An American woman who moved to the UK has shared reasons why she probably wouldn’t move back to the US. She listed some ways living in the UK is ‘better’ than living in America
An American woman living in the UK has shared some reasons why she wouldn’t move back to the US.
Lola Oluremi lives in Newcastle and moved to the UK from America nearly four years ago. Although living in the UK is likely to be very different from living in America, it seems Lola prefers the UK.
She posted a video on TikTok to explain why she probably wouldn’t move back home – ranging from the most obvious ones, including differences in the use of guns and healthcare systems, and less obvious ones such as British humour.
Speaking in the video, Lola explained: “The first one (reason) and like the biggest one for me is the guns. I honestly cannot deal with how we have mass shootings and that’s so normalised in America and the solution to that is for everyone to buy more guns and even like people who I would consider to be smart and intelligent people think the solution to that is to buy more guns and I just don’t want to be in a country that feels that having a gun is the norm.”
Lola added that she thinks generally, the UK is safer than America. She acknowledged that there are crimes but according to her, America has more crimes per capita.
The American expat continued: “Another thing for me is the healthcare system. I like that if something God forbid was to happen that I don’t have to worry about having a big medical expense. Another big one for me is I just feel like life in the UK, in Europe in general, is just more laidback.
“I feel like America has such a work grind culture. For example, not every place in America requires paid leave or paid time off, even sick leave. Some places you’ll go off sick and they won’t pay you for that or pay you for a holiday and obviously that’s a requirement here in the UK and I just think that’s great.
“I also feel myself having, ever since I moved to the UK and I started working here, I just feel so much less pressure when it comes to work life balance. Another thing that I love about the UK is the people.
“I know that Americans are seen as more friendly and I would say like bigger picture I do think Americans are friendlier but I actually think British people once you get to know them they are actually so friendly.”
Lola referred to the North East as she lives in Newcastle and has found that North East people are “so sweet and so kind”. She added that she loves living in the North East and she loves the people there.
She also thinks British people are “so funny” as they have “dry humour” and “sarcasm”. Lola has noticed the “constant complaining about the weather or anything in general” from British people.
The TikTok video has had 24,000 views, and more than 1,000 likes. It has also had more than 100 comments. One TikTok user said: “I hear English twangs in your accent! Love that you love it here.” Another American who moved to the UK like Lola commented: “Yay! Listen we have a lot of work to do here. And there’s some things we can’t fix, like the grey winters.
“But I traded California for London and am so much happier for it.” A third user added: “Brit living in London but have also lived in the US. Loved hearing your perspective, thank you for sharing.”