Hi everyone, I am 17 years old and I come from Derby in England. My Dad is an Engineer at the local Rolls Royce plant. About a mounth ago he applied to go on a 2 year placement in a new plant opening up in America. He applied along with 127 other people and out of them, only 4 get selected. After 5 interviews, he has been selected to go. We have not yet decided whether or not to go yet and if any member of our family doesnt want to go, we will not go (Along with my mum, I also have a brother and sister). So far however, everyone seems to like the idea and the longer it goes on, the more likely it seems. The plant is situated near Petersburg in Virinia, however we will probably be living in Chesterfield since weve heard some pretty dodgy stuff about Richmond and Petersburg (Does anyone come from this area and can you tell me what the area is like). I have just turned 17 last week and have just left school about 5 weeks ago in England but ive heard that you go to school for an extra year in America, is this true? So, thats about it, anyone got any comments/advice.
Yeah there are thirteen years of typical public school where students end at 17 or 18 years old. I don't believe you'd have to partake of that since you already finished your program in England and are over 16, but obviously you'd want to look into your options. I rarely go south of Washington DC on the ground (fly over the region occasionally) so I can't really give you any specific advice but I wish you and your family luck and hope that other people here can give you some nice insider advice.
edit: A lot of people from abroad come to the USA for higher education so could this be good/convenient timing for you if you choose to do this?
ah i hope you dont enjoy driving fast...because virginia will destroy you for that...i hate virginia speeding laws...T.T
welcome to america, if your going to college there are some good schools around like virginia tech which cover any possible major you could ever hope to want ^__^
once again...dont drive fast in virginia ^__^
and there are some DC lans every once in a while that you should check out
From a quick googling, I believe that you can choose not to take the last year of high school if you can prove you have an equivalent degree from the UK (sufficient number of GCSE's?). If you can't I think there's a GED test you can take to prove that you have a high school graduate education level. I can't tell you what richmond/petersburg are like but Charlotte is not too far from you and its a really fun college town, and you're also pretty close to virginia beach which is nice.
Did you do the sixth form or A-level or w/e those things are?
If you did then I doubt you'd have to go to school here. You can probably just apply for college/university based off of that
Otherwise I got no idea. Maybe you'll just have to enroll in a public school for a year and graduate there. This type of stuff surely has happened before. Best of luck.
Practice your american vernacular. For example "your mate" is "yo nigga", and so on. Good luck friend :3.
On a serious note, the transition from England to USA shouldn't be too bad, I don't know much about moving countries, much less moving across the ocean, but I'm sure you will adjust fairly easily, good luck my nigga.
On August 05 2010 03:59 Megalisk wrote: Practice your american vernacular. For example "your mate" is "yo nigga", and so on. Good luck friend :3.
On a serious note, the transition from England to USA shouldn't be too bad, I don't know much about moving countries, much less moving across the ocean, but I'm sure you will adjust fairly easily, good luck my nigga.
Not sure how much yo nigga and sup nigga flies out side of cali's bay and LA. On the bonus side America is tons bigger so there is only like 5 more things to see haha most of it is vast emptiness, but if you're on the coat tons of things to do.
On August 05 2010 03:59 Megalisk wrote: Practice your american vernacular. For example "your mate" is "yo nigga", and so on. Good luck friend :3.
On a serious note, the transition from England to USA shouldn't be too bad, I don't know much about moving countries, much less moving across the ocean, but I'm sure you will adjust fairly easily, good luck my nigga.
I would recommend you to take the senior year at a highschool in the US anyway since for people who have not been living in the state for at least a year university costs rise exponentially (at least in California, not sure how things work in Virginia) [def. look in to that]. It would also give you insight in the college app scene from other students (note this is usually done in november) Even if you don't meet the deadlines you can go to a community college and 1a2a3a your way to a 4.0 gpa and then apply to a big name school. ^^
At least that's how I did it, except I fucked around in community college( don't do this) and didn't get into UC Berkeley ㅠ_ㅠ.
hey man i live in fairfax, virginia, go to school at JMU in harrisonburg and visit friends frequently all around virginia, if need someone to help you around just send me a pm
On August 05 2010 03:59 Megalisk wrote: Practice your american vernacular. For example "your mate" is "yo nigga", and so on. Good luck friend :3.
On a serious note, the transition from England to USA shouldn't be too bad, I don't know much about moving countries, much less moving across the ocean, but I'm sure you will adjust fairly easily, good luck my nigga.
Not sure how much yo nigga and sup nigga flies out side of cali's bay and LA. On the bonus side America is tons bigger so there is only like 5 more things to see haha most of it is vast emptiness, but if you're on the coat tons of things to do.
Yeah, I was used to using that word in jest and complete unracistly for a long time, and when I moved to michigan some poeple would flinch when I said it, and one person started hating me for having said it a few times in front of him =O
Dude, many people believe america will be great, but honestly it sucks. I've lived here for 8 years now in Virginia. I don't live in a city or a hill billy town. But most of America is very rural except for some of the big cities. The kids in school, especially high school are racist as fuck. A bunch of kids are on drugs. 75% from my school! And people will make fun of your accent. The only thing u can do to be cool in school is to be athletic. That's the ONLY way seriously. Well gl, but I'm glad I'm getting the out of this shithole the end of August or at least by winter
youll be going to virginia and then it sounds like youll be going to university based on age/schooling. may i recommend a nice city, like new york or chicago or something? boston has a lotof greast schools. no offense to virginia but spending your college years in virginia sounds eh-eh!
of course, thats totally personal taste. im a big city guy and i prefer it. plenty of people are turned off by them.
On August 05 2010 09:20 choboPEon wrote: youll be going to virginia and then it sounds like youll be going to university based on age/schooling. may i recommend a nice city, like new york or chicago or something? boston has a lotof greast schools. no offense to virginia but spending your college years in virginia sounds eh-eh!
of course, thats totally personal taste. im a big city guy and i prefer it. plenty of people are turned off by them.
He should try to go to university in Cali, I'd rather go to school in good weather for 4+ years than say the cold of Chicago
I wouldnt spend 4 years in Chicago but it was just an example. I WOULD spend 4 years in NY, though. Or LA or Miami or something. I'm just saying, consider big cities! From Cali to NY, we have some awesome cities to spend time in.
Also visit Canada. I could never live there cause I am a pussy when it comes to cold but they have some very nice cities - Quebec is what comes to mind. Vancouver is also supposed to be great
On August 05 2010 07:51 Tazza wrote: Dude, many people believe america will be great, but honestly it sucks. I've lived here for 8 years now in Virginia. I don't live in a city or a hill billy town. But most of America is very rural except for some of the big cities. The kids in school, especially high school are racist as fuck. A bunch of kids are on drugs. 75% from my school! And people will make fun of your accent. The only thing u can do to be cool in school is to be athletic. That's the ONLY way seriously. Well gl, but I'm glad I'm getting the out of this shithole the end of August or at least by winter
I know that you think America is bad, but drugs at highschool, meh, that is no different from over here. I think what you are describing goes on in most Western Countries.
On August 05 2010 07:51 Tazza wrote: Dude, many people believe america will be great, but honestly it sucks. I've lived here for 8 years now in Virginia. I don't live in a city or a hill billy town. But most of America is very rural except for some of the big cities. The kids in school, especially high school are racist as fuck. A bunch of kids are on drugs. 75% from my school! And people will make fun of your accent. The only thing u can do to be cool in school is to be athletic. That's the ONLY way seriously. Well gl, but I'm glad I'm getting the out of this shithole the end of August or at least by winter
Every country I've been to is like that... Even a tiny-ass country like Japan has some really really rural parts.
On August 05 2010 07:51 Tazza wrote: Dude, many people believe america will be great, but honestly it sucks. I've lived here for 8 years now in Virginia. I don't live in a city or a hill billy town. But most of America is very rural except for some of the big cities. The kids in school, especially high school are racist as fuck. A bunch of kids are on drugs. 75% from my school! And people will make fun of your accent. The only thing u can do to be cool in school is to be athletic. That's the ONLY way seriously. Well gl, but I'm glad I'm getting the out of this shithole the end of August or at least by winter
Every country I've been to is like that... Even a tiny-ass country like Japan has some really really rural parts.
Even motherfuckin Taiwan, which is the size of rhode island and is mostly Taipei and Gao xiong, has a lot of rural space.
Really, your experience in America will vary greatly depending on where you are at the state, county, city, and even subdivision level. My high school was 40% asian and 60% hispanic, most people weren't racist and most people didn't do anything harder than weed. 5 miles away from my high school its 100% hispanic and all gangs and ghetto. So OP, make sure you plunk yourself down in a nice place if you're going to college. Personally I've lived on the west coast, north east, and deep south and each area has its nice aspects and each region has nice schools.
/And yes, take advantage of your British accent, it WILL get you a lot of tail.
On August 05 2010 07:51 Tazza wrote: Dude, many people believe america will be great, but honestly it sucks. I've lived here for 8 years now in Virginia. I don't live in a city or a hill billy town. But most of America is very rural except for some of the big cities. The kids in school, especially high school are racist as fuck. A bunch of kids are on drugs. 75% from my school! And people will make fun of your accent. The only thing u can do to be cool in school is to be athletic. That's the ONLY way seriously. Well gl, but I'm glad I'm getting the out of this shithole the end of August or at least by winter
So apparently now, Virginia = America?
Oh, and 1 school = every school?
...
Sorry you go to a crappy school, maybe that also explains why they haven't covered the material on 'stereotypes being wrong/dumb.'
I moved to the U.S. when I was 13, pre-9/11, and all my friends from Edinburgh were telling me not to do this, not to do that, don't act like this, Americans like that etc. and nothing they said was true. Can't say for Virginia, because I'm moved to Denver, but it doesn't sound too bad. 13 year old kids could really care less about your accent, some found it cool, others funny, but generally just let it be.
But you're 17 anyways, so pick your university and have fun. There are tons of exchange students everywhere so it won't be a big deal.
On August 05 2010 07:51 Tazza wrote: Dude, many people believe america will be great, but honestly it sucks. I've lived here for 8 years now in Virginia. I don't live in a city or a hill billy town. But most of America is very rural except for some of the big cities. The kids in school, especially high school are racist as fuck. A bunch of kids are on drugs. 75% from my school! And people will make fun of your accent. The only thing u can do to be cool in school is to be athletic. That's the ONLY way seriously. Well gl, but I'm glad I'm getting the out of this shithole the end of August or at least by winter
Wow your school sucks. Like everyone else said, don't judge America based on one school. You just happened to go to a terrible one.
America is a very very nice place. In general, people are friendly and good-intentioned.
Might want to enroll in high school for 1 year while you apply for college, or like someone else said go to community college, because otherwise you'll just be sitting around with a thumb up your ass until next fall because of the school admission cycle
Could just apply for spring sem, too. First 3 semesters have pretty much all their courses every sem because of how generic they are.
I haven't heard anything dodgy about the Richmond area, but I'm a few hours from there.
ah i hope you dont enjoy driving fast...because virginia will destroy you for that...i hate virginia speeding laws...T.T
I hear the system of figuring out ticket fines is pretty terrible, too. Site is a piece of crap.
Maryland does a lot of patrolling, too, though. Guaranteed to see someone pulled over at least once a day to/from work. Although that has probably more to do with the speed limit being lower than it ought to be for the area, imo.
Iono, I can't think of much to say about the VA/MD area.
On August 06 2010 02:12 KOFgokuon wrote: Might want to enroll in high school for 1 year while you apply for college, or like someone else said go to community college, because otherwise you'll just be sitting around with a thumb up your ass until next fall because of the school admission cycle
I think this is the most reasonable course of action... adjusting to the American school system shouldn't be too tough.
Virginia is great if you want to take the community college route, with a high enough GPA you can transfer to any public college in Virginia. William and Mary, UVA, and Virginia Tech are all great schools.