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Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
American woman living in the UK shares the one shocking difference nobody warned her about
An American woman who moved to the UK has shared the one shocking difference that nobody warned her about. Melissa Mendez, originally from Florida, was in search of something new, so she packed up her bags and relocated over the pond to London, England. But as she adjusted to her new life in the UK, she said she quickly noticed one major difference between the two countries that she never expected... how 'blunt' British people are. 'Us Americans tend to take things very personally,' she told What's the Jam recently. 'So I found it really refreshing to see how families interact, how they are so open but also super blunt. 'It is very endearing and just takes the pressure out of things.' Melissa also noticed the English people tend to be more 'stoic' than Americans when it comes to their reactions to big news. 'In America, people have big reactions,' she continued. 'I have found that in the UK people have very stoic behavior towards any type of big event. 'The only time you'll ever see a big reaction from a British person is if their football team loses or if there is no tea in the house.' Melissa was also happily surprised over how lush the environment was. 'As soon as I was out of the airport on that first day and started driving from Heathrow to London I couldn't believe how green everything was,' the content creator, who has 17,000 followers, revealed. 'It really looked as if someone just increased the saturation - everything was so green and lush. 'I now have a garden which I love to do. In Florida, you can't really grow an English garden because the weather is just so hot.' So far, Melissa said she is loving her new home, and is so happy that she took the plunge. She said: 'I have found it absolutely amazing. It is the first time that I have lived in a place with seasons so I have been able to enjoy what people do depending on what season it is. 'I find that people have a hard time when they move to another country when they don't immerse themselves in the culture. Melissa also noticed the English people tend to be more 'stoic' than Americans when it comes to their reactions to big news 'I think that is the main way to get accustomed to the new place, new culture, so I try to do that every day. 'I get involved in my community, and make new friends and it has been great. 'I hope for many more years of growing my garden, enjoying the weather and making new friends.' Melissa opened up about the differences between the UK and America in a video shared to her TikTok, which has since gone viral, gaining tens of thousands of views. And people flocked to the comment section to discuss her take. One user commented: 'England's green and pleasant land.' 'When the Romans first came they called it "the garden,"' revealed another, to Melissa replied: 'It's like a fairytale.' Someone else said: 'Fun fact: London is classed as a forest city.' 'England has some of the best countryside in the world,' read a fourth comment. 'It rains a lot but there is an upside to that,' dished another viewer. Someone else added: 'I feel like I take this for granted. It is very green here, especially on the spring side of summer.'
The National
14-05-2025
- Business
- The National
'Trump is our hope for peace': US residents in UAE buoyed by landmark visit
Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip It's hardly a heartland for the MAGA faithful, but the tens of thousands of US citizens that call the UAE home will watch closely when Donald Trump touches down in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. As with everywhere the US President goes, he divides opinion. But the American expats that The National spoke to said they hope his push for friendship and peace in the Middle East will be the legacy of his visit, whatever their personal politics. They told The National they see great promise in Mr Trump selecting the Gulf as the first foreign stop of his second term in office, believing this will drive up investment and tighten bonds between countries. The four-day visit began on Tuesday in Riyadh, with stops in Doha and Abu Dhabi scheduled for this week amid high hopes that talks will be fruitful. 'I feel like if there is any hope for peace, it will be with Trump," said Darlene Tezdiker, 56, from Florida, who teaches adults English and has lived in the UAE for more than a decade. "I hope there will be stronger trade and that all talks are productive. 'I hope President Trump will have a positive influence and impact, not just for America but for everyone involved, as this area has experienced instability with the wars. The US and he already have a stable relationship with the UAE and he has deep respect for the leadership. 'As an American, I'm very proud that our country is viewed positively so I hope he can keep that image intact and that he stays on point,' she added. Mr Trump's visit is being closely watched amid the Israel-Hamas war and US tension with Iran. Marc Sievers, a retired US diplomat, listed talks on the Iranian nuclear issue, the Gaza war and economic deals as top of the agenda. 'President Trump has been quite clear that while he would consider Iran maintaining a civilian nuclear programme, their enrichment capabilities and ballistic missile capabilities must be dismantled,' said Mr Sievers, the US ambassador to Oman in 2016. "I find it hard to believe Iran will accept this approach, so that's issue number one as the Gulf states don't want a military option. 'And the next is what can be done to bring this violent phase of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to an end.' The Gulf region has not been badly hit by President Trump's tariffs announced earlier this year, with 10 per cent levies proving much lower than tariffs set on other Middle Eastern countries. Artificial intelligence, advanced technology and energy deals are expected to dominate the headlines. 'Opportunities in trade and investment, commitments to large investments in the American economy – this is obviously close to the US President's heart,' Mr Sievers said. "He wants to be able to show before next year's midterm elections that his economic policies are successful." The strength of US ties with the Gulf is expected to be another key message. Riyadh was Mr Trump's first official port of call also during his first presidential term and he is only the second US president after George W Bush in 2008 to visit the Emirates. 'The Gulf is the centre of the Arab world, maybe not in population, but in terms of wealth and influence, and also on the world stage,' Mr Sievers said. 'Many important things make the Gulf, not just economically but politically and diplomatically, a world centre. "We had two rounds of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, held in Oman. The UAE is involved in prisoner-related exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, and we had discussions on Ukraine held in Riyadh. This is the centre of the region and important to the US.' Crypto entrepreneur Rahul Sethuram, 37, says deeper co-operation will benefit people in both countries. 'The UAE has resources, a lot of talent and it would be good for the US to maintain a strong relationship, especially because this region is heavily investing in the deep tech space.' As the US President's visit progresses, Americans are constantly being asked for their take on their colourful and controversial leader. 'People ask, 'Oh my God, what do you feel about Trump, can you believe he said this or that?' Mr Sethuram added. 'There is a big spectacle, almost like watching like a reality show. But I do still have some optimism that he has a good long-term vision, he approaches issues very differently than other politicians.'
The Guardian
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
‘We're in the Hamptons of England': Trump sends wealthy Americans fleeing for the Cotswolds
Thanksgiving in the Cotswolds is no small affair. Every November, Americans flock to the English market town of Stow-on-the-Wold to collect glazed turkey breasts, green bean casserole and a traditional sweet potato dish covered in marshmallows. It is, by Jesse D'Ambrosi's own admission, 'bizarre'. The chef, owner of D'Ambrosi Fine Foods, is one of the many Americans who have made the Cotswolds their home in recent years. Here, her Thanksgiving and Fourth of July food hampers are highly coveted. Now as Donald Trump settles into his second administration, the lure of the rolling Oxfordshire hills has grown stronger for many of her compatriots. 'I've seen a lot of Americans scoping and checking out the area,' she said. 'Obviously it's political. Why wouldn't you want to leave where that guy is in action? It is very scary times, especially for women.' It is an increasingly common view as Trump's authoritarian clampdown and attacks on academia, civil society and political opponents send shock waves through the US and leave some Americans reaching for their passports. US applications for UK citizenship hit a record high last year at more than 6,100, a 26% increase from 2023. There was a 40% year-on-year rise during the final three months of the year, around the time of Trump's re-election. In the prime London real estate market, which covers areas such as Knightsbridge and Mayfair, the number of American buyers overtook Chinese buyers for the first time last year, analysis by the property agent Knight Frank found. But the prospect of an idyllic life in the English countryside is also growing increasingly popular. Harry Gladwin, from the Buying Solution estate agency in the Cotswolds, says a significant proportion of his clients are now Americans hoping to plot a route abroad. 'Since the re-election of Trump there has been a big rise in Americans looking at the UK as a place to anchor themselves,' he said. 'There are multiple draws: it is a safe place to hold properties; young families often want to have a holiday home with a view to spending more time here in the long term; and older couples who want to spend more time in the UK use it as a stepping stone into Europe. 'Many of them are younger people who made money in tech and want to have some property elsewhere. There are finance people from the east coast, as well as people in media, especially in film.' There is no shortage of Hollywood glamour in the Cotswolds, with its chocolate box villages and honey-hued cottages providing a bucolic setting. Some scenes in The Holiday, the 2000s romcom starring Cameron Diaz and Jude Law, were filmed close to Chipping Norton. The Oxfordshire town of Bampton was the location for village scenes in the hit period drama Downton Abbey. Last year the former chatshow star Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, relocated to the Cotswolds, reportedly because of Trump's return to the White House. Luxury brands and lifestyle businesses are following the money. The Gallery at Aynhoe Park, an outpost of the luxury American furniture brand RH, reopened the Grade I-listed landmark two years ago as an extravagant showroom. The private members' club Soho Farmhouse and Daylesford Organic, which has expanded from a farm and furniture shop to a campus-style, five-star experience with pool, spa and padel courts, also cater for the influx. Estelle Manor, a country club in a Grade II-listed hall in Eynsham, charges a standard membership of £3,600 a year, plus a £1,000 joining fee. D'Ambrosi, who lived in France and Amsterdam before settling in the UK, opened a fine foods store in Stow-on-the-Wold a few months before the pandemic hit in 2020. She has amassed a loyal following for her colourful, healthy cooking, as well as shelves dedicated to American staples including grape jelly, pancake mix and pickles, which she describes as her 'hillbilly section'. 'We have a tremendous number of American clients who are based between the Cotswolds and London,' she said. 'We are in the Hamptons of England. We have gastropubs on every corner, high-end shopping in Daylesford and there is the accessibility factor of being able to get to London within an hour and 20 minutes.' Daniel Holder, at R Scott & Co, a menswear shop in Cirencester, said most Americans investigating the area wanted to stay in the UK as long as possible as they do not want to go back to the States. 'They spend a lot of money,' he said. 'It's mainly tweed sports jackets, flat caps and knitwear. They watch Peaky Blinders then come in and ask for a cap.' Nathan Hanafin-Smith, of Cirencester Antiques Centre, says American shoppers often arrive with a particular interest in Roman coins found in the area. 'These coins are 2,000 years old or more in some cases,' he said. 'It shocks them, as a lot of our coins are older than where they come from. It puts things in perspective for them.' Wealth managers report more queries from Americans aiming to move their assets away from the country. Sean Cockburn, of the tax specialist group Forvis Mazars, said there had been a notable increase in interest in relocating to the UK over the past three years. 'While some are concerned about the potential tax exposure resulting from the abolition of the non-dom regime, others will welcome the new exemptions that have been introduced for those coming to live in the UK for a shorter period,' he said. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion 'In particular, the ability to exempt foreign income and gains from UK taxation for the first four years of UK residence will make the UK very attractive for short-term visitors,' he said. In most cases, however, Americans will still be expected to pay towards tax in the US. 'The IRS will continue to apply federal income tax on their worldwide income, even when they have ceased to be resident in the US,' Cockburn said. 'So whilst a US person might initially be elated at the prospect of avoiding UK taxation on their foreign income and gains, the benefit is likely to be significantly eroded by having a larger US tax liability.' But political fears are potent enough to keep driving wealthy Democrats away, says Armand Arton, of Arton Capital, an international citizenship specialist that advises high net worth individuals. Many American families are now thinking about a plan B, he says. 'The Democrats are fleeing. The higher the profile, the higher the anti-Trump rhetoric they expressed, the more serious they are about taking those steps.' Trump's attacks on academia also appear to be fuelling the exodus. US clicks on British job listings were up 2.4 percentage points year on year to 8.5%, the sharpest increase from any country, according to the job search site Indeed. That rise was largely driven by Americans looking for roles in scientific research and development. Trump has gutted funding for medical research in universities, hospitals and other scientific institutions, targeting Harvard in particular. In February, the National Institutes of Health said it would reduce the amount of 'indirect' medical research funding by $4bn a year. Universities across the country have reduced their intake of PhD students, medical students and other graduate students, introduced hiring freezes and in some cases rescinded offers of admission. This has created a 'massive opportunity' for the UK to actively recruit American scientists, according to Sir John Bell, the renowned immunologist and president of Oxford's Ellison Institute of Technology. Speaking to the House of Lords science and technology committee last month, he said leaders in the biomedical research field in the US were already asking when they could move. 'Do the thought experiment: you are an outstanding scientist, you are sitting in an American institution, and things are not looking good,' he said. 'You know for sure that they are going to be bad for four years, they are probably going to be bad for eight years, and it will take another four years to get the thing back on its feet again. 'If you are a great scientist in your late 40s or early 50s, there is no way you are going to sit it out.' About 6,680 American students applied for UK courses for the traditional deadline at the end of January this year, according to Ucas, the national universities admissions service. That marked a 12% increased compared with last year, and the highest number since records began in 2006. But Americans making the leap may have to accept lower pay in the UK, especially in tech. The average salary advertised for a software engineer in the US on Indeed is $123,530 (£93,030), compared with £48,796 in the UK. American firms are waking up to the threat posed by Trump's second term. Doug Winter, the chief executive of the tech firm AI Seismic, based in San Diego, California, is actively preparing to convince his workers not to leave the States for the UK. 'The UK and other international markets are dangling a carrot that US tech workers may be tempted to bite,' he said. 'This is largely owed to the ongoing uncertainty throughout the US, as well as broader economic instability. 'Historically, the US tech ecosystem has been resilient, and many US workers trusted that their employers would see them through uncertain times. But that confidence is being tested.'
