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!