This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

A Big Move

Moving abroad is something that lots of people do. But moving a young family of five from England to Madison was a much bigger deal than we'd appreciated, but well worth it.

 

In 2008, after making several regular visits from England to Connecticut for work, I voiced to my wife that we might have the opportunity to move to the USA, and also that I'd really love to give it a go.

She thought I'd forget.

Find out what's happening in Madisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I didn't.

Then she went into denial.

Find out what's happening in Madisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That didn't do any good either.

Then she thought the economy would stop it.

It didn't.

She was not so keen because of the disruption to our young family. And it was the big, overbearing, scary USA. I thought it was a great opportunity for us all, as a family. And I had more experience of the Connecticut shoreline - a family friendly backwater, compared to NYC as she was imagining.

So I found myself searching for a rented property here in May 2011, assisted by the wonderful Nancy Leonard of William Raveis, while my wife drove the kids to and from school back in England (no school bus there - difference 1), trying to keep up via the internet. Imagine the pressure. Moving a less-than-keen wife 6,000 miles into a house that she's never seen.

June 2011, after a harrowing week or two of goodbyes, we arrived. And that was the hardest part over. It was sunny (the sun rarely shines in England - difference 2). We had a great beach that you can use (it's too cold in England - variance on difference 2).

A fun summer was the perfect way to settle in. And it was fun. Lots of sun, sand and sea (or ocean as it's more commonly called here). With new friends! I know making friends is easier with kids, but we have been stunned by how friendly everyone in Madison has been, how welcome we've been made to feel.

The kids settled instantly. I recall a day in July, when it was too hot & humid to be outside, we went to the Hartford science museum to see the natural disasters exhibit. After standing in a wind simulator, my daughter Abigail asked me, in her newly adopted American accent (that took her about 4 days to perfect) "Daddy, will we get any hurricanes in Connecticut?"

"I promise you we won't get any here" I replied.

Despite what followed, a once reluctant wife is loving her new life here so far.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?