Las Vegas to Milton Keynes - Expat Interview With Erin Moran

Erin Moran is an American expat originally from fabulous Las Vegas! She spent a year studying abroad in Pau, France where she was introduced to her English husband. She now spends her days in jolly ol’England working as a digital marketer and trying to adapt to the customs of the English. Erin writes for her expat blog called Quintessentially English (see listing here) If you would like to know more about Erin, please visit the About Me section in her blog Quintessentially English.

Here's the interview with Erin...

Where are you originally from?
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

In which country and city are you living now?
Milton Keynes, England

How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
I have lived in Milton Keynes since August 2011, but before that I lived in Worcester. MK is perfect for me as there is so much to do around this area, so I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon!

Why did you move and what do you do?
I moved across the pond to be with my English husband, whom I had met while studying in France. We moved to Milton Keynes for our careers.

Did you bring family with you?
No it is just my husband and I, but I have a great support system in his family and have made some great English friends.

How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
I thought English as my native language meant I wouldn't have any language barriers to cross, but I was wrong! There are so many different words they use that Americans don’t! I actually started keeping a glossary on my blog just to keep up with them all! I also found it really difficult to get a bank account here; I clearly have the look of an international criminal mastermind. They were scared I was going to do money laundering!

Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
When I wasn’t working I found it very difficult to go out and meet people, so I found socialising with other expats online to be very beneficial. To this day I find speaking to people that are going through similar experiences can be so helpful, and the expat community is a really friendly one. Since finding a job I have found it much easier to make friends!

What are the best things to do in the area, any recommendations for future expats?
There so many things to do in Milton Keynes! We have descent shopping, theatre (a lot of plays come here as their last stop before they make it on the West End) and the Xscape, which house an indoor ski dome, cinemas, bowling, and more! Woburn Safari Park, and Bletchley Park are also local to us! If you fancy travelling a bit further afield you can;
Pop in to London to go shopping or catch a show, we’re only a 35 minute train ride away!
Days out in Oxford, Cambridge, Blenheim Palace, and Althorp House are only an hour drive or so!
It’s also important to note that London Heathrow isn’t at too great a distance, which is helpful when collecting visitors.

What do you enjoy most about living here?
I love the English culture and history! Call me a nerd, but I love visiting places and thinking about the people who have walked the halls centuries before my existence. I love that every home you walk in to you are immediately offered a cup of tea and a biscuit! It is my sincere hope that the English will always hold on to their culture and history.

How does the cost of living compare to home?
It is hard for me to judge. There are obvious expenses like TV licenses and National Insurance which you don’t have in America, but I think food like bread, milk, fruit and vegetables are cheaper over here.

What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
I miss my family and friends in America, but overall I’m very happy living here.

If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?
Invest in a good umbrella and some wellies!

What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Missing family and friends because it’s not something that can be fixed. If we were to move back to America I’d miss people here, so either way you look at it I’m missing someone!

What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?

1. Whenever you’re invited to something, especially in the beginning of your expat experience, accept any invitation you’re offered. It’s a great way to make friends!
2. Start looking into getting a bank account set up BEFORE you make the move across the pond. It took me months before my account was all sorted!
3. If you don’t know how something works in the country (like insurance for example) don’t be afraid to ask whether that be a local or fellow expat! You’ll find most people are more than willing to help!
4. Being foreign, I found sometimes when dealing with certain companies that they try to take advantage of your naivety. Always do your research before signing any contracts for phone, electricity, etc. It will save you a lot of hassle in the long run!
5. Most importantly, follow your heart! If your dream is to live in another country one day, make it happen! There is no time like the present! Just try it out, if it doesn’t work out then at least you can say you did it!

Tell us a bit about your own expat blog
I started Quintessentially English in 2010 when I decided to give living in England a shot! At first it was a way to keep in contact with my family and friends but sharing my personal expat experiences has helped me and hopefully others learn more about the English. It baffles me that after 2 years of living here there is still so much to discover! By writing Quintessentially English I have been introduced to some great people, expats and non-expats alike!

How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
I love being contacted by fellow or future expats, so please don’t be shy! You can tweet to me @essentialerin or send me an email at quintessentiallyenglish16{at}gmail{dot}com! And of course you can always contact me by leaving a comment on Quintessentially English!

Erin blogs at http://www.quintessentially-english.blogspot.co.uk/ which we recommend a quick visit if you haven't been already. Quintessentially English has an ExpatsBlog.com listing here so add a review if you like! If you appreciated this interview with Erin, please also drop her a quick comment below.

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