where the party would totally go off, it would be San Francisco, but sadly no. The atmosphere and party spirit is but a fraction of that in England or Europe.

Of course there are a lot of good things about the place too. Friendly people, good weather, and great scenery.... Sorry that was pretty long (yet pleasingly cathartic).

I understand what you mean, I also find the US a bit staid and respectable at times, BUT, it does make it a great place to live and raise kids.

I have been here 5 years and, if I may, I have a couple of bits of advice.

1. Get yourself to NYC - a good club night in the Big Apple is every bit as good as a big night out in the UK.

2. If you can, live day to day in the States, and head back to party in London/UK with your mates every few months - thats my approach and I am sticking by it!

Sounds like you will be in Ibiza same time as me. Perhaps we could buy each other beer in Space?