OMG I miss the United States sooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...?

Question

I moved to London from L.A. 2 months ago with my parents, and I MISS THE U.S.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm 14 so I'll be here a while....my dad signed a 5 year contract. Everything's a lot different....people don't talk nearly as much as the do in the U.S., and they do indeed love tea. They're really nice, but I still feel so homesick. What can I do?????

Answer 1

Try to get a little long-term perspective on this (I know-it's hard when you're 14) experience. It will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will look back on fondly for the rest of your days. There are plenty of people here in the U.S. that would gladly trade places with you-relax, try to make as many [good] friends as you can, and enjoy the history, sights, and scenery. I've live abroad, and believe me, there are always locals who will find your accent, history, and differences as a yank to be intriguing enough to want to get to know you better, and become your friend.

Besides, you can come on here and "talk" to us anytime you're on the web.

Try this link to get you started on a good British tour:

http://www.londonforfun.com/sights.htm

Exodus 23:9 (A-KJV)
Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Answer 2

I moved to England from the USA when i was 14 too. I totally understand what you're going through. I hated it at first- everything was so different. (but now, 9 years later, I'm still here even though my family have moved back!)

Obviously your first priority is just to try and make friends at school- that will make or break this experience for you. I had a few problems settling in at school, but once I did I was really happy (even if I didn't realise it til later because at the time I was so determined that I wasn't!)

You're going to be exposed to all kinds of things that you never have before and little differences between the countries will keep popping up and annoying you, like certain words being used or something you realise you cant buy over here. When I was 14 it always felt like the end of the world to me when I realised there were certain TV shows I'd never see again, or favourite foods I couldn't get... It was an endless list of frustrations. You'll just have to get over that- you're also going to find a lot of things you like about the UK that you didn't get at home. These days, whichever country I am in, there's something I miss!

Do you have any siblings? My brother and I really bonded over all this stuff when we first moved over, having him go through it all at the same time made it much easier.

It is a huge adjustment, it really is, but you'll wake up one day and everything will feel normal- it just takes time. And it's an amazing adventure, in the long run you're going to benefit from it a lot more than you could realise right now.

Answer 3

You're a very lucky girl to have such an opportunity to learn about another nation in depth - and not have to learn another language first!

I moved every 2 - 3 years growing up, and my time in Europe was the best! Best food (you may have to leave england?), best history, best scenery, kindest people, interesting, well-read, aware.

To deal with homesickness, I wrote lots of letters. With email, even videomail, things should be much better for you. And, in 5 years, you'll have an accent and you'll hate coming back to America. And then you'll adjust to that, too - but you'll be a far better citizen than most because you'll have seen something of the world.

Sightsee as much as possible - homeschool if you can to have great control of your schedule.

Answer 4

I guess you're just going to have to deal with it if your dad signed a five year contract.
Try asking your parents if they will let you visit America, and your old friends once in a while. Maybe for special occasions.
But while you are there, try making the best out of a bad situation. Try and adapt to their lifestyle, or at least be open to it. I'm sure it can't be that bad, things will get better and you'll learn to like it there.

Answer 5

I'm British and moved to the USA a couple of years ago - lived in LA for 6 months. Now I'm back in the UK and I also miss the US soooo much! In fact, I'm moving back out next month... WOO!

I know what you mean, people don't say Hi to each other here enough, and shop staff hardly ever talk to you. Shame.

Make the most of your time here though - immerse yourself in the culture and get ready for a lot of sarcastic comments. No-one is being nasty, it's just our sense of humour! General rule, if someone you know says something nasty - they probably just meant it as a joke!! LOL!

Have fun over here!!

Answer 6

I've found that it takes five years to get accustomed to some place, acclimated to the weather, and be accepted by neighbors. So I figure by the time your dad's contract is over you'll feel sad about wanting to leave there. Just enjoy the new venture knowing that you will be returning.

Answer 7

See the world my dear. The day will come when you will wake and realize you missed many opportunities. Find locals that like the same music etc. Be happy also, you aren't in a place where you had to learn a foreign language.

Answer 8

I went to high school in Japan and while I did miss the States, I loved my time there. It helped me develop a love of travel and other cultures. So dive in and have fun. When you return you'll have great stories to tell everyone.
P.S.: I LOVE ENGLAND and go to London whenever I have the chance. I am soooo jealous.

Answer 9

Where are you going to school? There's an American School in London, maybe going there with other American kids might make you feel better. See if the American Embassy's got activity nights...we had them when I lived in Vienna. That way you'll get to meet other kids and make some friends. Ask them what they did when they first got there...they've been through it too, and it helps to talk to someone who knows how you feel.
Good luck!

Answer 10

I know the feeling, in the early eighties I spent 30 months in San Diego working with the u.s. navy. I hated it couldn't wait to get back to London. but I got over it so will you