Well technically it's closer to 10 months but life is finally starting to settle down in the state of Michigan. I thought it was high time for an update of being an English girl living in the US.
Over the past couple of months, our little urban corner of south east Michigan increasingly feels like home. I'm developing a somewhat pride-like sense of being in the sprawl and shadow of Detroit. It was a city I first learnt about in GCSE geography through Henry Ford and his mass production. The more I come to learn about the city, it's importance historically and commercially the more I feel determined to highlight on my blog the positive images, places and things really going on. They might not necessarily all be in the city limits but metro Detroit is too overshadowed by the same assumptions. I know my posts about Detroit aren't the biggest hit on my blog - I can tell by less views and comments, but it's important to me, I'm a lifestyle blogger and I'm going to write about what we get up too. That's not going to change because some people might not like the city I live in/near.
Maybe my greater sense of being settled in the US is through immigration changes occurring in the UK. You may or may not have seen my rants on twitter about the Tory policy being pushed through which would require me and Joe to have £60,000 [$93,000] in savings if we wished to return to the UK with Joe has my husband without us having a job to go to first. Yeah because people in their mid twenties have that money hanging around. I'll spare you my rant about how the British government washes their hands of you if you immigrant or fall in love with someone outside of the UK.
While I got my green card back in the end of May the paperwork still continues mostly in the part of running between national departments. Getting Social Security numbers [which to UK readers is like getting your National Insurance Number which your tax is sorted through] was a nightmare - it makes me wonder why they don't just give you your SS number when you get authorisation to work. It would make greater sense. Then I've been trying to apply for state ID - so I don't always have to show my green/work card just to be able to get served in a bar. But I can't get said card without an SS card. You get the feeling of going round in circles.
Another thing which bugs me about being an immigrant is how you can sometimes be treated - and I know I suffer it less then others. Most of the times because I'm white people don't assume me to be an immigrant. Until I'm in a government department building like social security and I'm with Joe. Then because I'm with him at the booth, they see I'm foreign and therefore assume I can't speak/understand English and talk about me and my application directly to Joe rather then to me. I actually had to butt into the conversation and get her to talk actually at me.
Job hunting seems to be the same regardless of the country. It's tiring, endless and feels like you get nowhere. Don't get me wrong there does seem to be more jobs out here in Michigan which I apply for and as I remember from my job hunting days in the UK you never hear anything back. Not a word. It annoys me that employers can't take the time to say thank you in a quick email for applying for jobs. Even from the one interview I've already had I never heard anything after that. Rude.
Generally life is good, and most importantly I'm with Joe. I have my eBay selling to keep me busy when I'm not job hunting. I've learnt a lot about myself, refound my love for reading, started new crafts, re-homed a new kitty and found a passion for estate sales.
I know you all love my UK/USA comparisons posts but it's something I get a little mind blocked at times - so wing some ideas what you'd love to hear comparisons about!
I know you all love my UK/USA comparisons posts but it's something I get a little mind blocked at times - so wing some ideas what you'd love to hear comparisons about!
How you don't think I'm rude but are you following up job applications with a courtesy call? You do have to push but without coming across as a pain. There is no harm in asking for feedback from an interview so you can improve for the next one.
ReplyDeleteMost of the jobs actually state to not ring them and that they'll only be in touch if they want you for interview.
DeleteAs someone who works in Human Resources, you can't take not hearing back from a potential employer personally. You're lucky if your resume is even looked at by human eyes. The reality it the market is small but the demand is huge. Time is so limited that we can't respond to every applicant, even if they come in for an interview. It use to be ok to send Thank You cards and follow up but since the demand is too great the whole job hunting/candidate seeking process has become very impersonalized. Don't get discourage - although it's very easy for me to say.
ReplyDeleteI just think it's bad manners especially when you have an interview and you've taken the time and they can't follow up with a quick yes or no. It does the company no good for their reputation.
DeleteAh well the hunt will continue!
If you get your driver's license, then you won't need a state ID (for things like age verification, etc.) That's what my husband did when he got his green card.
ReplyDeleteHave you applied for most of the jobs online? I know it can be harder to get noticed that way, amongst all the other applicants. My husband is looking for a new job right now and he's mostly working through contacts to get his resume onto the right desk. I know you probably don't have that luxury right now, having only been here a short time, but it does get easier the longer you are here. The only thing I can say is to write follow up emails to make sure your resume got through (and so they know you're proactive.)It is odd that they never got back to you after that forst interview though. It sounds like you were just unlucky with them. Good luck!
I don't/can't drive so that's the main reason behind the state ID.
DeleteYeah off to get more driven about the job hunting next week and see where it goes and send out some follow up emails methinks.
Even though America is suppose to be a melting pot of cultures people are very close minded about people from different places not just countries but states. We moved from southern California to Northern Nevada and even though it's only 400 miles apart it's a world of a difference. I went from a liberal, live as you want attitude to a republican, minority bashing homophobic area. It's been hard on us. We don't really have friends because the age gap is huge and no one shares our point of views.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making it 9 (almost 10 months)! I've done opposite what you and your partner have done (moved from the states to be in the UK with my husband). We were so lucky to be on the settlement path before the recent immigration changes came into effect. I work in a customer facing job and even though I've lived here over two years, I still get a ton of really intrusive questions about what I'm doing over here, etc. I also find that people will make offensive generalizations about immigrants in front of me, then when I mention this fact, I get the old, "Well, I didn't mean you, that's different!"
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree on how stupid the government is with relation to immigration and things like that. Through reading blogs like yours I've discovered that the policies we have are just a little bit stupid and I can't imagine the pain it would cause if you actually decided to come back here! (: Best of luck on the job front though, as you said at least you're keeping busy whilst having to jump through all the hoops! xx
ReplyDeleteI thought this post was really interesting it's such a huge thing to move and the whole immigration thing must be so annoying. I'm trying to sort out some tax payments at the moment and it's hard enough in the UK xx
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow job hunter I feel your frustration at how relentless it can all seem! I seem to fill out a good 20 or more applications per week plus handing out CVs and emailing CVs to recruitment agencies etc. It is difficult to be constantly positive, but each time I feel as though I'm flagging I try to remind myself that it could all be so much worse! Lol.
ReplyDeleteThe rings you run in to get the relevant paperwork over there sounds completely ridiculous, although I'm certain people who have emigrated here to the UK suffer similarly!
Jem xXx
All I can say is I think you are brave and amazing for moving across the world. Keep plugging away, you have already achieved so much, it WILL continue and get better.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your new life in America, it's such a big change! and I hope that you have some luck with the job hunting soon!
ReplyDeleteJulia x
Good luck with your job hunting and id !
ReplyDeleteIt must get annoying at times having to go through so much to be accepted into a country !
I'd love to hear your views on customer service differences between the USA and the UK.
Launa in Ponderland
93 thousand dollars?! that'd be awhile to save up on top of expenses! ugh! good luck with it all
ReplyDelete<3 katherine
of corgis and cocktails
I'm glad things are a beginning to get easier for you. I admire you're strength and courage; it must have been a worrying and challenging time for you both. You have made it this far and I know in another 9months time, life will seem a lot less scary and that bit easier.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate with the job-hunting; it's hard, darn hard to even get a foot in the door. And the way people ignore applicants has always disgusted me and continues to be one of my biggest issues with applying to jobs xxx