What makes you happy in your expat city in England?

Ameerah Arjanee Serial expat

Member since 11 July 2022

Ameerah ArjaneeSerial expat28 May 2025 08:01:40

206

Hello, I am a content writer for Expat Magazine, and we are planning on writing an article about what makes expats feel happy in the city where they live. We could love to get some testimonials from expats living in English cities, (or English expats living in cities elsewhere around the world). It can be about anything: the weather, the friendliness of people, the cost of living, how easy to use public transport is, how walkable the city is, how interesting the arts and culture scene is, the quality of the fresh fruits and vegetables, how multicultural it is, how there are many libraries, etc.

wyngrove60 Serial expat

Member since 08 May 2021

wyngrove60Serial expat01 June 2025 09:16:39

395

Not much really. I think the people are not that happy, quite aggressive and unfriendly. Of course when you have friends then it's alright but it can be scary at night and even in the evenings in cities and towns after 6pm.

I find the food not bad. love having a curry at Wetherspoon's or at a nearby Indian. Same with Chinese food, often pretty decent in the UK, but fish 'n chips is mostly always good. Actually I like Greek food here too. I tried Japanese food in London and it was awful, same in Paris, was very disappointed.

Well sports is pretty good in the UK, whether you are a player or just a spectator. I did quite a lot of sports when I was in the UK - surfing, windsurfing, waterskiing, tennis, badminton, squash, cricket.

Usually when I return to the UK I enjoy my holidays. Last time I was here for about 7 weeks, had a great time. But I just wouldn't want to live here any more. Nowadays you can find dog poop on the pavements everywhere, it's kind of disgusting really. I noticed that a lot when I was last in the UK.

I also worked in India some years ago. it was close to Bhubaneswar in the Bay or Bengal with Oil India. I used to fly in to Calcutta and stay a night at the Oberoi. I remember the weevils in the cashew nuts in the reception area of the hotel. It's quite funny as my younger sister also worked in India for many years. Neither of us are Indian, just expats who move around a lot, her more than me.

Another good thing about living in the UK is fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast, especially at Lyme Regis and Charmouth. Then there is mineral and rock collecting in Devon and Cornwall where tin mining and mining for other minerals as well as quarrying was very dominant in the 1800's. I remember finding wonderful samples of wolframite, arsenopyrites, torbenite, black tourmaline and lots of fluorite crystals in old spoil tips. Mineral hunting is really fun if you are into that kind of thing.

So lots of good things to do and some nice food too. Have you ever tried a clotted cream tea with scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam along with a cup of tea. It's really nice, but the cream is unhealthy. I did that a few times when last in the UK.